This is interesting. I also have a problem with sugar. However, I absolutely cannot think that I "can't" have something. So I let myself think that I can have it if I want it, but I just don't want to choose it because I know it will make me hungry, tired, and crabby. I was treated for depression for awhile even though I insisted that I WASN"T depressed. I finally realized that all throughout the day I was jumping from one carb/caffeine fix to the next. When I quit that, I went off the meds. Sugar is definitely addictive--there have been studies out there that prove it--I know with chocolate specifically. But of course the nature of addiction is different with everyone. I know that I absolutely cannot have sugar in the morning or I will have a miserable, hungry day. If I decide to "indulge" it is at night.

Artificial sweeteners also trigger me. This morning I ate a sugar-free cinnamon roll and was hungry all day.

The South Beach Diet book is good at explaining all about how food affects your blood chemistry and cravings, etc. I try to incorporate the principles from that book into my life as I slowly wean myself off of processed carbs.

Here is a neuroscience website that talks about sugar addictions:
http://web.sfn.org/content/Publicati...ngs/sugar.html

Rdhdgrl1, I think I might have to check that book out. Thanks for posting it! I'm pretty sure I have a sugar addiction. Breads/carbs don't affect me, but give me one cookie or a hershey kiss and I binge all night long. I'll have to check that book out. Best of luck to you beating sugar/carb cravings!

hi everyone i am finding these posts really interesting

i have a friend who quit everything white for several yrs when she was in OA and that was the only way she could control her eating. she was stable for a long time and then fell off the wagon

for me personally i find it very hard to eliminate sugars. in terms of addiction for me personally i do find sugar very addicting. the things i notice are that:
1. i think about it all the time
2. thinking about it and planning when i will next eat sugar interferes with my other activities
3. my body suffers withdrawal when i stop sugar
4. my tolerance increases (it takes more and more sugar to give me the "fix" i need)

as far as i'm concerned that meets the definition of an addiction

as to the bread, i do notice when i cut sugar that i often substitute bread. if i have whole grain breads it seems to be ok but anything that is not whole grain and i just stuff myself full of the stuff. my other trigger is alcohol. it lowers inhibitions anyway and once i start drinking i just go crazy and eat eat eat

i tried at one stage to substitute artificial sugars, mainly splenda but anything sweet tasting triggered cravings even tho in theory it shouldn't have been affecting my body. i think psychologically once the taste gets into my system my memory triggers all the same responses that i have to sugar even tho the insulin response isn't there. that's just my theory of course! but food and memory are closely linked - esp smells. in my case i think i have a learned response to sugar or sweet things. i expect to get a little rush and so i have the rush even on the artificial sweeteners,

i don't like the all or nothing approach but i know that i probably need to do it even if only for a while. i know after periods without sugar that i find the taste changes a lot and i wonder what on earth i liked about sweet stuff. i also find when i'm eating healthily that packaged foods taste "artificial"

someone mentioned depression. i have long term depression and anxiety and i tend to let that rule my eating and emotionally eat. i am working on it tho!

by the way... thank you christena for that link. really interesting. i will bookmark that site. i love reading articles like that

JUst my thoughts...
I could give up sugar, wheat, caffeine..but I would binge on other foods. I'd eat a bag of apples, would I really gain too much weight?, maybe not, but an addict is an addict.

I have food issues and I am addicted to FOOD, period, wether, it be a big ol cake or carrots, I'd have to eat it till I finished the whole thing.
My goal is too eat EVERTHING, but learn to eat in a normal fashion, I go to OA, I'm starting to understand how my brain works and how my relationship with food is a unhealthy one.. everyone has to do what works for them..

This thread is very interesting. I've considered giving up sugar but don't really know how. It's in so many products! It seems to me that giving up both sugar and flour would be impossible. So I'm in awe of those of you who have been successful in doing this.

