Yes NoMoreSugarForMe! Let’s keep the conversation going.

momof4, That you have a long list of trigger foods is a good thing. Now you know what to avoid. Have you made a list of replacement foods?

When I say it doesn’t have to be difficult, what I mean is that you can go about this in a matter of fact way. This is how it is and beating yourself up over it only makes it worse. I’ve been there, and in a way am there now with other things (not sweets). It’s so easy to be self-critical and think we’re all messed up. Really, we just are who we are. So we’re changing ourselves. We’re all working on our stuff. That’s just how it is. Let’s change together!

How’s it going? Did I say something wrong? <—- Getting a complex…

Of course you didn’t do anything wrong! I’m just still working through my stuff. This is my 7th day sugar free. I wish I could say it’s been easy and the urge to binge is gone, but it’s not. I am beginning to understand that even more important than changing my behavior, is changing my thoughts.

I watched your sugar free holiday challenge video. My first reaction was FEAR. How can I eat whatever I want on Halloween and not trigger days or weeks, etc. of bingeing? That fear is an irrational response. Non-bingers are not afraid of sugar. But my fear leads to anxiety and the anxiety fuels the urge to binge. The fear keeps me from being in the present moment, worrying about what I MIGHT do. The flip side of the fear is the shame that comes after a binge. That also keeps me from being present because I’m stuck thinking about what I did. The shame also causes anxiety that leads to bingeing. I’m learning to recognize these responses and take some deep breaths an focus on my breathing. I don’t have to FIGHT these runaway thoughts anymore. I can just let them be and choose to focus on my breathing, to be in the present moment.

The urge is just that, an URGE. I don’t have to respond to it with fear and anxiety and eating like a maniac. I can dissipate it with mindfulness and breathing. Whenever I feel the urge to binge, instead of fear, I’m trying to see it as an opportunity to practice changing my THINKING, not just my behavior. Even if I mess up, I can remember that every moment is an opportunity to make the next right choice.

So yes, I’m doing better. Thank you for your support. And I take your challenge. Halloween, here I come!

Congratulations on going 7 days! The Holiday Sugar Challenge is going to be great because we’re going to reduce the amount of sweets we’d normally eat. Perhaps do not eat your TRIGGER foods on Halloween, Thanksgiving, or New Year’s Eve. Eat something you like but not something you love. Overall, the HSC is just that, a challenge. It’s going to be interesting for certain…

Hi All,

I just wanted to introduce myself.  I’ve been a lifelong sugar binger.  I’ve struggled with quitting sugar off and on many times over the last couple of years.  I also have panic attacks and have been on anti-anxiety meds for about the last 5 years.  For about the last 3 months I’ve been working on weaning myself off the medication… couple more months and I hope to be off completely.  I have been reading lately about the link between sugar and anxiety/panic attacks.  However, I know that just thinking about quitting sugar gets me very anxious/panicky.  I know that once I get over that initial withdrawal then I’ll probably be good, but getting to that point scares me.  Maybe knowing that I will have it again in a month or so will help me, instead of trying to give it up “forever”.  Thanks for the forum.  It’s nice to hear from like-minded people.

Hi mybestme, panic attacks are the worst! I used to get them and sometimes still do. The thing I noticed is that, for me, they arise from an irrational fear. Usually I’m telling myself some kind of catastrophic story in my thoughts and then {BAM} panic!