3 ms·

I have a super sweet tooth and have become more and more concerned about it as I get older. One thing that I am really bad at is any kind of conscious diet or

by louthy 7y ago

I have a super sweet tooth and have become more and more concerned about it as I get older. One thing that I am really bad at is any kind of conscious diet or regime, I am just not regimented with anything really. So, I tried the big-bang and did a 4 day fast - my theory being, well, treat it like a drug addiction and go 'cold turkey'. It worked. I massively cut down on my sugar intake because I didn't feel like I needed sugar (for about 3 months). Over time as I've had sugary foods it's definitely come back, and so I'll probably try again. But I found it quite interesting how quickly I could reset myself to a state where my body didn't crave it. Obviously, fasting isn't for everyone, and long fasts you should make sure you know what you're doing, but it was a serious eye opener.

msiyer 7y ago
Try satiating your "refined sugars craving" with fruits. Not juice, but whole fruits. Taste will reset itself within a week. This has been my personal experience.
- seanmcdirmid 7y ago
  There are also a plethora of sugar free or low sugar processed foods to look into. Some of them use sugar alcohols or some artificial sweetener that might have some adverse effects, but they are fairly effective as a better substitute when you are otherwise craving a candy bar or a mocha. Fruits, some are better than others, depending on how much fiber they have.
  - msiyer 7y ago
    Please stay away from artificial sugars. We have no idea what diseases they might be causing.
    - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
      That is like saying please stay away from vaping as a way of stopping smoking. Great advice if you can, horrible advice if you can’t. Perfect is the enemy of good.
      - jrace 7y ago
        Except vaping has known and unknown health risks. Saying "I the only way to stop smoking is to vape" is also horrible advice.
        DanBC 7y ago
        When looking at vaping we're not comparing it to not smoking, we're comparing it to smoking. And vaping is very much safer than smoking. The stuff about the minimal harms and potential unknown harms is only useful for the population who isn't currently smoking.
        seanmcdirmid 7y ago
        I didn’t say that either. Just that if you couldn’t quit cold turkey, vaping is better than just continuing with cigarettes. I was able to do the former, but can totally understand those who resort to the latter.
    - reallytho9 7y ago
      I use artificial sweeteners when I try to cut back on sugar. A few grams of aspartame is probably much less damaging than 40+ grams of sugar. I’m willing to take that gamble.
      - maxxxxx 7y ago
        I use quite a bit of stevia. It has a weird taste first but you get used to it quickly.
kasa 7y ago
At least for me, it's hard to control sugar intake. So, it is easier to not eat than to eat small amounts. Fasting is hard because of your cravings for food and social pressure. But I highly recommend at least a try.
chetanbhasin 7y ago
I tried something similar and that worked too. I decided to not have ANY sugar whatsoever for a week, and I managed surprisingly well. Then I thought I could do it for another week. Weeks became months and months became a year. Over time I've started consuming a little bit of sugar here and there, including fruits, and some added sugar in food that I buy. It's hard to not have any sugar because it's added to pretty much everything these days. But reducing cutting it out for a couple of weeks and then having reduced sugar works wonders!
muse900 7y ago
You don't need some crazy fasting diet to cut down sweets. Just diet for 3-4 days and boom the crave is gone. It comes back but you need to be able to handle it. I'll say this to anyone out there wanting to look after himself and maybe lose extra weight or whatever. I used to be overweight growing up. I mainly think is the fact that one of my parents used to be overweight and it reflected on our bad habits of eating. I've lost all the extra weight since I was 17 and maintained it now in my 30s. I still have the craves and I still wanna stuff myself with food and sweets and everything yes. What keeps me going is taming it and understanding that food for me is one of those things that I'll struggle with for the rest of my life. Its me that has to say no I won't eat anymore, I won't have that sweet I won't this or that. I do eat sweets maybe once a week. Everything in moderation though. I weight myself every single day and I am trying to maintain my weight to a healthy level. +3 -3 and don't go above or under. Its on me! And as soon as you understand that then you'll have an easier time maintaining yourself. Food is an addiction and for me personally its very close to drinking. The same way you'll say to yourself 'no I wont drink tonight' (and you go off and get absolutely blind :P) because I don't want to, I got work tomorrow, drinking is only for the weekend or special days cause I got a family etc. The same way you should be able to tame yourself and your needs around food and sweets. 'No I won't eat this delicious burger or sweet cause I already had my fair share this week, I'll try it in 3 days, today am gonna have some steamed veggies, some lean meat, some good carb etc'. Some people are born with the privilege of not caring about food and not being overweight and being in perfect health. Others like me just have to struggle their whole lives for it, but its until you realise that this is what you have to do and until you realise that you have to change your habits and maintain it for the rest of your life you won't just change. Also find a sport, doesn't need to be the gym specifically just something you do 2-3 times a week and maintain yourself. You need to be active especially if you are working an office job.
blurhblurh 7y ago
I've done this as well and I second it. I did a 5 day fast and treated myself to a massive breakfast on the 5th day. It was glorious and really reminded myself of not needing so much junk. I fast whenever I feel myself slipping. It's an amazing tool! For these longer fasts, I just drink water and electrolytes. If I ever get fat, I would fast my way to success honestly. If you do it right it seems healthy!

