What Are The Symptoms of Sugar Withdrawal - (With Pictures)

12/9/2017 WhataretheSymptomsofSugarWithdrawal?
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What are the Symptoms of Sugar Withdrawal? Category: Health
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Whether people actually experience sugar withdrawal is a matter of some debate, as is

Sugar Addiction whether sugar is actually physically addictive. Many argue that certain foods are
No Sugar Diet psychologically addictive but that sugar withdrawal, or fat withdrawal can be relatively
Sugar Cravings easy from a physiological standpoint.
Sugar Withdrawal
Sugar Withdrawal Headache Some claim sugar is a drug, and functions much like many other drugs. Consuming sugar
No Sugar No Flour Diet gives one temporary highs of energy and mood elevation. However, such highs may
Sugar Withdrawal How Long decrease with greater consumption of sugar. People who suddenly attempt sugar
withdrawal are likely to have a few weeks of poor energy, cravings for sugar loaded foods,
and depression. Some also have flu-like symptoms when undergoing sugar withdrawal.
Sugar withdrawal is often challenging because so many prepared foods contain sugar, or
sugar based substances. This includes high fructose corn syrup. As well, many simple
carbohydrates like wheat flour convert to sugar in the body. Alcohol is a hidden sugar
too. So if people merely cut out table sugar, but continue to drink alcohol or eat packaged
foods they may not experience sugar withdrawal.
Some experts recommend that sugar withdrawal is best attempted when one can cut out
all simple carbohydrates, alcohol, corn syrup, honey, and table sugar. Reading labels on
packaged foods can help one significantly reduce sugar intake by avoiding such
ingredients. However, even cutting out some of these things is likely to result in less
dependence on sugar, and possibly less addiction to sugar.
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From a psychological standpoint, sugar withdrawal is more easily noted. For example,
people who have eating disorders, like consistent overeating, are eating sugar for the
highs it gives them. Thus decreasing sugar and overall food intake can dramatically affect
mood stability. The psychological factor of most addictions is that the addiction in some
way rewards the person, and masks deep-seated emotional pain.
Without the addictive substance, whether it is sugar or food in general, the person must
confront the emotional pain. This suggests that sugar withdrawal may be most effective
when one attempts it in the context of a support group or under the care of an attentive
psychiatrist or other mental health professional.
In the psychological sense, sugar withdrawal can be a very real and painful process,
replete with cravings, anxiety or depression, and a general sense of loss when the
addictive substance is not used. This suggests we take sugar withdrawal as seriously as
addictions to other substances like alcohol or drugs. In many senses, what seems
innocuous is actually a leading cause of many health conditions like early onset diabetes,
obesity, and a variety of diseases of the organs.
Most people find that physical cravings for sugar will end within three to four weeks after
complete sugar withdrawal. Emotional symptoms may linger beyond this point. This is
Headaches can be a symptom of a sugar especially the case when the initial cause for dependence remains unaddressed.
withdrawal.
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12/9/2017 WhataretheSymptomsofSugarWithdrawal?(withpictures)
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Some see sugar as providing "highs" that

decrease with use.
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Sugar addicts are often overweight and

may develop type II diabetes and other
physical ailments.
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Article Details Discuss this Article
Written By: wiseGEEK Writer anon997865 Sugar withdrawal is absolutely no joke.

Edited By: O. Wallace Post 232
Last Modified Date: 03 September I'm 20 and realized I was addicted to it when I was still young, but due to unhelpful
2017 parents and ignorance on my part, I could never really do anything about it.
Copyright Protected: Frequent diets would only end up in binges since I never targeted all sugar itself
2003-2017 Conjecture Corporation and would eat mainly 'hidden' sugar, which would then lead me to terrible
Print this Article overeating and years of suffering.
Right now I'm on day 10 of sugar withdrawal. It feels like a lot longer. But it's also
Free Widgets for your Site/Blog the longest I've gone without bingeing in my whole life. This is a painful diet -
especially emotionally - but now for the first time I feel like I can satisfy myself
without
DidYouKnow?
view entire post
AstudyconductedbytheHRconsulting
firmMercerfoundthataround1/3of
paidsickleaveistakenonMondays.
more...
anon997016 I have finally realized that I am a sugar and carb addict. That is not an
getwidget Post 231 exaggeration. Sugar and most carbs are like drugs in my body. I am abstaining
from sugar (including fruits), grains, and root vegetables. Six days so far. I feel
much more even keeled, but have had bouts of feeling anxious, fidgety and tired.
ThisDayinHistory
Thinking of sugar and carbs as poison and/or drugs in my body makes it much
September12,1938:Hitlerdemands easier to stay away from them. I'd stay away from artificial sweeteners, especially if
thatGermansintheSudetenlandbe you're diabetic or pre-diabetic. Not only are artificial sweeteners full of
reunitedwithGermany.more... questionable chemicals, but your body doesn't know the difference between real
getwidget
sugar and artificial sweeteners and initiates an insulin response with either.
anon995122 I don't understand why all of you are quitting cold turkey. Unless you're in the
Subscribe to wiseGEEK Post 230 midst of an immediate health crisis, it makes far more sense to cut back very
gradually. That way, the candida die off slower and your body's biochemistry
Learn something new every day
readjusts more quickly.
by email More Info...
Yes, sugar is terrible for you, but it's not heroin. Wean, people! What is this? The
enter email address Suffering Olympics? Good grief. Unless you just want to suffer, figure out a plan to
slowly cut back and gradually change your diet over time. You'll be more likely to
stick with it than this cold turkey nonsense.
wiseGEEK Slideshows
Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal
Topics Sugar Withdrawal Headache
anon993140 Hello Sugar-Free Folk, I'm on day 8 of a sugar detox with no added sugar of any
Post 229 kind, and only half a piece of fruit per day eaten with a protein for slower-delivery
into the blood.
It's such an interesting experience. It feels like I'm an onion being peeled back in
layers, as I experience different sensations as time goes on.
For the first few days, I had migraines, a deep yearning and metaphysical aching
that is never satiated (that feeling is just fascinating), anger, irritability, sorrow,
negativity. The next phase was exhaustion, falling into a deep heavy sleep about 4
Can you see through these real-
p.m. each day, and feeling weak and finding my normal hour-long walk much
life optical illusions? harder. (Perhaps the muscles
view entire post
anon992294 My doctor told me I had a candy coated liver. Sugar was damaging it. He said he
Post 228 didn't care if I lost weight (which I need to do). It has affected my blood platelet
count which both of these could lead to a serious condition. I had to ask myself if
that cupcake was worth possibly having Leukemia one day. I have to ask myself
that several times a day. He just wants me to be healthy. Cut out all sugar. I asked
if I needed to follow a diabetic meal plan. He told me no, but to try Atkins. So for a
week I have been trying to follow it. Not really counting carbs, but I know I need
view entire post
These 10 facts about space will
blow your mind
anon991458 I quit sugar 21 days ago and have lost five pounds, but I really did it more for heart
Post 227 health benefit, etc. Try to eat non processed foods. I won't say I feel 'great' yet but
am sticking with this because I have an eating disorder and have managed to get
into a eating pattern now of three times per day with fruit in between. When I think
of sugar now I don't think I will relapse but I know I will always have to be careful.
You can train yourself to get away from sugar!

Adorable animal families that anon991225 My God, am I glad to see this. My friends look at me like I'm crazy when I say I'm a
will make you "aww" Post 226 sugar addict. (I am naturally blessed with a good metabolism so I have never been
overweight more than a bit chubby). I am on day five of cold turkey, although I am
eating fruit- kind of like a paleo thing.
I also have terrible stomach cramps, bloating, I had headaches yesterday, and I
never ever get headaches! Also had flu like symptoms yesterday, including nausea
and I think perhaps a little bit of a temperature. Insane. Just sugar. But my energy
levels are fine and I sleep a lot anyway so that hasn't changed. If anything, I get
depressed
view entire post
Top 10 amazing movie makeup anon967856 I am into my third week of no sugar and have not lost one ounce of weight, which
transformations Post 225 is most disappointing. Also I feel terribly tired and depressed. All I can think of is
food and my next meal. I feel like packing it all in if there is no result soon.
anon966281 I just posted before - I forgot to say that two supplements helped me enormously:
Post 224 Chromium for stabilizing blood sugars; and magnesium, for relieving night cramps
(you can also get magnesium from pumpkin seeds, and cashews I think). If you are
already taking iron pills you might want to take them at the other end of the day as
they may inhibit the others' absorption. Of course you could probably get these
metals homeopathically etc as well. Chromium is fantastic!

Top 10 unbelievable historical Topics Sugar Withdrawal Headache
concurrencies
anon966278 Anon963916: Fruit does have a lot of sugar but it also has a lot of nutrients,
Post 223 vitamins etc, I don't eat it because it still spikes my blood-sugars, but if I were you,
I would ask my doctor. Good luck with your operation.
It's been about six months since I've had any sugar - no fruit, and only low
glycemic-load food. I had to because I was blacking out from a heart condition
exacerbated by high blood sugar spikes, so the incentive was very strong, making it
much easier for me than for those who do it by choice.
I have to say I feel amazing. I look younger, weight has steadily been falling off me
and my hair and skin
You won't believe these 10 facts view entire post
about people
anon963916 It's Day 1 for me for eliminating sugar from my diet. This was not really my choice.
Post 222 I will be having open-heart surgery in about a month and my doctor said I must
stop all sugar intake now. He also wants me to lose a few pounds so that I'm in
good shape going into the surgery. (I need to lose weight anyway.) I have a huge
sweet tooth and crave chocolate all the time. I've been replacing dinner with a
dessert every day for a few years now. This surgery is probably the only situation
that would motivate me to try to give up sugar completely.
So far only irritability, fatigue, depression, and sweet cravings, but all of those
view entire post
anon960190 I am on day three of no sugar. I am also a recovering addict from drugs and
Post 221 alcohol and also have stopped nicotine. I thought I had fought all the possible
addictions and now the sugar addiction has reared its ugly head. I feel nauseated
Top 10 facts about the world and have a terrible headache and I am so tired! Who would have thought sugar
would have this effect? It's pure poison! To think it is in almost every food in the
supermarket is horrifying. I will beat this just like I did the others.
Well done to all of you who have had long clean time and also to those like me in
the beginning, we will get through this and I look forward to the journey of feeling
good again!

anon951098 I have recently stopped eating all sugars. Previously, it was not unusual for me to
10 hilariously insightful foreign Post 220 eat a king-size bar of chocolate following takeaways with wine three or four nights
words a week, and I could demolish a packet of biscuits in one sitting by myself, the
thought of a day without sugar would make me incredibly anxious.
However, for the last 17 days, I have been eating only meat, nuts, eggs, and
vegetables (no fruit or dairy). My experience with sugar withdrawal has been: (days
1-14) I experienced headaches, insomnia, vivid crazy dreams, heart palpations and
fluttering immediately followed by dizziness and one blackout (this blackout may
not be normal as I have a history of arrhythmia and entopic heart
view entire post
anon947775 I've come off sugar a couple of times before, once for at least two or three years.
These 10 animal facts will Post 219
amaze you I came off it again a few days ago. Immediately the cold and sore throat I had had
for seven weeks which I was waiting to get better before I gave up sugar) went.
Victory.
I have had to stop fruit for now, as well as nuts and raisins, as they are trigger
foods for me. If I have those I eat 1,000 calories of them at time at once and not
because I am hungry and they lead to the trip to the coffee shop for hot chocolate
and chocolate (600 calories per trip).
So the worst thing now -- about day four

view entire post
10 most extreme places on

Earth cjg53 I just noticed talk about Stevia as a smart replacement for sugar. I haven't spoken
Post 217 to my doctor yet, but I just read that Stevia can be dangerous if you're taking drugs
for either diabetes or high blood pressure. I'm taking both so I'm avoiding it until I
get an all clear.
But I need to ask if anyone knows if stopping sugar will disrupt sleep patterns.
Three weeks ago I stopped smoking (cigars) and stopped eating
candy/cookies/sweets. I figured if I had to do one I might as well tackle both
together. And it's worked out amazingly well so far -- except for the last four nights.
I've been waking up at 6:30 a.m. and cannot
view entire post

anon936269 Sugar is poison. I'm on day four. I'd given up simple carbs (white breads/ pastas) a
Post 216 year ago and it was easy and I was doing great. I decided to give up sugar recently
because diabetes and pot bellies run in the family. I also would like to avoid
cancer. I watched "Sugar: the Bitter Truth" and started paying really close attention
to food labels. Sugar is everywhere.
On the third day in, I found myself eating pasta which sat on the shelf untouched
for a year. I threw out the box, realizing it was a way for sugar to sneak back into
my life.
What has helped this time around to get to a fourth day without buying cookies
view entire post
anna13maria We are all different. As for myself who has been eating chocolate since being a
Post 215 baby; I worked out the amount of sugar per week in chocolate I was consuming
was around 200 teaspoons. I gave up a month ago tomorrow. I now only eat
natural chocolate which I make myself.
The withdrawals have been dreadful, to say the least. I'm still not out of it after all
this time. I am not craving sugar but having terrible head pains, no energy,
exhausted, etc. I guess it may take up to three months before I see the results due
to eating chocolates daily for 57 years.
For those of you who mentioned you miss sugar in your drinks, buy Stevia
view entire post
anon933219 We are all different. As for myself who has been eating chocolate since being a
Post 214 baby; I worked out the amount of sugar per week in chocolate I was consuming
was around 200 teaspoon. I gave up a month ago tomorrow. I now only eat natural
chocolate which I make myself.
The withdrawals have been dreadful to say the least. I'm still not out of it after all
this time. I am not craving sugar but having terrible head pains, no energy,
exhausted, etc I guess it may take up to 3 months before I see the results due to
eating chocolates daily for 57 years.
For those of you who mentioned you miss sugar in your drinks
view entire post

anon931545 I have been addicted to sugar probably since childhood. If you crave sugar/bread,
Post 213 have digestive problems, chronic sinus infection/yeast infections/U.T.I.'s, are
tired/cranky most of the time and have used antibiotics or birth control pills in
your past, you probably have candida overgrowth.
I think a lot of what people are experiencing isn't just withdrawals, but also
symptoms of candida die-off. I gave up sugar four days ago and have also
experienced a headache, brain fog, tiredness, weakness, and problems sleeping,
although I can tell my blood sugar yo-yoing has gotten much better. I don't feel
crazy when I am hungry. My skin looks so much better and my jeans are already
feeling looser.
The sugar cravings haven't been that bad

view entire post
anon925514 A few years ago I started having stomach and bowel issues. After going to see the
Post 212 doctor, he said IBS. So I've spent a huge amount of time and 'trying' things out
with no great success. Anyway, I started thinking and realized I have been
consuming lots of sugar, sweet tea, fizzy drinks, chocolate bars, donuts, etc., so I
decided to stop eating sugar.
I've totally quit fizzy drinks, chocolate, cookies etc.
Anyway, 11 days on and Jesus -- the headaches, fatigue and brain fog are intense.
Things have gotten better, though. On Saturday morning I woke up for the first
time in years with a fairly clear head, my stomach has calmed, my stools have
improved, my stomach isn't making weird noises after eating, I'm not craving sugar
or fast food...
I have still got a long way to go, but reading all your posts and information here is
very helpful. Good luck and keep at it!
anon924944 Has anyone experienced high energy, good health and overall feeling of well-being
Post 211 on a low sugar or zero sugar diet over a longer term like five years or so? Is this
another fad? Is this part of the belief that something good comes via extended
suffering? What if that suffering is so much, it actually makes a person worse off
than before, opening up new unknown hells?

