Beauty

[virgosun]

I lost 75 lbs and was addicted to sweets. I started eating gluten free which eliminated all the cakes and cookies. I don't keep them in my house anymore which really helps. I eat fruit. Slice up an apple, sprinkle it with cinnamon and put the slices in a shallow bowl with some water for 1 minute in the micro and it's like having apple pie. If I crave chocolate I have a package of diet hot chocolate mix as a drink and it helps too. Eat more lean protein, it curbs cravings. All this works. You have to give it a chance. Also buy natural puffed rice cereal with some milk and add a splenda or equal, another filling healthy snack.

[gonnab]

My name is M...... and I am a sugar-olic. I know it's bad for me, I know I can't control it, and I know all the things that I should do to stop eating sugars. But like all addictors, I cannot control myself if I'm around anything sweet - cookies, cakes, candy, chocolate, etc etc. I tried South Beach earlier this year and did really well on it. Lost some weight - not a lot - but a few pounds. Like the program better than Weight Watchers (which I have done in the past and did very well) but I hate counting all those points. Than I got careless, told myself one piece isn't going to hurt, and now I'm right back to craving sweets. So......last Tues, I prepared. I got the books out, did the grocery shopping, planned a menu and picked out some recipes. This morning, I forgave myself for yesterday and gave myself the next 2 weeks to get back into shape. Bad time of the year to start such a program, but it's got to be now.

Incidently, if any of you are interested in low-carb recipes, there is a great website -Kalyn's Kitchen - full of really good tasty recipes. She is a South Beach-er and a food blogger.

[violann]

gonnab, we are Sisters In the Carb. You are in the process of doing the research- GREAT!!!!! Take a look at the Beck Diet Solution website. Decide whether your whole life or your tongue are more important to you, then----------- make the JUMP!!!!

[chrystaltree]

It's really not so hard. If you want to give up sugar, you just give up sugar. If you really want to lose weight and if you really want to get over your sugar addiction, you have to go cold turkey and "just do it". You can't inch your way into it and you really have to start with a positive attitude. You must WANT to do it because the first 2 weeks are the hardest. The best way to do it is to eat lean proteins, fruits and veggies, whole grains and avoid artificial sweetners. No "diet" foods like sugar-free yougurt, sugar-free puddings etc because those things have artificial sweetners. You want to re-train your taste buds. The interesting thing about doing this that you it doesn't take long at all to break the sugar addiction. You tend to lose a lot of weight, very quickly and that gives you the incentive to continue. Two, maybe three weeks into it, you begin to taste the natural sweetness that foods have. Especially fruit and veggies like carrots and corn. I know that some people have methods that are more intense but I find that I don't need to buy a bunch of expensive books and keep records and I don't think of it as giving up sugar; I think of it as "eating healthy". I don't limit the healthy foods I eat, I don't count or weigh or obsess over what I do eat. As long as it fits into my "lean protein, low fat, fruits/veggie, whole grain" plan, I eat what I want. But, another surprising thing is that when you eliminate sugar, your appetite decreases. You just don't get as hungry, as often. This is how I ate when I lost ove 150lbs. twentysomething years ago. After about 12 years, I went back to eating "like a normal person" and slowly regained 50lbs of that weight. So, I went back to the plan a few years ago and lost 60lbs in just 3 months. To be 100% honest, I also drank protein shakes for breakfast and for an evening snack. I had some health issues and chronic pain problem, so I fell back into the "sugar" trap and regained about 25lbs. January 1, I'll get right back on the program and I have no doubt that I'll be able to lose the 30lbs I want to lose by Easter and I'll work harder at going sugar free for the rest of my life.

[violann]

chrystaltree, you are SO speakin' my language!!!! Do want to add though, I don't do any grain. Just works better for me.

[glmama]

Hi Ladies-Just wanted to encourage you to x-post this in the Health forum. There have been many great discussions there about sugar and sweets and what works for other people. There is one posted in particular, I believe her user name is OCgirl (I could really have that wrong, and I apologize in advance) that has used the Jorge Cruise books and methods for decreasing sugar consumption. She has been helpful to me in the past when I've had questions. Hope she sees this.

[ChancesMom]

Wow-I really appreciate all of your suggestions. Today is day one of eating no sweets-so far so good! Thanks again-you are all so kind!(If I get the ""urge to splurge"" I am going to re-read all of your suggestions!)

[violann]

Thinking of things as I keep reading your posts- for some people, SALT can increase sugar cravings. I don't know why this is, but you would not believe how good a plate of steamed unsalted veggies can taste when you're REALLY hungry enough to appreciate it! I've also gained a major appreciation of spices and herbs. Go figure!

[gonnab]

Chrystaltree - thanks for your encouraging post. I'm happy that it was simple for you but that doesn't work for me. I've also been at this for a long time but it is still a struggle. I never lost my taste for sweet, even though I followed the guidelines and program faithfully. And interestingly, I did not lose much weight - another struggle. Since I have heart disease,I follow a heart-healthy diet - lots of veggies, some fruit, no beef, lean protein, healthy fats such as nuts, EVOO, etc. However, my cardiologist once suggested that one of heart medications that I take slows down my heart rate and therefore my metabolism which will affect any weight loss. Not an excuse but makes it a bit more difficult.

[VaBelle35]

If you follow a plan like Whole30 or Primal Blueprint 21 Day Challenge, you will kick it to the curb (along with a lot of other unhealthy things).

I'm on Day 30 of my Whole30 and I thought about putting sugar in my coffee this morning, and it didn't interest me.

Am I ever going to have sugar again? Yes. And if the sugar monster starts creeping up on my again, I know to get back on the no sugar wagon.

I, too, am a Lifetime WW member (since 1999). WW helped me to get better at eating, but WW still pushes the candy, the snacks and the fake foods with sugar in them. I transitioned to the Eat Clean Diet and Clean Eating for maintenance, but they still allow sugar in some forms in moderation.

Whole30/Primal Blueprint is the final step to get 100% good food in me.