Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Tips for All You Sugar Addicts!

Hello sugar junkies!

I am one, too. (Once an addict, always an addict.) I have had a plethora of mail recently from many of you who are challenging yourselves to be sugar-free in 2010. I hope to inspire those resolutions and offer helpful tips. I have successfully been off of sugar for two years now, and realize that it is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. Looking back, if someone told me I would be staying off of sugar this long I would have keeled over laughing. Seriously, I had a major problem. I could not get enough of it. Being sick to my stomach was basically how I felt most of the time in an effort to quell the almighty sweet tooth. Although I desperately wanted to boot out sugar in my life, I had no idea if it was possible for someone like me or what it would look like in reality. Was I going to become a weird hippie or get totally obsessive? (I love hippies)

At first I did get obsessive. Sugar was all I talked about. I bored my poor friends and family to death with all kinds of details about sugar and sugar alternatives. Many people still happily indulging in sugar just don't care.

Now that the holidaze fog has cleared and it's back to the swing of things, I thought I would re-write some pointers for how to stay strong and keep sugar at bay. Keep in mind we are up against the well-oiled sugar machine. Everywhere you look we are being bombarded with ads for junk food or the actual junk food itself. You can't stand in line anywhere (health food stores included) without being surrounded by chocolate and other sugar-laden goodies. I have noticed that even at non-food stores the registers are surrounded by a sea of candy as if to appeal to our spontaneous senses. It's a sugary freak show out there. I can't believe how much sugar is everywhere. Even though our country is faced with an obesity epidemic, heart disease as the number one killer, a national eating disorder and a growing number of children with diabetes, you can find sugar anywhere. Yet try and find a piece of fruit when you want it!

Despite all the efforts out there to appeal to our sweet teeth, we can rise above the mixed messages and eat healthy.

It's not that difficult when you make a few things habit:
  • Keep healthy snacks with you AT ALL TIMES. Being broadsided by hunger pains and a sweet tooth can lead you into temptation unless you planned ahead. Take a moment to sit somewhere and enjoy the flavors of that apple or those juicy green grapes. Enjoy each of the different flavors in your little bag of mixed nuts and dried fruit.
  • If you forgot your healthy goodies and are hijacked by a craving, run to the nearest available water source, preferably where you can add lemon. After a glass of water you will probably get your senses back. Sip some hot tea with honey if you have to.
  • When you do your grocery shopping, Do not give yourself a limit buying healthy foods. Buy a variety of healthy foods that you know you will go to when you have a craving. Keep your pantry, fridge and freezer full of these items.
  • Some of you will need to empty out your kitchen of all sugary goods. Personally, I don't have a problem seeing my husband's sugary goodies around. I fear that if I remove all his sugary goodies, when I am around sweet treats I will just lose all control. I like to know that I have control even when I'm alone. Whatever works for you.
  • Decide right now what your exact goals are. To give up all refined sugar? To give up natural sweeteners, too? Know whether or not you will eat artificial sweeteners because you will find a lot of sugar-free goodies and beverages out there, full of chemicals otherwise known as: Splenda, aspartame, maltitol, saccharin, etc. Many of these sugar alternatives have dubious beginnings and unknown futures based on lack long-term human trials. And take it from me, even though ingredients like maltitol seem like a benign sugar alcohol, it can really wreak havoc on your system.
  • You will have cravings. Prepare ahead of time for these and know that you can get through it. Have new, flavorful teas ready to try with a drop of honey, fruit pre-washed and prepared, healthy gum to chew on, baked goods sweetened naturally, etc. The craving will pass and you will be stronger each time you don't run to sugar.
  • Offer to bring an appetizer, main dish or dessert to gatherings. Make them sugar-free, of course, and have fun experimenting with different recipes.
  • Explore the giant blog-o-sphere and read what other people are doing. This has been incredibly inspiring for me. There are so many people revamping their diets and eating healthier and posting recipes.
What else do you think it takes to be free of the white stuff? What do you do to help with cravings?

14 comments:

Leslie Richman said...