anon924825 I am also so happy for this Site. Im not feeling well at all, day 3 on the Atkins
Post 209 Approach Diet and Wondering why I am feeling like this. I assumed its extreme
withdrawals to Carbs! I was right! Ive never thought id enjoy drinking water but i
can't get enough! I am extremely nauseated and foggy head feeling for sure. I am
excited for this phase to pass...It blows me away at how addicted I really was to
sugar. Ive been clean and sober for a year and this is like withdrawing from a drug
or alcohol, its crazy. Its good to know drugs and alcohol aren't the only things we
get addicted too! Who would have seen
view entire post
anon358158 I am so proud of all of you and it will get better!

Post 208
When I started a highly decreased sugar food plan (when your diet goes from
almost 80 percent carbs to 20 percent. Its a huge difference to your body), I went
through terrible withdrawal symptoms and moodiness the first couple of days, but
once that subsides you will never want to look back at those carb-binging days.
Your quality of life just gets so much better.
The program I did didn't completely cut sugar, yet I lost 30 pounds and stayed
there for months. Now I'm on a diet that does cut the sugar completely out (except
for some fruits and low-glycemic foods) and Im getting headaches again, but I
slept so well last night and I'm getting more nutrients with the good foods that I
can eat. Just keep going! Its worth it!
anon357619 I'm on day four and I felt so great up until last night. I couldn't sleep and my heart
Post 207 was racing and this morning I felt nauseous and light-headed and vomited. I feel
much better after I vomited but I still feel like I have little energy.
I used to have a lot of sugar every day -- in my Starbuck's fancy coffee/latte and my
muffin and an afternoon chocolate bar or something and an evening hot chocolate
or ice cream. I was a serious addict. I'm not craving sugar at all right now but these
symptoms are awful. It's good to know they will eventually pass and other people
are dealing with the same thing.
I am worried though, that it will take just one holiday cookie or goodie to make me
crave sugar again. It will be so hard around Christmas with all the cookies and
baked goods around. I am not looking forward to that!

anon355756 It's been two weeks and I feel like crap. I have a little sugar with my coffee in the
Post 206 morning and that's it. I am thinking I'm going to have to go 100 percent off of
sugar for it to work. The posts here are extremely helpful.
joanne1980 So it's not just me, then? I could inhale a giant bar of chocolate a day and not blink
Post 205 an eyelash. I wondered why I was gaining a kilo a month even though I live on
chocolate and one large meal a day. I didn't eat much. It wasn't until I wised up
and read the food stats on the wrapper. Each bar of chocolate contained 100g of
fat! That's five times the fat I should be consuming each day wasted just on
chocolate alone, not to mention the additional food that I was eating. That's how I
was sneaking on the weight so it wasn't worth it anymore. Getting fatter, losing my
mobility and quality of life in the
view entire post
anon350834 This is the second time I have quit sugar. The first time lasted only two months, but
Post 204 then there were four birthdays in a row and too much cake. I know this time I am
to blame and am OK with that.
The mood swings started on day two, I have had a headache for three days, have
not slept properly for two nights, and the brain fog/lack of function feels like I am
hung over.
I have been off alcohol for over a year now, I quit smoking nine months ago and
cannot have fructose anyway. So, as I know I am in for a rough couple of weeks, I
know that when it is over I will have
view entire post

RoryScotland I'm on day four. My body told me I was going to die a couple of times the last few
Post 203 days. It got scared it wasn't getting what it needed or something. I'm doing well.
Still having lapses in mood and things and a couple of big cravings today. I'm
eating some fruit for sugar and needing massive amounts of water.
anon349296 I have read through all these posts and all I feel is relief! I stopped sugar five short
Post 202 days ago and have felt terrible. I didn't drink alcohol or smoke, but this felt like
severe withdrawal to me. I've had stomach cramps, foggy head, mood swings,
extreme lethargy (as in want to put my head on the desk and fall asleep) - tonight I
have had to lie down for two hours with cramps - they have thankfully eased now. I
took some chromium and have been drinking lots of water. I am not going to give
up. If I feel this bad, then it proves that I am doing the right thing to get rid of it. I
just hope the withdrawal phase passes soon! Good luck everyone
anon348776 I cut way down on my sugar intake (compared to a few years ago anyway.) Here
Post 201 are the pros:
Healthy teeth! Not one cavity! More energy, lots of it they'll think you're hyper. I
think most people don't realize just how bad sugar, white bread and processed
foods are for them. I went and ate a McDonald's burger, felt tired and it gave my
stomach "issues"
I still love sugar in my coffee though. Keep at it. It's worth it!

anon347752 Thank you so much everyone. I'm on day two and thought I was totally 'losing it'.
Post 200 Felt so bad wondered if I should go off to the hospital to see if I had some major
problem - headaches, dizzy, spacey, aches and pains, weakness, extremely anxious,
palpitations the works. I feel so much better knowing you're out there suffering
with me! Good luck all, hope you're all feeling better soon, me included!
anon346643 It's been really good to find this website. I'm on day four of giving up sugar and
Post 199 sweetener and feel just like the people on here say: headaches, nausea, shaky,
fuzzy and dog tired. I've been overweight and addicted to sugar all my life and I
think the modern day sweeteners only make things worse.
In 36 years of dieting, I've managed to end up 35 pounds heavier than when I

started and I think this is all down to sugar, so I'm hoping to lose some weight just
by cutting out sugar.
I'm not an overeater and I don't binge on savoury snacks. I've already lost 1kg
(that's 2.2 pounds to you Americans) and oddly enough, I'm not really craving
sugar; the tiredness is the worst. I'm just waiting to feel well and full of energy. I
hope it doesn't take too long!
anon346522 I'm on day three at the moment. I've cut out caffeine, alcohol and all sugars apart
Post 198 from fruit.
The last few days have been tough, especially day one. I had intense cravings for all
things bad and driving past McDonald's was a complete nightmare. I had intense
headaches and no energy in the late afternoon, but managed to get some exercise
in before that hit me. I spent most of day two in bed suffering from massive
fatigue, cravings and headaches once again.
Today I feel slightly better. I'm going to head to the gym soon to try and release
some endorphins. I spent the morning watching a documentary online called
"Sugar: The Bitter Truth." If you haven't seen it
view entire post

anon339933 Day 2: headache, nausea, tired.

Post 197
anon339655 It's great. Everyone is posting saying that they feel dizzy, nauseated, etc., also. But,
Post 196 when does it go away? When does the dizziness subside? Help please!
anon338610 I quit coffee, diet soda and refined sugar all at once. I had really bad withdrawal
Post 195 symptoms. I quit on Tuesday and called in to work sick on Friday. Friday ended up
being not such a bad day, but after three days of feeling awful I needed a break. I
did take some pain reliever with a bit of caffeine in it and that help me cope the
first two days. I do think caffeine increases my craving for sugar as I have been
coping pretty well without the sugar. I have been drinking a ton of water.
After five days, I'm feeling a bit better, but expect the next week to also feel the
effects. I've been completely off of refined sugar, caffeine and sugar substitutes
before and I remember after about 25 days I felt this surge of energy and really felt
great. I'm eating fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole wheat bread and lots of water.

anon336108 I came off sugar a few years ago, felt great and am trying again now. I did it
Post 194 gradually. I cut it down to only immediately after lunch (chocolate 500 calories).
I am nearly 48 hours into giving up that one daily sugar hit (I have no other sugar)
and it is like I have been hit by a ton of bricks. I slept in the afternoon yesterday. I
slept for hours last night.
I woke (day 2) feeling tired. I keep crying - so obviously, I have very low beta
endorphin levels. If it feels this bad what is the point I am thinking but will keep at
it.
anon335179 I am on Day 7, and I want to say, keep faith, stay strong, see this through.
Post 193
I definitely took an extreme no-sugar approach and am going to stick it through for
30 days to cleanse my system before slowly and gradually re-introducing some
natural sugars (e.g. the occasional fruit).
To give you some idea of what I used to eat, and what I eat now.
I used to eat chocolate, candy, cake, brownies, cookies, ice cream, candy, chips,
buttery popcorn. I'd drink really thick fruit juices, slurpees from 7-11, milkshakes,
soda, and I regularly drank 10 liters of milk per week.
On my new meal plan, I have zero simple sugars. I literally haven't touched a single
one of
view entire post
anon334287 Day 6: No real cravings, but headache late afternoon. Joint pains and body aches.
Post 192 Anxiety and irritability. Work is worse when the anxiety hits.
Day 7: Craving was worse last night, just because with the weekend comes free
time, and usually snacks.
Fewer headaches -- none today, so far.

anon333978 I'm so glad I found this blog post, and everyone's responses.
Post 190
I am at the end of Day 5. I cut all junk food. I've kept eating cereal (with medium
levels of sugar), fruit (which I'm still researching as far as its sugar content since it's
not "added sugar"). Overall, I'm trying to stick to the recommended 24g of
sugar/day.
I was fine the first day or two, with just some headaches, which I attributed to
exhaustion. The third day was horrible. I almost went to the hospital.
On the third day, I experienced: dizziness, terrible headaches, swelling of the face
and limbs, and joint pains. I had back aches that would move from my lower back,
to shoulders and
view entire post
anon332884 Wish I had a sugar-free buddy to deal with this with me! Has anyone who
Post 189 previously posted survived this? I quit sugar five days ago. I pity anyone who has to
be near me. I must quit due to candida -- yeast issues.
anon325319 I do not recall quitting smoking as being this difficult. It is day two and I have all
Post 188 the symptoms listed. The depression/anxiety is not nice. Had been so grateful, for
years, of discovering how to make and consume small amounts of kombucha at
home and the peace of mind it brings so I know this is a temporary downer
disturbance. The nausea may be from trying to consume coconut oil. It's a nice
replacement. Water addiction will have to take me through this.
I'm wondering if perhaps the sugar in my coffee was especially activated by the
caffeine. Many drugs depend on this type of catalyst action. I am indulging in extra
cream in my coffee to distract me. I very much appreciate all who post here and
even attempt this. Time for another good cry but with renewed hope for the light
on the other side of the sugar bowl.

