I am addicted to sugar

[Boneasse]

G'day/morning/evening my fellow Escapists. (There's a tl;dr further down.)

As a frequent (relatively, anyway) poster on this site I have for the first time come to heed my fellow Escapists advice!

Now first a little background info; As of now I am a guy in my mid-20's who's relatively healthy, living alone, to study English this summer, and single (following a break-up in February after a 4 year relationship).

Ever since I moved away from home at the age of 18 (I literally moved out the month of my birthday), I have fallen prey to the easy pleasures in life. And by easy pleasures I mean candy, soda (mainly coke), chocolate etc.

At 18 I was at 80 kg (176 lbs) with a height of 180 cm (5.9 feet). A good looking guy (if I dare say so myself!)

Now to make a long story short; basically during the next 4 years I gained 40 kg (88 lbs), putting me at 120kg, which I then "maintained" for about 1 or 2 years, before finally starting to lose weight again as of March 2010. During the next 6 months I lost 30 kg landing me at around 90. There was a catch, though. During this period I lived at home (parents) temporarily as I was switching educations and had no place to live. Which meant my intake of anything unhealthy was being monitored.

As of September I left home, once again, and this is where the troubles start; I have since then gained 10 kg, landing me at the round number of 100.

Here's what you have to understand: I am well aware of the dangerous factors of being overweight. Disease, heartfailure, diabetes and so on. It's just that, when I feel a craving for anything containing sugar, it pushes all those arguments out of my head.

Even as I sit here, writing this, I'm only two steps away from grabbing my bike and going to the store, buying 4 liters of coke which I shall then consume, only to regret it heavily when I go to bed and lie to myself and say "this was the last day".

However, I have since last week taken it upon myself to beat my addiction and stay away from anything involving huge amounts of sugar, for the rest of my life. Sort of like an alcoholic never touching alchohol again.

You might think this is an exaggaration but I assure you, the headaches, shakes and lies to myself, are not. As aren't the 4 liters of soda per day.

Spoiler: TL;DR

Basically I'm addicted to sugar and I need help to stay away from it!

Here's where you come in then: Do you have any good advice on how I can stay on the wagon and not tempt myself into a sugar-hell once again? Anything at all will be heavily appreciated.

So far I've got:

Make good, tasty meals for myself and write a list before I go shopping, so I have something to stick to.

So far, sugar free for 6 days, and counting! (Go me!)

Oh, and to all those out there who might tell me to get some backbone and self-control; get off your high horse and come tell me that when you've tried it.

Thanks in advance.

EDIT: One more thing, it's not that I don't exercise. I go to the gym frequently, but the amount of sugar I have been intaking for the past 3 months have far surpassed whatever calories I might have been able to burn.

 

[Boneasse]

No more lemonade then...

Mmm sweet lemonade, yes sweet lemonade! Mmm sweet lemonade, yes sweet lemonade!

Nope, no more lemonade! However, if you look to your right you will be able to look at my horse.

 

[mad825]

addicted? Nah, unless of course you are downing the raw refined substance or smoking it...if that's possible.

all you need is a change in habit, have you ever tried having fruit juice instead? or even hot beverages like tea,coffee and so forth in substitute.

 

[Continuity]

Basically I'm addicted to sugar and I need help to stay away from it!

Keep up the sugar abuse and you will get diabetes, go blind, and your limbs will fall off.

That helping?

 

[Kryzantine]

Hmmmm.

Sugarless tea.

It tastes like shit at first, and then you grow accustomed to it after a week. It's a great substitute drink.

 

[Boneasse]

Hmmmm.

Sugarless tea.

It tastes like shit at first, and then you grow accustomed to it after a week. It's a great substitute drink.

Really? I might give that a shot.

 

[BGH122]

Do you have any good advice on how I can stay on the wagon and not tempt myself into a sugar-hell once again? Anything at all will be heavily appreciated.

