The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program

by Kathleen DesMaisons

Building on the science of nutrition that she outlined in her bestselling book, Potatoes Not Prozac, Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons now presents the first complete, in-depth dietary plan for living with–and healing–sugar sensitivity. She explains exactly how you can free your mind and body from the tyranny of sugar and shake off the exhaustion, mental fogginess, and mood swings that sugar dependence causes. Revealing the various ways sugar addiction affects both men and women, and the unique methods for healing it, Dr. DesMaisons encourages you to custom-tailor her simple program to fit your lifestyle and includes information on

• How to integrate a “slow-carbs not low-carbs” strategy into your diet
• Why regular protein is essential and how to get it with every meal
• What to eat when a sugar craving strikes
• How to get the nutrition you need on the run–even at fast-food restaurants
• How to find an exercise program you’ll enjoy
• Ten breakfasts you can prepare in a flash
• Menus and recipes for every lifestyle and taste

Practical, hands-on, and reader friendly, The Sugar Addict’s Total Recovery Program will transform your life by helping you eat right–starting today!

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Self Help, Food, Nutrition, Reference, Diets

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2000

Reviews

[Shendoah]

This was an excellent book. It should have received 5 stars, but I'm not a big fan of the authors style.

THis is a book by a woman, written for women, especially fluffy women. I find it highly annoying when books like this use phrases like "keep loving on yourself" Just because we are women does not mean we need to be wrapped in pillows and showered in rose petals. It's possible to be supportive and understanding without being condescending.

It provides several basic steps that are right in line with all metabolic management steps.

eat 3 meals a day
don't snack.
Last meal 3 hours before dinner
protein at every meal, especially breakfast.
replace white fast carbohydrate foods with slow brown complex carbohydrates and add more fruits and veggies.

None of that is news.

What is EXCELLENT about her book is that it gives a solid understanding how how the body's rewards system works, and why addiction is such a crucial concept. The way the body uses beta-endorphin and serotonin, and the way the body MAKES serotonin is critical information, and Kathleen describes it beautifully.

THIS information is what is critical to all health counselors and anyone looking to revamp their diet and struggling with cravings for sugary foods like pasta, donuts, cake or coffee-drinks.

Ignore the fluffy bunny attitude of the writer if you find it as annoying as I did, and you'll have a great weapon in your arsenal for weight loss and health improvement through lifestyle changes.


A note: I read this in the Kindle format. It was one of the buggier conversions I've come across. I recommend the Dead Tree Version of this one for better reading.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a fascinating book with some excellent theories and scientific research about how our bodies handle and process the amount of sugar we eat. I could completely relate to so many aspects of what the physical, emotional, and chemical reactions in creates in our bodies. And I LOVE her practical, methodical "recovery" program. I plan on buying and copying and using it frequently...

[adri patamoma · Rating 4 out of 5]

'olá! meu nome é adriana e sou viciada em açúcar' -- eu sempre soube que meu maior vício eram os doces, e às vezes até consegui diminuir o consumo de sorvetes, chocolates, e outras delícias, mas nunca consegui me livrar dessa vontade imensa de comer tudo o quanto é doce! quando vi este livro, pensei que ele podia me ser útil, e adorei lê-lo. a autora apresenta um programa bem formulado e fácil de seguir que leva, ao longo de algumas semanas e de muita persistência e determinação, a conseguir controlar o vício. primeiro, que lindo saber que tem muita gente neste mundo que é viciada em açúcar, como eu! segundo, que ótimo saber que existe um plano legal pra me livrar do vicio! terceiro, puts, ainda não arrumei a coragem necessária pra começar os passos mais fundamentais do programa (mas tou confiante de que esse dia chegará!)! são 7 passos que devem demorar umas 10 semanas pra completar.

