Hi everyone! I'm pre-surgery and I have a major sugar problem that I'm trying to get under control. I see it as probably my biggest hurdle in conquering my obesity. Would any of you post-surgery people please share your stories about slaying the sugar dragon? How did surgery help you? Did the cravings come back? If so, when and were they as strong as before surgery? Do you eat sugar in moderation now or have you just never picked it back up again? Thank you for any insight you can share!

Thank you everyone for your input, especially you VIPs! It's really helpful to hear other people's perspectives. I've been trying to battle the sugar monster for a long time, with successes and failures. Sometimes I've been afraid I'll never come out on top. I am really hoping that WLS can be a tool for me to use to win the battle and get to a healthy weight. I don't expect it to be easy, but I really hope it will be doable for me now.

@@James Marusek It's really cool to hear about your diet now and how you're able to incorporate fats. My body seems to do well on whole foods diet with plenty of healthy fats. For me, that ends of being naturally low in sugar. However, it's been a struggle because I have so much excess weight to get off. Your plan sounds like something that could work well for me over the long-term to main after I've lost the weight. Your story gives me hope!

Edited July 20, 201511 yr by letitbeatles9

@

I was a total sugarholic before my bypass surgery. It is not the reason I chose bypass but I am very glad that I did. It solved many other comorbitities very quickly post op.

For me, the first 6 months following surgery I could actually eat sugar but hated the taste of it so I abstained As much as possible. I am actually allergic to sugar substitutes, they give me severe migraines so I have to use real sugar, honey or agave as sweeteners. Because of this, the only thing I drink is Water. Thankfully I broke the soda/juice/caffeine habit almost 5 years ago. I am happy drinking water or fruit infused water every day.

In the last few months I have been eating more sugar than I would like to in things like pudding and even once in a while I will have a tiny serving of frozen yogurt or ice cream. For me, even eating yogurt contains real sugar.

I don't have dumping syndrome so I really have to be careful and watch it so I don't get myself into a sugar habit again.

I don't consider myself addicted to sugar but I don't eat a lot of it. That said, I would choose a little cane sugar, brown sugar, honey, sorghum, etc. over adding sugar substitutes.

Fortunately, I don't like sweetened tea and found years ago when I eliminated most sugar from my diet that most things I had been artificially sweetening were sweet enough without it.

One thing I do avoid, and my surgeon is adamant about, is high fructose corn syrup. Read labels carefully because it is in everything and is the primary cause of our obesity epidemic as well as a huge increase in cyrossis of the liver.

What great replies on a an important long-term question. The answers varied a bit, but most seemed to indicate staying away from most sugars.

I'm almost embarrassingly weak to admit I have to not bring sugary items Into the house. It is just a way of shopping and living for me.

Quest bars are as sweet a treat as I can take in the pantry.

I just have moments of weakness and many years into this reeducation.... I find that is the best solution for me personally. It helps I live alone with my cats...yikes...I sound old!!!

What great replies on a an important long-term question. The answers varied a bit, but most seemed to indicate staying away from most sugars.

I'm almost embarrassingly weak to admit I have to not bring sugary items Into the house. It is just a way of shopping and living for me.

Quest bars are as sweet a treat as I can take in the pantry.

I just have moments of weakness and many years into this reeducation.... I find that is the best solution for me personally. It helps I live alone with my cats...yikes...I sound old!!!

I don't think that is weak at all. I would call that planning ahead and creating an environment for success!

I saw your post before lunch and had to go step away so I could ponder it a bit. I was not the complete sugar addict as you have described, it was all carbohydrates for me. Makes sense, right? What do these break down to become? SUGAR! That being said, I do like savory things a great deal. I do tend to keep my carbohydrates pretty low each day. Generally do not go above 55 grams of them for a day. I had my sleeve done on May 26. If I want a sweet taste, I have done a piece of sugar free hard candy. This has also helped keep the horrible taste out of my mouth. I do not drink coffee or tea so that probably helps and all carbonated drinks have been out of my diet for a pretty long while. I have found that strangely, savory things do stem the cravings for sweet things. I am taking the tack to keep the carbs low and keep on trucking toward goal. Have a long way to go. Was down 50.5 pounds between May 14 and July 1, so something is going ok for me. Best of luck to you!

Totally agree with @@SlimJill ! What you guys have all accomplished, however you've had to do it, is inspiring and gives me hope.

I agree, studies have shown sugar is be as addictive as cocaine! How else is all of America hooked? Crazy.

My therapist said tapping on your collarbone, or under it releases something that helps regulates cravings (something to do with acupuncture). I haven't tried it yet, but maybe I should.

Reminding myself that I now have collarbones sure does help!! Don't want to lose those again.

I also spent several years eliminating sugar. In 2014, we used only part of a 5 pound bag of white sugar. I also re-did some of my favorite sweet recipes, using more natural sweetners such as honey in very small amounts, and more nuts etc, almond flour and good fats. Now, 3 mos after by-pass the only sweets I have are fruits and I really don't crave sugar like I did.

I never really had a bad sugar addiction, but love to have sweets. For me it about carbs, but way before surgery I took a lot of it out because I was diabetic and not working. If you want something sweet, try sugar free popsicles and sugar free pudding. By the time you have surgery and are post op and have to be on liquids and mostly sweet things, you wont want anything sweet for a while.

Good luck in your journey

My suggestion echos what others have said. Eliminate sugar from your diet before and after surgery and then, the most important part, STAY AWAY! I kept away from sweets until I hit my goal weight, about 10 months after surgery. It was so easy because I had zero cravings. Then, I thought I would allow myself a cookie here and there because I was at goal. Now, at 2 years out, my sweet tooth is out of control. I have regained about 5-7 pounds and I have a heck of a time finding the willpower to say no. I wish I would never have let that evil stuff back in my life.

Just Say No!

If you use the word "addicted" then that in itself is not healthy and you may want to consider eliminating it just for that reason.

If you use the word "addicted" then that in itself is not healthy and you may want to consider eliminating it just for that reason.

That's why I posted. I've been trying for years, with some successes and some failures, but I've not been able to kick it for good. That's why I wanted to hear how those who were in my boat used WLS as a tool and combined it with other tools to beat the sugar monster.

Imma say something blunt: If alcoholics can kick alcohol and diabetics can kick sugar, you can kick sugar, too.

I don't know everything you'll need to do, but here are some obvious changes to make:

* Don't buy it.

* Don't let anyone else in your house buy it and bring it home where you could eat it.

* Become more personally accountable and become more accountable to others, e.g., tell those you spend time with that you're not going to eat any more sugar.

* Invite the support of those who love you (see above) and ask them to support your new sugar-free lifestyle.

* If you really think you're an addict (you used that word, I think), then treat it like an addiction and get yourself into an addiction program, either out- or in-residence.

* Stop regarding and using sugar like a treat. If you're an addict, it's dangerous to you. Treat it like poison.

* Figure out what other activities or things you can use as rewards instead of sugar.

* Don't hang out with people who eat a lot of sugar.

* Identify all the hidden sugar in foods you are now eating that you think are sugar-free. I'll guarantee you there are some sugar-laden foods somewhere in your diet right now that you don't know about yet.

* ... and other things.

I know you know this, but the longer you go without eating any sugar, the less you will crave it.

Good luck!

VSGAnn2014, great list!! Inspirational! Thank you.