Are You Addicted To Sugar?
by Catherine Morgan

My name is Catherine Morgan and I am a Sugar Addict. Yes, I admit it. Isn't admitting you have a problem the first step towards recovery?

I've never smoked, I only drink alcohol occasionally, and I've never done any kind of drugs...So, I can't claim to know very much about addiction. However, if I didn't have any sugar in the house, it wouldn't be pretty. In the past I have been able to go "cold turkey" and stop eating sugar, and when I did, I felt great. It always took several days before I began to stop craving sugar, but once I got over the hump, it was no problem at all. The tough thing then, was knowing that I couldn't even have a tiny morsel of a cookie, or the smallest sliver of a piece of cake...Because once I did, it was all over.

After not making a New Years Resolution, I'm thinking I might want to bite the bullet and give the "giving-up sugar" thing one more try. And, it appears I wouldn't be alone...

How To Give Up Sugar For Good

Are you someone who can't stop eating sugar, once you start? Are you plagued with constant food cravings, especially for sweets or refined carbohydrates, such as pasta, bread or potato chips? Do you eat sugar past the point of fullness? Have you struggled with your weight? Do you especially crave sugar in the winter?

. . . . .

I was a compulsive sugar addict for over thirty years.

I'm currently writing an ebook that will offer my tips and ideas for achieving and maintaining freedom from sugar. (You can contact me here to be notified for its release.)

. . . . .

In the meantime, here are ten tips that helped me give up sugar:

Crazy Cat Lady Blogging is going to Sugar Rehab...

I’m on Day Five of a self-imposed “Sugar Addiction Rehab”. I’ve gone from wanting to eat my arm, to merely gnaw on my arm, to just a little licking. Seriously, this is teeth-gritting hard for me. I LOVE my sugar! I love my pastries! I love my cookies! I love my candy bars! I love my sugary chocolatey coffee beverages! But, I’ve gained yet another ten pounds since October and I felt dangerously close to being unable to tie my own shoes. So, here I am - an intervention of sorts.

From Ginger Lemon Girl, A Simple Sugar-Free Cake...

Being sugar-free this month has been quite a limitation for me. Yet, I'm glad Michael and I choose do this. It's a vivid reminder of how often, especially in the American culture, we satisfy ourselves with sugary foods. I think it's an undiagnosed disease in this country. We medicate ourselves with sugar. I know I do. If I've had a bad day... If I don't feel good... Even if I'm just tired... or if I'm vegging out in front of the tv... I often crave something sweet.

From the Fit Shack - Clean Eating Recipes...

Besides recipes containing flour, I noted the following sugar ingredients in different recipes in the cookbook: sugar, maple sugar flakes, sucanat, agave, organic sugar, organic honey, and brown sugar. If you are addicted to sugar or sugar sensitive, you already know that you need to stay away from all forms of sugar, not just the ingredient spelled “sugar”, so you wouldn’t be able to use the previous ingredients (same goes for me - I get my “sugar” in fresh fruit, but always include a protein when I eat it).

Again though, if you do not have any issue with sugar cravings or overeating by eating sugar and flour and you simply want to improve your health by getting off the processed foods, then The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook would be excellent for you.

Fumbling Towards Geekdom -- I'm Sweet Enough Already...

I think my energy levels are a lot stabler when I'm not eating sugar. I used to always get very sleepy in the early afternoon, perk up mid-afternoon (which was when I usually ate some cake or chocolate) and get sleepy again around 4:30. I haven't noticed this happening at all in the last few weeks.

Also See:

The Unsweet Side of Sugar

Recipe For Weight Loss

Weighing In On The New Year Dieting Frenzy

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at CatherineBlogs.com and The Political Voices of Women

Submitted by Catherine Morgan (view blog) on Sat, 01/19/2008 - 00:36

Comments

 

It's the glycemic index

Great post. I'm someone who's learned that I feel amazingly more energetic and overall just better when I don't eat sugar. For me, I can eat a very small amount once in a while, but if I start eating sugar regularly, it triggers mood swings, energy slumps, and cravings for more. Of course occasionally I do eat too much (usually during the holidays) and then I remember why I quit eating it in the first place!

Catherine, I'm guessing you already know about the glycemic index, but for people who don't, learning about how it works can help you understand why eating sugar and other highly starchy foods can make you crave more of those types of foods. There is a good explanation of this in layman's terms in The South Beach Diet book. The World's Healthiest Foods also has a good page talking about The Glycemic Index.

I'm completely sold on this way of eating!

