Huxley

I think a better way to word it better is to say "sugar can be toxic", and enough studies aim at that direction. But we can also safely say that the modern diet exceeds the recommended 38 grams a day easily. An average here in the US would be around 120 grams which are toxic levels. Sugar has become much harder to avoid since the last couple of decades. But I think people are becoming aware of what it does to them, now that sugar usage is regarded as an addiction. We've come a long way. But we can use the common sense and moderation argument for a lot of things, without looking into the cause of the matter.

I started running, and bought myself a heavy bag. I started chewing gum. Every time I had a craving I would think, this is only lasting 5 minutes. And then I would be ok again. If that didn't help, I'd go running or some rounds on the bag. That would often straighten me out quickly. Sometimes I would light one up again, only to throw away the rest of the package. But slowly the desire to be healthy overcame the desire of the cigarette. What changed me the most mentally was reading Allen Carr's The Easy Way To Stop Smoking. Laslty, I would cut back alcohol and coffee consumption as they seem to trigger the urge to smoke. I smoked for 21 years. Smoke-free for 6 now and in the best shape of my life.

Yes this is true. I consider myself an addict when it comes to sugar. I will not only create an awareness around sugar consumption, but also keep myself on my toes regarding the consumption of sugar. The result may be that concequently the urge for sugar seizes to exist. For me, I do not have any weight issues, I do not eat large amounts on a daily basis. But I do want to keep sugar coonsumption in check purely out of preventive motives. So will I ever truely be free? I may or may not. But in the meantime I do create some boundaries that help me cut out potentional sugar consumption.

I know this sounds very logical, but this is a great solution, however a challenging one. Sugar is in everything, but once you start by leaving out the snacks, cookies, and the obvious usual suspects, this can help a great deal. What this creates is not a perfect situation in which you don't eat sugar anymore, but what it does do is bring awareness about what you buy. Just like counting calories on a site such as Myfitnesspal; it creates a sense of accountability. I do not have any sweets in the house, nor anything like juice, jelly, or other hidden-in-plain-sight sugar products. For ym hot drinks I use Stevia or something similar. But what I do have is actual sugar in the cupboard, that when I do really have a craving, I'll add it to a peanut butter sandwich. I am aware of the amount of sugar, the act of eating it, and I don't feel tempted to drive across town to the local DQ to get a nice quarter gallon Cookies 'n Cream Blizzard (yum). So the damage is limited, physically, but also mentally. The tips here are great, drinking water, creating awareness, shop selectively. Knowing that you are addicted is the biggest step you have made. Take it from a fellow addict, sometimes I still go on a donut run and shamelessly devour them even before I get home. But then, I get up again, back to my Kale shakes and workout regiment, which i enjoy tremendously.

What helped for me was cold water and vitamin D. I started taking cold showers and vitamin D for recovery after workout and reduce inflamation. I also moisterize and exfoliate, so that may help as well. I love the suggestions already given here. Good luck to you.