Sugar Addiction is in the health and weight loss industry news a lot these days. Everywhere you look people are giving advice and kicking sugar addiction. I’m very suspicious of their advice.
A recent article let me know the author had no clue about what the word “addiction” means when coupled with the word, “sugar.”
Among this doctor’s five suggestions was eating the type of sugary treats you love in small quantities. She was obviously never a real sugar addict or at least never had the level of sugar addiction I did.
Are You Addicted?
To suggest that someone really addicted to sugar use the tactic of eating less is like suggesting an alcoholic just drink less alcohol or go for their favorite alcohol in small quantities.
The dictionary defines addiction as having “a strong and harmful need to regularly have something.” Having less sugar does not work unless you are not addicted.
Most giving advice about what they term sugar addiction are not really talking about sugar addiction. They are giving advice about cutting down the harmful effects of eating too much sugar. Not everyone who eats too much sugar is addicted. For some it’s simply a matter of education and behavior modification of how much they should eat.
Is Sugar In Charge?
However, if sugar has become your life, your go-to source for entertainment, emotional security, comfort, protection and even, companionship, you cannot just modify the amount you eat. It is in charge of you. To break the cycle you must stop altogether. There is no in-between. You are a REAL sugar addict.
Paul addressed this when he said, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me but I will not be mastered by anything.”1
For me, I had to stop eating all refined and processed sugar. After five years of doing this I can tell when something has added sugar. I’m rarely caught off guard because I am on the lookout for the substance that I can easily allow to overcome me.
Freedom Tastes Good
I’m finally free of the sugar I felt I couldn’t live without. By cutting out refined sugar, by God’s grace and by His power,2 I am no longer wallowing in lack of control and have lost over 260 pounds. However, when I went back to eating a gooey treat, I became just like an alcoholic who took another drink.
However, I was able to get back on track because I had a mentor and an accountability group to pull me back. Today, I coach a similar group, Sweet Change Weight Loss Coaching Group, because I know the near impossibility of walking this journey alone. I needed a mentor, others on the journey with me and God to guide my way.
When one bite would trigger my cravings again, confession to the group would pull me back. Having a mentor to help me process a plan of action to not get caught again was vital.
Not everyone is like me. Some do not have the overwhelming desire to eat sugar constantly. Those individuals can follow the advice of doctors telling them to curtail their intake.
Five Ways
For those who are true sugar addicts, though, here are my five ways to kick sugar addiction.
- Eat regular meals with good protein and good fats. Sugar addicts have unstable blood sugar and we are usually the ones waiting until supper to eat a huge meal and then snacking all night. Eating regularly with protein snacks and adding good fats, such as avocados, in between helps regulate blood sugar.
- Cut out all refined and processed sugar. When you are really addicted, it is impossible to cut down. You must stop completely. When you stop and tell yourself you cannot go back, your cravings will eventually go away. For me it took a year. For others it will take less time depending on the level of addiction. I knew this was my last resort. I stayed with the plan and it became easier as I was consistent.
- Cut out diet sodas and diet foods. No artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners simply mimic sugar and make your brain want it all the more. It sets up the craving mechanism. This is why many times people will drink a diet soda while eating a candy bar. They are fueling their craving mechanism. Raw leaf stevia or raw monkfruit are not artificial sweeteners and can be used by most individuals. Test yourself to see. If you crave it, stop!
- Eat whole fruit instead of refined sugar. Fruit, not fruit juice, has fructose but it also has fiber and water content. This type of fructose is released slower into your bloodstream and does not spike your blood sugar making you crave it again in a few minutes.
- Stop and think. When cravings for sugar begin, stop and ask yourself what is going on. Are you thirsty? Drink water. If that doesn’t satisfy and you are hungry, eat protein. If that doesn’t satisfy, ask yourself, “What am I really feeling?” Do something positive to deal with your emotions instead of eating sugar.
The FREE #KickSugar 10-Day Course is available now. You could win a prize just by completing the course. If you are interested join below! Feel free to check out Sweet Change 101 and get a jumpstart on your weight loss lifestyle change.
Before you know it, your body will thank you for treating it better and sugar’s control will be kicked to the curb!
1 1 Cor. 6:12 NASB
2 2 Cor, 12:9 MSG
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Teresa, I can not remember when and how I started following your blog. But it is an insperation to me.
I am from Windhoek the capital of Namibia the 2nd country from the tip of Africa in the west coast.
Here in the southern parts of Africa we have a dieet revolution. The Tim Noaks dieet. Wanted to tell you for a while now. I think you will find it interresting. Here is the link to the website.
http://realmealrevolution.com/
From last September up to now I lost 10kg from cutting out sugar and starch. I use Xylitol for sweetner.
I LOVE Gary Taubes book, Why We Get Fat. It’s a bit too scientific for me but I do love it. Just on a quick perusal it looks like this plan goes along with what Gary talks about in his book. And even though he says it’s an easier read, he still is pretty technical.