anon322265 This website has helped me. I had no clue why I was feeling sick with a headache,
Post 187 dizzy, nauseated, moody, and emotional. I have been in the process of getting off
everything with corn for the past month. I have not eaten as much sugar as I
usually do lately. I know I am having a hard time not craving cookies, cakes, and
chocolate. I am addicted to chocolate.
anon312794 I stopped eating everything that contains refined sugar like cookies, cakes etc.
Post 186 However, I still eat fruit. I really don't think eating fruit is the problem since it's
natural for us.
Today, I've been feeling a bit dizzy. I guess it might be because of this.
anon306999 After removing sugar entirely, I had one sleepless night (second day) and one
Post 185 terrible day of headaches (fifth day). I am not quitting any other carbohydrates and
I feel very well and I am losing weight -- 200 grams per day. I eat plenty of other
carbs like potatoes, never going hungry and I have more energy than ever.
I started spontaneously to exercise much more. Up until now I have been forcing
myself to go to the swimming pool and to swim even 30 minutes, but after quitting
fructose and sucrose, I swam spontaneously and very vigorously for 1.5 hours. The
last time I did that was 15 years ago when I was 25. After that day when I
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anon305559 I am very happy I found this site. I eliminated sugar four days ago. I have not had a
Post 184 drink or drug in 6.5 years, but I have become addicted to sugar. Yesterday was day
three and I was having flu like symptoms, nausea, tired, aches, was cranky and
dizzy. Also today I did not get up to go to work because all the above symptoms
still present, plus I'm feeling depressed. After reading this, it made me feel better
that when eliminating sugar, these symptoms seem to be normal with many
people. Thank you all for sharing!
anon300257 I'm obsessed with chocolate! I'm talking a couple of bars a day, and if I didn't eat
Post 183 chocolate I'd munch on biscuit after biscuit after biscuit.
I'm not overweight, but I have recently looked at my diet and realized how
appalling it is, so I decided to make an effort to eat better (and I was spending a lot
of money on unnecessary chocolate binges).
Even though I've still been munching on a couple of biscuits, I've resisted chocolate
completely over the past six days, swapping it for fruit, or just just not snacking at
all.
By the second day, I had a splitting headache that hit me about 4 p.m., and again
on Day three. By the time
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anon300044 I'm on day 19 of no refined sugar or white flour and am feeling great! A little
Post 182 moody at times, and I have had some cravings over the last few days, but I try to
think of sugar as a drug I'm addicted to and it helps.
The first two weeks, I was light headed and had a few occasions where I swear I
thought I was going to pass out. I ate a piece of fruit, I was OK. I felt, and still feel
on occasion, dehydrated. A few mornings, I woke up and my eyes were so dry, they
hurt. My skin also got itchy and I had flu like body aches. I'm still suffering from
early morning
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anon290063 I'm on day three of a no sugar diet. I've cut out everything that contains refined
Post 181 sugar like ice cream (I'm an ice cream monster), cookies, honey, juices... Right now,
I'm in bed, can't keep my eyes open and just feel plain weird! I've always been in
great shape with radiant skin, never drink alcohol nor coffee, exercise regularly,
take vitamins, but I thought I'm way too dependent on sugar so I decided to quit it.
I know the fatigue, depression, headache, craving and mood swings are temporary,
but I really do not wish to loose any weight. I will look like a walking skeleton. Is
there any way to cut sugar and not lose weight? I still eat lots of fruits, carbs,
veggies and dairy.
anon285939 I just started reducing my sugar and carb intake. It's day three and I feel awful. I'm
Post 180 sweating, shaking, have anxiety, and rapid heart beat, but no cravings as such. I am
trying my best to follow a high protein good fats diet with some fruit, so I'm not
going completely cold turkey. I still feel terrible and need to know I am doing the
right thing. Please can someone tell me, does it start to get better and when will I
feel normal again as I'm quite scared.
anon253057 I usually don't post comments on websites, but what the poster before me
Post 179 (anon241912) said cannot be left as is.
I would love to know where the poster got that idea about cancer. What he/she is
describing is either an overreactive immune response (like allergies) or rejection
from organ/blood transplants. Or maybe heating plastics. I'm hoping the poster
was specifically referring to charring things to a crisp, which does release cancer
causing agents, but really I don't get that impression.
Heating does denature enzymes and break apart complex molecules such as
vitamins (and no, this does not happen at the same temperature for all of them),
and in general, it is better to eat raw vegetables and fruit to get
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anon241912 I have quit sugar and wheat many times over the years and I always used to get
Post 178 crazy mood swings, horrible headaches, cravings, etc. The last couple times I have
tried to stop sugar consumption, I supplemented the loss of sugar with a high
intake of healthy fats and proteins, especially in the morning because they turn
into long lasting energy throughout the rest of the day. After trying this, I found
that none of the side effects of cutting sugar out of the diet affected me. I also
keep to alkaline rich foods.
Some healthy fat and protein rich foods include: first cold pressed extra virgin olive
oil (use on salads), hemp seeds, avocados, cacao nibs, fish oil, non
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anon239212 Thanks everyone for taking the time to post your experiences! I am so glad to know
Post 177 that I am not going crazy nor have some weird disease process. I'll forge through
the withdrawal symptoms, knowing they are temporary.
anon238460 I've been "sugar-free" for years. I put that in quotes because every now and then
Post 176 I'll have a little sugar. Which leads to a little more. And then a piece of pie, and and
and after about a week (like around the holidays) of indulging, I start getting
irritable and moody. I know I've had enough sugar when I start getting bad
anxiety. Then I think, OK, this has to stop.
When I stop the sugar, the first couple of days are horrible. I get so depressed. Like
today. I spent most of the day crying. I know it's from the sugar withdrawals and I
know it will pass. I just try hard to avoid alienating people by being mean
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anon238093 I started a detox yesterday because I was suffering symptoms similar to celiacs and
Post 175 lactose intolerance. I decided to cut out all sugars (except for a tiny bit of honey),
processed and packaged foods, meat, dairy, gluten and caffeine.
I am finishing day two and I have a huge headache, neck pains, and I am having
crazy hot flushes. Being a uni student, I was relying on short bursts of energy from
refined sugars, empty carbs and caffeine. This is hard! But I am looking forward to
my recovery. I have kept myself healthy with apples, oats, gluten free bread, soy,
avocados, nuts, salmon and all great wholesome foods. I just need to tell my body
to stop craving bad energies!
anon237095 I have only been off (refined) sugars for a day, and even though I eat fruit to help
Post 174 with cravings, I have a massive headache, my eyesight is abnormal, and my mouth
is dry. The reason I am trying to go off sugar and dairy is because I have
moderately severe acne. I hope the symptoms improve soon!
anon223963 I'm on day three of no refined sugars! My Gynecologist has told me to cut out all
Post 173 refined sugars in order for some vitamins she has given me to help my terrible
PMT. Day one wasn't so bad. Day two was horrible. I felt disorientated, weak,
starving, had a migraine (which continued all day and night and into day three) and
I feel hungover. I keep having hot flashes and woke up many times in the night on
day two due to hot sweats!
I cannot believe sugar withdrawal can make you feel so utterly like rubbish.
Day three (today) I have felt like I am going to pass out and have felt very upset
and low, along with the
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amypollick @anon192572: Right on. We need some carbs and healthy fats in our diets. It's
Post 172 elementary. I know this because I actually saw an episode of "Bill Nye, the Science
Guy" and he was talking about nerves in general, and the brain in particular. These
are composed of about 90 percent fat, and we need some fat to keep our nerves
healthy! So I learned something new from Bill Nye!
People need to remember that, when they cut something out of their diets, that
they are replacing it with something healthy. You should analyze what you're eating
after you cut something, and make sure you're getting enough protein, fiber,
healthy fat, good, complex carbs, all that sort of thing. Our bodies weren't designed
to run on a single fuel source. We are omnivores.
anon192572 I happened to find this site because I was searching up some symptoms described
Post 171 by a few people here. I don't want to sound like a narc but you are hurting
yourselves to the extreme by cutting out carbs. Our bodies use sugars for virtually
every cellular process; that's why you feel horrible. You crave sugar because you
actually need it. If you're looking to lose weight, try low-cal foods with moderate
carb/sugar levels.
By the way, don't cut out all fat either! "Good cholesterol" is a must for everyone
who is, well, alive. Good luck, guys.
anon190567 I've been off of sugar for about five days now, and I feel terrible. Not too many
Post 170 headaches, but I'm constantly sleepy. Like, can't-keep-my-eyes-open-while-doing-
important-tasks sleepy. I hope this ends soon. And for the record, I was a smoker
for four years and I quit a month ago. I didn't have nearly as much trouble quitting
smoking. After three days, the physical addiction was no more, and I only had to
deal with occasional urges. Having stopped eating sugar, though, I just feel like
crap 90 percent of the day.

anon188929 Glad to see these posts! I am 16 5'5" and 134 lbs, and I know it sounds crazy but I
Post 169 decided to cut out sugar, and am eating very low carbs. I'm on day three and my
mom is laughing at me because I'm craving everything!
But I chose to start this because my dad's side of the family has diabetes, and I
don't want that.
So I started the diet, and I started losing weight, and I am very happy, but at the
same time I'm always angry so I yell at my little brother for no reason, but he is
understanding so he doesn't mind. Thank you so much. Now I know what's wrong
with me!
tyzachkaley Need help regarding quitting alcohol and other effects of sugar, like what may help
Post 168 withdrawal, what is wrong. I know this is not working. Body cannot accept food.
Any help? I feel understanding types of sugars may help.
anon185203 I am an alcoholic who has recently experienced complete elimination of alcohol

Post 167 with no other food. What is the best course of action? Do other forms of sugar help
(i.e. chocolate/candy)? My body does not accept any other forms of food. I lost 17
pounds in four weeks. I Don't want to go through detox. I know I need to quit and
don't need lectures. Thanks.

amypollick @anon182808: If you're feeling that hungry, I can almost guarantee you're not
Post 166 getting enough fat and/or protein in your diet. To eat a healthy diet, you need both.
Obviously, go for healthy fats, like those found in olive oil or nuts, but also make
sure your protein -- and fiber -- intake are adequate.
Don't try to eliminate *all* carbs from your diet. You need some carbs for energy.
Fat and protein take longer to digest and therefore, the body's hunger signal
doesn't go off as quickly.
anon182808 I'm on day nine of giving up sugar. I'll admit to eating carbs but I've cut out all
Post 165 processed food, chocolate, junk, soft drink, added sugar etc. The first few days I
had a massive headache but that seems to have passed. But now I'm starving all
the time. I'm eating so much food because I just feel ravenous. Especially in the
morning, I feel really light headed and weak, like my muscles are too weak to even
do daily tasks. I can't even exercise like I used to and it's driving me crazy!
I generally feel really tired and exhausted -- and hungry! Has anyone else
experienced this? Maybe I should give up carbs as well, although I don't really eat
that much white stuff anyway?
anon178156 I, like some of you, began a new plan of eating about8 days ago. Mine was a low
Post 164 carb (< 30g), lower sodium (0, 140 mg) low sugar (<5 g) (and sugar to carb ratio (3
to 1), and non-existent saturated fats and transfats. It sounds good, in fact perfect,
but by entering information into an online calculator, it calculates all the above
contents of my food. It is showing me things I thought were just fine that turns out
to be way over some of the dietary restrictions I'm trying to follow. It's a good tool.
I do not need to lose weight, but rather I was doing to this to lower cholesterol and
keep my blood pressure acceptable and
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anon173077 wow. 25 years of depression, and this week i cut sugar out of my coffee and
Post 163 suffered tremendous headaches every time i woke up. this went on for a week to
ten days. i tend to have little faith in the doctors, so i neglected to go.
anyway, today having run out of sweetener i returned to sugar and the headaches
stopped. now having researched sugar addiction, i realize that my need to drink 40
cups of coffee is sugar-based, not caffeine-based as i deal with decaf coffee quite
well. i will be seeing my doctor next week and i have to say i'm relieved i finally
found whats wrong with me. --Chris V.
carpusdiem Eliminate coffee? Well I do not know about that? Research from "Ori Hofmekler"
Post 162 showed that coffee can be helpful to reduce sugar craving. If you like coffee, drink
organic coffee black, no sugars or cream.
Because the caffeine is an "Opioid Receptor Antagonist,"
drink in the morning before exercise, limit to two cups.
Research it.
anon171200 I have insulin resistance. I found out the other day. Doctor's advice? High protein
Post 161 diet, very few carbs (like maybe one slice of brown bread twice a week and maybe
some brown rice once in a while, very few vegetables/fruit).
Also: No sugar.
This has been hard. Harder than I thought possible. I haven't had any sugar, at all.
I've hardly had any carbs (just that brown bread). No caffeine either.
How am I going to get through this? I'm so anxious and all I can think about are
pancakes, white bread, sugary cereal, cake. Feels like torture.

anon170710 I've been trying to give up sugar and fruit juice since watching Lustig's 'Sugar: The
Post 160 Bitter Truth' video online. I had a bad sleep last night, but it could have been
caused by other things.
anon167088 Hello 158: Hope you're doing o.k. Well done on starting your sugar detox! Were you
Post 159 drinking a lot of diet coke before, and do you drink other caffeine drinks at the
moment? if you were drinking a quantity of caffeine before and then cutting down
to two drinks a day that could be the reason for your headaches (like withdrawal
symptoms), but I had very bad headaches on and off for two weeks or so after
giving up sugar.
if you have cut down on the types of drinks you were having before, remember to
increase the amount of liquid in line with whatever plan you are following. --Annie
anon166932 I started the zero carb diet four days ago. My doctor said I should do it for at least
Post 158 twi weeks. I'm feeling very weak, having many cravings, nausea and intense
headaches all day. The doctor allowed me to drink two diet cokes a day, but now
I'm wondering if that's the reason for my headaches! Does someone know?

anon166609 I have given up sugar for about two months now. Initially it was everything that
Post 157 contained sugar, and it's been a week since I have also given up fruits.
Initially, I did feel low, and had headaches, but I never went through any depressed
phase.
Since giving up everything fructose, I still feel a little tired sometimes, but I feel
great! Better than I have felt ever in my life. Do not forget to drink a lot of water,
and eat enough. I feel awesome! Good luck!
amypollick @anon165939: This is just a guess. I'm diabetic, not a doctor. I'm betting your
Post 156 blood glucose level is bottoming out in the morning, but after lunch, is rising to a
more normal level, so you feel better.
If your blood sugar has been running high, then even a normal level may feel low
until your body gets used to the new normal. Some people have their highest
readings in the mornings (often referred to as "Dawn Phenomenon"), but this is
not the case across the board. If you tend to bottom out in the mornings, then that
may what's going on with you. You might consider getting a meter from Target or
Wal-Mart and checking your blood glucose when you get up in the mornings, and
then two hours after lunch. If your morning reading is below 70, there's your
answer.
The Glycemic index diet is a good, sensible diet. Good luck!
anon165975 Sugar addiction left me feeling shamed, ugly and fat. I was able to eat whole cakes
Post 155 and if there were sweets of any kind I could not leave them alone until the last one
had gone. People used to joke about it.
I still feel so unattractive I rarely go out socially. My ex used my addiction to keep

me under control, buying stuff that he knew I would never be able to resist,
moaning about any diet or exercise plan I took up, keeping me fat, tired and
unable to think clearly.
Since stopping sugar (and alcohol) slowly my faith in myself and my self-esteem
and are beginning to build,although some days it all comes tumbling down, but
regardless, I have no intention of eating sugar ever again.

