Sugar is a real pita to tame. When I first quit, I jumped 8 pounds. My wife is a prolific baker and sweets are in the pantry 24-7. My thought process was "that beer I didn't drink was 150 calories, I can have a cookie." Problem is, I can't have just one. It took a lot of will power on my part and in the meantime, my wife decided to go Gluten free and is working on substituting honey and other things for sugar. Have you tried honey? In the evenings now instead of cookies, I will take a little bit of honey and warm it up and mix it in with natural almond butter. It actually is quite fulfilling.
I’ve read a couple guys quit coffee and now drink tea. I can’t drink coffee anymore as it makes my heart race later in the day (palpitations).
There are lots of decaf teas out there for sure.
There are decaf coffees and teas, but they are never truly caffeine-free, a small amount of caffeine will always be present. For true caffeine-free tea, it has to be herbal tea (ie not Camellia sinensis). I grow peppermint, spearmint, chamomile, lavender, stevia, etc. in my garden. They all make for really satisfying herbal teas. I usually make mint + stevia tea at night. It helps digest dinner and really relaxes me. Just add boiling water to the herbs, wait five minutes, and pour through a strainer. There may be some drawbacks to decaf coffee and tea. Here's a really quick paragraph regarding coffee (under the "Drawbacks of drinking decaf coffee" section): https://www.nationwidecoffee.co.uk/news/decaf-coffee-the-good-and-the-bad
Sugar can be just as addicting as alcohol. When our bodies are used to it, it's an endorphin. Remember this, no good endorphins are free!! Endorphins from running, working out, cold showers, physical activity, etc. are earned...the good kind.
I quit, and she asked if she had to quit also? I told her no, and I meant it. When we go out socially I drink NA or ice tea and she has her Big Waves. We made a few changes this year, and more to come. But we are doing a better job of exercise, sobriety and more thought put into financial decisions. She has her drinks, but we go home earlier. It would be different if I had trouble saying no, or our friends weren't supportive. The quote I read in here earlier rings true for me. "Those that matter, don't mind. And those that mind, don't matter." I have been very fortunate, noone in my life has been part of the 2nd group. I would encourage you to quit, and when she sees the benefits, and they are countless, she will hopefully want to join you on your journey. Good luck and hope this helps.
Great info Rick! Thanks
I recently had to goto ER. After a "Perfect Storm" of things I threw down the hatch this one evening (zesty delicious foods some of it fatty like Tri-tip, NSAIDS as well) So I was wretching, couldn't keep any food down. And massively SEVERE Vertigo. (Which still hasn't fully gone away. Makes hikes "interesting" some times) On 3rd day knew I needed to go to UrgentCare/ER. Since I knew I needed certain imaging equipment, from the discussion with the Teladoc appt. Most strictly Urgent Care places wouldn't work.
It's hard to avoid mate, it's in everything processed. Personally I went cold turkey on all procesed food and sugar; It's a slow death. The cravings will subside eventually. I do have some raw honey in tea and some seasonal fruit occasionally but that's about it. I've gotten to the stage where fruit tastes super sweet now, and anything processed is too sickly (and gives me a stomach ache). That takes a few months you just need to be disciplined about it. I look at food as sustenance more than a source of pleasure now.
A large part of the sugar craving is the carbs missing from drinking alcohol. But the dopamine hit from sugar is is REAL!!! This is a GREAT point about the depressed state alcohol either adds to, or puts and keeps your brain in! During the early parts of trying to quit I'd go a while with out a drink and then I'd have a few one night. The VERY next day and for the next few, there'd be these horribly negative intrusive thoughts!. I stopped drinking regularly over a year and a half ago. Went 14 months completely dry. Only have a beer every once in a great while when it just seems appropriate. The depressed state did eventually fade away. But it does return slightly for a few days if I have a drink. It's just amazing how much more aware I am now of what happens with my mind and how "asleep at the wheel" I was.
to all of you who have committed to a lifestyle change. It’s not easy, but the posts here can only help others in the journey!