[(1) o primeiro passo é fácil pra mim, porque é algo que já incorporei na rotina há tempos: sempre tomar café da manhã com proteína (“só” preciso aumentar a quantidade de proteína ingerida, multiplicando-a por cinco!). (2) o segundo passo é criar um diário contando o que foi comido e o que se sentiu durante o dia. ah, preguiça! preciso me convencer do quão importante/útil esse diário vai ser, pra fazê-lo acontecer. (3) ) o terceiro passo consiste em comer 3 e apenas 3 refeições por dia, todas com bastante proteína (e carboidrato). factível, mas ainda não cheguei lá. não sei como comer muita proteína por aqui. moro num lugar onde não posso comprar carne. frango todo dia é extremamente maçante. ovo todo dia? gosto dos embutidos, mas como o supermercado fica longe, consigo comprar coisas que durem por no máximo 4 dias -- o que fazer com os 26 outros dias do mês? tou estudando por aqui como vou fazer pra consumir essa proteína toda... vamos ver se dá certo! (4) o quarto passo diz pra gente comer uma batata pequena com casca todo dia antes de dormir (preferencialmente 3h depois do jantar). isto não é uma refeição, e NADA pode acompanhar a batata (só temperinhos de ervas e/ou alguma gordura que não tenha proteína, ou seja: pode azeite de oliva, mas não pode manteiga ou queijo). além disso, temos que tomar 3 suplementos diários: vitamina C, complexo B, e zinco, em quantidades pré-estabelecidas. (5) o quinto passo consiste em trocar todas as coisas brancas por coisas marrons, ou seja: parar de comer farinhas brancas pra comer farinhas integrais. (6) finalmente, depois de algumas semanas fazendo tudo bem direitinho, titia kathleen jura de pés juntos que não vai ser tão difícil deixar todo o açúcar de lado. é nisto que consiste o sexto passo do programa: parar com TODO o açúcar que a gente consome. uau! já pensou? (7) o sétimo passo fala sobre como podemos e devemos nos manter seguindo o programa pro resto da vida, com muita proteína, muito carboidrato complexo, e nenhum açúcar.]

a autora jura que o vício em açúcar é muito similar ao vício em álcool. o mais interessante de tudo é que ela explica direitinho tudo sobre os passos que precisamos seguir na desintoxicação de açúcar, e tb o porquê de viciados em açúcar quererem se desintoxicar e ficar longe do açúcar para todo o sempre. adorei o livro, mas confesso que vou precisar de coragem pra chegar ao final do programa de forma vitoriosa. não consigo imaginar uma vida feliz sem açúcar! rs. pode parecer cômico, mas é verdade. ainda assim quero tentar, porque os benefícios de um viciado em açúcar se desintoxicar são muitos e imensos!

---

'hello! my name is adriana and i am a sugar addict' -- i've always known that the things i am most addicted to are sweets. sometimes, i even managed to diminish the quantity of ice creams, chocolates and other treats, but i was never able to free myself from this immense craving for sweet foods. when i saw this book, i thought it could be useful, and i loved reading it. the author presents a well formulated and easy-to-follow program that takes you, in a few weeks and through a lot of determination and persistency, to being able to control a sugar addiction. i thought it was nice to know that (1) there are plenty of sugar addicted people in the world, as i am, (2) there is a good plan out there to help me to get rid of that addiction, and (3) oh, well, i still haven't mustered the courage to start the most fundamental steps of the program -- but i am confident that i will! there are seven steps that should take about 10 weeks to complete.

[step 1: get breakfast with protein every day. step 2: journal what you eat and how you feel. step 3: eat three meals a day with (a lot of) protein (and carbs!). step 4: eat a potato before bed and take three vitamins. step 5: shift from white foods to brown (whole) ones. step 6: taking the sugars out. step 7: staying with the program over time.]

the author says that sugar addiction is very similar to alcohol addiction. i love the fact that she guides us step by step through the program, taking the time to explain why a sugar detox is important (and beneficial) to sugar addicts, and how we can manage to smoothly take the sugar out of our lives. i loved this book, but i confess that it will take me some time to accomplish all the steps in the program. i still can't imagine a happy life without sugar! still, i want to give it all a try, because there are many, many, many benefits to the life of a recovering sugar addict.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hi, my name is Andrea, and I'm a sugar addict. And you know what? I think I'm okay with that.