Is there a guideline out there somewhere? Is there a list of foods that can be eaten and those that cannot? Do you just read the ingredients of everything before purchasing it and put it back on the shelf if it contains the words sugar or glucose or flour? I'd really like to learn more about this.

i am with you purplepansy. i don't like the idea of giving up any food groups. sadly i am also addicted to food. i have overcome addiction to alcohol so hoping i can manage this too! it is much much harder

SUGAR - these are the foods to avoid
Sweets of any kind; Products which contain Dextrose, Glucose, Hexitol, Lactose, Maltose, Sucrose, Honey, Fructose, Corn Syrup

This is an eye opening post. I don’t think I can really say I’ve suffered true food addiction. I’ll have the very rare occasion where all I want to do is eat everything and that often starts with sugar, but I haven’t felt obsessed or ruled by food in a very long time.

I keep away from sugar most of the time these days, but have no problem with whole wheat products. For sweetener I’ve started using natural “Perfect Sweet” brand Xylitol, it has about 1/3 fewer calories than sugar and a glycemic index of 7 (sugar has a GI of 65) so it burns much slower and helps avoid insulin spikes. I don’t like the taste of artificial sweeteners and try to avoid artificial food products in general.

Welcome to those of you who are new!!

Sorry... I'm rushing here... trying to help my son with his homework.

I just wanted to pop in to give you a link to the glycemic index. You can get a good idea of which foods are better for you in regards to "sugar". http://www.glycemicindex.com/

hi ellis

actually the current thinking is that the glycaemic load is more critical. if you google this you will find the foods that have the highest glycaemic load ie a potential sugar rush

Hi, Sweetpea!
I was trying to be "simple", but you're right... the GL is important.
If anyone is interested, read the FAQ on the site I posted above. It provides a definition for glycemic load.
Thanks for your input, hon!

Being someone who is totally for high carb diets, I don't think that eliminating all flours and wheats is a good thing. I think it isn't the fact that you're consuming it, but the fact that you're consuming the wrong kind. Complex carbohydrates are good for you, and they're found in anything that says "whole grain" on it.

Also, people must not be so black and white about dieting. If you do that, you'll fail. I try not to eat much sugar, but I still drink milk, eat fruit, and have an occasional piece of chocolate, all of which contain sugar. I try not to eat white bread or flour tortillas, but I did have a bite of my mom's chicken wrap the other day at Applebee's. If you have a little here and there it won't hurt you.

If I go to a restaraunt, I do drink diet pop. I actually used to never drink it, but it helps to curb my sweet cravings when the friend next to me is gorging herself on pie. If I can't stand it, I'll ask if I can have one spoonful to taste. One bite tastes just as good as the whole pie. I'll eat artificially sweetened things, such as sugar free mape syrup on my whole grain french toast, or sugar free pudding, and they don't make me crave regular sugars because I've become accustomed to it. If I really need real sugar, I take a 50 calorie square of dark chocolate out from my mom's "secret" stash. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and, when eaten in small quantities, is good for you.

I dunno, sugar probably has some addictive qualities but a little bit won't hurt you. Don't stop drinking milk or eating whole grains just because of one article! Balance is the key.

Good luck <3

Hi. I'm new. I just started the no sugar, wheat and white starch diet. I'm going to stick to it for the next 40 days (i gave it up for lent becuase i never break my fast) and i'm hoping it's going to be a lifestyle change after that. All of you have inspired me to attempt this diet because many of you have been living this way for many years. I have major issues with over-eating. I just got over a 2 week eat-anything-in-sight-spree. I'm already feeling in control of my life and what i put into my mouth. I was just wondering what type of foods or recipes you guys could recommened because everything i want seems to be on the "no" list. Thanks.

Hi, ZuluPrincess! Welcome to 3FC.
In case you don't get any quick responses to your question, I'm going to PM you a few links for recipe sites for your "diet".
Congratulations on your weight loss so far... you're doing great! Keep it up!

Well i'm happy to say that my "diet" is working wonders for me. I started on wednesday and i've already lost 5 pounds! I went to the gym 3 times this week. 2 days aerobics and 1 day weight training. It's been challenging living without sugar, wheat and white startch, but i can honestly say it was the best decision i've ever made. I'm not nearly as hungry as i used to be and i haven't had any intense cravings since i started. Maybe i really will get over my food addiction. If i don't, at least i'll know what to do if i ever fall off the wagon again. Thanks to all of you who brought this diet to my attention. Good luck to everyone with their problems. Bye for now...