How I Beat My Sugar Cravings

There are still days that I have sugar cravings. I don’t think they will ever completely go. But I have beat the majority of them. I don’t get them on a daily basis anymore and when I do get sugar cravings I find it much easier to push them to one side.

How did I beat my sugar cravings? It wasn’t too hard actually. Well, it wasn’t as hard as I expected. I did have to put some effort into it, but I didn’t feel as sad or annoyed that I was giving something up.

I’ve not switched to sweetener either. In fact, I prefer drinking full fat pop over diet forms (except Coke because I hate the furry feeling I get in my mouth from full fat Coke!) when I do decide to have them.

Making the decision to beat my sugar cravings was the first step. I needed to be proactive and committed to it. I made sure my husband knew that the diet change was coming and why. It helped that the Weight Watchers diet made a move to SmartPoints. I wanted to conserve my points and that meant not having the sugar on a daily basis.

At first I did find it hard. I went through some sugar withdrawals, which included headaches and serious cravings. But they only lasted for a couple of days. Once I got to the other side of the withdrawal symptoms, beating the sugar cravings was much easier.

I just had to really focus on the benefits of no—or little—sugar during the withdrawal periods. Cutting something out completely is not something I ever do. Instead, I allowed myself one Weight Watchers bar. It was up to me when I had it, but I could definitely only have one. I’d try to leave the bar to the end of the night.

But I didn’t completely beat my sugar cravings until I quit my job as a Weight Watchers leader. I didn’t have the chocolate bars in my store cupboard all the time. The chocolate wasn’t calling to me, so I found it much easier to say no.

By saying I was allowed one sugary treat a day, I managed to curb the cravings. My body knew that it was going to get it eventually. I’d also find ways to take my mind off the sugar calling, and opt for healthier snacks or a glass of water.

Now we don’t even have sweet stuff in the house, except fruit! If I want something sweet, I will usually go through the process of looking through the cupboards, realizing there is nothing, and then opting for a piece of fruit because it’s the only thing there. Oh, I tell a lie—there is also hot chocolate and I’ll sometimes opt for that at the end of the night. BUT I’ve found green tea is a great substitute. It’s something warm, refreshing, and unwinding all at the same time.

I know you can beat your sugar cravings, too. If you want to do it to live a healthier lifestyle, it’s time to take these steps:

  1. Make a commitment to beating your sugar cravings
  2. Make a plan of attack
  3. List the benefits of no sugar (or at least reducing sugar)
  4. Set your rule for the amount of sugar you’re allowed in a day
  5. Get rid of the sugar from your house as much as possible
  6. Find substitutes for your usual sugar fixes
  7. Have someone to support you through this



Are you ready to beat your sugar cravings? If you need support, remember I’m on Facebook.

Comments

  1. Bill Kasman23 September 2016 at 20:09

    I don't think I'll ever be able to conquer my sugar addiction. I have successfully cut down a lot on my consumption of salt but sugar still has a good grip on me!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

100 Day Challenge Day 28: Staying In Control on a Busy Day

Image
I mentioned yesterday on the 100 Day Challenge that Wednesday was going to be busy. I expected to eat the majority of my weekly pro points that I had left. In the end, I only went into a small amount of them. The whole way I did that was by staying in control and making good choices . That’s an important part of losing weight. Yes, I could have stuffed my face with chocolate because there were periods when I really wanted to, but I didn’t. I didn’t deprive myself either. When I wanted chocolate, I told myself that I would get it later (knowing that I’d have some later anyway).  It doesn’t have to be boring making good choices. Rather than having a bit of chocolate at the end of the night, I shared a punnet of strawberries with my husband and daughter. They gave me the sweet kick that I needed to finish off the day. They were juicier and more delicious than a bar of chocolate, too. While doing all that, I’m also drinking more water. I’ve even decided to start my day...
Read more

Halloween Party Ideas to Lose Weight

Image
If you’re hosting a Halloween party this year, the idea of weight loss during this time can be daunting. Even if you’re not hosting the party, the thought of dealing with all the candy and chocolates can be terrifying when you’re losing weight. Here are a few Halloween party ideas to help you stay in control in the run-up and on the night. Have Some Healthy but Fun Snacks Image: Alexandria Ingham You don’t just need to get chocolates, candies and cookies in. Why not have some fun with some healthy snacks? I loved making some of these last year, and did mini orange pumpkins and banana ghouls.  I blogged about some fun Halloween party ideas last year, and you can find that blog post here . If you’re hosting the party, put them out for your guests. Even if they don’t want to eat them, you have something to enjoy. If you’re attending a party, take a platter of your creations with you and share with your friends. That can be your hostess gift. Set a...
Read more

Why Eating Fruit and Vegetables Isn’t Enough to Lose Weight

Image
I received a message yesterday from someone looking for some weight loss support. She mentioned that she was eating lots of fruit and vegetables but still not losing weight. Okay, well, eating fruit and vegetables isn’t enough to lose weight. Yes, really! While eating fruit and vegetables can help—it certainly gets you your nutrients—it isn’t going to give you everything your body needs. In fact, too many fruit and vegetables can lead to weight gain. And you need to look at all the other stuff you’re eating! Be honest with yourself. So, let’s look at this in stages… Eating too much of a good thing is bad Yes, you really can eat too much of a good thing. Want to know why? Because you run the risk of not getting a balanced diet. While you get your fibre and nutrients from fruit and vegetables, you need to get carbohydrates, protein, and some fats. Yes, your body needs fat! By the way, fruit is full of natural sugar. While it’s not as bad for you as...
Read more