I picked up this book at the library on a whim in order to see if I could find some ideas for cutting back on sugar a bit. The ideas I found were mostly what I already do when I feel like I've been eating too much white stuff (sugar, white flour, white rice, etc): eat more protein and whole grains, eat regular meals, keep sweets out of the house, etc. (Though if I tried to do the three meals a day that this books suggests, experience informs me that I'd be a cranky wreck, even when I'm not eating sugar--my body does seem to need 3 to 4 hour feedings). The potato before bed idea was new to me; I'm looking forward to trying it. But other than that, there wasn't anything I found new or helpful.

The ultimate goal of the program is going clean of sugar, and that is what I have no desire to do--it's way too limiting for me, and I've already found strategies that do a decent job of keeping the amount of sugar I eat in check. Small amounts of sugar don't seem to be a problem for me, and when I'm eating enough that it starts to cause cravings, believe me, I notice. But if you think your life would be better without sugar in it and haven't come up with a good strategy to make that happen yet, then this book is probably worth a try.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a disappointment. There were quite a few helpful bits, but I'm sorry I just can't take seriously someone who has a section in their book about how to highlight said book. Way to talk down to your readers.

I am a sugar addict, and I am going to do a few of the things the author puts into her program. But her approach in general is tailored towards people who are way bigger addicts than I am, and I often didn't feel like the author was speaking to me.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give this book 500 stars if I could. I recommend it to anyone who can't say no to sweet things and can never have just one bickie. It will explain the biochemistry of your body and give you tools to balance things out so you can eat for your own unique body chemistry and learn to say no to sugar.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago and am realizing now that I ought to add it to the Goodreads "shelf" of books I love. It's such an important book, written by the first person to get her PhD in Addictive Nutrition, Kathleen DesMaisons. Here is a quote from her website, Radiant Recovery.com, which captures what I want to say so much better than I could:

"You probably think your sugar addiction is about lack of willpower or discipline or motivation. It is not. It is about your biochemistry. You were born with a body that responds to sugar, alcohol and refined carbohydrates differently than other people. You are sugar sensitive. Sugar acts like a drug in your body. In fact, it affects the very same brain chemicals that morphine, heroin and amphetamines do.

Because you have a sugar-sensitive body, you can be addicted to sugar. You can’t NOT eat it. And because you are sugar sensitive, the “high” you get from eating sugar is actually heightened.

Sugar addiction is not a joke or a fad. It is a serious problem for your health and happiness.

Being sugar sensitive means you have unstable blood sugar, low serotonin and low beta endorphin. All three are out of balance. When this happens, you feel bad and you cannot will or medicate or talk your way into feeling better. Therapy, self-help or 12-step programs alone cannot heal you either because they do not heal the cause of your addiction: your sugar-sensitive biochemistry."

The path to healing from sugar addiction isn't quick -- slow and steady is truly the only way to do it-- and this book helps you through a nutrition program that will support and heal your body slowly so that when you are ready to detox from the sugar, your body and your mind will be ready.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much of this books is information I already know and do - whole grains, protein at each meal, water, balanced breakfast, etc. However, I found the idea of eating a potato before bed completely new. She shares lots of good evidence and I plan to read that chapter to my husband.

I rate the book 4 stars, not necessarily because I learned so much but for other reasons. It is well organized. The author is very qualified to write the book. The book includes good, concrete ideas for phasing sugar out of your life. She encourages creating healthier lifetime habits a little at a time.

The book is short, simply written, validating and gentle. It gets a little repetitive at times, but I think it would be valuable for anyone with a sugar addiction. It definitely motivated me to be a little more diligent.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hi. I'm a sugar addict.