anon165939 I'm on week one of a low GL diet and I'm suffering from headaches,
Post 154 lightheadedness, dizziness, feelings of unreality and poor memory. The funny thing
is I feel like this up until after lunch when all the symptoms begin to subside.
Anyone have any idea why this is?
anon163930 I am on day three of the no sugar diet. i am so relieved to have found this site! I
Post 153 have given up sugar before, but never to this extent - no fruits, etc. I cheated today
and had a diet coke and some sugar free gum but felt even worse after.
The first day I had a severe headache, yesterday I had lower abdominal cramping
and today, severe nausea. i hope this passes soon! This site has given me comfort
since I thought i was crazy. I have brain fog and can't concentrate.
Please give me the strength to continue this fight. i do not want to slip up. thank
you all for your comments - I see that i am not crazy!
anon162290 I used to smoke cigarettes. It took me several tries before I finally succeeded. For
Post 152 those of you who think that quitting sugar will be as hard as quitting smoking,
don't worry. It is not as hard. There are similarities though. One thing I find is that I
can think quite a bit more clearly without the permanent sugar rush.

anon161449 Started my no sugar on Saturday. For seven days now, I feel depressed, my body
Post 151 aches, i feel nauseated, cry for no reason, snap for no reason, my skin is itchy and I
worry about everything. I had headaches earlier, but these seem to have gone
now. Thank you everyone so much for posting. I thought something very bad was
happening!
anon160029 I cut off sugar and carbs when I seemed to "magically" develop eczema at age 26. I
Post 150 kept having this skin problem that totally messed with my sleep, my confidence
(eczema marks on neck), etc.
So about two weeks ago, I cut out sugar and carbs to try to fix my problem from
the inside. Jeez, I was tired all the time, despite eating loads of veggies and drinking
lots of water. I had to peel myself out of bed every morning. Then, a few days ago, I
actually woke up feeling human. I felt great. I feel great. Now, I've introduced
apples and grapefruit to my diet, but I will definitely stick to no sugar and no carbs.
I
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anon156509 I'm on the first day of Stillman Diet. Here comes the nausea! With the Stillman Diet,
Post 149 one can expect to lose 20-40 pounds a month. Some have lost more. It's supposed
to be a short term thing. You stop when you are within 30 pounds of your ideal
weight, I believe. There's a Facebook page for it.
Good luck! I know this sugar and all these carbs are doing me no good. I'm
preparing myself for the next three weeks. Some people snap out of it within a
week.

anon155868 I am so glad I'm not going crazy. I have coffee, because I tend to add a seriously
Post 148 dangerous amount of sugar to it along with a flavored creamer. I have gained a
large amount of weight. I just decided to give it up, thinking I could loose weight
with that alone.
Since I now know that my symptoms were withdrawal, I can call them that. I went
through major depression, I cried for the silliest of things. I don't want to be
around people. I have been feeling ill, lack of energy, really bad memory almost
like short term memory and headaches and I'm angry. I have been having
problems with an upset stomach as well.
I now only
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anon154724 Just started the no sugar, dairy, and grain regimen three days ago. I've been
Post 147 drinking only water for two months and am in an isolated camp so no sweets other
than baked goods which are the devil.
I've eaten a plate of veggies and fruit along with every meal (proteins) and
everything was fine until i cut the grains, dairy and sugar three days ago. then all
hell broke loose!
Since I've quit the above, I've had headaches / migraines lurking for three days.
Today I've been a bit nauseous and disoriented. yesterday i had a sore throat that
went away by noon. The headaches come and go as with cravings. every time the
headache gets bad I've eaten a piece
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anon154076 I quit refined sugar 13 days ago. I have a little bit of fruit here and there. I've been
Post 146 really tired, have bags under my eyes, breaking out on my face. I couldn't sleep
well the first couple of days. I've been moody for years but I think because of diet,
so the moodiness now is normal but I have faith if I stick it out it will get better.
I've been sitting with the uncomfortableness instead of eating and breaking
through, crying more than usual. Some people say the tiredness has lasted for 11
weeks or so, so I'm in this for the long haul. Overeaters Anonymous online has
helped a lot, online meetings are great.
Post #91, melatonin is good, but be careful not to take more than you need. I get a
melatonin hangover over 1mg. I've read the suggested dosage is .3 mg.
Godspeed, everyone!

anon154067 A quick comment on here just to confirm others are experiencing what i am
Post 145 experiencing.
I can't sleep (4fourdays now), tired all the time, sore muscles, and emotionally alive
but intellectually dead! after reading 50 or so of these posts, I see what a common
theme this is. Keep at it. It's the sugar!
notgood1 I quit for five days and went back to eating cookies -- lots of them. How do I get
Post 144 past this?
anon150914 I haven't quit sugar yet but have purchased two books on how to and yet I will eat
Post 143 an entire batch of cookie dough. This is day 5 in a row of eating an entire batch. I
missed work three days in a row due to massive bloating. I want to stop but the
cravings are so bad. No one seems to understand.
This site is a godsend. Any suggestions? Going cold turkey is freaking me out and
the thought of never having any sugar ever again is freaking me out.

anon149563 i am on day six of not drinking alcohol and cutting out sugar. i had just been on a
Post 142 bender the two days before ( and honestly been partying since christmas) and still
had valium in my system so for my first couple of days i didn't feel any effect.
i eat tons of greens (kale,spring greens). i make fresh goat's yogurt smoothies with
strawberries, kiwis and blueberries and add manuka honey and omega 3,6 9 oil, i
make juices with spinach,pineapple and mango and fresh aloe vera from the plant.
i also eat chicken and fish. Well, it all hit me on day four. i have had terrible mood
swings, headaches, blurry vision, awful memory loss, feeling
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anon148671 I stopped eating sugar two days ago (but am still eating 'natural' sugar in fruit and
Post 141 vegetables). I have had the worst migraines ever.
I stopped caffeine a couple of months ago but have stopped drinking black tea this
week. Maybe it is a combination of both? I'm so thankful to have found this
website, as I was worried something bad was happening but I guess it is just part
of the process.
Can anyone tell me how long these headaches last for? Or is is just case by case? I
had to sneak in a tiny piece of chocolate yesterday as it was getting so bad. Ooops.
anon147554 I am so glad to have stumbled on this site. I feel less of a crazy person and have
Post 140 vowed to stick with it as I see that it too shall pass. I am now on day 6. The first two
days were the severe headaches and the shaking in the morning and the afternoon
period.
By the third day those symptoms has subsided but were taken over by that spaced
out feeling, high irritability, feeling cold (tho I live in a warm climate) and a slight
nauseous feeling. At day 6 I just feel depressed and although I am not specifically
craving sugar particularly (i.e. cakes, bread, chocolate) I want a large plate of food
with sauces and
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anon145989 I have recently made a conscious effort to cut out most/all of the rubbish in my
Post 139 diet - crisps, chips, take-aways, chocolate, cake, sweets, gone from two to one
sugar in tea and coffee etc.
I eat lots of fruit, however, and mainly things like cereal, rice, lean meats and fresh
vegetables.
After two days I felt dizzy, sick and tired, and I am putting this down to the lack of
sugar. I had no idea it would have this kind of effect! I never ate that much to begin
with, really. I'm not overweight or an addict by any means, but it seems I still have
been hit hard by the change.
It's reassuring to know this is common and will pass!
anon145357 this is day seven for me. yes i did experience head rushes and headaches on day
Post 138 one and two, but i don't understand why all of you are depressed though! maybe
you're just sad because you're grieving over donuts!
i feel very happy because i know I'm treating my body as i should be, and i feel
relaxed knowing i couldn't be treating it better if i tried!
i didn't eat much sugar to begin with though, which may explain my lesser
withdrawals!
good luck everybody and remember to eat your complex carbs at dinner!
anon142827 I have tried this over the last three three years and each time I have given in/up
Post 137 after a short time. I am now going it again and I am on day 14. I can say we should
all feel better if we can stick with it. I also had the headaches and feeling sick. I also
am having a hard time sleeping due to sweating and feeling anxious. I feel like a
monster, very moody, and a little depressed.
The cravings are not as bad, but lingering. I eat all the time like every hour. I am
getting my seven fruit and veggies a day as well as protein. I find eating a small
amount of fish or
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anon142316 I'm on day three. Thank you to everyone who posted here. I was seconds away
Post 136 from eating something sweet to kill this headache. I've done it before but i don't
remember it being this awful.
I'm really exhausted and can hear my brain thumping away in there. Granted, this
time i also gave up processed milk/milk products and alcohol. I guess last time I'd
organically cider the pain away, thus sneaking sugar.
anon141570 Off sugar day four. I've had a headache for three days. I will try and make it. I have
Post 135 to work tomorrow. Yes, it seems they are poisoning us.
I am eating fruit, protein, veggies and lots of water and I feel like I have the flu. If I
am sick in the morning, I will break down and have oatmeal. I need to make it
through. It wasn't this bad last time.
anon140498 I have always felt that sugar was bad for me. I'm always bloated, have spots, dry
Post 134 skin, severe candida, depression and I cannot concentrate. I am addicted to
chocolate, alcohol (once I start drinking it) and cakes! I always have very bad mood
swings when I binge and I know this will happen before I even start eating/
drinking but I can't stop myself.
I have been fairly lucky with my weight despite my sweet tooth (size 10-12) so find
it even harder to motivate myself to give up sugar although I'm convinced it is the
cause of all of the above.
I decided to try and quit sugar. I have now replaced my sugar addiction with trying
to eat
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anon140416 Day five of no sugar or white flour, though I still eat whole grains and fruit.
Post 133
I've been feeling kind of out-of-it in general since day two but it's the nausea that is
killing me! I also feel pretty light-headed starting after lunch, probably because
lunch used to be when I did my daily carbo-loading. At least I haven't been
experiencing the headaches others have described.
I've been thinking of taking a one-day-a-week "freebie" where I allow myself a

small amount of sugar and/or white flour. Has anyone had any experience with
cheating like that? Does it cancel out your progress completely or is it an
acceptable way to ease into the diet?
anon138137 Grateful to have found these posts! I am on day three of no sugar/white carbs. I
Post 132 was excited at first thinking how I would feel so great but so far I have felt only just
okay, a little emotional/anxious which I can deal with.
What I cannot deal with is the terrible insomnia! I have had two nights of pure hell,
falling asleep by 5 a.m. Only to wake soon to take care of my small children or go
to work. This is killing me as usually I need and usually get 8 hours. I'm starting to
feel physically I'll and am terrified this will continue. I am making sure to eat
healthy fats (almond butter, olive oil, avocado
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anon134187 I posted below that I was starting the Scarsdale Diet and was on day two of no
Post 131 sugar. Well I have completed the two weeks and lost 12 pounds. I am now still
eating healthy and staying low carb, no sugar.
I want to say that I feel I have been set free. I am not hungry on a fraction of the
calories that I used to eat and that never satisfied me. And I don't have unending
cravings for sweets. Really, I don't crave at all-sometimes I think about it, but I
don't physically crave it.
It's a little hard because it is now December and I will have to wade through the
Christmas season, but I am really
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anon133570 I have been on the Candida Diet regime for a year now, after many years of health
Post 130 issues which led to heart problems, and spells in hospital.
Having not known why I was feeling so ill and knowing that certain foods/drinks
had a bad effect on me, such as, caffeine, aspartame sweetener, white bread,
pastry, sugars etc., etc., I was finally told about cutting out yeast and sugar due to
an overload of yeast in my body.
Now, I will be totally frank about this. You cannot cheat at all when you are trying
to cut out yeasts and sugars. You have to stick to it strictly in all forms. There is only
one cereal without sugar: shredded wheat. You
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anon131515 I have done the low carb/no sugar diet before. The first three days are harsh
Post 129 (especially at night for me when I really fight the cravings). But, if you are not
seeing results, you may still be getting some sugar/easy carb so be more strict for a
few days.
I feel incredible on day four every single time i do this. Candida (Sp?) is very real or
I would not always feel abundant energy and general well being after 4 days of
this. Be patient and it will pass.
When I hear someone say we 'need' sugar/carbs, this is true but nowadays it is in
far too much abundance. We have been spoiled and it feels depriving to have
view entire post
anon130685 I am on day two of no sugar. Had a terrible headache in the night and feel
Post 128 extremely weak today. I am doing the Scarsdale diet for two weeks to lose some
weight. I'm glad I found this place.
One thing I want to say though, if you have not personally experienced heroin or
cocaine addiction and withdrawal, please do not compare your sugar withdrawal to
drug withdrawal. This is a cakewalk in comparison. Please, people.