by louthy 7y ago

msiyer 7y ago

Try satiating your "refined sugars craving" with fruits. Not juice, but whole fruits. Taste will reset itself within a week. This has been my personal experience.

seanmcdirmid 7y ago
There are also a plethora of sugar free or low sugar processed foods to look into. Some of them use sugar alcohols or some artificial sweetener that might have some adverse effects, but they are fairly effective as a better substitute when you are otherwise craving a candy bar or a mocha. Fruits, some are better than others, depending on how much fiber they have.
- msiyer 7y ago
  Please stay away from artificial sugars. We have no idea what diseases they might be causing.
  - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
    That is like saying please stay away from vaping as a way of stopping smoking. Great advice if you can, horrible advice if you can’t. Perfect is the enemy of good.
    - jrace 7y ago
      Except vaping has known and unknown health risks. Saying "I the only way to stop smoking is to vape" is also horrible advice.
      - DanBC 7y ago
        When looking at vaping we're not comparing it to not smoking, we're comparing it to smoking. And vaping is very much safer than smoking. The stuff about the minimal harms and potential unknown harms is only useful for the population who isn't currently smoking.
      - seanmcdirmid 7y ago
        I didn’t say that either. Just that if you couldn’t quit cold turkey, vaping is better than just continuing with cigarettes. I was able to do the former, but can totally understand those who resort to the latter.
  - reallytho9 7y ago
    I use artificial sweeteners when I try to cut back on sugar. A few grams of aspartame is probably much less damaging than 40+ grams of sugar. I’m willing to take that gamble.
    - maxxxxx 7y ago
      I use quite a bit of stevia. It has a weird taste first but you get used to it quickly.

kasa 7y ago

At least for me, it's hard to control sugar intake. So, it is easier to not eat than to eat small amounts. Fasting is hard because of your cravings for food and social pressure. But I highly recommend at least a try.

chetanbhasin 7y ago

I tried something similar and that worked too. I decided to not have ANY sugar whatsoever for a week, and I managed surprisingly well. Then I thought I could do it for another week. Weeks became months and months became a year. Over time I've started consuming a little bit of sugar here and there, including fruits, and some added sugar in food that I buy. It's hard to not have any sugar because it's added to pretty much everything these days. But reducing cutting it out for a couple of weeks and then having reduced sugar works wonders!

muse900 7y ago

You don't need some crazy fasting diet to cut down sweets. Just diet for 3-4 days and boom the crave is gone. It comes back but you need to be able to handle it. I'll say this to anyone out there wanting to look after himself and maybe lose extra weight or whatever. I used to be overweight growing up. I mainly think is the fact that one of my parents used to be overweight and it reflected on our bad habits of eating. I've lost all the extra weight since I was 17 and maintained it now in my 30s. I still have the craves and I still wanna stuff myself with food and sweets and everything yes. What keeps me going is taming it and understanding that food for me is one of those things that I'll struggle with for the rest of my life. Its me that has to say no I won't eat anymore, I won't have that sweet I won't this or that. I do eat sweets maybe once a week. Everything in moderation though. I weight myself every single day and I am trying to maintain my weight to a healthy level. +3 -3 and don't go above or under. Its on me! And as soon as you understand that then you'll have an easier time maintaining yourself. Food is an addiction and for me personally its very close to drinking. The same way you'll say to yourself 'no I wont drink tonight' (and you go off and get absolutely blind :P) because I don't want to, I got work tomorrow, drinking is only for the weekend or special days cause I got a family etc. The same way you should be able to tame yourself and your needs around food and sweets. 'No I won't eat this delicious burger or sweet cause I already had my fair share this week, I'll try it in 3 days, today am gonna have some steamed veggies, some lean meat, some good carb etc'. Some people are born with the privilege of not caring about food and not being overweight and being in perfect health. Others like me just have to struggle their whole lives for it, but its until you realise that this is what you have to do and until you realise that you have to change your habits and maintain it for the rest of your life you won't just change. Also find a sport, doesn't need to be the gym specifically just something you do 2-3 times a week and maintain yourself. You need to be active especially if you are working an office job.

blurhblurh 7y ago

I've done this as well and I second it. I did a 5 day fast and treated myself to a massive breakfast on the 5th day. It was glorious and really reminded myself of not needing so much junk. I fast whenever I feel myself slipping. It's an amazing tool! For these longer fasts, I just drink water and electrolytes. If I ever get fat, I would fast my way to success honestly. If you do it right it seems healthy!