[(JD)]

The psychology behind change is quite complicated. Fortunately, we don't have to understand all of what makes it work to make it work!

Dr Clay needs to watch his sugar intake. I identify with this... I'm hypoglycemic and sugar zaps my energy, among other things.

Taking in sugar makes me crave more sugar. The process feeds itself. I have an additional issue here. I lost my sense of smell and taste with the injury. However, I can get a sense of sweet if something is VERY sweet, (and also I can have a different sensation if something is red pepper hot.) If I eliminate Sweet, then I'm taking away one of the few things I have when it comes to enjoying foods and drinks.

I've tried the artificial sweeteners. I've tried the natural sweeteners. Oh well.

NOW I have read about research that shows that it could be the spiking of the insulin (from sugar binges etc) that nicks the arteries and leads to heart disease.

Yes, I need to change regarding sugar in my life.

Ok... I learned early in my life that to eliminate something negative in my life, I needed to replace it with something positive. I do have one more alternative in the sweetener area: agave. I need to try that.

But there needs to be something else I can do to replace the loss of sweet, say, in my green tea... otherwise I'm stuck with water only.

If I can't find an alternative to sugar or the bad chemicals of artificial sweeteners, then I need to go into another realm to find gratification. You know what I mean? Do I need to be able to say, because I DO drink only water, and don't eat desserts laden with sugar, I DO allow myself________________.

Ugh. This is not easy. My escape to the movies always involved indulging in (plain) popcorn and a coke! So removing the sugar also altered my escape...in fact, I quit going to the movies altogether. NOT a good solution imo.

I'm working on this... thought I'd begin a thread so others can too.

What do you think?

[Peanuts]

I agree that eating sugar makes you crave more sugar. Also eating refined breads causes a similiar reaction. I've wondered if eating more whole grain breads would break the sugar cycle. but I really don't care for whole grain breads - I enjoy whole grain toast .. but not whole grain bread, especially on a sandwich. If it is true, I wonder how long it would take to get your body used to whole grains rather than refined flour.

[(JD)]

My body likes whole grain.

I gave up refined flour, in the home, many years ago. I still am a sucker for a good (white flour) garlic roll But even if I order a steak burger, I order it without the bun...just too much sugar, you're right!

I have allergy trouble with honey. (Just chatting here..) I need orange blossum honey because clovers, and unregulated bees (imagine that!) can gather from "weeds" I am allergic to. But the body knows what to do with honey. I don't think it really knows what to do with the chemical/synthetic sweeteners. I think the artificial ones have caused part of the problem with real sugar. That and "diet" soft drinks. lol

Yeah, I gave up soda except for the movies like I said, and caffeine for that matter... my diet really needed changing due to the hypoglycemia. It was the last straw I guess. Chronic pain, and having to take a binding narcotic for it are two other reasons.

OH, Specifically I have two other things I gave up.... hot apple pie ala mode, and cupcakes! Sigh.

I guess I need to compensate for not being able to "enjoy" eating. LOL I won't say what thought came to mind, because it's impossible too

See Chapter8 - page 37 of 56

[SeptemberMorn]

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See Chapter8 - page 37 of 56

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Uh... HUH???? What am I missing?

[nothemama8]

Sky can you use Raw Sugar, it's not processed and we use it alot

[(JD)]

I did try raw sugar, but needed much more of it to taste anything sweet of it... haven't fully checked to see what it does to insulin levels.

I added extra lemon in my drink...so while it wasn't a sweet taste, there was SOMETHING there rather than nothing like water.

[Wants2Fly]

Hi Sky -- This is a sticky question. Can you use aromatherapy to replace the sensual aspect of sweets?

Can you eat fruits? Can you use unsweetened juices, or even freshly squeezed fruit, such as raspberry,mango, or orange, into your tea?

What about coconut as a topping?

Cinnamon? I love cinnamon.

This is a tough one. I hope you'll keep us posted on what you try and what works. It sounds like info that could come in handy one of these days.

[Rapunzel]

Have you tried Stevia? It is natural, and sweeter than sugar. You can get it in packets or in a box or bottle.

So, how do you go about finding something positive to replace the negatives with? Do you have trouble allowing yourself positive things?

[(JD)]

Well, I do keep trying Not sure if I've tried the Stevia, but know I haven't tried the agave yet.

I can't smell. I lost my sense of taste and smell due to the injury. That's why the two things of taste that I can reconstruct are important to me. I have a great visualization/imagination ability...and can sit and dream about how did something (use to) taste??? and recreate it... but it isn't always possible.

So for eating I have hot/cold, texture, colors... and sweet or sour (if to the extreme I get some sense of it) I've had to redefine the sensation of hunger, also... as the nerves I guess that report this are also now squirrelly? So while it doesn't feel like the old hunger feeling, I use it as a new hunger signal. . . though it's very close to feeling nauseated.