anon129584 Well, I'm glad this is all normal. I feel less crazy now. I can't stop thinking about
Post 127 sugar since I've been trying to avoid it. I usually eat reasonably well for meals -
brown bread and rice, salads etc, but have a serious chocolate habit. I'm talking
those huge slabs - gone in two days, at least once a week. Plus supposedly healthy
cereals which are still full of simple carbs, any treats that are lying around at work
(I tend to see this as fair game!), desserts in restaurants...
I'm doing well on the chocolate - only one slip in two weeks, but it's killing me. I've
noticed I am cheating with honey on brown toast, so today I quit that too
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anon129312 Fellow recovering sugarholics: My experience is similar to what many of you have
Post 126 gone through. Almost three months ago (August 2010) I finally took the plunge and
removed most sugary things from my diet (cookies, chocolate, cake, muffins, soda,
etc) while still eating a reasonable amount of fruit (mostly grapefruit, bananas,
pears, and apples) and occasional white flour (but mostly whole grains).
I still occasionally eat a few things that have added sugar (Light Kraft peanut butter
is kind of my vice right now) but I plan on phasing those out soon.
My withdrawal symptoms were similar to many mentioned here: I had a sore

throat and flu-like symptoms (went away after a few days), joint pain and stiffness
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anon127489 I have struggled with sugar/flour addiction for many years, as have many who
Post 125 posted on this site. A friend brought me to an 'FA' meeting (food addicts in
recovery anonymous, not to be confused with FAA which is a different program).
This is an unbelievable support group for those suffering with food addiction. If
anyone is seeking that kind of help, just go to one meeting. It is a truly remarkable
program for sugar addiction and all sorts of eating problems. good luck.

anon126778 Wow, it is really hard to quit sugar. I was told that I have candida and I have been
Post 124 recently suffering from anxiety due to a fatal car accident.
My counselor suggested quitting sugar and coffee both at once because they go
hand in hand. It is day four and I have had neither. I have had a couple cups of
black tea unsweetened and also some carbs like rice and crackers, but that is it. I
feel very weird! Tired and out of it.
I was feeling dizzy quite a bit also. I feel like I can't function or socialize with
people. I think this is showing me that I did have a problem though, because if I
wasn't
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anon120768 My name is nell. I'm on day three of my no salt/sugar/white/fried/soda diet. it's

Post 123 extremely hard doing it alone. All of your posts have helped me a lot. I was told I
was pre diabetic and had to change my ways of eating so here goes.
anon120754 I was at a conference where sweets were available all the time on the hospitality
Post 122 table, but I chose not to have meal desserts or drink soda pop or any other sweets.
My body felt totally different after 2-3 days. My hunger cravings for huge amounts
of food was gone. My body felt lighter and less bulky.
My energy has remained very high along with my mental state. My thinking is clear
and I am so pleased that just to look at sweets, does not make me want to reach
for them in any way.
I grew up craving candy, love ice cream, soda pop, and lots of cake, pies, cookies,
fudge, etc. It is off of my radar. I
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anon116467 This is a great post. I just posted the information on giving up dairy, gluten (wheat),
Post 121 corn and sugar. I have been off of the dairy and gluten for over a month. This is
because of chronic sinusitis. I am happy to see all of these great comments.
I have learned that these foods are toxic drugs. It isn't easy, and you do think
about the food all of the time (especially the sugar). Sugar is like alcohol. I need to
find some energy foods. I have found that being off of sugar now makes things that
have a lot of sugar taste too sweet (that's a miracle considering my diet).
I would like to know how long does it take body to realize it is being detoxed and is
no longer being poisoned? Any comments? --Maria
anon116464 I have omitted dairy, gluten, sugar and corn (most of it) from my diet. It has been
Post 120 hard, but I have chronic sinusitis. I have not been miserable, because I think my
body has been desiring this. It is difficult to find something to eat (other than
vegetable and salmon).
anon116312 I started my no sugar two days ago and am dying. Im sore tired, moody and just
Post 119 want to sleep. Can I have artificial sweeteners on this no sugar kick like atkins
candy bars our does your body think of it as sweets still?

anon114434 Day two of no refined sugar of any sort. I am a monster.

Post 118
Thank goodness I found this website and can read these posts and see that others
are in the same boat.
anon112807 Post 101. That is exactly how I feel right now. I was wondering what that was. I also
Post 117 decided to quit refined sugar (today is my second). Last night, this feeling got
REALLY bad. Anyway I will soldier on.
anon112757 I have just finished my second week of giving up refined sugars. I ate way too many
Post 116 sweets and often went on sugar binges that could last days at a time.
By about day three of giving up sugar I started to experience depression and

anxiety to the point where I am having trouble coping and functioning at home and
at work. I honestly feel like I am going insane and on the verge of a nervous
breakdown.
Today, for the first time, I actually contemplating binging on sweets just to take the
edge off the depression and anxiety, but I resisted, not wanting to set myself back
and having to start over with the withdrawal symptoms.
When I came
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anon110838 I came across this web site accidentally but could not tear myself away from the
Post 115 posts. Since all carbohydrate is digested to glucose, the simplest sugar of them all
and since glucose is essential for life, why would anyone want to eliminate nature's
own energy source?
It isn't necessary to eat sugar because all carbs are digested to sugar. But I wonder
how many realize that the brain chemical, serotonin, which keeps them
emotionally stable and energized is not made when carbs are eliminated. And
since women have less serotonin than men, the effects of decreased serotonin are
felt quickly after sugar deprivation (or carb deprivation) and the effects feel like a
bad case of PMS. The remedy is to
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Hello751970 From post below. It seems like yesterday was the last day for me for the
Post 114 withdrawal feelings I was having. I finally feel like a million bucks today. Of course,
I still want to binge on cookies, ice cream and cereal but I don't feel so out of
whack like I have been without it. I will post again soon.
Hello751970 On day 11. Just stayed home from work today. Felt so depressed and lonely, also
Post 113 dizzy and foggy. I am glad for the posts and am amazed how very real going off
sugar is.
It is a real commitment on our part and not just a "I want to lose weight fast" gig. I
did this because my sugar/food addiction was off the charts. All I thought about
was eating and I wasn't thinking of overeating carrots and broccoli.
I hope to goodness this doesn't last 90 days. I am going to an Italian dinner party
this weekend and then going on vacation so a little stressed about giving in.
I will post again to give encouragement to those going past the two-week mark at a
later date.

anon107095 I get really tired when I don't eat sugar, and I get scared that I won't get my energy
Post 112 back if I don't eat sugar. Reading everyone's comments and knowing that this
happens to others really helps. I also didn't realize that it took so long to get off of
sugar.
Currently, I'm eliminating cane sugar, HFCS, fructose, honey and maple syrup. I'm
still eating breads and pasta, although I will choose grains over white.
anon106443 I gave up sugar, wheat, flour and soda three days ago. I am edgy but I read from a
Post 111 Ob/gyn that v8 with salt helps the energy loss and it has been working for me. I am
eating small meals every two hours and drinking lots of water and things are going
pretty well.
She says you can drink the small cans which equal 5.5 oz as much as needed
throughout the day until symptoms disappear then just twice a day later on. I know
the salt thing scares people but that is where you will get the energy to carry on. I
just have some irritability. I have already lost three pounds and I know this will be
worth it in the end. I have done Atkins in past and lost 30 pounds.
I wish I had never started back on breads and sugar because I was so much more
healthy then.
anon104319 I a am healthy 42 year old who has always put sugar in my tea every morning.
Post 110 When I have cut the sugar out I always feel lightheaded and shaky. I feel like this is
a withdrawal. Does anybody else feel this? How long will this last?

anon103264 I have been sugar free (am avoiding high sugar veggies as well as fruit) for five
Post 109 weeks. The benefits are that my mood is more stable, I haven't experienced any
migraines (although for first couple of days had headaches) - and I usually have at
least a migraine a week.
My question, though, is that I am absolutely exhausted. The tiredness is not going

away. I didn't experience any tiredness initially (for first couple of weeks) - it's the
last couple weeks where I'm just feeling exhausted - like I could go and sleep at
any time. Is this normal? Is it part of the detox? I'm eating really healthily - dark
greens, avos, nuts, lentils, beans, oats, etc. Please, any advice would be great.
Thank you.
anon102128 I didn't really think sugar had any kind of withdrawal. Then I went into the army
Post 108 and was forced to eat their food, and in basic you don't get things like soda or
anything.
I didn't realize how hard it was to not drink or eat much sugar until that
experience.
anon101396 I am on day six of no refined sugar, since I have quit simple carbs a while ago. The
Post 107 problem is that I ate too many sweets, cakes, muffins etc. every single day of my
life, two or three times a day. Eating sweets was a life force of some sort for me,
something to wake up for in the morning. The more sweet I ate, the more I
wanted.
I concluded that if this goes on, I will get some nasty disease like diabetes type 2 or
worse. The withdrawal symptoms started the second day of refined sugar free life
(I still eat fruit): feeling lightheaded; foggy thinking; feeling like I am out of my
body; no strength; weak
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anon100650 Sugar withdrawal is really difficult! I've read a lot of the posts above and I can
Post 106 relate to almost all of them.
On the upside, I don't feel bloated anymore, and I haven't had bread, pasta or rice,
flour, for almost two weeks. I'm still experiencing anxiety, muscle and back pain,
and I feel unsatisfied like I still need to eat. I'm caffeine sensitive all of a sudden
and my chest feels heavy. I'm thinking its the anxiety, but, this is just miserable.
God, I miss chocolate and baked goods!
anon100239 Anytime i hear that sugar withdrawal is relatively easy I have to laugh. It is the
Post 105 most devastating
thing I've gone through in my life. I quit a 20 year heavy drinking and smoking
habit within two months. I immediately started getting hooked on sugar. That was
22 years ago. I have been on and off miserable ever since then. It takes
monumental emotional toughness for me to get off the heroin-like stuff.
The kicker is that even after some three to four weeks off, there's no real feeling of
"reward" for my heroic efforts(!) "Is that all there is"?
It's not worth the effects, I tell myself after a month or so, so I go back on. It's a
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anon97896 I have been on Weight watchers for five weeks and gotten back to my weight that i
Post 104 was two years ago (215). I am continuing to lose more weight. I have cut down on
sugar in take and felt depressed. I didn't know why. I also see much clearer, which
is weird, because i would see pretty good 20/20 but now things have been more
clear.

anon96508 oh thank God for this website. I'm on day two of cutting sugar out of my life. I've
Post 103 been sober from alcohol and drugs for 5.5 years and feel that sugar is the next
thing to go. Each meal that I eat is high in sugar, in addition to the snacks
consisting of cookies, chocolate covered this and that, etc.
Every day at work I'd take a break to get some dessert and would alternate
between three different cafes because I was embarrassed to show up at the same
one every day to satisfy my sugar addiction!
I'm 27 but fatigued all the time. Often have bouts with Candida overgrowths, and
constant GI problems. Today was an absolute emotional rollercoaster. I feel like I
could cry over a pin dropping. Your posts have really helped. Try getting some "bed
time" tea - Yogi Tea makes some as well as Trader Joe's for those having trouble
sleeping. Good luck!
anon95280 I found this site when I was trying to find out why I have been feeling so bad for
Post 102 three days now. I stopped eating sugar and white bread, rice and pasta and
replaced it with whole grain.
The interesting thing to me is that I thought I was going crazy! Mood swings, feeling
of despair, depression and bouts of crying. My husband says it is menopause, my
son thinks I'm crazy, and until I saw the posting on sugar withdrawal, I was going
to find a shrink! I hope they don't have me "taken away" while I am going through
this.
Thanks for all of your posts. They really helped!
anon95190 I am 28 years old and i decided to remove the next bad habit, the white sugar.
Post 101 Interestingly i noticed that the withdrawal feelings i got were similar (if not
identical) to that of smoking cigarettes.
It feels like an annoyance, irritation, anger, frustration type of feeling. And the
feeling seems to be around the chest or so. i decided to call the feeling "chest
scratch". I'm doing OK though. Over the last month i only had about six cups of
coffee/tea with sugar. not perfect, but I'll get there! I know that this is a common
experience of withdrawal. By the way, thank you people for the posts. i feel more
normal.

anon90354 I would like to warn people about stevia. I had been putting it in my tea and about
Post 100 20 minutes or so after drinking it I would start to feel weak, dizzy and shaking.
I did some research and it seems that stevia can cause your blood sugar to go
lower. This was creating a big problem for me and there was nothing on the label
of stevia packets that warns about this, so please be careful.
I have cut stevia out of my diet and just drink my tea plain with no sweeteners at
all. The weakness, dizziness and shaking has not come back since stopping the
stevia so please be careful with this sweetener!
anon90351 i am on Day 10 of giving up refined sugars, and also high-GI carbs. However, I still
Post 99 have fruit, and dairy. Generally, I'm not getting any cravings, but I just feel very
depressed and confused which is unusual for me. I've been crying a lot, even
though I exercise (swim) three times a week. I hope these symptoms don't last
much longer.
anon89911 I have been feeling horrible for a while now and went into the doctor. they tested
Post 98 my blood and found that i am hypoglycemic/ border line diabetic.
I am told to cut out sugar, pasta, white bread, milk. I am on day five of doing this
and it has been pure hell! I feel worse. Headache, nausea, sweating, dizzy,
confusion, foggy thinking, flu like symptoms. Could this be from the sugar
withdrawal?