The entire idea that protein and good fats should be the basis of our diet is very true for me. Not sure its for everyone, but it really works for me. I focus on protein. If I stay away from sugar and focus on protein I feel great, have energy and am satiated and the cravings go away!
TOTALLY can relate to this!! Thanks for the great post! I do find, however, that even fruit will spike my blood sugar except for small amounts of berries. I’m a type II diabetic and test about 5-7 x a day so I’ll know how different foods affect me!
Yes I have heard that diabetics also have to watch their fruit intake. Those of us who don’t have that problem, though, need to start somewhere and for me, that was a real Godsend. Fruit got me off refined sugar completely. For the first year I ate a lot of strawberries! Now they are still my preferred fruit but I find I don’t need them nearly as much. I eat a balanced portion, though I do love them in salads along with romaine lettuce, red onions, pecans, avocados and grilled chicken!
Teresa,
I feel the Holy Spirit recently led me to your website. I am also a RNY pot-op (7 years) who recently gained back about 40 pounds. A lot of that is due to releasing the carb monster which has been difficult to get back under control. You have inspired me and I am now about 10 days sugar and gluten free. I bought your book and downloaded the workbook and am looking forward to working my way through it. I would love to join the support group, but it isn’t in my budget right now. Thanks for sharing your story. I feel God is leading me to help others too- I just don’t know how quite yet.
Awesome.
I’m ready for the 10 day challenge
Teresa, I know exactly what you are talking about in this article. Cutting back does not work for me! When I get the sugar out of my system, one time of allowing myself just one small treat and that horrible, vicious cycle starts again! I know that God has been leading me to eliminate both sugar and wheat products from my diet but it is so difficult! I want to take the 10 day sugar challenge and pray that this is the final turning point where I totally eliminate sugar and wheat from my lifestyle! Thank you!
Hi,
I SO need this.
Honestly, I can’t even imagine quitting sugar much less just quitting succesfully.
I know all the right things to do, I know I SHOULD, I know God wants me to, I know it’s disobedience. Guilt, shame, on and on. Lost 22# on Medifast. Gained it back. Stresseater. Discouragement and shame abound. 🙁
Dawn, I hope you signed up for #KickSugar. It has specifics but it also talks about the power of God to take you on this journey. And I want you to consider signing up for Sweet Change 101: 7 Keys for the Weight Loss Journey. At the end of the FREE #KickSugar course there is a coupon to us on 101. Let me know how it goes.
Thank you for replying. I will do these, I am ready to try again. . . 🙂
Please help!! How do you get through an event like a major 4th of July family reunion?!! Last year, this same trip totally derailed my progress because I gave into the sweets and then couldn’t stop. It took almost a month before I got back on track. My blood sugar went crazy, my weight went crazy… I’m just now starting to really have some stability in my blood sugar after tightening the reigns a little more (with God’s leading) – and I do NOT want to mess this up over this trip!! Vacations have always represented “time to EAT!” for me – since I was a child.
I do NOT want to mess up this weekend. And my husband (who does NOT have an eating problem like me though he does love to eat) – says to just eat small amounts of the things I really want. He doesn’t get it that if I start down that road of giving into even small amounts of sugar or other carbs I’m addicted to, that will open the floodgates of DESIRE in me for MORE and MORE…
I’m thinking I need to just be prepared to totally stay away like an alcoholic with a drink – but it will be terribly hard with all the food just sitting around the whole weekend at my Aunt’s house – smelling all the treats, watching everyone else eating them… This is going to definitely take WAY more strength than *I* have – GOD is going to have to step in big time or I’ll fail…
Just be honest with your family. Take what you need. If you can’t take it, go to the store and buy what you need. Fresh fruit, salad, grilled chicken breasts, steak, any kind of meat to grill. Load up on meat. Go for protein when tempted. Have some avocados for salad. I love salad with oecans, strawberries, red onions and grilled chicken. Introduce others to your lifestyle.
What you tell yourself is key. You GET to eat healthy. You are not a slave to food. You are free. Food no longer masters you! And my favorite, nothing tastes as good as FREEDOM feels! Nothing!
Thanks so much for the response, Teresa! I downloaded the image that says Nothing Tastes as Good as Freedom Feels and made it he wallpaper for my iPad so that should help me remember what TRUE freedom is on this INDEPENDENCE a Day weekend!
I pray for all of us to kick the sugar out. Lord help us all to be healthier. Our body is a temple, please help us take care of our temples. We need you we can not do it alone. Give us new strength and desires to eat healthy. Help us to break this stronghold once and for all Lord!! In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen
Yes and amen. We break the stronghold by listening to what God is telling us. Let’s do this!
Good post, Teresa! Great advice!
Good healthy eating and protein is filling enough not to want sugar.
As a rule, I don’t eat refined sugar and sweets. If some of the sweets I love are in front of me, I will have some. But I also know to stay away from any sugar for 3 days and then I no longer crave it.