I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

So I have come to terms with the fact that I am addicted to sugar/white carbs. I have been working out like 5 times a week and am not budging on the scale or the way my clothes fit and am sure this is the reason. I don't eat eggs so I feel like I start off with carbs everyday and it's downhill form there. I feel unsatisfied if I don't eat carbs.

Please tell me the best way to break this addiction! I was going to try southbeach but since I don't eat eggs and skeeve cottage cheese/ricotta (unless it's in ziti!) & most yogurt so it will be a major issue for me. Help
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OK so I'm doing good! I dramatically cut my carbs and sugar intake. I've been having stone ground wheat bread and cheese for breakfast or turkey bacon cheese or yogurt for breakfast. Lunch mostly salad with turkey or tuna and veggies. Dinner protein with veggies. Protein bars for a snack. (Love the Balance bars) What has made the most difference is not just grabbing a handful of chips or couple of cookies whenever I felt like it.I now realize just how bad my choices were. I'm barely having any cravings which is surprising. The thing that I really miss is my light and sweet coffee with half & half!!! I don't like it ANY other way- I've tried. I have decided I'll let myself have a small cup on the weekends only.

Anyway, I am down 4 lbs in like 5 days and I can't believe it. I have been working out like crazy before changing my eating and the scale would not budge so I was so pleasantly surprised by that this morning. Thanks for all the encouragement! It really helps! I am so motivated!

Message edited 7/9/2012 2:42:21 PM.

I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

There are plenty of things you can eat on a low-carb diet besides eggs and soft cheeses. You just have to be open to eating non-typical items for the typical meals. (ie. A piece of chicken for breakfast.)

I picked up Atkins again for the past week and haven't had any of the above items. I've mostly been eating meat, poultry, hard cheese, nuts and veggies. By day 2 I felt much less bloated and puffy and I'm not constantly grazing all day. After 7 days I've lost 12 pounds.

Good luck.

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

Wow, that's great! Thanks. I'll look into it a bit more. Sucks because I'm allergic to nuts Feel like those would be great to munch on! I do like all of the other thing you mentioned

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

Try switching to other types of grains for breakfast. Oatmeal is great..I make a french toast bake every morning with low carb multi grain bread and top it with fruit. Make smoothies, protein shakes, greek yogurt and berries, cottage cheese with/apple/cinnamon...plenty of options out there!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

I totally think I was physically addicted to sugar. I just finished a week on SB phase 1 and the first few days were rough. DH said to me "I think you are going through sugar withdrawals." I could not stay awake (all day - constantly napping - off for the summer), I couldn't lift my arms one afternoon, I had cranky periods.


If you can get through those first few days, it gets better and easier.

Not eating eggs will make it more difficult, but I don't really eat meat and I am getting through it. (I don't like cottage cheese or ricotta either)

search for south beach phase 1 recipes on pintrest

I'm down 12 pounds in 9 days! without exercise (I had a foot issue)

Message edited 7/3/2012 11:27:43 PM.

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

It's not easy to break but its all about will power. switch up for whole wheat products and just cut out the sugar. After a few days you'll feel better. I have a fitness motivation and support group on Facebook and it really helps to keep us accountable for what we eat and staying with exercise. I can add you in to help you stay motivated.

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

I have increased my protein intake dramatically and see a huge difference. Greek yogurt is my go-to for breakfast and keeps me full till lunch. I still eat pasta in small amounts, but if I want bread I have a low-carb wrap or low-cal sandwich thin. I have turkey and hummus a lot, and use mustard and banana peppers as toppings instead of mayo or dressing. Dinner is always a lean protein with a little bit of a carb or a veggie.

I don't crave bad things anymore - if they aren't in the house I forget about them. I do need a chocolate fix maybe once a week, but a few M&Ms satisfies me. Alcohol is my true downfall

It helped tremendously that when I started eating better, so did my DH. He was and is incredibly supportive and I never feel that I have to make him separate meals. If you can get your whole family on board that will be a huge help to you

Message edited 7/4/2012 10:28:47 AM.

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

I have a significant amount of weight to lose and finally took a long hard look at what I've been eating and the habits I've had all my life. I've done Weight Watchers many, many times and have always been successful for the short term, but I think it has too much freedom and allowed me to keep my bad habits so I would eventually fall off the wagon.

I am a hard core sugar/carbs addict, I have realized I just can't control myself when it comes to baked goods and sweets. So I'm not eating them anymore, and let me tell you that within the past three weeks I have lost my cravings for them. I still eat healthy carbs like fruit and some whole grain, high fiber bread items, but have really upped my protein.

So I think you certainly can kick the habit, but you definitely have a challenge with not liking a lot of the go-to proteins out there. I'd start the day with some sort of yogurt (either with fruit or as a smoothie?) and then add more protein for the rest of they day. When I'm making dinner now, I don't even make a carb component (which was a big part of the plate previously). Up the vegetables, have cheese sticks and fruit for snack. Try protein shakes too. You can do it!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

Thanks everyone. Yes, I'm def going to up my protein. I started today with a cheese stick and a few slices of turkey bacon. For lunch tuna with veggies. Then half of a protein bar. For dinner I'll prob have a hamburger with all the fixins minus the bun.

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

My body gets triggered into addiction by certain foods. There are certain cereals I can eat 1 cup of and others I can't. If it is in my house, I will just eat and eat. I can't stop it is def a chemical addiction. I realized that for me it is all about fiber. Or, I can eat a protein with a small carb. Typically, if I eat a fiber-filled meal that contains black beans my blood sugar becomes regulated and I am less likely to binge. I just stay away from trigger foods and eating fiber foods makes that easier.

I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

This is a very timely discussion!