anon88620 I have been on a sugar free diet for a couple of years now. I knew I had a problem
Post 97 because other people could eat one biscuit and stop and I finished the plate.
I used it for every problem I came across and gained five stone I didn't need until I
couldn't turn over in bed without planning every move. I started university again
and lost three stone with giving up sugar and walking.
I have relapses but I eventually stop again and suffer the depression which is bad.
After that I feel amazing and well and very happy.
anon88233 Well, to anyone who says they stopped eating carbs, bad, bad idea.
Post 96
The idea is to cut out refined carbs like white flour, sugar, etc. You absolutely need
complex carbs for energy, which might be why you are complaining of excessive
pain and lack of energy. Eat oats, nuts, veggies, rice, fruits, beans and fish and see
how much better the withdrawal can feel if you actually eat like a human.
anon88005 Today is my second day sugar and caffeine free, and I feel a little groggy but that's
Post 95 about it. I exercise regularly and adopted a whole foods, plant based diet in
January when I became Vegan for ethical, environmental and health reasons.
I think it might be easier for me because I've already gotten rid of most processed
foods. My condiments and such do not have added sugars. I shop at natural foods
stores and farmer's markets.
My addictions have been: sugar added to my morning oatmeal and junk food-
mainly soy based ice creams, vegan baked goods, chocolate, and lattes. I hope that
I make it through any withdrawal symptoms I might have, as I know dumping
caffeine and
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anon87678 I thought I was the only one. I started a diet that cuts out all but six grams of sugar
Post 94 per day. I've been depressed, moody and crying a lot. I am committed to staying
on this diet, as I am losing weight but the emotional part of it is really frustrating.
I guess I never realized how much sugar really can affect my moods. I've held
steady for three weeks without sugar and hope that these feelings go away. I find
them not only annoying but feel pretty ridiculous, too.
anon86041 You know, this makes a lot of sense. A few weeks ago I started to try and eat more
Post 93 healthily, which meant cutting out the sugar and processed foods.
I've been feeling completely depressed and sad and anxious ever since - I had to
take two days off work last week because I thought I was having a mental
breakdown. Funny - I had one coffee with half a teaspoon of sugar in it and I
immediately 'felt like myself'. I just want to start feeling better without having
sugar. When is this going to happen!?
anon84980 It may sound strange for it to be in this order, but when I was living alone and
Post 92 could decide what foods were in the house and what foods weren't, I could live
healthy. But when I had to move in with relatives and couldn't control the foods
that were in the house, I would go nuts and eat everyone else's sweets. That,
coupled with the fact that I am going to have to lay down 100+ bucks, that I don't
have, for a tooth filling, is telling me I need to put myself in a different
environment.
For me, it isn't coffee or soda, but candy, chocolate milk and other stuff. For me I
have found that the cravings
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anon83894 For those having difficulty sleeping, melatonin is all natural and effective! Good
Post 91 luck! I'm on day two of giving up simple carbs and sugars.
Rixx After I cut carbs drastically I became so sick I could not work -now I am back on
Post 90 complex carbs and still sick.
Would like to talk to anyone who understands or has some ideas. --Rik
anon83422 hey my name is rosemarie and i am so glad i found this web site. i am a caffeine
Post 87 and sugar addict. i need help and i plan to be on this site every day for strength
and help. thank you.

anon81236 Too many years addicted to sugar. I went for candy as a child. I lived on a busy
Post 86 street- so the break in my day was going for candy!
I am doing this gradually, but my eyeballs are yellow? I have cut out coffee, white
and all bread, starches, but did break down and week two had a glass of wine and
fruit with oatmeal and white flour!
I just couldn't do it completely. This is a big addiction. No one really talks about it
being a killer and huge addiction! Has anyone had similar symptoms of being
ticked off and saying mean things about others? I feel really awful and tired too.
help this urge.
anon80466 I am not the only one! Thank you! I am so glad to know others feel like I do right
Post 85 now. Sugar is the worst thing I eat and I love it. Many things are bad for me and I
avoid them.
Sugar and I have to go through a break up. It is hard, on my second day and I am
feeling pretty lousy and my head is killing me. Nothing takes this headache away
but some good old not good for me sugar.
The sugar I use to eat turns into fat and I don't want it anymore. I am going to be
sad and angry and have all kinds of feelings and that is OK. But, I do not have to
eat sugar again. And, I am really glad to know I am not alone. We can do this
together, one moment at a time.
anon80372 I've just cut right down on caffeine and sugar. I was having over 500g of sugar per
Post 84 day (mostly refined in cookies and milkshakes). I've cut this back to 50-60 grams.
I've also cut my caffeine intake down from eight cups of coffee to two cups of tea
per day.
An getting headaches a few days in but finding it easier to focus on one thing at a
time already.

anon78399 Two times I've done Atkins and lost 20 and put back 30, so I seem to gain on it. I'm
Post 83 in recovery from alcohol and cigarettes. I have an addictive personality. So I will be
doing the sugar thing like this week. I'm looking forward to it.
anon78316 I'm Stephen and I am on a sugar free life right now.

Post 82
I have had problems sleeping for years, and could never get up, I always felt bad,
sick and had no energy. I took all the body building powders and still nothing. Then
I decided to stop sugar. I have gone through the worst flu ever. Headaches, shakes,
sore throat and shivers. I can't believe it was the sugar withdrawing.
I am at day seven and I just had the best sleep I've had in years. I woke up still
withdrawing from the sugar but I woke up feeling clear headed.
Please cut sugar from your diet, from your children's diets.
I have dyslexia and I can now focus

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anon78135 Just want to share my experience. I have been on sugar free diet, not for the first
Post 81 time, and I noticed when I did not eat artificial sugar, I would eat more other sweet
staff, for example more fruit. I realized I have to really gave up everything sweet
for this to work.
It is like smoking. You cannot quit smoking gradually; you have to do it cold turkey.
Same with sugar; it is all or nothing. This time I could last without sugar for eight
days, but yesterday the apples on my kitchen smelled so wonderful, I could not
help myself but had to eat one. Well, today I ended up in the store just for the
purpose of buying two cakes -- one was my favorite chocolate cake.
My heart was beating fast and my hands were shaking, so embarrassing. I ate three
pieces of cake to the point where I was nauseated. I feel like crying.

anon77382 While there is not complete consensus on the problem of sugar, as we all know,
Post 80 sugar or fat can promote obesity or diabetes mellitus.
Perhaps the headache induced by cocaine or sugar withdrawal is obvious feature,

but we cannot cut sugar from our diets, therefore, we should facilitate the proper
use of sugar in order to be usful to humans.
In addition, when we are free from working, the best thing that we should do is to
play some sports to counteract the increased sugar.
anon76934 Rather than withdraw from sugar completely on day one of whenever a person
Post 79 chooses to stop sugar, why not withdraw from it gradually?
I did not know, many years ago, that my 10-day headache was caffeine withdrawal
until after the fact. It was 10 days of absolute misery.
I started a diet on March 1, 2010 and had a headache for eight days straight. I ate
no sugary or sweet foods, lost 1.5 pounds, slept horribly, and felt worse than after
surgery.
Does anyone have information on slow and steady sugar withdrawal? Interesting
information on possible sugar addiction on Rachael Ray's television show 4-12-10
which is probably on her website too.
anon76058 I have a suggestion for those who are experiencing headaches: if you eat a piece of
Post 78 fruit this will give your body natural sugars and won't be harmful to your diet as
long as you eat it earlier in your day.

anon75276 I am now ready to start mu journey. I thought sugar was addictive, now I know. At
Post 77 the moment, I am afraid I will miss the sweets I crave, but my 'middle' and achy
joints are screaming to get off sugar.
I never believed I could be addicted to anything and this gives me more

understanding for the alcoholic/drug addict as I now understand because I am
addicted to a drug just as powerful.
Thanks to all who shared. I hope my stories will be like all of yours. Joan
anon75185 I am on day one of no sugar or carbs. I have had a splitting headache all day. I did
Post 76 notice the foggy and confused feeling today. It was as if nothing made sense to me.
I do believe I can get through this and hope I can see this to the end and feel much
better because of it. It is nice to know I am not alone. anon
anon73780 I am only on day two of no sugar. I feel like I am going to pass out. I have the most
Post 75 terrible headache and I am sure it is related to the fact that I haven't had my usual
amount of candy or sweets.
I am a sober alcoholic. I got sober two years ago, and ever since I have picked up
eating large amounts of candy. As with the booze, I feel that once I have one, I
can't stop.
I have tried to tell people about my sugar dependency and they laugh because I
am not fat. I know I have a problem, because I eat sugar even when I really don't
want to. I feel like
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anon73279 Greetings to all my fellow sugar addicts. I'm on day 13 (lucky?) and feeling a little
Post 74 down that I have come down with a bad cold which I associate with withdrawal
from sugar.
I'm following Dr. Daniel Amen's advice (Change Your Brain Change Your Body). This
is the reason I've reached this far. I'm going to do it this time.
Stevia (Truvia PureVia) is a healthy sweetener alternative - but expensive. Failure is

not an option due to other health concerns. Wish me luck. Carolyn
anon73016 The first thing I did was cut out the two cookies I had with my early morning
Post 73 coffee. I still crave it. I did it because I noticed that the early morning cookies made
me crave carb the whole day.
My second pregnancy left me with a funny eating habits, a crippling back pain and
a pot belly which is ever so increasing.
So as soon as I went on low GI diet, my belly and back pain kind of disappeared. I
feel great and energetic. But my real problem is sleep. Already my 18 month old
wakes up several times and on top of that the carb withdrawal has left me
completely sleepless. Not a wink. I sleep only
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anon70866 I'm a pretty healthy eater but decided to finally get serious about this sugar thing
Post 72 as I do have a sweet tooth and once I start, forget it.
I've toyed with Dr. Kathleen DeMaison program for a long while. She is a
nutritionist who has dealt with addictions and sugar addiction in particular. You
can read her books, "Potatoes, Not Prozac" and "The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery
Diet".
The main thing is that she walks you through seven steps. Stopping sugar suddenly
can cause a wealth of problems like many mentioned here.
Her first step is to have breakfast within an hour of rising with the correct amount
of protein and a complex carbohydrate (not a simple one like white
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anon70499 I promise to myself that I am giving up sugar and processed foods and most dairy
Post 71 as of tomorrow morning. I can no longer live with the dependence on it as I eat it
all day and it is definitely addictive.
anon70424 I have kicked sugar before and it has been very difficult! Somehow I started eating
Post 70 poorly again and now I am on day four of a new sugar detox. The first three days
were particularly terrible. Nausea, dizzy, cloudy thoughts, irritable, itchy skin,
insomnia -- intense hunger. Ugh.
The last time I kicked sugar I followed a low glycemic index diet which was
wonderful. This time around I am using a lot of what I learned from the low GI diet,
but I'm trying to be vegan -- a diet that I didn't realize is naturally low in sugar plus
it helps the body fight off a candida overgrowth.
If you don't know what candida is (I didn't know until a few days ago), research it!
Pretty gross! Not sure if my withdrawal symptoms are from sugar or candida but
either way a sugar detox should solve my problems!
anon68672 I've been working on giving up sugar for the past year and it has not been easy.
Post 69 The hard part is that it is everywhere and it feels socially unacceptable to turn it
down in some instances.
I have dealt with negative thoughts and anxiety for years, and when I stopped
eating sugar, my emotions became more stable and balanced and I have a lot less
anxiety.
Reading about the effects of sugar, and knowing others have experienced the same
addiction is very helpful. I hope you all sick with a sugar free diet for a lifetime.
Good luck to everyone!

anon67701 Sugar is definitely (for some people) addictive. I know having tried (many times) to
Post 68 give it up. Now I am trying yet again and hopefully successfully.
Great to read everyone's messages and what they do to curb the cravings and
other symptoms that go with trying to give up this stuff!
P.S. Frozen bananas blended are absolutely fantastic when the 'sweet cravings' hit -
- it is just like ice cream. Blend it until it turns white.
anon65454 I am going through hell right now, sugar is definitely a hard drug! Can barely make
Post 67 it past one day, the cravings are intense but really have to quit. I have found some
online resources absolutely invaluable.
anon65396 Wow. This sugar withdrawal thing is no joke! So glad I found this. About a week ago
Post 66 I read some books about all the chemicals, unhealthy sugar, and artificial
substances that are in the processed foods we eat, so I decided to try a healthier
diet.
I cut out white flour, bad fats, and pretty much all dairy except for organic because
of all the hormones. I decided not to cut out caffeine right away because I figured I
was cutting out a lot already. By the end of day one I had the worst headache and
such a strong craving for fat and sugar I couldn't stand it! I cheated. But after
reading this, I feel like I have more resolve. If it is this hard to quit eating this stuff,
it can't be good for me to keep eating it, that's for sure!
I really hope it doesn't take me two weeks like some people!

anon65183 If you cut out all the energy supplying sugars, just remember to feed your body
Post 65 complex carbs (for example brown rice), protein, and good fats (flax seed oil and
sunflower oil) at every meal.
Your body will turn the carbs into energy first and as the carbs start to wear off
your body will turn the protein into energy, and lastly, the body changes the good
fats into energy. This helps to sustain energy through out the day. This helps one's
body adjust to the sudden loss of refined sugars and caffeine.
anon64913 When am i going to feel better? After two months of dieting, i feel all symptoms a
Post 64 lot of people feel. i just want to know when does the feeling great part start.
anon64429 I am on day two with no sugar. I am irritable. Years ago I had stopped eating sugar
Post 63 and felt great. Slowly crept back in, and now I have a belly, acne (at age 38). Table
sugar is in everything it seems. One has to cook for oneself to avoid this diabolical
substance. What it appears to take is reticence; determination; strong boundaries.

anon64078 I cut back on my alcohol consumption and found myself eating a increased amount
Post 62 of sweets. When I cut back on the sweets, (because of weight gain) I had irregular
sleep patterns, headaches, and days when I did nothing but sat around feeling sad.
After reading these posts and being able to identify with so many symptoms, I feel
that making an earnest in this endeavor is me worthy.
anon64064 I decided to look into a sugar free diet after Ellen Degeneres began the diet. I'm
Post 61 going to try it and I am glad that I will know the side effects associated with it.
To #44: Watch Ellen Degeneres or go to her show page to watch her sugar free
video diary. Ave
anon62332 i m 31 years old and my weight is 86kg. my life is full of tension and pressure. i do
Post 60 not know about sugar or diabetes. Nowadays, i feel both legs on the bottom side
are burning and now my elbow is paining. can anyone tell me what are the main
symptoms?

