Are you a sugar addict? I am.
In 2005 I vowed to quit and began
writing about life without sweets.
This site contains a forum,
product reviews, my journal,
educational Sugar Challenges,
and the Stop Being Sweet ebook.

Sugar Addiction Debate…

November 03, 2011 • Comments (0)

Are sugary junk foods addictive? Can any kind of food be addictive? Some say yes and some say no.

Ask Michael Prager, who lost more than 600 pounds. He turned his life around by accepting that he might be an addict and applying techniques used by twelve-step groups.

Meanwhile, studies keep turning up linking the effects of eating certain foods to commonly accepted addictive behaviors and reactions.

See: Fatty Foods Addictive as Cocaine in Growing Body of Science at Bloomberg Businessweek, Junk Food Addiction As Real As Drug Addiction, But Less Cool at Jezebel.com, Fatty and Sugary Foods Are As Addictive As Cocaine And Nicotine, Warn Health Experts at Huffington Post, or Scientific research linking High Sugar Processed Foods to Addictions Like Cocaine at TheRandomFact.com.

The last sentence of the last linked story says, “I have never heard of anyone robbing a bank to get money to buy a candy bar or ice cream or pop.” What a lousy argument against the mounting evidence that junk food is indeed addictive. (As a teen I used to steal money to buy candy.)

Just the idea of abstaining from sweets puts some folks in a bad mood, let alone the idea that sugary junk food could possibly be addictive.

Sugar laden junk foods can be found in every convenience store for just a few cents each. Consider the dollar menu at your local fast food restaurant. Junk food is not only affordable, it’s everywhere. Even things you think are healthy contain added sugars that most people don’t know are there.

Just the idea of abstaining from sweets puts some folks in a bad mood, let alone the idea that sugary junk food could possibly be addictive. If you don’t think sugary junk food is a problem, or that it isn’t being pushed on people to gain profits, try going without sugar for several weeks. Then come back and tell us about your experience.

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 11/03/11 • Comment

To Stop Being Sweet, Go One Food at a Time

November 02, 2011 • Comments (0)

In this short video I talk about how to change the foods you’re eating by reading labels one at a time. Stop Being Sweet!

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 11/02/11 • Comment

Why Can’t I Stop Eating Sugar and Junk Food?

November 01, 2011 • Comments (2)

When the rooster crows, what makes you wake up and start your day? When the traffic signal turns red, what makes you press the brakes and stop your car?

If you ignore the sunlight and stay in bed all day, it’s possible that you might lose your job or home and your family will starve. You’d better stop when the traffic signal turns red because you might get hit by another vehicle or get a costly traffic ticket if you don’t.

When there are dangerous and immediate consequences it’s easy to choose wisely. The consequences of chronic sugar consumption are subtle and that means you can eat a bag of cookies everyday for a year and you might not notice what it’s doing to you (especially if you’re also drinking a liter of soda pop and noshing on a candy bar at the same time).

So, why can’t you stop eating sugar and junk food? The answer is simple; you don’t really want to stop.

You claim it’s because you’re addicted (which you may very well be) or that sweets have a magical power over you. Whatever. It’s you. You choose to eat the stuff. Instead of asking yourself, “Why can’t I stop,” ask yourself, “Why don’t I want to stop?” You’ll get far more interesting answers.

The best time to ask yourself why you’re doing it is when you’re struggling with sugar abstinence and you’re debating whether or not to have just one small, sugary snack.

It took me years to realize that I enjoyed eating junk food. I enjoyed the escape from reality that they provided for me. I willingly partook in the rituals that surrounded my sweet consumption. Years of positive reinforcement told me I was doing the right thing. I was using sugar as a coping mechanism for things I did not want to deal with.

Yes, we can point fingers at the sugar pushers who make the junk food, the mind-numbing advertising, the government subsidies, and the availability of affordable junk food everywhere. But none of those things hold us down, take the money from our pockets, and force sugar down our throats. Sugar pushers thrive on our personal choices.

Just as your excessive sugar consumption didn’t happen overnight, your change from a sugar freak to an anti-sugar warrior won’t happen quickly. In fact, it will only happen when you’re ready to begin down that road. The path is well worn. It’s ready and waiting for you. When you’re ready, you’ll find your way there by taking one step at a time.

Posted on 11/01/11 • Comment

Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2011 • Comments (2)

Today is the first day of my annual “Four Days of Sweetness.” It used to be called my “Super Sugar Binge.” Not any more!

I started a little early this year because we had a birthday celebration last night (mine and a good friend combined). I’ve been back on sugar for less than a day and am already seeing and feeling some interesting things.

1. Choose Your Story Wisely

I made a dessert yesterday. While carefully dripping chocolate icing onto a dozen cupcakes, I remembered how much I used to enjoy baking. My cupcakes, however, turned out like super sweet corn muffins—not what I had in mind. They were gross but that’s beside the point.

For some reason I tell myself that “cooking is difficult” and putting together a delicious and healthy meal is like rocket science. Why do I tell myself that? What has stopped me from taking the intensity with which I dripped icing onto a cupcake and applying that same care to garnishing a healthy meal? Nothing thwarts me but a self-defeating story.

2. Sweets Really Are EVERYWHERE.

A quick web search returned pages and pages of cupcake and chocolate icing recipes. I chose two recipes, followed the directions, and both turned out sickly sweet. In the results of the web search I saw Cooking with Coca Cola. Did you know you can cook (not bake) with Coca Cola? WTF?! There’s a whole website devoted to it. Why have a Coke with your salad when you can use Coca Cola as salad dressing?

3. Sugar Hangovers Are Real.

Eating sweets makes mornings absolutely laborious. My body and blood feel 50lbs heavier. Crusty eyes too. Mmmm…

4. Is Sugar Addiction Real?

During dinner last night, we got on the subject of dessert. Knowing I’m in my four days of sweetness, one person asked, “Do you think sugar addiction is real or is it all in your head?”

There was a short debate and several opinions were offered. One person said there is no scientific evidence. Another said sugar effects people physiologically. Meanwhile the person who originally asked said she no longer participates in Halloween because she doesn’t want to have the leftover candy bowl in her house knowing that she’ll uncontrollably eat all of it at once. Is sugar addictive or is it all in her head?

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 10/31/11 • Comment

Join Us for the 2011 Holiday Sugar Challenge!

October 31, 2011 • Comments (124)

Here’s the Plan:

1. Halloween (October 31st)

Eat whatever you want on Halloween.
Then, NO SWEETS until…

2. Thanksgiving (November 24th)

Eat anything on Thanksgiving day.
Then, NO SWEETS until…

3. New Year’s Eve (December 31st)

Eat whatever you want, but only from 6 pm - midnight.

Let’s Support Each Other

Together we can Stop Being Sweet.

Participate in the challenge and survive the holidays virtually sugar free. Join us anytime. Talk with us in the comments area below and/or join the Support Forum.