I hate to put my psychologist hat on two posts in a row (oh who the fuck am I kidding, my psychologist hat is so overused that its tassels and giant P symbol have fallen off), but have you noticed an increase in sugar intake when you're under stress? Moving away from home can be a really huge psychological burden that's typically underplayed by the media. Certainly there's another explanation for why your sugar intake increased when you left home and decreased when you returned: monitoring, but did you feel a desire to eat excessive amounts of sugar before you left home? It could be that you need to have the company and familial atmosphere that home life brings for a while longer.

One thing I would suggest with regards to coke is to switch to Coke Zero. It tastes horrible for the first few weeks, but after that it becomes even more ambrosiac than regular coke without all the calories. If you'd rather quit Coke altogether, then you're definitely going to need a caffeine alternative. Most people think coffee has less caffeine than coke, untrue: Classic Coke contains 34mg8oz-1 vs up to Starbuck's Coffee's 165mg8oz-1 caffeine content [http://wilstar.com/caffeine.htm]. One of the strongest addictive qualities of Coke, besides its sugar content, is its high caffeine content. If you wish to stop drinking coke then you must replace it with another sugarless caffeine substitute. Also, get a water purifying jug (Brita filter, or whatever the Aussia equivalent is) and purify some cold tap water to have by your place of drinking. The body isn't all that amazingly bright (thanks, evolution) and it quite quickly draws associations between activities (especially if classically or operantly reinforced) so that when it feels the stimulus 'drink' the response becomes 'coke'. Drinking water will quench the stimulus and eventually a new association will form.

On the obesity front, sorry to tell you buddy, but you've already been obese. A 120/(1.8^2) BMI calculation puts you at 37, which is 7 above the WHO mark for obesity. You're currently at 28.5, which is within slightly overweight (but healthy) limits. To be honest, however, the obesity secondary morbidities tend to occur when you're middle aged, after years of indiscriminate immune activity has buggered up your pancreas and hypertension has roughened up your arterial tunica interna. You're at no immediate risk of diabetes or CHD, even if you get very overweight. What obesity can do, however, is put you at high risk of joint failure, especially if you work out. It's definitely not a good idea to be obese, but the media's anti-obesity message is mainly targeted at young people in the hope that they won't adapt to a lifestyle which will cause them serious problems later on in life.

Sources: Studied psychology of addiction and am currently studying to become a medical doctor

 

[Antari]

Addiction or no .. slamming your body with a heavy does of sugar each day will land you with a case of Diabeties. Fairly common occurance these days with all the coffee drinkers. Everything in moderation.

 

[CANofKAM]

.[/quote]

first off, good on you for admitting you have a problem. Im not a doctor or know anything but get on a food plan or find a sweet healthy food you can cure your cravings with. Find some tasty granola bars or something else that is somewhat healthy. I think a food plan is your best bet but keep up the good work.

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

Drink water. Seriously, cold water tastes fucking awesome. I used to drink like 4 cans of coke a day when I was younger, but I was never addicted. I simply realised it was shit and started drinking water. I don't know if you're addicted, or just like the taste of it.

As a random thought, why don't you try drinking orange juice with half lemonade, and then gradually increase the orange juice volume until you're just drinking plain orange juice? The only thing that makes them taste different is the fucking fizziness, it's fortunate I prefer things flat and, unlike the kid off The Road, I fucking hate bubbles.

 

[Bluck1950]

i know that aerobic exercises will get rid of the fat, and make you skinnier. i personally do nothing and weigh around 160 pounds and am 5 foot 10 inches. i really don't exercise, but should, running made me feel good.

 

[aaaaaDisregard]

Don't stay alone too much - it'll be much harder to consume so much sweets with someone watching you.
Go to some place where hobbyists gather etc.

You may also consider switching from gym to some other activity, which takes at least the same amount of energy (or more, as you can easily slack in gym), while making you achieve some goals which aren't feasible with your current weight and food habits (with any decent and prolonged boxing workout you'll feel all those cans of Coke in your liver). Try Brazilian jiu-jitsu, grappling or classic wrestling.