anon62286 I am on here reading comments because I have been feeling like I am going to
Post 59 pass out lately after starting Weight Watchers hard core about a week ago.
I cut out sugar overnight and pastas and have been living on salads and veggies. I
lost a few lbs but feel awful. I thought I was alone in thinking sugar was addicting,
but my body feels like my blood sugar is low and I am craving sugar. Not in a
hunger way, in a necessity way. Does that make sense?
And to comment #44, if you have education whatsoever, you would know that low
blood sugar can most definitely cause the symptoms mentioned above. It has
nothing to do with "getting a life" my friend, it is factual. I mean, good for you that
you don't have a problem with sugar effects, but no one cares to hear your
opinions about those who do.
anon62285 The comment above about sugar not being addictive and for all of us to "get a life"
Post 58 is really comical and ironic. Don't offer negative comments on a subject that you
aren't even a part of.
anon61387 It's day three for me. I started searching for symptoms of sugar withdrawals
Post 57 (wasn't even sure there was such a thing) while trying to find a cause for my
crushing headaches and found this website.
I am somewhat relieved that the headaches seem to be related to sugar

withdrawals. Who knew? I feel nauseous and anxious too, to the point that I was
going to make a doctor's appointment. So I have to look forward to feeling even
worse?
I guess I'll be sticking it out like the rest of you brave people. Glad to know I'm not
alone. Try ginger (or ginger capsules) for the nausea/stomach upset. It might help.

anon60237 Feel great about what you are accomplishing! I say this on day 8 w/o sugar. I
Post 56 originally cut out carbs-bad idea. I believe this creates low energy. I eat carbs, but
all mutli-grain, and only two per day.
I had a low-grade headache and have now progressed to body aches and I feel like
I have the flu.
I have been drinking lots of water and exercise every day regardless of how I feel
or how much energy I have. It helps get the toxins moving.
What I find most encouraging is the fact that if I feel this rotten just ridding my
body of these bad foods, what must be happening when I keep pouring this stuff
into my
view entire post
anon60079 Just cut down my sugar for the first time. It's been three days. I feel like I am
Post 55 moving in slow motion and I starting focusing on an old relationship from years
and years ago. I don't drink, but not having my sugar has made me want a shot of
something. this is awful.
anon59613 Jorge Cruise author of "The Belly Fat Cure" book has been on all the morning
Post 54 shows this week so my husband purchased a copy of it Monday evening. It is
amazing how he breaks it all down.
So we have been following his advice of no more than 15 grams of sugar and 6
complex carb servings(120 grams) per day since Tuesday morning. I have definitely
been going through the sugar withdrawal as I am only allowed sugar from food or
Stevia and a few other approved sweeteners.
He does a great job of explaining the different sweeteners and which ones are
considered "safe". He also does a great job of explaining the harm of too much
sugar in the diet. His book is loaded with great information and recipes.
I hope that you get a copy of his book and find it as useful and informative as we
have!

anon57961 I was a sugar addict for much of my life - I know the suffering of sugar addiction, as
Post 53 well as the pain of withdrawal.
My first four days without sugar were boot camp painful. Just awful. But after the
first week, I felt amazing - when I wasn't eating sugar, the physical cravings for
sugar practically disappeared.
For the first time in decades, I felt like I could make peace with food and stop
binging. After I healed myself from my sugar addiction I wrote a book on how I did
it. I also offer a support program for sugar addiction. If I can encourage you all
with anything it is this: if I can give up sugar anyone can! You deserve a life of
health and wholeness - believe that you can create a joyful sugar free life. Warmly,
Karly.
anon56175 There is evidence that sugar is addictive. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Post 52
anon55456 Whatever anyone does, please, do it slowly, gradually.

Post 51
I posted on Number 45 (look at it) and the day after I posted that, ended up in the
emergency room disoriented,confused and passing out, but with a "normal" blood
sugar of 102.
Turns out I was so used to a higher blood sugar (145 or so) that when I abruptly cut
off the sugars, I crashed -- literally. No one in the ER figured it out, since I was
babbling incoherently.
I was there for two days, had all sorts of tests done only to start slowly coming out
of it when they changed my IV from saline to a glucose/water drip. Surprise! I was
foggy, but myself. The more I
view entire post

anon55177 Finding this page was a big help to me. It made me feel I wasn't just imagining
Post 50 things. Although I don't have major health problems or weight gain, I researched
and decided to try to cut out white sugar from my diet to become more healthy.
Around 24 hours after last eating sugar I started to feel pretty bad. Low
energy/feeling like I'm getting ill, diarrhea, extreme cravings for chocolate,
sweets/candy, feelings of low esteem/worthlessness/sadness/loneliness. These
persisted for eight days.
Luckily by the eighth day I woke up feeling great. I'd describe it as peaceful,
happier, more motivated, less moody, high energy (even on low amount of
calories).
The foods I'm eating right now are basically meat, eggs and vegetables (with a little
fruit). I'm going to try to keep off sugar and hope I continue to feel this good.
michele34 I am so glad i have read these posts. I have been on a Candida cleanse from Dr. Jeff
Post 49 McCombs and i feel like hell! I have yet to take his Candida killers but following his
diet very strictly, which does not allow you to have sugar, wheat, dairy, vinegar or
alcohol.
You can have protein (organic if possible), fruit (except oranges) and veggies. I have
experienced low blood sugar attacks, bad headaches, bad anxiety and just a weird
feeling in my head that is hard to describe. I kind of feel floaty with some tension.
Maybe it is a dull tension headache. I don't know. I never really got headaches
unless i drank too much from going out.
I
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anon52850 About two weeks ago I significantly reduced my sugar intake. I stopped eating table
Post 48 sugar, intake no cholesterol, but have replaced sugar with splenda blend and then
just splenda after I got used to it.
I have also started baking with more apple sauce instead of oil, and using whole
wheat flour.
I also stopped drinking alcohol and pop, etc. A few days ago I started getting
horrible migraines! Also my left knee has been killing me with joint pain.
Does anybody know what this could be from? Is it the splenda? Or just from
reducing fats and sugars from my diet so fast? Help!

anon51077 This site and your comments are a godsend to me. I was off all sugar and artificial
Post 47 sweeteners for years in OA. After the withdrawal I felt really good. Then life got
hard, some things about 12 steps started to annoy me, and gradually I got back
onto sugar. Like others here, it took me one jelly bean and my whole sugar
addiction flooded back over me. Last night I ate pink cookies, marshmallow fluff
and ice cream. This morning I found your site and am inspired to keep trying to get
back to my happier, more peaceful, sugar free life. My basic food plan then was
organic non-fat plain yogurt and fruit for breakfast, and for lunch and dinner 4 oz
protein and a pound (yes, a pound) of veggies. I deviated a lot from that basic plan
and it worked. I so wish I hadn't eaten that stupid jelly bean. Thanks and hugs to
you all. PattyF.
anon50968 A lot of these problems such as fibromyalgia, gluten allergy, celiac disease, chronic
Post 46 fatigue, joint pain, thyroid, and so forth can be related to a yeast overgrowth in the
body called Candida. Candida Albicans live off of sugar so when you stop eating
sugar, your body goes through a period called a "die off". This is where the yeast
are dying off in your body. This can cause you all sorts of withdrawal symptoms
including feeling like you have the flu. It is not the diet -- it is the candida dying off
in your body. Keep eating the no sugar diet which basically includes meat except
pork, eggs, and some green vegetables. No dairy except organic whole plain
yogurt. No
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Cynthia2009 Thank heaven I found you people. I feel like I am dying and I have only been off
Post 45 sugars and high carbs for three days. I have all the symptoms of insulin resistance
and took myself off high carbs and refined sugars after spending too much time in
ER's with "we can't really find anything wrong with you" as the result. Fasting
sugars were consistently over 115-120. This morning they were 69, but I feel like a
truck ran over me. I can't think, I am dizzy, wobbly, disoriented -- all this from
eating no sugar and no high carbs?
I see doctors again in two days. Gads, how do you all cope with this staggeringly
awful weak, zombie like feeling?

anon48851 I didn't even read your comments because you guys have to be kidding. Addicted
Post 44 to sugar?Sugar withdrawal? Sugar is *not* an addictive substance, contrary to what
you may have read on the internet. Get a life!
anon47177 Well, I have read all of your posts. Today is only Day 2 and I have a headache so
Post 43 bad that i feel as though my head will explode. What a difficult road to travel -
many of you are on Day 10+ and I am worried. Well, I think I'll keep with it just to
see how I'll feel next month - I'm going to give it four full weeks. One doctor told
me that your body will crave this sweetness as the yeast is still active. Once you
"starve" the little buggers, they release more toxins and cause all kinds of mischief.
The cravings are then unbearable. So you guys have real discipline. I fear I do not. I
had zucchini bread last night - sort of tricked myself. So I will start today once
again. Day 1. Keep writing because I will periodically check back for more support
from you. --Deborah
anon46355 I have cut out wheat, refined sugars,processed foods for 10 days now. I feel like
Post 42 crap. Fatigue, neck aches, diarrhea, bloating etc. I have gone this far and I'm not
about to stop. I have suffered with migraines, fibromyalgia, I.C. and weight issues. I
hope I have some relief soon. Witchwoman 56

anon43426 For me this woman has made all the difference. She finally makes the connection
Post 41 between sugar and brain chemistry. She links blood sugar levels, serotonin and
beta-endorphins into one understandable package. Best of all she ties each one of
the above to specific emotions and you recognize yourself without question. Most
importantly she finally answers the question as to why we all relapse and provides
a simple program to recovery.
At age 59 I finally understand what is wrong with me and why.
Her name is Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. After 40 years of struggle, I just never
knew what the problem was. I only had pieces of the puzzle. No wonder I've fallen
off so many diets.
I hope this post helps one of you out there.
Best Regards, Dan
carpusdiem I take vitamin C 1000 units when I have sugar craves. I make sure I have sufficient
Post 40 "B" vitamins and essential oils Omega 3 etc: My diet consists of high protein, high
fat, low carbs. I still drink coffee in moderation for the health benefits.
anon42736 I have started having mood swings and depression since I quit sugar and caffeine. I
Post 39 am tired, don't want to do anything but sit and feel like crying and my stomach and
head hurt. is this from sugar withdrawal?

anon41584 it is so nice to realize i wasn't going crazy this week. i have been so anxious and
Post 38 depressed and then realized it may have something to do with the fact i have
beeen giving up sugar.
anon41232 I am on day 4 and I have nasuea, headaches, dizzness and fatigue. It's like detoxing
Post 37 from opiates. Probably going to take 10 days to 3 weeks.
anon41017 i am a sugar addict, and i have been on withdrawal for 2 months now. but i still feel
Post 36 a very strong desire for the sugar, mentally and physically. i am putting up a very
hard battle and my friends are being very supportive.

anon38985 I find that frozen blueberries are a great fix if you need something to pick you up
Post 35 (energy) or mellow out the headaches.
Also the sweetener Truvia (made from stevia leaves) is quite tasty for those of you
who wish they could make their morning coffee tasty again.
anon37189 I truly believe sugar is like a drug. I'm so addicted, I'm on my second day and I got
Post 34 extremely emotional today for some weird reason, i feel tired, dizzy, and am
craving sugar sooo bad. Oh and I can't sleep really at all. I also have an eating
disorder where I eat too little and then I just go crazy on binging on sweets for a
day or two because that is what I love..to the point where I feel sick and then the
next day I'm back to eating little..I'm not overweight at all. But it definitely sucks.
and I'm really trying to give up sugar forever. I have once stayed away really well.
The only
view entire post
anon36674 Hi there everyone,

Post 33
I wanted to drop a quick note as i know it will help many people out who are
coming of sugar.
I have stopped eating sugar 3 times the the last 2 years and each time of returning
to a sugar free diet i learn new things that make the detox a lot easier.
I just stopped for the last time 5 days ago, after having a 4 week binge on the white
stuff, and already i am feeling fantasic,and back to my good old self.What made it a
lot easier this time was taking vitamins and minerals.Sugar consumption strips the
body of these two vital ingredients to a healthy self, especially the
view entire post

anon34752 All you guys are great, I mean it really needs lot of will to do it. I happen to see Dr.
Post 32 Wayne Dyers show on KQED and he mentioned that he stopped having sugar and
at the age of 68 he is very fit and looks amazing, though I am not over weight and
do exercise well not regularly but once I start I continue for about a couple of
month until situation forces me to quite like I need to travel or some injury (mostly
muscle tear), well it's been like this for many years now, but I could not get rid of
my belly fat unless I do lot of jogging and hitting the gym after that for
view entire post
anon34458 just read all your comments and yes i can understand all the things you are all
Post 31 going through but i just wanted to say that if you want to go on a sugar fast or stop
it all together you are better off going on a low carb low calorie diet as it has
protein so you still have the energy and you still lose weight. i am on a low carb
diet and it is the only diet which has worked for me and believe me i've tried loads.
the withdrawal symptoms are still there and for some may be worse than others
but they go away after a few days and because the food i eat on the diet contain at
least 100% of your daily nutrients you feel good after the first 4 or 5 days. i highly
recommend low carb low cal diets. if you have got this far you might as well try
this.
dnalsgnikj I'm on day 9 of giving up refined sugar, salt, caffeine, processed foods, alcohol,
Post 30 additives and colourings etc. The first week was *hell*. The headache was
unbearable, and then the very bad throbbing pain in my joints started. *But* there
*is* hope! The headache went after about 4 days, and today is the first day that all
the joint pains have gone, and *I feel great!* I also slept right through the night last
night, which is the first time I have done this in 8 years. So don't give up, it's worth
it!!