Kalyn Denny
Kalyn's Kitchen

Submitted by Kalyn Denny on Sat, 01/19/2008 - 09:49
 

Thanks for the link Kalyn.

Thanks for the link Kalyn. I'm only somewhat familiar with the Glycemic Index, so I think I will take some time and check it out.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at CatherineBlogs.com and The Political Voices of Women

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 15:59
 

Sugar free for a year

My daughter (14) and I have embarked on a 12month without refined sugars cleansing ritual. In the past, we've broken our fast for Samhain or Litha (and both), this year, she wanted to try a 12 month fast.

I'm 20 days in now. It's not so hard once you pass about 8 days. To get you through the first days, we would have more milk and eat way more fruits.

I'm planning to make the entire 12 month time, but I'm a little worried about the September trip to Disney. Not sure I can say no to the yummy cupcakes in Downtown Disney!

I will also point out that I make my own pastries and reduce the refined sugar. We didn't go 100% sugar free, it's nearly impossible. Yeast often needs sugar to proof. Most store bought breads contain sugar. We decided that all refined sugars in the first 4 ingredients was too much sugar for us to eat. At 5, we'll eat it. We also eat items that contain less than 6 ingredients and sugar is less than half (yeah for walker's shortbread cookies).

One last thought (as if these weren't a lot of random thoughts already), giving up sugar made it possible for me to lose 60 lbs. It can work. It also made me feel much, much better in the long run.

Solidarity forever, 'cause the union makes us strong!

Submitted by bendygirl on Sat, 01/19/2008 - 20:05
 

Good Luck with your 12 month plan.

Thanks for the information, and good luck with your plan.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at CatherineBlogs.com and The Political Voices of Women

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 18:05
 

interesting read

Thanks for this post. I've been reading a lot lately on msg boards, etc., about people getting off sugar and, though I know it'd be one helluva challenge, I think it would be really good for me. I'm off to take an "are you addicted to sugar?" test to see where I stand.

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

Submitted by amygeekgrl on Sat, 01/19/2008 - 20:06
 

As your post illustrates so

As your post illustrates so well, there seems to be a lot written about this topic lately. I think sugar is a definite problem for a lot of people -- very interesting links you have here! :)

Personal blog: Keep Up With Me
BlogHer blog: Life - Singles

Submitted by Zandria on Sun, 01/20/2008 - 14:05
 

I'm with ya Catherine, I'm a sugar addict,
too

Hi Catherine,

My name is JoLynn Braley, and I'm a sugar addict, too. But, you already knew that (thanks for linking to my post at The Fit Shack). ;)

I really believe that sugar is a drug, just like any other.....not just my opinion and my personal experience, but also based on the research I've done (I've blogged about it several times). It causes a chemical reaction in the brain just like heroin and morphine do. If that's not a drug, I don't know what is. ;)

The issue is that most people don't want to consider this because sugar is too ingrained in the body and mind, look at how most of us grew up! That doesn't change the fact though, that it chemically alters the brain and sets in motion a cycle of continual cravings for more. Don't think for a moment that the processed food manufacturer's don't know this also......that's how they keep you coming back for more.

It is more than possible to eliminate refined sugar (and flour) from the diet and do so as a lifestyle. I must say that life is much sweeter without the white powder, and I have plenty of sweets in the form of fresh fruits, although I always have a protein with them, I don't eat fruit by itself.

I was also recently privileged to do an interview with author and food addict Dr. Debbie Danowski. She is addicted to sugar and flour (the 2 most addictive ingredients) and has been a recovering addict for 18 years....18 years clean and 18 years of keeping off over 100 pounds. As well as authors like herself, I'm glad to see other people blogging about this.

One last thing, I highly recommend reading Sugar Blues by William Dufty. You'll learn all about this sweet substance......there is so much more I could say, but I may as well write another post about it instead of going on an on here. :)

Keep up the great work Catherine, I really enjoy your posts.

JoLynn

Submitted by jb108 on Mon, 01/21/2008 - 01:19
 

Thanks JoLynn

Thanks JoLynn. I think I might check out that book Sugar Blues since you recommend it so highly. And if you do write another post on this topic, I hope you'll come back and link to it from here.

Thanks for commenting.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
also at CatherineBlogs.com and The Political Voices of Women

Submitted by Catherine Morgan on Mon, 01/21/2008 - 16:17
 

totally!

And even though I know better and even though I am all about the healthy when it comes to my kids, for myself... I really don't care. Which of course means I'm gonna be hating life later on but I'm throwing caution to the wind for now.

http://mamafasha.blogspot.com

Submitted by Kian Yamaguchi on Sun, 01/27/2008 - 00:49