Sugar isn't working for you now. Something isn't right. One way to find out....is to fast. Do some intermittent fasting. The first day or so, you have to ignore the sugar cravings. They'll go away.My thought is that fasting increases cortisol, and if cortisol is behind belly fat, then I'd be doing myself a disservice by fasting. Besides I've tried that too. I get insane hunger pangs (I'm assuming because I've been eating sugar for 18 months, my body is craving it).
Also, Peat has mentioned that sugar burning brings about autophagy (the main reason for fasting), but in a safe manner. Correct me if I'm wrong. I don't like attributing something to Peat if I'm inaccurate in any way.