 

[Boneasse]

Do you have any good advice on how I can stay on the wagon and not tempt myself into a sugar-hell once again? Anything at all will be heavily appreciated.

I hate to put my psychologist hat on two posts in a row (oh who the fuck am I kidding, my psychologist hat is so overused that its tassels and giant P symbol have fallen off), but have you noticed an increase in sugar intake when you're under stress? Moving away from home can be a really huge psychological burden that's typically underplayed by the media. Certainly there's another explanation for why your sugar intake increased when you left home and decreased when you returned: monitoring, but did you feel a desire to eat excessive amounts of sugar before you left home? It could be that you need to have the company and familial atmosphere that home life brings for a while longer.

One thing I would suggest with regards to coke is to switch to Coke Zero. It tastes horrible for the first few weeks, but after that it becomes even more ambrosiac than regular coke without all the calories. If you'd rather quit Coke altogether, then you're definitely going to need a caffeine alternative. Most people think coffee has less caffeine than coke, untrue: Classic Coke contains 34mg8oz-1 vs up to Starbuck's Coffee's 165mg8oz-1 caffeine content [http://wilstar.com/caffeine.htm]. One of the strongest addictive qualities of Coke, besides its sugar content, is its high caffeine content. If you wish to stop drinking coke then you must replace it with another sugarless caffeine substitute. Also, get a water purifying jug (Brita filter, or whatever the Aussia equivalent is) and purify some cold tap water to have by your place of drinking. The body isn't all that amazingly bright (thanks, evolution) and it quite quickly draws associations between activities (especially if classically or operantly reinforced) so that when it feels the stimulus 'drink' the response becomes 'coke'. Drinking water will quench the stimulus and eventually a new association will form.

On the obesity front, sorry to tell you buddy, but you've already been obese. A 120/(1.8^2) BMI calculation puts you at 37, which is 7 above the WHO mark for obesity. You're currently at 28.5, which is within slightly overweight (but healthy) limits. To be honest, however, the obesity secondary morbidities tend to occur when you're middle aged, after years of indiscriminate immune activity has buggered up your pancreas and hypertension has roughened up your arterial tunica interna. You're at no immediate risk of diabetes or CHD, even if you get very overweight. What obesity can do, however, is put you at high risk of joint failure, especially if you work out. It's definitely not a good idea to be obese, but the media's anti-obesity message is mainly targeted at young people in the hope that they won't adapt to a lifestyle which will cause them serious problems later on in life.

Sources: Studied psychology of addiction and am currently studying to become a medical doctor

Though I was sceptic at first, due to your pedobear avatar, I read your post and will definetly take it into consideration! Thanks a lot!

Drink water. Seriously, cold water tastes fucking awesome. I used to drink like 4 cans of coke a day when I was younger, but I was never addicted. I simply realised it was shit and started drinking water. I don't know if you're addicted, or just like the taste of it.

As a random thought, why don't you try drinking orange juice with half lemonade, and then gradually increase the orange juice volume until you're just drinking plain orange juice? The only thing that makes them taste different is the fucking fizziness, it's fortunate I prefer things flat and, unlike the kid off The Road, I fucking hate bubbles.

Thing is, I also drink shitloads of water. Though I've started drinking even more of it now. I've got an old 1½L coke bottle I fill up 2-3 times a day. It has helped a bit though. I do like the taste of it, that's the problem, it's not just the addiction I reckon. Since I was little they taste of coke has just been something I'd always thought tasted like something out of this world.

Don't stay alone too much - it'll be much harder to consume so much sweets with someone watching you.
Go to some place where hobbyists gather etc.

You may also consider switching from gym to some other activity, which takes at least the same amount of energy (or more, as you can easily slack in gym), while making you achieve some goals which aren't feasible with your current weight and food habits (with any decent and prolonged boxing workout you'll feel all those cans of Coke in your liver). Try Brazilian jiu-jitsu, grappling or classic wrestling.

