Sugar Addiction Vs Low Carbohydrates

[TomBunnell]

Here is what I feel to be very important input in our low carb diets.

Nobody seems to talk about sugar addiction, just carbs.

I know for a fact that if I were not dealing with my sugar addiction(flour,rice,fruit,milk)as well as actual sugar and honey and corn starch and high glycemic vegetables(potatoes, corn, beets, carrots, etc)

If I had not removed these from my diet along with caffeine and alcohol I would not succeed.

With all of these sugar addiction foods and snacks gone I can comfortably stay on my low carb Atkins diet. If I were to add any of these sugars I would just go nuts trying.

I also use no artifical sweeteners, if I did I think it would just make it harder trying to feed the sweet desire. As close as I come to sweet is my meat and vegetables. I really enjoy them a lot and I eat a lot.

This Atkins diet is relatively painless and constant without sugar. I think that is the key to Dr Atkins success although he does it saying low carb rather than low sugar.

I bring this up to try to help those who are struggling so fiercely. I fought to the death until I got off from all forms of sugar, then it got easy.

Tom
365/334/180 (about five months of same)
(male age 62)

[jimmie 48]

oh, we've chatted about the sugar addiction alright. several journalers have had a time breaking that addiction and i can assure you that topic has been discussed.

i've been eating carrots every day now.

[julirama723]

Well, that's the purpose of OWL--to re-introduce these foods in order of lowest GI to highest GI. That's what I like about Atkins (as opposed to South Beach)--there's a certain order and process for introducing foods. I've found foods that cause me cravings, and foods that make me ill. These are foods I'd eaten many times pre-atkins and had NO idea they were making me feel bad!

[ttdriver]

Sugar is evil in every form. And truth be told, your body cannot distinguish the sugar (starch) in a baked potato from the sugar in a twinkie. It doesn't have to say "sugar" on the food to equate to such in your body.

Betty

[TomBunnell]

Originally Posted by ttdriver

Sugar is evil in every form. And truth be told, your body cannot distinguish the sugar (starch) in a baked potato from the sugar in a twinkie. It doesn't have to say "sugar" on the food to equate to such in your body.

Betty

Yes it is and hybrid is key here, a real original potato was good food, as was wheat and corn etc. It's a combination of processing and hybreeding for high sugar content that has created this monster so many of us are addicted to. Sugar is mans invention and it is a drug, a powerful stimulant addictive drug, alcohol is sugars highest form. Most everybody is addicted to sugar but few know it or understand it's consequences.

Tom

[dotsamantha]

Sugar addiction is a strong part of not overdoing sugar substitues as well. Our bodies want the sweet so bad, we react to the substitute as if it were the real thing.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by TomBunnell

I know for a fact that if I were not dealing with my sugar addiction(flour,rice,fruit,milk)as well as actual sugar and honey and corn starch and high glycemic vegetables(potatoes, corn, beets, carrots, etc)

If I had not removed these from my diet along with caffeine and alcohol I would not succeed.

With all of these sugar addiction foods and snacks gone I can comfortably stay on my low carb Atkins diet. If I were to add any of these sugars I would just go nuts trying.

I'm a starchy carb addict, particularly potatoes, rice and pasta. I was very hesistant to re-introduce these foods into my diet during the On-Going Weight Loss phase. But I decided to try them out and see what happened.

Believe me, I was very apprehensive to do this but I knew during OWL Phase I could only add them back in 5 net carb amounts. 5 net carbs of potato is almost 1 ounce, or a little less than a tablespoon of mashed potato. 5 net carbs of rice is almost a tablespoon of cooked rice. So, I tried them out---in those amounts. Typically, I tried them out when I was eating at a restaurant or at a friend's home because I knew there wouldn't be a big pot of leftover's sitting on the stove or in the frig for me.

Quite frankly, when I did reintroduce them, I found they weren't as tasty as I had remembered them to be. It was a 'take it or leave it' kind of thing for me. And I'm happy I tried them out during my OWL, because I know now that they are good foods, but they aren't foods I "absolutely have to have because I want to eat them". I found I didn't want them.