Confessions of a Sugar Addict

[battler]

I wrote this aritcle a few months ago for our local Cohen's Clinic monthly newsletter and thought I would share it with you all.

Yesterday, I made a BIG discovery about myself. I am a sugar addict! Who would ever have thought? I made this discovery quite by accident. I had been on the Cohen's program and successfully completed the program and reached my goal. I have yo-yoed up and down a few kilos since but I am still extremely happy with my results.

Yesterday, I went shopping and saw a "pecan danish" and thought that I would purchase it for a "treat" for our workers for their smoko when I returned home. Then.........I went past a "baked cheesecake" that was on "special" so I bought it too. I hadn't realised that I had just, unconsciously, fooled myself. Yeah........right.........For the men's smoko........why didn't I just buy some hot cross buns or something that I DIDN'T like?

On the 35 km drive home, I started thinking about what I had just bought. I started salivating!!! This totally took me by surprise. I had recognized what was happening. That was good. Then, I started rationalizing how I "wasn't going to have any".........to " I could have just a little slice" without doing too much damage, couldn't I?? After all, I had finished the program and I was allowed "little" indulgences.

Once I got back home, the cravings were just too strong and once I had that "one little bit" that I had promised myself I was okay with, I wasn't satisfied. I had more............and more.......and ate just about anything in sight after that, and continued to eat out of control for the remainder of the day. Who was I fooling? Why couldn't I stop after that one little taste? I was conscious of what I was doing but I "thought" I couldn't help myself. I had blown it big time so "may as well make a good day of it now! ( ever done that??) I knew the path I was taking was a bad one...........just like an addict does! Then..........came the self loathing.... that I had actually given in to the cravings and I was completely out of control. The realizationn hit me!
I am an addict............a sugar addict. Was that possible? Is there such a thing?
The next day I woke up with the most horrible headache I have ever had. Was this because my body was suffering a sugar overload or was it my brain telling me that I needed to have another "hit" of sugar to feel better again? Addicts do that don't they?

After 18 months of successful Cohens, why would I do such a thing? The Cohen's program kept all the serotonin levels stabilized. I felt great! A little sugar intake here, and a little more since then has built up and, I guess I triggered the serotonin levels out of sync again and I was momentarily out of control. This brain chemical reaction is real. Whilst completely on the program those cravings were completely gone and I was perfectly happy. The program works. (Thank you Dr. Cohen!) I didn't "need" any of that stuff that wasn't good for me then, and I don't need it now either. It's a "brain" thing. Some of us, just cannot handle sugar at all. I have learned that I am one of them. One taste,(like a drug addict) and I an gone.
I am NOT satisfied and I want MORE. That is addiction! It is up to me to control it. Dr. Cohen's program has given me the tools to do this and all I have to do is use them and keep the serotonin levels where they should be. That is what this program is all about. It's a learning process and we don't stop learning once we reach our goal.

I did a bit of goole-ing on the internet. It's REAL!! Sugar addiction is REAL!
Quote:
"That's what happens when you take a substance out of nature and refine it to maximize its chemical surface area and biological activity. Cocaine is a drug that is refined from cocoa leaves. Opium is a drug that's refined from poppies. And SUGAR is a drug that's refined from sugarcane. "Making refined white sugar is cheap and widely available to the entire population so that everyone can be equally hooked!"
"Refined white sugar is a pleasure drug. If you don't believe me, just put a spoonful on your tongue and observe the instantaneous effects. You'll experience a warming, comfortable feeling that makes you feel safe and happy. They are not called comfort foods by accident!
Sugar is, essentially, a legalized recreational drug that's socially acceptable to consume. And yet, just like other drugs, it destroys a person's health over time, rotting out their teeth, disrupting normal brain function, promoting heart disease and directly causing diabetes and obesity. The argument that "street drugs are outlawed because they're dangers to a persons health" falls flat on its face when you consider what sugar does to the human body." Quoted from Sugar: addiction and dangers" (http/angelfire.com/az/sthurston/sugar_addiction.html)

Food for thought isn't it?
I am still battling but being able to recognize the dangers now makes the battle a little bit easier. Perhaps this will shed some light for others who may be experiencing the same thing or you can just have a good chuckle.
Cheers

[Embee]

Very insightful article ... there is an organisation called Food Addicts Anonymous and they run a little like AA however they are about abstaining from sugars and starches which are what they believe are the foods of addiction.... quite interesting looking at their food plans and what they allow and dont allow their members to eat!

[battler]

thanks for that. I checked it out and like you said, it is interesting. I have found that if I mainly stick to Cohen's friendly food, that keep my seritonin levels where they should be, that I coast along alright. Little or no cravings. My clinic says that my body has changed and it just does not want me to eat any of that bad stuff anymore. Trick is to keep listening to what my body is telling me and not to be fooled with what my brain may be craving. This has to be my life now, forever, or I will be right back where I started.

[carrieanne_c]

I normally don't crave sugar foods sometimes when I am pmsing, but if i give in and buy some cookies or something I am not at peace until they are all gone. Now my husband can have cookies and stuff in the fridge for months and I won't go near them but if it is a coldy day and I have a tea and some of his plain cookies I can eat half of a sleeve of them. It is the white powdery addiction not cocaine but flour and sugar. With that kind of addiction it is ok to sniff though.

[MaggieLyn]

Hi Battler,
Great, helpful post, have found myself over indulging in some things since coming off refeed, but my body is not happy afterwards, I have made myself feel really ill after eating too much bad stuff. I am slowly learning just not to have it in the house, or most of all not buy it at all, same thinking like you, get it for someone else, but finding I was eating most of it. I can't be trusted yet... I do not want to put my weight back on, so I just have to change my thinking when I shop.
Thanks again Battler
Cheers Maggie

[Nurgz]

Omg, I so have to confess to this - that is exactly what happened to me last week. I haven't mentioned in my diary but I've had 2 very bad experiences with sweets and once I start I don't stop. The weird thing is - I would never have guessed Im a sugar addict before starting this diet! I know I loved the odd Max Brenner Waffle here and there (1ce a month almost) but now, I feel like I could so scoff down and chocolate out there even if I dont like it!

