I can not stop eating sugar! I don't know what to do or what is the best way is to go about it, it just seems to be getting worse, some days I'll eat up to 4 or 5 pieces of cake, a 4 pack of mars bars, icecream and various biscuits adding up to nearly 300g of sugar. I wish it was just as simple as deciding not to put it in my mouth and I feel ridiculous, I used to judge smokers for their lack of control, but when I don't have it and want it my brain can't let it go. It's like someones knocking on the door and despite telling them to go away they won't stop knocking until I let them in and it stops me from being able to concentrate on anything else until I get my 'fix' but once the door is open its really hard to close. I can go a few days sometimes and be extremely healthy and then I'll suddenly go on a massive binge, all or nothing. I'm not overweight and highly active so a lot of it gets burnt off but my dependency is getting worse and my weight is slowly creeping up. I have tried cold turkey, went up to 3 1/2 weeks a few months back then ate a chocolate bar and went on an eating frenzy and it all seems so much worse since. I've tried reading up on sugar to scare myself into avoiding it, I felt bad about the damage it can cause yet my urges override it. Just feel so out of control and need to know how to get a grip. Worried for my health, the other day I ate so much the room started shaking. I tried a hypnotherapy MP3 recently, it had no affect on me. I know only I can control what goes in my body and it is my responsibility, but Is there something I can do to somehow re-programme my mind out of its sabotaging ways? Please help.
It sounds like you might have some kind of a hormonal imbalance. There's definitley something causing you to crave sugar. Have you discussed this with your medical doctor? I would start there.
I have no answers for you, but I completely understand what you are going through. I am exactly like you - I can go for days, sometimes weeks, being really healthy. I start to lose weight and feel good and then all of a sudden I start eating sugar again and I cannot stop. My weight goes up and my health starts to suffer. Like you I have done all sorts of reading and even studied nutrition, but all that does is make me feel worse for what I am doing to my body. Good to know that we are not alone!
I hope you and I succeed in gaining back control. People don’t really acknowledge the idea of sugar addiction so its something I feel like I can’t talk about properly or be taken seriously with, they don’t quite understand the severity. My colleagues, friends and family will wave sugary foods in front of me when they know I’m being ‘good’ despite my protestations. Because I’m not overweight they think I’ll be ok.
We must keep trying- there has got to be a way!
Best wishes, Rachel
I am just like both of you. Have joined a local OA group and in less than a week, I am really seeing positive changes in my behavior and my thoughts about food. It seemed silly to need to try something like this, in fact I made fun of OA before, but I now understand that I am an addict and I need help. Nothing wrong with going to get it! Check out oa.org to find a group near you and see if that could be of help!
Thank you, it’s something I’ve never really considered before, probably because I associated it with obese people and that I wouldn’t be accepted being a normal BMI. I fell off the ‘wagon’ again after 12 days of sugar abstinence the other day, the pressure just mounted up after going to my parents for dinner and watching 7 family members eat my favorite dessert. Decided that I don’t think cold turkey is the way for me. I will look into OA as I’ve got to find something that helps me change my destructive habits, I’ve just eaten a horrendous amount of sugar yet again and despair of myself!! Let us know how you get on with the group, thanks.
smileyrmiley,
It will blow you away to see who is at OA. Lots of people just like you and me. I am married to a great guy, have two beautiful boys, am 34, own my own company and have a wonderful life and great family and friends. "normal" right? Need to lose about 15 pounds. But the things that the others in my group talk about, I have experienced to one degree or another. To me, getting off of the sugar and being "sane" around food is a mental/emotional and spiritual battle. I KNOW the right things to eat, I KNOW my way around the gym. I have BEEN ON every diet there is. Why can't I just DO IT already?!?! You know! ;) So for me, there is a missing component. Just my 2 cents!
I can so relate to your post. I could have wrote it word for word. I even teach a spin class. I ate so much watermelon last night, I feel like I have a hang over. Why do I do this to myself over and over?