Sugar Addiction

[Guest guest]

OMGosh, a. You wrote exactly what is happening to me, even as I

type. I had abstained from sugar for 2 years post op. Then right

before Thanksgiving I started with just a bite or two here or there

and now all of the cravings are back BIG TIME. I gained 5 pounds

during the holidays and now feel awful. I actually feel " fat " even

though I know that I am not. But, I am noticing that there are more

bulges than there were 2 months ago (I can " pinch " more...) It was

like I did not feel comfortable with all of the compliments that were

coming my way. I had gone from a 26/28 to a 4 petite and this was

the first Christmas in my entire life that I felt normal. So, why in

the #$%# did I feel the need to blow it? I actually feel lousy from

the sugar, yet my body is craving it. And the weight did not start

right away, so I felt as though I was safe. I weigh each and every

day and it was not until week #4 that the first 4 pounds showed up --

OVERNIGHT! How do you get off of sugar? I want to get back to the

stage where I felt great instead of this lazy, run-down feeling that

I am atributing to the sugar. Any and all help from you -- or anyone

else on this board -- will be greatly appreciated. Deb

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a wrote: I don't post often, but wanted to thank you for

talking about addiction along with balance. Sometimes I read about

folks doing a little sugar and how total deprivation sets up binges

and the answer is moderation and balance. Well, it isn't that way for

me and I bet for some others here. I can not do " a little sugar " . I

am an addict. Pure and simple.

I like to think of food issues like other issues of substance abuse.

Sometimes I " use " food to do things it's not meant to do, like

relieve anxiety, medicate depression, or to feel the void of just

plain ole boredom. These are foods that I " abuse " . These are usually

carbs. Then there is substance " dependence " and sugar is in that

category, but some refined carbs are moving into the dependence

category. What moves a substance from abuse into dependence is the

physical cravings long after consumption, the inability to stop

eating it when you want to stop, and the mental obsession once you've

started consuming the substance.

I know that not everybody who has WLS is an addict, some folks are

just food abusers.The symptom of morbid obesity is the same!! My

younger sister has had WLS, has lost 160 lbs and is not a sugar

addict. She can eat small quantities and stop.

But, I want to encourage folks to be really honest with themselves,

to decide which category you fit into. Sugar abstinence can be

extremely freeing and not nearly as terrifying as people may think!!!