Great article indeed - let's ban sugar I should start a new social media campaign about it!

Thanks for this info battler.

Nurgz

[Winkiedo]

I know I'm a sugar addict too. But thanks to all of you who are on the same boat, I am made aware of what I should do should the urge kick in.

[louise41]

I can so relate! I have often said that the reason Im sure that this program is so strict about not deviating is not the slow down in the weight loss but the difficulty getting back on track once we feed our addiction. I watch my partner with envy the way he can just indulge in small quantites of sweet and walk away

[LIM]

Thank you so much for the article. My tastebud has changed ever since i'm on maintenance. I'll 'give up' on main savoury meals for 'sweet' cakes or biscuits. This is a new side of me. I NEVER favour sweet over savoury! But now, it's my biggest temptation! My weight is about 8kg more than the last refeed weight 2 years ago.
I'm getting on the programme tomorrow. First thing to rid, my sweet tooth! wish me luck, ppl!

[FlaMie]

I'm wondering big time why Cohenites turn sugar addict when they are on maintenance? I'm lucky I don't have that addiction. I think it could be the body natural way of crying out for what it lacks. Sugar is essential for many body functions and since being on the programme, we don't get it and suddenly out of the programme when we begin to eat it, our bodies crave for it. Don't know if my theory is right but that's what I think.

[sandyshaw66]

I know this is quite some time on but reading this is exactly what I go through - I keep trying to find ways to stop craving sweet things - as you described once you start it just continues even though you feel ill.
I would love to know how you have coped since posting this.
Thanks
Sandra

[Marmaduke]

Hi All,

Totally agree on sugar addiction. But would like to point out that while sugar is necessary to quite a few bodily functions, processed sugar is not. The baseline for sweetness set by our tastebuds is completely relative. The sweeter our food, the more our body gets used to it. And food engineering has recognised that sweet food sells well. Our brain is reassured of carbohydrate which will help it function. And with the industrialisation of farming and food processing sugar has become readily available, affordable and added to processed foods in huge amounts.

This is a great program to have a listen to. Can't recommend it enough:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/...l-evil/3076820

[battler]

I'm still here and battle the addiction every day............ just like a drug addict!! Sometimes it gets the better of me, most times I am okay as long as I don't give in. The more times I give in the harder it is for me to get back on track...........hence I gain a few kilos and then struggle to take them off again. Yo-yo-ing just isn't good for the body and we all know that. I feel so much better when I have no processed sugar in my system. The "before" and "after" photo's on my fridge keep me a bit motivated when I go to the fridge but sometimes the cravings just get too much and I give in. There si no problem ...........if I keep on the program for at least 2 days straight, then the cravings deminish. I have realised that I will always have this problem if I don't keep on track and stay off all processed sugar.....just like an addict has to stay completely off all drugs. NO tasty tasty........."I'll be okay this time with only a little bit" foolishness.
I will always be battling!
Glad to know I am not the only battler with this problem!!
We have to be serious
If we keep doing what we are doing................ we will keep getting what we are getting!!! FATTER
None of us want to go there again so we have to face up to what doesn't work for us as individuals. We are told to:
Listen to your body. Nope......... not ME!!! Mine keeps fooling me and telling me to eat the darn stuff! I'm going to listen to Dr. Cohen. What he says really does work.............and no mind games sneaking in and telling me different!! I really do like the way I look and feel and am determined that I am not going to go back to where I was...... EVER! If you put on a few kilos, do what Dr. Cohen says..........get them off before your hormones are all wonky again. Once they have gone wonky, its then we are in really big trouble again and it gets harder and harder to get back on the program. I know. Been there and done that..........still doing it. Not happy where I am at the moment but getting there. Every day is a struggle.........it always will be. Our bodies don't need that garbage............simple really isn't it??? yeah right!! Your aren't alone dear.

[Dezzy]

This is an amazing thread and I recognise myself in this. I cannot stop at one biscuit, one lolly, one small ice cream or one square of chocolate. If the packet is open I can eat the whole thing, feel sick and yet go back for more soon after. My tummy might be bulging and I have the headache to end all headaches but I will still go back for more.

I have loved the control being on the plan has brought. I have no need for anything sweet and in fact can't even drink the diet drinks we are allowed - they are too sweet for me. I have to learn to avoid the sugary processed foods that set off the terrible cycle of binging that my first taste of sugar used to bring. I am still on the plan now but will need to remember this for when I am back into maintenance.

"hi, I'm Dezzy... And I'm a sugar addict!"

[battler]

ha ha!! Glad to know I am not the only one out there. Today, I went into the maintenance recipes section to try and get some inspiration on cooking. It is amazing how most of those recipes are dessert orientated! Even though they use good sugar alternatives, for me, it is still feeding that part of my brain that can't distinguish between the alternative and the real so I am finding that the "trigger" still gets pulled and I am a dead duck again and my body is screaming for MORE............give me MORE. As long as I stay away from anything sweet, except for fruit, I am okay. I still "want" to taste everything and have to consciously and continually exercise the NO button because I know that I am a sugar addict. Everyone has to work out what works for them, aye? Whenever you feel like you might be slipping..............come back to this sight and it will remind you what you are. This works for me! Guess why I am back here posting today? Old habits are hard to break but we can overcome them if we keep practicing what we know works! Hang in there is all I can say.