When I first got to goal, a little never seemed to hurt me. However, I think that now I'm re-addicted. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Well, as my other post tells you, NOPE, LOL
Seriously I think it can lead to the vicous circle for some if they welcome sugar back in. Remember that eating sugar and other high carbs is what brought us here in the first place, so sadly ( for some) you can never expect to be able to go back to the way we used to eat, plain and simple, for me it has no place in my life, cause I never want to have to do this over again, LOL

Cheers Kathy

Congratulations on reaching goal wordlady!! I avoid sugar as well. Although, if we are having a special dessert, I might have a little. I also gained a few pounds after my "little" indulgences. I guess I need to limit it to maybe once or twice a month.

I have had three HUGE binges in the last few months - all related to oh-so yummy-but-evil sugar! The more I eat - the more I want! So desserts and candy are out the window (sugar alcohol does not effect me this way - thank god!) I can indulge in Russel Stover's low carb candies even once or twice a day and just enjoy.

Hmmm. Thanks. I'm trying to find my footing. I went up 3 pounds, but have taken 2 of that off. I'm thinking that even though a LITTLE sugar doesn't give me an immediate gain on the scale, it's like a lure to re-addiction. I keep WANTING it!!! Then I go up.

I've been at goal for about a month and a half. Interestingly, in my tmes of eating a very small portion of whatever dessert thing, I didn't go up. I still hardly ever eat breads. THEN, I had a travel, on the road weekend. We at at McDonalds 4 times, and out twice. I gained 3 pounds! Wuh.

This maintaining thing is definately a learing process. I definately never want to go back to how I used to eat. I would like to add in fruit, some oatmeal, maybe some whole grain bread or low-carb bread in tiny portions, but this sugar thing....wow. I'm beginning to think I'm an all or nothing person there!!

Good question. I can handle a little sugar every now and then, like in my coffee if I'm out somewhere and don't have any Splenda packets in my purse. I'll also have sugar treats once in a blue moon. Definitely not a habit, though.

A slice or two of low carb bread w/butter and low sugar jelly also does the trick for me as well. That won't send me into an eating frenzy like candy does. In small amounts sugars not that many calories so no wonder we don't see an immediate weight change -but it does sneek up on you and you start eating a little bit more and more often - then wham - re-addicted! When you had Mcdonalds - did you eat the bun? That would do it to me as well - lc bread for me for life! (or high fiber whole grain)

I find sugar is dangerous territory for me. I can become addicted so quickly and a binge can happen if I am not careful. However, Because of the adverse reactions to this substance I find I indulge in it less and less and for shorter periods. Currently I think I would be quite happy never to consume sugar foods ever again. Plus the stuff tastes way too sweet these days!!!

I have to stay far away from sugar. If I have one hard candy or something like that, I can INSTANTLY feel my blood sugar jolt up and i get a huge head rush!

I dont know how much sugar apples have in them, but when I added them back about an hr after I ate it I would be moody and tired. I ate it with some cheese to balance the protein thing but still felt like crap.

Yes apples do have a lot of natural sugar, I normally only have 1/2 a day, and as well, I eat it with cheese.
Thats what mantenance is all about finding out what you can handle. So the advice from the book is so very true to do it slowly so you can notice the changes in you.
Cheers Kathy

I’m one of the ones who never really fancied sugar all that much in the first place. I was a “salt” person and chips and fries were my downfall.

I do eat sugar on occasion in the form of certain baked sweets. It does cause me to want it again sooner, unlike if I don’t eat any sugar for a period of time, but my awareness of this keeps me from doing any bingeing.

What I find is that periodic “returns” to centering myself – that is - several days of induction-type eating (controlling portion size fairly strictly) every month keeps me on track – I only bounce around between 1-5 pounds depending on TOM, etc – which I find acceptable. After a week where I have sweets 3-4 times, I will put my nose to the grindstone and get back to target weight. Then I slack a bit, then back on – Being too tough on myself on a daily basis is too much to deal with. I’m better to ebb and flow in my maintenance.

Interesting stuff. Since the first post, I have gone back on induction, and taken off 4 pounds. Wow.

Anyway, another question.
HONEY. Would that do the same thing?

I thought I had responded to this thread earlier, but I see that I didn't, so I'll just add to the chorus that sugar is the one thing I still avoid except for very special occasions.

As for honey, my feeling is that to the body, sugar is sugar. Regardless of whether it's table sugar, corn syrup, honey, maple syrup, whatever. So I treat all of the above like sugar, i.e. off limits for the most part. I don't even eat "sugar free sweetened with fructose" jam because fructose is still a sugar, isn't it?

I have reached my goal wait without giving up the teaspoon of sugar in my coffee. That is the only sugar I have. Can't go without my coffee and do not like artificial sweeteners in it. Anyway, it didn't keep me from losing weight or reaching my goal weight. I still have that teaspoon of sugar in my coffee and usually have 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day.

I have never in my life been a sweets eater so that part is not a problem for me. I've always just assumed having coffee with sugar in it must satisfy my sweet tooth because I've never craved sweets and still don't.

I guess having just a little sugar for some people makes them want more....in that case, I would imagine you would have to stay away from it entirely. However, my three teaspoons of sugar a day is all I need or want and it doesn't seem to affect my weight because I've been maintaining for some time, now. So, I'm happy!
I realize everyone is different, but that's how it works for me.