If, like me, you:

1. Have tried to cut down or control your use of sweet foods?
2. Are using more sweet foods than ever before?
3. Miss your regular "dose" of sugar and you get cranky and irritable?
4. Have gotten upset because someone ate your special food?
5. Have lied about how much sweet food you eat?
6. Have ever gone out of your way to get something sweet?
7. Have ever binged on sweet or refined flour foods?
8. Have ever felt like you have a sugar hangover?
9. Find it impossible to "just say no" to sweet foods?
10. Find sugar is controlling your life?

Then this book is for you.

If not, well then just keep on walking. Nothing to read here. Also, I'm hugely jealous of you and you should know that I will eat the rest of the cake you left on your plate because you're "not hungry" for it.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad rip-off on the Atkins Diet. The few tidbits of useful information are overwhelmed by touchy-feely babble (the book would be fifty pages at most if this poorly edited tripe were removed). My expectations were low, but, to be fair, it did provide entertainment while I was stuck in line at the DMV for an hour (which is about how long it takes to read the decent parts of this book). It's depressing it got such good reviews on Amazon ... no wonder thousands of people apply to The Biggest Loser every year. Not recommended.

[Clare K. R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may raise my rating once I've actually gone through the program (I intend to at least try it), but certainly not above four stars. The book is sometimes inconsistent, it could really be organized better (if there's an official list of steps, at least put it at the front of the book, not buried in only one chapter!), and based on the symptoms given, I'm honestly not too sure I'm actually considered a sugar addict. But I would like to eat less sugar.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

a very simple approach to eating, taking small steps and slowly eliminating sugar from my diet. easy to read, great suggestions, with grocery list and recipes. how food effects physiology (serotonin levels). choosing the right foods can heal depression and many other ailments. Protein, protein, protein with every meal. this recovery program does not ban any certain food groups, only sugar.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an amazing book as is her other one on sugar addict's. She works with addicts-alcoholics. They come to here when nothing else will help them and she has a 92% success rate with them. She uses this same strategy for sugar addicts. Fixing the brains chemical elements that are off for any addicts. So good. I ordered it in for my local library!

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm currently reading this book for the second time because I need the reminder the author gives me. The book supports what I'm trying to change in my own eating habits. She (the author) gives research as well as solutions to overcoming what really is an addiction.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book, my suspicions were confirmed that I am indeed a sugar addict. This book has some helpful tips to try and kick this habit, if one is in the mindset to do so. Maybe someday, I will be.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly loved this book and I am converted to the ideas. Some of the chapters were too technical and repetitive and I had a hard time getting through them, but overall a great book and a wonderful plan!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helps folks realize how much sugar we eat. I've become mindful of ingredients more now; however, I would never take sugar completely out of my diet as this book suggests. We live only once.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Building on the science of nutrition that she outlined in her bestselling book, Potatoes Not Prozac , Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons now presents the first complete, in-depth dietary plan for living with__and healing__sugar sensitivity.

[Naomi]

Because I mean COME ON - something's gotta give here.

[Grandma Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book. I've tried eating a potato before bedtime like she suggests, and didn't notice any difference in sleep. I'm not a sugar addict, tho, so it could help those addicted to sugar.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying the plan now. So far so good. Not a diet, a lifestyle change. Interesting science behind it.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is me. If you can't stay away from sugar and you want to - this is the book for you.

[Wendy Reeves-hampton · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh. whatever.

[Pam Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think I'm a sugar addict, but enjoyed reading.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

comforting, simple, grounding advice.

[Darin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the premise of the book and have begun using it as a partial guideline to how I eat, but I found it to be too wordy. Some of the material at the end I just skimmed.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The science was interesting, but brief. The author struggles with keeping on topic. I couldn't relate to the subject enough, and I wonder if there was even enough meat there for someone who does.

[Ronnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

changed diet to low carb, I didn't end up finishing the book.

[Melanie Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good biochemistry in the book, but sadly just like the exercise videos on the shelf - with out putting the info to use - one remains an addict.