That actually makes sense! And I've always wanted to go to some sort of Martial arts. Also to strengthen my self discipline. Thanks

 

[BGH122]

Though I was sceptic at first, due to your pedobear avatar, I read your post and will definetly take it into consideration! Thanks a lot!

You're welcome, and you're welcome to ask for any further advice.

I find it's better to engender skepticism with my dodgy avatar and thus get lots of nice refutations from which to learn than to have a nice respectable avatar which gets me ignored.

 

[MassiveGeek]

Berries, particularly blue berries, and any dried berries are a good option to stuff like cookies and sweets. They are sweet, and you can eat as many of you like without(as far as I know) any risk of complications with your health.

Also, to stay away from the coke... I know how hard it is, I myself am a coke-addict(but so far I have no complications, no overweight or anything so I'm not really doing much about it, although I have lowered the amount I drink tremedously from last summer), and the best advice I can give you is this: drink lots of water and always carry a filled waterbottle with you. Everytime you get thirsty and consider coke, drink water. Water also helps a lot against headaches, trust me, I had a migraine last week and felt much better after starting to drink at least one or two bottles of water a day. It's also good for your skin, just to throw that in there.

But, if you get huge backlashes that really crank you down, do this: once a week, allow yourself to have one can coke and one type of snack(like a toblerone bar or something). This will be a great test on you, to only buy one of each when you're in the store, but pick them up last when you go shopping, that way you're out of the supermarket before you can go back and take more.

Hope I'm of any help.

 

[Boneasse]

Berries, particularly blue berries, and any dried berries are a good option to stuff like cookies and sweets. They are sweet, and you can eat as many of you like without(as far as I know) any risk of complications with your health.

Also, to stay away from the coke... I know how hard it is, I myself am a coke-addict(but so far I have no complications, no overweight or anything so I'm not really doing much about it, although I have lowered the amount I drink tremedously from last summer), and the best advice I can give you is this: drink lots of water and always carry a filled waterbottle with you. Everytime you get thirsty and consider coke, drink water. Water also helps a lot against headaches, trust me, I had a migraine last week and felt much better after starting to drink at least one or two bottles of water a day. It's also good for your skin, just to throw that in there.

But, if you get huge backlashes that really crank you down, do this: once a week, allow yourself to have one can coke and one type of snack(like a toblerone bar or something). This will be a great test on you, to only buy one of each when you're in the store, but pick them up last when you go shopping, that way you're out of the supermarket before you can go back and take more.

Hope I'm of any help.

Yea that definetly makes sense. Thanks. It's also really fucking annoying how when you stand it line, you're always next to the candy and crisps, am I right?

 

[Dragonforce525]

Heroin is the answer my friend, after taking heroin for a few weeks your sugar addiction will feel like nothing, you won't even be thinking about sugar whilst on the miracle drug heroin, hell you won't be thinking about sugar even when not on heroin, Heroin cures all addictions.

 

[Boneasse]

Though I was sceptic at first, due to your pedobear avatar, I read your post and will definetly take it into consideration! Thanks a lot!

You're welcome, and you're welcome to ask for any further advice.

I find it's better to engender skepticism with my dodgy avatar and thus get lots of nice refutations from which to learn than to have a nice respectable avatar which gets me ignored.

Haha, you're absolutely right about that. Thanks a lot!

 

[Booze Zombie]

Whatever you do, don't go for sugar substitutes.
Try your best to just aim for eating an apple or whatever fruit you prefer when you want sugar.
Unless it's a banana... I nearly killed myself eating those things.

 

[Boneasse]

Whatever you do, don't go for sugar substitutes.
Try your best to just aim for eating an apple or whatever fruit you prefer when you want sugar.
Unless it's a banana... I nearly killed myself eating those things.

How on earth do you kill yourself eating bananas?