Giving into sweets?

So for a long time I had tried to give up on the sweet stuff while dieting, you know we all heard it, you should even get rid of every sweetener whenever possible. I have tried this for weeks at a time but my sweet tooth always got a hold of me and with a vengeance till I binged on everything sweet I could find. Then I just kind of gave in . I am still concentrated on getting the nutrition I need but I am incorporating it into mostly "sweet" meals.

For example at breakfast I will have plain greek yogurt with fruit, a little bit of cereal for crunch and sweetener. For lunch I will have plain oatmeal with protein powder and cinnamon, for snack I will have some cottage cheese with apple sauce or sugar free fruit preserve. Dinner I tend to go savory (since that's what my boyfriend wants).

So is sweet really bad? I enjoy my meals (and days) better and I think I am doing ok on nutrition (I am getting whole grains, fruit, and protein needs while keeping the calories low). Or am I still doing something bad

If that is what you need to do to avoid cookies, cake etc. i see nothing wrong with it! The greek yogurt is fantastic, so is cinnamon and SF preserves. It all sounds delish and if it keeps you on track I say go for it!

I think it's a great idea!

You need to find what works for you. If this is sustainable, and the lbs come off, then it is the right choice for you!

I don't avoid sweets. I avoid artificial sweeteners, corn sugar, and cane sugar. Everything else is OK. If you look up the glycemic index of maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, etc, you'll see that their glycemic index is much lower than the other sweeteners. That means that it won't mess with your blood sugar like those other sweeteners.

This is the NYTimes article that made me give up sugar last year:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Of course, I'm not going to lie. Sometimes, I just need me some gummy bears. But I can count on one hand the number of times that I've eaten them in the last year and I've still got 2 fingers left.

I don't avoid sweet things as long as it still fits into my RDI. I don't think sweets are bad as long as we do not overdo it. This site and RDI limit keeps my meals in balance and at the end I can enjoy all the foods.

I think if you do sweets in moderation, or substitute something a little healthier that satisfies the sweet tooth, there's nothing wrong with it. For me, if I don't eat something sweet when I really want it then I'll eat everything and then eat the sweet thing I wanted in the first place. So, I've learned to either just eat the thing I want, if it fits into my calories for the day, or substitute something that will get rid of the craving.
I think if you are happy and healthy, then what you are doing is fine.

Sorry, this thread made me laugh because we killed this topic back in February (here's the link about "toxic sugar" if you want to read it) and I'm really hoping it doesn't come back around as intense as it did the first time!!!!

Very "topical" with Easter looming

Come on Erika!!! I had almost forgotten that happened.

Hahaha - I couldn't resist..

Hi. I'm new here but, I'm not new to Atkins. I was actually going to post this as a 'tip' today but I changed my mind.

I don't 'deprive' myself of anything. If I am having a seemingly insufferable craving, I have learned for me, that if I get just a bite of it, I'm really OK. I use to eat candy and chips all the time. Not because I really like it but, I worked at night and it was all I could get sometimes. Like mars2kids, if I don't go ahead and have it, I will go WAY overboard.

I just found out my daughter is borderline diabetic so, I had to make changes. i.e. I've lost 7.2lbs myself since Saturday. She's done really well, she's lost 9.0lbs!!! and that's one of the first things I told her. I got a bag of the little bite size snickers so I'm ready when that happens. Haven't touched one yet but... it's coming.

I have the same problem as well. I always try to stop sweets and i can only hold it up for 4 days maximum then i binge eat like crazy. I actually end up gaining weight even though i have been taking care for 4 days being really strict and counting calories.

I try to incorporate some chocolate into my diet by counting how much it is and substituting it for the 2 fruits snack i usually have. But still i feel guilty for eating it, and binge eat the whole day thinking that tomorrow i'll start a better diet.
I just dunno how to stop it, it has been a vicious cycle for a long time now and i have gained a lot of kilos that i just can't get rid of.

It's pretty easy to say just stop binge eating, i say it to myself everyday and the next day i wake up and directly go to the kitchen to eat. I get mad and say tomorrow it'll be official

pleaaaase anyone has tips i really need help

I can't resist sweets either, rather than avoiding them & binging I have them in moderation and try healthy replacements. I microwave a banana then add fresh puree of raspberries or other fruit on top. Hits the spot for me

I congratulate you on your healthy substitutions! I cannot give up my sweets, so I have them in moderation. If you check my diet calendar I have a 1/2 cup of ice cream every night, so portion control works for me. And if healthy substitutions work for you, more power to ya!

thank you guys for the tips. I am gonna try and start booking all what i'm eating on my journal, maybe i'll feel more committed

Long story short, whether it's toxic or not, just like soft drinks, there is nothing good or healthful about processed sugars and it should be avoided as much as possible.