I saw a picture of myself last week, and that was all it took for me to give up my Panera bagel habit each morning before work.

When I am home Fri-Sun I NEVER eat that kind of food.

Starting this past week, I have been bringing fruit/greek yogurt/oatmeal to eat at work instead.

While I won't give up my coffee in the morning, I am already starting to feel a lot better and not as bloated.

I also think the weight will start to come off as well.

Several co-workers have given up most carbs completely and lost the weight.

While it hasn't been a long time for me, like someone else pointed out, once you start to get used to it, you don't crave it anymore.

I think they say it takes about a month to get a new routine into a habit?

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

I used to start my day off with oatmeal

and I would be starving all day long

now I cut out all processed carbs- oatmeal, bread, etc I already gave up rice and pasta (and cookies thanks to becoming diabetic)

I lost all my cravings for carbs- I feel so much better

my blood sugar was low last night and I forced myself to eat a piece of bread dipped in the sauce from my mussels- something I used to live for- and I wasn't that into it-

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

I just posted something similar to this in a Fitness group I belong to on FB. I've cut out all grains, pasta, breads, white sugar..basically bad carbs. I've also been eating mainly a plant based diet with roasted/grilled chicken, turkey bacon, turkey, etc for protein. The first few days were ROUGH, I'm not going to lie. But like a PP said, after a few days I'm not craving any of those foods any more. For breakfast, I have an egg white omelet or greek yogurt with fruit. Lunch is a mixed green salad with grilled chicken and some light olive oil with black pepper. Snacks are any nuts but peanuts, baked plantains, celery with hummus, and dinner is a lean protein and veggies...LOTS of veggies. I've not weighed myself yet but really, just the difference in how I feel (energetic instead of a bit lethargic) is great.

You can totally do this!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour

Thanks everyone, I'll update at top!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

Congratulations!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

one of the biggest thing I had to understand

abs are made in the kitchen

meaning- it's what you eat- working out is important- but what you eat is way more important

70/30

so if you only doing the 30- then you aren't going to see the results

I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

Great job. We're still on the wagon too.

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

I found my midsection always looks better when I eat fewer carbs/cut down on my sugar. It's crazy what a difference it makes!
Great job!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

Posted by cj7305

So I have come to terms with the fact that I am addicted to sugar/white carbs. I have been working out like 5 times a week and am not budging on the scale or the way my clothes fit and am sure this is the reason. I don't eat eggs so I feel like I start off with carbs everyday and it's downhill form there. I feel unsatisfied if I don't eat carbs.

Please tell me the best way to break this addiction! I was going to try southbeach but since I don't eat eggs and skeeve cottage cheese/ricotta (unless it's in ziti!) & most yogurt so it will be a major issue for me. Help
-----------------------------------------------------------
OK so I'm doing good! I dramatically cut my carbs and sugar intake. I've been having stone ground wheat bread and cheese for breakfast or turkey bacon cheese or yogurt for breakfast. Lunch mostly salad with turkey or tuna and veggies. Dinner protein with veggies. Protein bars for a snack. (Love the Balance bars) What has made the most difference is not just grabbing a handful of chips or couple of cookies whenever I felt like it.I now realize just how bad my choices were. I'm barely having any cravings which is surprising. The thing that I really miss is my light and sweet coffee with half & half!!! I don't like it ANY other way- I've tried. I have decided I'll let myself have a small cup on the weekends only.

Anyway, I am down 4 lbs in like 5 days and I can't believe it. I have been working out like crazy before changing my eating and the scale would not budge so I was so pleasantly surprised by that this morning. Thanks for all the encouragement! It really helps! I am so motivated!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

Posted by deedee1013

Posted by cj7305

So I have come to terms with the fact that I am addicted to sugar/white carbs. I have been working out like 5 times a week and am not budging on the scale or the way my clothes fit and am sure this is the reason. I don't eat eggs so I feel like I start off with carbs everyday and it's downhill form there. I feel unsatisfied if I don't eat carbs.

Please tell me the best way to break this addiction! I was going to try southbeach but since I don't eat eggs and skeeve cottage cheese/ricotta (unless it's in ziti!) & most yogurt so it will be a major issue for me. Help
-----------------------------------------------------------
OK so I'm doing good! I dramatically cut my carbs and sugar intake. I've been having stone ground wheat bread and cheese for breakfast or turkey bacon cheese or yogurt for breakfast. Lunch mostly salad with turkey or tuna and veggies. Dinner protein with veggies. Protein bars for a snack. (Love the Balance bars) What has made the most difference is not just grabbing a handful of chips or couple of cookies whenever I felt like it.I now realize just how bad my choices were. I'm barely having any cravings which is surprising. The thing that I really miss is my light and sweet coffee with half & half!!! I don't like it ANY other way- I've tried. I have decided I'll let myself have a small cup on the weekends only.

Anyway, I am down 4 lbs in like 5 days and I can't believe it. I have been working out like crazy before changing my eating and the scale would not budge so I was so pleasantly surprised by that this morning. Thanks for all the encouragement! It really helps! I am so motivated!

I want to thank you for giving me more motivation....

I've been watching what I eat since July 1st. I've been making better choices.

I got on the scale morning and I've lost 3 pounds....

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

That's great!! I'm right there with you on the coffee and creamer. That is the one thing I allow myself as far as "bad stuff" goes. However, I have found that I'm using less of the creamer as I've lost my cravings for sugar.

Also, I've really been liking Kind Bars. I get them at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods.

Keep up the good work!

I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE

Wow! I just weighed myself since giving up my carby-breakfasts the beginning of this month, each day before work and have lost close to 10 lbs already! Unbelievable!!!!

Re: I'm addicted to sugar and white flour- UPDATE