how do you guys curb sugar cravings? ya know, the kind that come after you get a good look inside the dessert case at just about any restaurant. tonight some mocha torte was seriously calling my name. luckily, my friends were able to create a diversion, but in general i would love to know any tips/advice to make them stop...any thoughts?
This is my nemesis as well. When I have been able to go cold-turkey I found that after two weeks they are gone, but the two weeks is a b**ch! And then it is very difficult to stay completely away from them... especially in the summer! Too many parties, festivals, margaritas on the boat, etc.
For me, the best compromise I have found is a few sugar-free alternatives during the week that are enough to keep me on the straight and narrow. Protein shakes and Jello instant sugar-free/fat-free pudding are my stand-bys.
If you like chocolate, try making the jello instant chocolate sf/ff pudding and put about 1/8 tsp of orange extract in it. Its ready in 5 minutes and (I think) tastes awesome.
I like the SF pudding too - that's a good idea. Another is using the South Beach Diet idea -- flavor ricotta cheese with some splenda, maybe add some strawberries or cocoa, this gives you a bit of protein as well as a 'sweet' treat.
But it sounds like you did one of the best things we can do -- created some sort of a diversion
Lately I have not been the best. But I DO know that when I do stay away from pure sweets for a few days it really does make a difference in my roll in the middle. The older I get the more I realize what an effect sweets make on my gut. When I'm honest with the Zone I do notice a difference.
I was big into splenda until I found out that sweeteners can trigger your body into thinking that it is basically sugar, which equates to a high glycemic index!!! I use a natural sweetener called Stevia that does not have a glycemic index (or so they say). Just a word of warning.
Adam - I tend to agree with you. Artifical sweeteners induce what I call a "false sense of sweet" You should try to limit them as much as possible. Ironically when I lost a lot of weight one of the things I gave up was diet soda. Not only is there a physiological effect I believe there is a psychological effect -- makes you think you are cheating..so you are inclined to make less than favorable choices. However, in a pinch -- it does help to keep people on track if they can have a little treat now and then. I haven't tried Stevia - I'll have to check it out.
