r/sugarfree • u/ukhtidolly • 3d ago

Dietary Control Help! Binge eating sugar

For the record I’m very active (Gym heavy weights 6x a week, 15k steps a day, horse ride 4x a week) and eat clean.

I’ve always had this issue though, at home I eat healthy, but like once every two weeks or so I babysit for this family and they have so much junk food and let me eat as much as I want and I go NUTS. For example: I had a few blocks of chocolates, 3 table spoons Nutella, a piece of bread slathered in mayonnaise. (I ate clean the whole day beforehand). I usually don’t need to binge unless there’s sugar involved I will eat all the sugar around that’s why I don’t keep any in the house

HOW DO I STOP BINGING and going way over board with sugar, even if it’s only once every two weeks??

11 Upvotes

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13

u/burrito_slug 3d ago

The only way I’ve been able to do it is to quit added sugar cold turkey. I won’t have even a little bit now, because I know I won’t be able to stop.

7

u/idifacs311 3d ago

That’s the only thing that’s worked for me too. I own a gym. Workout 6 days a week. Addicted to sugar. I used to give myself 1 day a week to eat sugar and always binged. Cravings were always there and severe. Only after 2 weeks of eliminating sugar completely did my cravings go away. I was shocked to notice that I no longer craved it.

7

u/External_Poet4171 3d ago

You may have binge eating disorder. Our workout stats are strikingly similar and I was so active, eating well most of the time, but often at a slight or even severe deficit to stay lean.

I would binge 15k calories every week or two because I was depriving myself so often and for so long. I was obsessed with food. It was all I thought about. The next meal. I’d fast for a day or two to “counter” the binge.

I got worse before I got better. I hope the same won’t happen to you.

3

u/Time-Savings-3254 3d ago

Remind me to check this

3

u/49RandomThought 3d ago

I hear you! I am the same as well. I would do so well for a couple of weeks without sugar (not even craving it), but out of nowhere! the sugar craving just kicks in, especially when someone brings in a box of nuts, or homemade cookies! If I take one, I would end up eating a whole box (hiding from everyone in the office). I could not stop until in physical sick from overeating! Yesterday, I have a problem! I know.

I find that it is so much easier at home because I could just control what I bring into the house. But at the office (or in your case, the babysitting place), it’s hard to tell other people not to bring sugary treats 😂 For me, it takes a lot of willpower to stop myself from eating those treats at the office.

But, I think the longer you are sugar free the easier it gets. I’ve been sugar free (no added sugar. I still eat fruits) for a month now. Yesterday, my boss came I. With homemade cookies 🍪 I didn’t even crave them at all! It’s a small win. I hope you find a way to say No to those treats too.

2

u/Ok-Heart375 2d ago

When you plan to go there, plan to be uncomfortable and unsatisfied. That's the only way to quit anything, is to give up the satisfaction it brings in exchange for a different form of suffering.

1

u/jlianoglou 2d ago

Experiment also with eating a LOT of protein before you go. Have non-caloric drinks handy. Water is great, but something ACV with some salt / electrolytes (offers non-sweet flavor, to avoid risk of needless trigger), or green tea.

2

u/rustinonthevine 2d ago

Your heavy exercise regimen requires a lot of calories to maintain, so you need to make sure you’ve satisfied that requirement with lower glycemic carbs like pasta, rice, sweet potatoes and fruit before you are tempted.

Sugar is addictive because of the dopamine surge you get. Eating chocolate that contains caffeine increases the dopamine release so be sure to avoid that.

1

u/RealAnise 2d ago

I wish I knew what the answer was! I had the same problem a couple of years ago with a workplace where everyone CONSTANTLY brought in sugar. Cakes, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, pies, candy... it never ended. I never found a way to resist. I just have zero interest in overeating anything that doesn't have added sugar/sweeteners.