Sugar - going cold turkey, dealing with the cravings and hunger

whirlpool · 22-03-2014 12:28AM #1

I've just completed day three of going cold turkey on sugar. Has anyone any tips on dealing with the sugar cravings? They have been almost over-powering at times. Also I'm soooo hungry all the time. I've been eating meat, veg, berries, spices, rice cakes, ryvita, humus, almonds, tomatoes... I'm finding myself almost constantly hungry.

I want to continue cold turkey for as long as possible, I'm hoping at least three months. Has anyone any tips for dealing with the cravings besides just powering through?

Thanks!

mcballer · 22-03-2014 12:40AM

I found powering through was the only way. And I had them really bad....the sugar voices in my head would suggest I rob sweets from kids if I saw them haa. But really I found the insatiable hunger and irrational cravings only lasted a few days. Then u feel much better.
Though one thing was having a small amount of something amazing tasting without sugar. Just a half teaspoon of no added anything meridian almond butter was a pleasure hit cause I think it tastes so great that it helped trick my brain almost into thinking it was getting something sweet.
Good luck its better on the other side..

silverharp · 22-03-2014 09:05AM

plenty of good fats and reasonable amounts of protein should take your mind off food. getting rid of direct sugar but staying on a carby diet will still leave you craving. As treats you could have 1 or 2 squares of dark chocolate or a tablespoon of peanut butter, or a handful of nuts. Id cut out the rice cakes and riveta, they sound carby and dull

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 22-03-2014 09:09AM

nothing wrong with a bit of ryvita. my breakfast for the past month is cheese lettuce and cucumber on ryvita, 500 odd calories, 20-25 grammes fat and protein. grand stuff altogether

same for rice cakes, 4 supervalu rice cakes with peanut butter comes to around 300 calories (depending on how much peanut butter you slather on obviously) and is a nice tasty and filling snack

+1000 for the dark chocolate though and I found a spoon or two of coconut oil throughout the day helped me a lot when i was initially dropping sugar from my diet. it killed the cravings for snackage something fierce

Piglet85 · 22-03-2014 08:29PM

I have quite a sweet tooth and often find it a bit of a struggle to make sure my sugar intake doesn't get too high, but the only time I managed to do it without too much difficulty was when I cut it out completely (as part of an elimination diet for IBS). Things like dark chocolate and other lower sugar options that people usually suggest weren't an option for me, and surprisingly, I found that after a few hellish days, I craved sugar less than I ever had when just eating small amounts of it. I did eat some of the lower-sugar fruits and veg, but other than that, I cut it out completely. Unfortunately, it's not the easiest thing to give up from a practical point of view, as there are hidden sugars in SO many things, and while you can cook from scratch yourself, eating out is tough. My point is, though, that to make it easier on yourself you really need to make sure that you are being super stringent and reading the labels on EVERYTHING. Also, educate yourself on the various names that different sugars can be listed as on ingredients lists.

Other than that, I'd recommend chromium supplements. They don't remove the cravings entirely, but do help. Best of luck!

Essien · 22-03-2014 08:52PM

For me, lots of protein and lots of fat did the trick.

whirlpool · 24-03-2014 12:38AM

Piglet85 wrote: »

I have quite a sweet tooth and often find it a bit of a struggle to make sure my sugar intake doesn't get too high, but the only time I managed to do it without too much difficulty was when I cut it out completely (as part of an elimination diet for IBS). Things like dark chocolate and other lower sugar options that people usually suggest weren't an option for me, and surprisingly, I found that after a few hellish days, I craved sugar less than I ever had when just eating small amounts of it. I did eat some of the lower-sugar fruits and veg, but other than that, I cut it out completely. Unfortunately, it's not the easiest thing to give up from a practical point of view, as there are hidden sugars in SO many things, and while you can cook from scratch yourself, eating out is tough. My point is, though, that to make it easier on yourself you really need to make sure that you are being super stringent and reading the labels on EVERYTHING. Also, educate yourself on the various names that different sugars can be listed as on ingredients lists.

Other than that, I'd recommend chromium supplements. They don't remove the cravings entirely, but do help. Best of luck!

Thanks!

I take Chromium already, too, after reading one of Patrick Holford's books. "How To Quit Without Feeling ***t" I think it was.

oscar_mike · 24-03-2014 12:54PM

What do you mean by cold turkey? Are you still eating cereals, cereal bars, instant oatmeal, sauces, low fat products, orange/apple juice, dried fruits, spreads etc, or most processed foods ... if your eating any of them your probably not going cold turkey.

But for practical tips on how to deal with cravings i usually have diet soft drinks, dark chocolate, cream or peanut butter.

24-03-2014 01:03PM

Stuff your face with protein and fat
Eat ALL the eggs and meat and veg
If you keep it below 20g / day including in any carby foods and juices or drinks or fruit or whatever, you should be ok
Energy levels ++;

simonsays1 · 29-03-2014 12:02AM

chromium
protein
some banana & home-made peanut butter to satisfy
or a tblespoon of apple cider vinegar or brush your teeth to help with intense moments where you think you're going to crack

Sugar - going cold turkey, dealing with the cravings and hunger

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