Sugar Anonymous - Here I Come!

Ariane, I have been having the hardest time to say no to all the cookies, gingerbread men, apple cider donuts and whatever else is floating by my desk. I start the day with the best intentions but inevitably after lunch I want something sweet and then I cave in. I have a little bite of a cookie but I just can’t stop there. I go back for another one and another one and then I feel guilty for having let myself go to that point. The worst thing is that I even eat it after dinner because I just can’t stop eating sugar. I know I have hypoglycemia and have always had issues with sugar but I’ve been so good for the past year and now the holidays are killing me. Help!

Linda

 Note: This is a real ad from the Sugar Assocation in the 1940's. 

Hi Linda,

I think there are two issues here at the core of the matter. One is that you have a true sugar addiction once you get started. Sugar hits the same center in the brain as crack cocaine, so you truly have a hard time stopping once you started. Hence, it's key that you stay away from that stuff and don’t even get started. Sugar is a trigger food and once you start you won’t stop. The only way to stop a sugar addiction is to eliminate all sugar for at least 3 days. Once you have no more sugar coming in, your body will burn more body fat for energy and once that shift happens, sugar cravings are a thing of the past. But watch out - the moment you add sugar back in, don't be surprised if the demons return as well. 

Secondly, whenever you want to eat something sweet you probably don't always want the sweetness but rather what that 'sweetness'  represents to you. You already know that once you have too much sugar you are close to passing out and become lethargic, develop brain fog and even more intense cravings (apart from putting your body into fat storage mode). And, it's not like you want to end up in a sugar coma and load your system with sugar just because you like the taste. I would imagine that there is something beyond the sugar that you want. I know you’ve told me that you reach for sugar in stressful and social situations, so here's something I'd like you to think about: What is it that you TRULY want when you want sugar. Chances are it has something to do with relaxation, you want to avoid something.... You’re sitting at your desk after lunch and want a break but since that’s not possible, you use sweets to get that sensation. Or, you’re on the couch after dinner, wanting to relax and because sugar makes you feel relaxed and drowsy, you reach for the quick fix. Think about it as I don't want to put words in your mouth, but next time you’re faced with the candy bowl don’t give in right away but see if you can satisfy the real desire you have rather than going for a quick sugar fix that comes with awful consequences.