herring367 I am so glad I found this article and thread! I am on Day 12 of a refined sugar-free
Post 29 life and I am in hell!!! Until I read this these posts, I was sure I had lupus or
leukemia or fibromyalgia or something horrible like that!
My symptoms started on Day 3. Migraine, nausea, flu-like symptoms. The

headache has mostly gone away, a slight one comes and goes. But the nausea and
joint-pain are horrible! Now, Day 11 and Day 12, I am swollen and my joints really
hurt! My hands, face, feet...all swollen. I have cut out salt intake too because I've
gone from prepackaged and eating out to eating fresh foods and home-cooked
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anon32005 I have been eliminating sweets from my diet for about a month - purposefully
Post 28 keeping it a moderate and gradual sugar fast. This is to allow me the success that a
severe elimination of sugar would probably not permit. I just realized the
possibility that my symptoms are possibly linked to sugar withdrawal.
In this month, I have had 2 colds and a herpes outbreak. My mood seems to be
stable, but I've worked on that my whole adult lifetime. I have been quite tired,
and of course that goes with the 2 colds. By moderate, I mean I am allowing myself
fruits and carbohydrates. I was originally going to just make this a 40 day fast, but
after reading on
view entire post
augrock I have been eating sugar big time from my 14 year 1949 to april 30, 09. Is it my
Post 27 imagination that i feel so bad, wrist swollen, pain pills do not work. in the hot tub
two times a day is the only way i can get any sleep i hurt so bad.
Like i have a bad flu. Joints hurt, depressed, with no energy. Is there anything i can
do to to get rid of this faster. I first thought it was in my head until i read your blog.
Are there any doctor's that can help? I live in fallbrook, ca.

anon31434 I am on day 10 of giving up the great and terrible C's - cake, candy, cold cereal, ice
Post 26 Cream, Cokes, and cookies - in other words, junk food. I'm also trying to watch my
carb intake. Today I'm feeling really lethargic. I'm just wondering how long before
my body will start being glad I'm not flooding it with sugar. A cousin told me that
she's been off for 3 months and now it's not so bad. *Not so bad?!* I want it to be
great, wonderful. I want to feel better than ever. Well, I'm going to keep on keeping
on no matter what.
anon30971 I stopped my sugar intake completely 11 days ago due to systemic yeast. I'm
Post 25 exhausted, but yet have trouble falling asleep, and more trouble waking up.
The worst part is the constant upset stomach.
anon29729 10th day of withdrawal from refined carbs (all breads, rice, pasta) and sugars (no
Post 24 candies/sweets, high-sugar fruits, fruit juices, alcohol). I am pretty healthy and do a
lot of exercise, but right now I feel terrible, especially emotionally. Very down,
don't feel like interacting with people, negative. My body is processing toxins while
withdrawing, it's pretty heavy!
One good thing: I recommend a product called xylitol as a sugar substitute. Its as
sweet as sugar, not synthetic (like poisonous aspartame), and has a very pleasant
taste. Only difference is lower KJs, doesn't trigger changes in blood sugar and is
antibacterial (good for teeth and kills digestive yeasts).
Good luck everyone. This is just the tip of the iceberg - our whole culture is junk.
What we watch on TV, what we read, the news, our educations, it goes on and on..

anon25394 I have been following the South Beach diet for more or less two years (sometimes
Post 23 more sometimes less). Right now, after taking a break to enjoy Thanksgiving and
Christmas, I have returned to stage 1 of the diet. This is the most restrictive part of
the diet and is essentially a complete withdrawal from sugar. Like many here I have
been experiencing the worst dull headache and nausea. I also feel like I'm running
a slight temperature. I highly recommend a long hot shower to headache sufferers.
Which might also explain the hot feeling. Others have mentioned an effect to blood
pressure. Maybe, that is what I am experiencing. I had also felt this way during the
first time I started the diet. It is really rough for me.
chris7770 I am 10 days on the atkins diet, and i have never been more miserable in my life.
Post 22 The only thing keeping me on the diet is the eight i have already lost. constant
headache, emotionally crazy, zero energy, just the worst. Im supposed to go back
to school next week! is this normal? when will it end? im going to the dr. today. i
can't wait
anon24054 hi its been six days since i am off sugar and rice. very low carb diet. i am happy to
Post 21 achieve this as i was big sugar addict. past two days i am feeling a little low
because of this. but i have started taking protein powder in place of sugar and it's
really helping me.

michelamio1 Second day, no sugar. Feel emotional, drained and very cranky. I have a support
Post 20 group meeting tonight at 6:15.
I am 40 pounds overweight and have already lost 80 pounds, but got reintroduced
to sugar and white flour two years and five months ago.
I will survive.
anon22312 I am just starting a diet plan cutting out sugar and refined flour; I've also opted to
Post 19 cut caffeine at the same time. As of Day 1 afternoon (now), I have second thoughts
about taking this on all at once:-).
I already am having difficulty concentrating and sinus pressure building towards

headache. I think caffeine would alleviate my issues. Should I stick with it and cut
sugar & caffeine together. Or am I better off cutting sugar, going through that
withdrawal; THEN cutting caffeine and dealing with that second withdrawal?
I'm unable to take off work at this time, so will have to manage through each
workday. Thanks for your advice!
anon20481 Hey! It's great to read everyone's posts on sugar withdrawal. I'm day 11 of no
Post 18 sugar, flour, alcohol, caffeine, dairy or other animal products. Wowee - yesterday
was all about tears, as was the day before. Today, I felt a bit dizzy and am in bed -
again! When I get tired, it hits me hard and can't keep up with other people. I'm in
a group called FA (Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous)(not a vegetarian group -
that's my own personal choice) and there are tons of people who are living happy
and successful lives for years on end without sugar and flour. It's a 12 step group
for people with eating disorders; any and all eating disorders. They say for the first
90 days to just put your fluffy slippers on. I'm lucky enough to have found them,
my life is changing for the better.

anon20345 I'm on my first week of sugar withdrawal, and in addition to the dull headache and
Post 17 constant nausea, my blood pressure is elevated. I'm on meds for it, and monitor it
regularly, so I'm attributing it to the stress of the elimination diet. Anyone else had
this happen?
anon19418 I too cut our sugar on a dare from a friend. 2nd day in, thankfully Saturday, I spent
Post 16 in bed, weary. Sunday was no better. I slugged it out for the work week and by day
8, I could make it 'til 8pm before falling asleep. By week 2.5 I was feeling like my
old self again. Hang in there, it is worth it.
anon18397 I am on day 4 of a no sugar diet and I feel really dizzy, light headed, weak, tired and
Post 15 irritable! How long does this go on for?! Any ideas!! Cheers Hannah
anon17735 It's really great to hear other stories of going off of sugar. I am severely addicted.
Post 14 I've gone off sugar before, and was good for about 1-1/2 years. During that time I
felt better than I ever have. My energy level was through the roof. But those first
10 days or so are absolute hell. I am at the end of day 2 and my muscles are weak
and I've been going hot and cold and I feel horrible. Oh, and the headache. I don't
do caffeine, so it is sugar-related I'm sure. But, after about 10 days it will all be
worth it. Hang in there, everyone! -pam
anon17665 Great to hear there are others out there giving this a go. I'm on day 4 without
Post 13 Sugar, Wheat, Dairy or Caffeine. I gave up coffee 3.5 years ago, but I also wanted to
eliminate black tea etc. 4 days feels like such a loooong time, but I'm willing to
keep going. Headaches on day 1, a whole day through, days 3 and 4, aches
throughout my back and legs, like flu like symptoms. I'm really fatigued and also
amazed at the reliance on sugar and the rest! Good luck everyone, one a day at a
time.
stacy309 Wow..the headache thing is pretty surprising. I've had headaches for the last 3
Post 12 days, and normal headaches for me go away in 2-3 hours.
Here's what started me down this path.... I've always been overweight, but
relatively healthy. I joined Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time a couple of
weeks ago, using their "core" diet plan. All healthy foods, very, very little processed
sugar. I did well for about a week. Then one night after eating completely non-
processed food for a whole day, I had a bite of sugared cereal. After that, I could
not stop eating sugar. I ended up mixing up cookie dough and eating that too.
was *not* hungry, I just couldn't stop.
After
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anon16426 None of your comments spoke of ice cream addiction. Is not ice cream a problem
Post 11 for others as it is for me?
anon16076 I have given up all sugars and refined carbs including alcohol. The headaches are
Post 10 terrible! I am tired too. I am willing to stick it out though because I have been
unwell for three years now and need to try something to get things back on track.
My specialist has discovered that my liver is not functioning quite right and I have a
candida albicans overgrowth in my gut.
As for the comment about the headaches being from caffeine withdrawal, that may
be true in part for some people, but I don't drink coffee, so I know it's all about
sugar for me!
Good luck everyone and stick to it :)
EQoverIQ i've experienced the sugar and carb withdrawal, and it is not pleasant! stick it out at
Post 9 least a week, it will get much better then!

anon15171 I am on day 4 right now of absolutely no refined sugars or pretty much processed
Post 8 foods for that matter. It's been only fruits, veggies, whole grain brain/rice/pasta,
nuts, chicken/fish. I try to throw in a variety within these categories to make sure
it's not just that my body isn't getting a particular nutrient from lack of variety, but
it really is addiction to sugar and/or other processed foods.
The first day was all right but since then I have had all-day splitting headaches,
sore throat, mild fever, no energy at all (luckily Wimbledon has been on to
entertain me). It has gotten worse each day so far. I go to bed early (like 10 PM)
each day to
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ninnin Hi, Wow...my friend put me on this special diet basically cutting out all SUGAR
Post 7 products, dairy and white flour. I have been experiencing crazy vertigo for the past
few months and I was ready to try anything since all my tests came back negative.
For the past 2 weeks I have only eaten "fresh" foods, veggies, fruits, eggs, meats,
etc.... and I can tell you that the headache part is real. My head hurt for 6 days and
I mean it hurt! I was ready to quit, but so glad I did not because today I am feeling
great. Already lost 5 lbs (that's not what it was all about, however it's nice to lose
any amount of weight) and
view entire post
anon12553 I find this article very helpful in the info department. At least it gives tells me what
Post 6 to expect when I reduce my sugar intake in the coming weeks. You see, I have
recurring urinary tract infections that are getting worse in regards to the
symptoms-headaches with hip and back pain.
I know in my heart that my insane (that's what it is) sugar intake is the culprit. I've
just reached the point of being fed up with my weight-gain, even though I walk at
least 30 minutes a day. Wish me luck. I plan on keeping a journal of my progress
and will post some of it here in order to help others. Good luck everyone!

bigmetal katylin, good job! giving up/reducing your sugar is really tough to do. i cut back on
Post 5 sugar a few weeks ago and made it through those first few days pretty well. today, i
made the mistake of having pancakes, and by noon, i felt weak, lightheaded and
weird. i could really tell the difference in that sugar low that you experience when
you have a lot of sugar during the day. i feel much better that i'm not relying on
sugar to get me through the day like i used to.
katylin I have been a sugar craver for years. I am therefore over weight. I cannot get
Post 4 enough sugar, there is never a feeling of being satisfied. Thus, I decided to give up
sugar for lent. I am in the end of the third day. I have a non-stop headache. I do
drink coffee but I only take milk in coffee. So it is not a caffeine headache for me. I
have not had any refined sugar of any kind. I am careful to read what I eat. I
understand corn syrup and honey are sugar, so is high fructose corn syrup, so I
have not had any of these. Any new ideas? Thank you, Katylin
anon7913 I suffer from Candida Albicans and so have to follow a low sugar diet. Are
Post 3 sweeteners or other alternatives safe with my condition?

anon5218 regarding the headaches...when cutting out sugar, did you accomplish this at least
Post 2 partially by stopping things like coffee with sugar, tea with sugar, soda with sugar,
chocolate...? All of these things contain caffeine, which means, if you answered yes
to those questions, your headaches might be cafeine withdrawal related, not sugar
withdrawal related. Give it another week or so, and try not to incorporate extra
sugar back into your diet if possible, but make sure you get enough natural sugar
(fresh fruit, etc.) - Max
anon5153 I started a low carb diet, and since this Monday I started with severe headaches...I
Post 1 was very much sugar addicted and it has caused me weight gain. Is this one of the
side effects? Now after two weeks I can incorporate some natural sugar back into
my diet.It is very difficult to work with these headaches. Any advice will be much
appreciated. Regards Denise Street
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Whether people actually experience sugar withdrawal is a matter of some debate, as is

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Written By: wiseGEEK Writer anon997865 Sugar withdrawal is absolutely no joke.

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

So the worst thing now -- about day four

10 most extreme places on

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

The sugar cravings haven't been that bad

I've totally quit fizzy drinks, chocolate, cookies etc.

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

anon358158 I am so proud of all of you and it will get better!

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

In 36 years of dieting, I've managed to end up 35 pounds heavier than when I

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

anon339933 Day 2: headache, nausea, tired.

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Fewer headaches -- none today, so far.

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

anon185203 I am an alcoholic who has recently experienced complete elimination of alcohol

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Because the caffeine is an "Opioid Receptor Antagonist,"

drink in the morning before exercise, limit to two cups.

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

The Glycemic index diet is a good, sensible diet. Good luck!

I still feel so unattractive I rarely go out socially. My ex used my addiction to keep

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

It's reassuring to know this is common and will pass!

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

I've been thinking of taking a one-day-a-week "freebie" where I allow myself a

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

My withdrawal symptoms were similar to many mentioned here: I had a sore

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal

anon120768 My name is nell. I'm on day three of my no salt/sugar/white/fried/soda diet. it's

Related Sugar Addiction No Sugar Diet Sugar Cravings Sugar Withdrawal