sweets

[clayboy]

how can I reduce my craving for sweets?

[Wispy68]

It sounds a bit obvious, but instead of sweets, you could try picking at seedless grapes, tangerines, small pieces of cut up apple, banana etc? You'll still be satisfying your sweet craving, but won't be putting all those sugars, fats and additives inside you!

[woofgang]

Periodically I get hormone related sugar craving (the kind where you can eat sugar by the spoonful out of the bowl and wash it down with honey) and I find that this works for me, although it is a nuisance to do. I also give up caffeine at the same time which i find helps me but you may not need to.

Its not easy, but I have found that if you go almost completely sugar free and low carb for about 7 to 10 days once you are through the stage where everyone looks like a mars bar, the cravings are gone. I am NOT suggesting Atkins, just drop all sweets, cakes and the like,sugar in tea or coffee, alcohol, fruit, tightly limit bread, potatoes, cereals, pasta. If you do eat any of those then have the brown or un processed version and eat loads of veg and lean protein. You can add back the carbs, fruit and alcohol after the initial period, but not the sugar, sweets cakes etc. If you do want to add these back be careful over portion size and frerquency.

This is not a diet to lose weight, although you might, it is a strategy to control sugar craving

[Cheesefreek]

A few years ago I decided I was fed up of craving sweet things.  So twice a day I would drink an unsweetened glass of PLJ (buy at Boots - stands for pure lemon juice).  Not only did I feel nobly health, but it eventually killed any sweet cravings.  They just tasted too sickly after I'd got used to the bitterness of lemon juice.  Takes some perserverance - but worth it in the end.

[arabianlover]

i am also "addicted" to chocolate. I usually allay my ravenous appetite with bananas or grapes. They have the same effect like chocolate....putting as much as dextrose into the brain!

[soozmac]

a friend of mine, who is always trying out new ways to curb her chocolate craving, burns vanilla oil, as the sweet smell somehow cancels her craving. I've tried it myself, and must say it does work - but in conjunction with Options hot choc drinks!