Sugar High

Does anyone have any advice on how to (gradually) ween yourself off of sugar???

...I feel like its something I NEED. Regardless of how full I am after dinner and how balanced my diet is, I feel that late at night I really really crave sugar. I tried the whole 'eat fruit instead' thing etc (as well as brush your teeth after you eat, and so on), but I crave processed sugar. And in large quantities. Its terrible. I'm not on a super-strict diet or looking to restrict myself from what I love. But I just wish I didnt feel like i 'need' it after dinner. How do I cure this 'addiction'??

Fri. Sep 21, 10:33am

I know exactly what you mean!! I have a real problem with sugar late at night too. However, I think that it can be mainly psychological, just like a bad habit. For me, I crave sugar at night because it has become a routine. I watch TV and eat junk food. I've started making low calorie desserts such as some jello or pudding with a little bit of low fat cool whip. I also bought this sweetener called Stevia. It's an all natural sweetener made from the crysanthemum flower and it's super sweet; so sweet that it's almost bitter. When I'm really craving something, I put a drop on my tongue and that usually cures it. You can buy Stevia at the grocery store, in the vitamin section.

Friday, September 21, 2007, 7:18 PM

Fellow sugar junkie here... Per the suggestion of some authors (and probably some fellow PT'ers, if we searched every last thread :p), I'm gonna try keeping those Listerine Pocket Strips with me at all times. Not b/c they are a tasty substitution for Oreos, but b/c they probably ruin the taste of such a treat for as long as a craving is said to last (several to 20 minutes, I hear). Hope this helps!

Saturday, September 22, 2007, 2:30 PM

I read a great line from The Beck Diet Solution - something along the lines of: if you want to eliminate cravings you've got to stop feeding them. Those first few days are the WORST, but like as long as you keep giving in to that after dinner craving they'll persist! I'm a sweet tooth junkie, too, and if you can just wait it out - or more accurately - if you're willing to wait it out (b/c you CAN do it) and endure some momentary anxiety it will pass. Making the decision NOT to indulge can also help. Sometimes it's just the going back and forth of 'should I, shouldn't I' that's most tortuous.

Love the idea of the Listerine strips! That would ruin the taste!

Saturday, September 22, 2007, 3:57 PM

3:57 - absolutely true. I've also heard that "you hunger for what you feed on", so if you're eating a lot of sugar, that's what you'll want. But if you replace that with healthier foods, that's what you'll eventually start to want. I can tell you from experience that this is true, but it does take time! There were a couple of weeks where I totally wanted sweets all the time, but eventually it gets less. It is worth the effort! Good luck!

Saturday, September 22, 2007, 5:00 PM

Not terribly sexy advice, but I had to go cold turkey. Just stop. I wasn't going to let this control me. Now I don't crave it at all. In fact my tastes have changed radically and I can't believe the stuff I used to find 'good'. Yes - it sucks for awhile and it takes a lot of willpower, but you can change the types of foods you crave.

Sunday, September 23, 2007, 1:15 AM

What are some steps to start weening yourself off of processed foods? I feel like late night sugar reasons are seriously ruining my otherwise healthy lifestyle.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 2:35 PM

I moved away from sweet cravings by incorporating more fruit in my diet. Your taste buds don't differentiate it from bad sweets, but it's processed differently from a nutritionally empty cookie.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 3:58 PM

Try sugar free gum, sugar free chocolate pudding (60 cals) and hot tea with splenda. See if you can only do those things for a week, and maybe that will help break the habit. I crave sweet things at work, where there is lots of candy, etc. laying around. I eat these itallian jujubee things at work which take a long time to eat and have 2.5 cals each. (Puntini Italian Jujube - you can search on google) I've also used s/f halls vitamin C losenges to help cravings too.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 4:24 PM

jello usually helps too. i think i will make some of that tonight...

Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 5:01 PM

I think I would have to agree with 1:15 on September 23. I know it's hard to hear, but it is far better for you to use some willpower to break the hold sugar has on you and change your taste buds' preferences. I've done the whole thing where you eat stuff that's packed with asparatame and splenda, and was just hungry all the time. Start filling yourself up with fruits and veggies, drink hot tea with NO splenda (at first I thought this was gross but now I love it - honest!) I'm not a huge "all processed things are bad for you" fanatic, but I have found it easier to lose weight and be healthy when I eat less of these fake sugar substitutes.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 6:50 PM

I usually eat something like organic dark chocolate almonds after dinner. It's sweet, and high in protein, so just a small amount usually shuts my cravings right off.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007, 11:59 AM

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