Thanks for the great tips.

In cutting down on my sugar, I've found that eating healthy foods in general helps keep the cravings to a minimum. As long as I'm full of fruits and vegetables, I'm good. Too much bread, pasta, rice, or anything overly sweet sort of starts the wild ride again!

My Internet Presence said...

nth attempt...

Stacey said...

I am really shamed to say I went overboard on the hols and binged. I didn't eveb really want what I was eating, I just ate it. You know what? My body is PUNISHING me. I feel like crud, and I have digestive issues going on. Back on the wagon for me, and a nasty reminder that, as you say, addiction is for life. I was so proud of my ability to moderate but in an uncontrolled environment I lost that ability :(.

Ann.Marcella said...

Thanks for the encouragement for 2010! I made your hot chocolte recipe tonight, and it was DELICIOUS! Even my little brother enjoyed it to the last drop!

My Year Without said...

Pixipine-I totally agree. Bread especially, even if it's sprouted or rice. I'm better off eating oatmeal loaded with fruit and nuts than a piece of toast which can easily become four pieces.

Patron-?

Anastasia-I am so sorry! Did you know ahead of time that you were going to give in during the holidaze? I know what it's like to give in a little...which for me is the guilty beginning of a LOT. I have to give up the white stuff 100% or I'm in trouble.

Keep your head up! You will be feeling better in no time and now you have an experience that will remind you to abstain next time!

Ann-So glad you liked the hot chocolate. Thanks for writing!

My Internet Presence said...

Sorry, my sugar-addled brains have rendered me lazy and inarticulate. By 'nth' I mean 'yet another attempt', i.e. 'I have stopped counting'.

Lizzie said...

I can totally second that comment about talking about sugar nonstop. All I seem to do now is ask my brother what he's eating and stare at it longingly. Thanks for the tips, I'm sure that they'll help a lot this month!

Stacey said...

Yep I gave myself permission to indulge a little, and ended up going completely overboard. I'm having psychological cravings now, wanting a bit of sugary organic choc NOW instead of going to the health food shop to get raw choc. I think it's the ease of just eating sugar opposed to making a stand against it constantly. And further to your pepper story my mayonnaise has sugar in it, but they all do! Argh! Going to have to make my own I think!

Angela said...

It's funny that you mentioned being an addict because I occasionally joke around and refer to myself as being 10 months sober (although technically I do eat sugar still on holidays only, so maybe that 10 months doesn't count) and when I do have sugar on holiday's I refer to is as "falling off the wagon."

Thanks for the tips.

Anais said...

Great tips!!

I don't know that I could cut out added sugar forever, but I like that stopping for a short time reminds me of all the little places they hide sugar in these days!

Sarah said...

I found your blog last month after I gave up sugar and had a friend tell me about it (your blog). I've loved reading your archives for info and encouragement these last few weeks!

I made cookies for guests at a dinner party recently and fought the cravings by stopping midway through and making a raspberry/banana smoothie--that helped so much I wasn't even tempted to lick the beaters :)

will said...

Your water tip is for real. Often dehydration desguises itself as hunger.
Nuts are a great snack that somehow can satisfy a sugar craving.
I avoid artificial sweeteners, because they make me ill. I've read that they actually slow your metabolism and increase sugar cravings.

will said...

=)

My Year Without said...

Patron-Aha....What do you think it will take for you to not just attempt this, but to succeed?

Lizzie-I have to admit, sometimes I still catch myself staring at Jeff while he crunches away on Oreos or digs around in his pint of Ben & Jerry's.

Anastasia-Of course I can totally relate! All my previous attempts at cutting out sugar ended promptly when I gave myself permission to "eat a little." No such thing as a little sugar in my world.

Angie-Good for you for letting yourself indulge a little but not making sugar consumption a regular part of your diet. That is my ultimate goal someday when I am brave enough to attempt moderation!

Anais-How is it going so far?

Sarah-That's funny. Smoothies are such a great substitute for sugar!

Will-I seem to learn something new about artificial sweeteners all the time-thanks!