How Do You Fight the Sugar Cravings?

I'm restarting my diet for the umpteenth time and what always sets me back are sweets.  I have a total sweet tooth and am finding it very hard not to walk into See's Chocolates/The Sweet Factory/Mrs. Fields Cookies/Cinnabun (I work at a mall 40 hours a week, so the temptations are nearby and easy to get to) to satisfy it.  

What do you do to ward off the sugar bug?  I've been eating lots of fruits recently to see if that would help, but...nope.  I've heard the lowfat/reduced sugar ice cream is a good alternative and that the 100 calorie packs help curb that craving.  What do you think?

Help a sugar addict!!

Holli

The best method I've ever come across is to follow a Low GI diet.  That means one without added sugars but also without the refined carbohydrates and simple starches that turn to sugar in the bloodstream very quickly.   Instead.... eat more vegetables, complex carbohydrates, wholegrains, pulses/legumes, lean meat, fish, dairy and fruit...  Don't substitute with artifically sweetened foods because that's just propping up your sweet tooth.

All the above is quite tough for someone with high sugar tolerance (!) so the advice is don't cut calories at the same time.  Because getting hungry will lead to sugar cravings aim to have a meal or a snack every 2 or 3 hours.

It takes about 2 or 3 weeks to get your tastebuds back to normal and for the cravings to die down.... As this happens, then start to reduce the calories.  

You'll slip up from time to time but if you can go 2 days without sugar, then 3, then 5 between slips you'll see the benefit long-term.  Best of luck

I get my sugar fix thru a bowl of special K w/berries in the morning and then a caffeine free Diet Coke at 1 pm.  Also, sometimes I have sherbert at night as a snack.

Have a coffee/latte/cappuccino as your pre-work snack.  The sugar you'd use is MUCH less than anything you would get at those shops (hopefully! lol) and the caffeine is a mild appetite supressant, so you'll be getting a sugar fix as well as less of a desire to eat a cookie.

I'm a sugar addict too... I think the 100 calorie packs help.  Chewing a piece of Orbit gum helps control the cravings too (I currently have 3 different flavor packs in my purse, lol).  I also like the Luna Bars - Nutz over Chocolate or Peanut Butter Cookie... they taste like a treat to me.  :)

i love sugar as well.

for me, light hot chocolate, diet soda and skinny cow fudge bars are great.

supposedly if you eat a bit more of protein like maybe nuts,,it helps the cravings.

One thing I do if I get the munchies, I take a bubble bath with good music and relax.. this help curbs the appetite, it works for me.

good luck

what eerica said

I also have the sweet tooth cravings even though I have been off sugar for about 8 months.

I have found though that the russell stover sugar free 100 calorie cereal bars takes care of the craving when I get one.

So far the only place I have found them is at Walmart or through russel stover website:

http://www.russellstover.com/jump.jsp?itemTyp e=CATEGORY&itemID=142

Since I cannot have sugar I make a lot of treats at home using Davinci's sugar free syrups or Splenda. I can replicate pretty much everything at home.

If you're out at the mall (which it sounds like by the confections you're passing by!) hit up a Starbucks & try one of their Lite Frappucinos. They're creamy & delicious & low calorie to boot. I loved them in my former life ;) If you're ok with carbs, you can also order any of the espresso drinks with sugarfree syrups. A s/f vanilla or hazelnut latte is heaven! Since I have to limit my carb grams I stick to an americano with sugar free syrup and cream... boy do I miss the creamy frothiness of a latte! Mmmm...

ive found that many sugar cravings are beacuse of a lack of fat, saturated fat, etc.

Its really what your bodys cells crave. also a diet low in refined sugar helps.

also agrees with eerica lol

I agree with dartinton, especially about diets low in refined sugar.  I don't really HAVE sugar cravings anymore since I've cut out the bulk of my refined/added sugar.

Original Post by gi-jane:

The best method I've ever come across is to follow a Low GI diet. That means one without added sugars but also without the refined carbohydrates and simple starches that turn to sugar in the bloodstream very quickly. Instead.... eat more vegetables, complex carbohydrates, wholegrains, pulses/legumes, lean meat, fish, dairy and fruit... Don't substitute with artifically sweetened foods because that's just propping up your sweet tooth.

All the above is quite tough for someone with high sugar tolerance (!) so the advice is don't cut calories at the same time. Because getting hungry will lead to sugar cravings aim to have a meal or a snack every 2 or 3 hours.

It takes about 2 or 3 weeks to get your tastebuds back to normal and for the cravings to die down.... As this happens, then start to reduce the calories.

You'll slip up from time to time but if you can go 2 days without sugar, then 3, then 5 between slips you'll see the benefit long-term. Best of luck

as a sugar addict myself I think this is the best advice I've ever read so far! i'm determined to try this, but just to clarify-this also means cutting out "white" flour and rice products?

 

I brush my teeth.

 

Then nothing tastes good except cold water. :P

Works everytime.