Sugar Free September 2018

[starsky22]

Hi, does anyone want to do Sugar Free September with me?

I lost 2.5 st doing the low carb bootcamps last year and have done ok at keeping it off. I generally stay low carb, but feel like the sugar is creeping back in and so want a few weeks without sugar to re-set myself and get rid of the cravings. Having a challenge and doing it with others always helps, so hoping some one wants to join me!

The idea came from Ditch the Carbs:
www.ditchthecarbs.com/sugar-free-september-2018/

SUGAR-FREE SEPTEMBER 2018 – THE RULES

AVOID
– all sugars – table sugar, honey, coconut sugar, agave, maple syrup and dried fruit. Beware of recipes that say “refined sugar-free” because it’s just their way of hiding “we used another sugar”.
– biscuits, cakes, sweets, chocolate, ice cream
– granola/cereals
– juices, smoothies and fruit yoghurts

ENJOY
– coffee, tea, sparkling water
– real food, amazing meals
– cheese, nuts, steak, avocados etc

If this all seems too hard, slowly cut back one thing at a time. This is YOUR challenge and you need to do it YOUR way. If the sugary foods above, make up the majority of your daily diet, then it’s time to really knuckle down and get serious about how often you eat or drink sugar.

[MysweetAudrina]

I've just decided after reading your post that I would like to give it a go. I think the fact you said September made me feel that it would be doable for me.

I have been practicing yoga for at least an hour every morning for the last 5 months and I know my current diet is preventing me from from progressing and also preventing me from seeing my tones abs which are obscured by fat.

I will do a shop tomorrow and stock up on lots of fresh meat, veg, fruit, nuts, Greek yogurts, eggs and cheese ;)

[starsky22]

Yey! Good to have you on board mysweet. I'm hoping that as it's only for a month it is doable. Having cut out sugar before, for bootcamp, I know that after a few days the cravings go and it is a lot easier to say no to the sugar. So we just need to get through the first few days of cravings!

[3stonedown]

I'm in. Well from now as I've already had 2 bits of 85% choc today. I'm LCHF but the chocolate and Stevia have gone up a lot over the last few weeks so need to knock that on the head. I'm off on holiday tomorrow but should be ok to be sugar free as going to France so lots of meats and cheeses to keep me occupied.

[MysweetAudrina]

I got up this morning and did a cardio Pilates class and then went a did a big shop.

For lunch I had Caesar salad minus the croutons with a big slice of off the bone ham and a smaller slice of Turkey, a boiled egg, 1/4 avocado and 2 cherry tomatoes. Does all that seem Ok?

Am drinking lots of water too.

How long does it take to go into ketosis? 2 days?

I need to get a battery for my scales but tbh I'm not too worried about the numbers, it's more the fact that I have been doing yoga classes before work for the last 5 months and I could do with not having to carry the extra bellies around with me when trying to get into poses.

How are you getting on today?

[starsky22]

Welcome 3stonedown

I'm doing ok so far, out for dinner and the kids are about to have ice-cream, but I'm fine without, just ate some lovely mussels with cream and bacon!

That all sounds good mysweet, was there a dressing or mayo? You just need to make sure you have enough fat! Not sure about ketosis, never worried about that too much, but I don't think you don't have to be in ketosis to lose weight.

[GrandOldDukeOfPorkiness]

May I join from Monday? This weekend is just too complicated but I had been planning to return to low carbing this month before a special event at the beginning of October.

[MysweetAudrina]

I had Caesar sauce with it.

For dinner I just had 2 massive beef, pork and herby meatballs with tinned tomatoes and grated cheese on a bed of spiralised veg e.g. courgette stir fried in butter and olive oil.

Earlier I had 5 strawberries with some Greek yogurt.

It will be the next few hours that I expect to get the cravings.

[happysmiling]

Oh Iv just read this post after having eaten some Toblerone! Can I start tomorrow?!!

[starsky22]

Yes, jump in whenever you're ready!

[MysweetAudrina]

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday.

Did a Pilates and yin yoga class this morning and then had a lunch similar to yesterday.

Will have berries and yogurt later and I have a spatchcook chicken for dinner with lots of green veg.

Not feeling too bad yet but I expect I should start feeling the withdrawals later today.

[starsky22]

Day 3! How is everyone doing so far? I've found the first 2 days ok, no real cravings at the moment. Remember to drink lots of water, often when you think you're hungry you're actually thirsty, plus it can be a good distraction to have a glass of water.

[MysweetAudrina]

Hi Starsky, I am still on it. No slip ups so far. Treated myself to some bits from m&s on the way home from yoga this morning so had a king prawn dip and almonds for breakfast.

Back to work tomorrow after being off with the kids for 5 weeks and kids first day back at school today.

Am definitely spending a lot more money on food as I am still buying regular food for family and extra protein and berries for myself which suddenly everyone wants because I'm having them.

[MysweetAudrina]

When I was doing my shopping on Sat I decided to pick up 2 of the more expensive steaks for dinner today. 12.99 for 2. I was looking forward to it all day and when I opened the packaging i noticed a whiff. I checked the date and it was well within it. I went ahead and cooked them anyway but I couldn't enjoy it :(

How is everybody else getting on? Anyone just start today.

I also got a battery for my scales 180lb definitely heavier than I felt or thought I looked. Will weigh again on Saturday.

[happysmiling]

I have such a sweet tooth, I eat far too much sugar daily so haven't completely cut everything else but dropped all the refined sugar which is huge for me! (I am BF a 3month old) so choc is often my go to in the morning when tired but been really good so far! Really want to break my sugar habit!!!

[MysweetAudrina]

Back at work today so yoga first thing and just had a bowl of berries with greek yogurt. I have my supplies for lunch time.

[starsky22]

happysmiling anything you can cut out will help, just be aware that the more sugar you have the more you crave it because of what it does to your blood sugar levels, once you cut it out completely for a while you'll be surprised how much easier it is. However, I fully understand how difficult life with a 3 month old is and I definitely needed sugar to keep me going, so do whatever you need to!

I had a dream last night that I was eating a chocolate Easter egg as I'd forgotten I was doing no sugar! Was quite relieved to wake up and realised I hadn't fallen off the wagon!

[MysweetAudrina]

That's a good sign I think. It means it's leaving your psyche.

Are you hoping to lose much weight or is it just for the health benefits?

[MysweetAudrina]

Day 5 and still going strong. Happysmiling are you still doing ok?

I didn't even mind resisting the mini pastries that were available at a meeting this morning.

I also find it easier to cut out all carbs than to just try and cut out the sugar as without the carb cravings I can say no easier to the sugar. But obviously if you are breastfeeding and have just had a baby you need to do whatever is best for your body.

[starsky22]

You sound like you're doing really well Audrina! I'm struggling this afternoon, not sure why, but I really fancy something sweet to drink!

I'm hoping to lose about 8lbs

[MysweetAudrina]

Hope you got over your craving. I had a coke zero earlier in work, not the best thing to be having but I needed a lift. It's my fav drink, I usually have 330ml a day. I don't think there are carbs in it but I have heard that the artificial sweeteners can mess with cravings also.

I had chicken wrapped in prosciutto and cheese with an omelette for dinner and some berries and double cream after.

I am logging my foods and seem to be averaging around 1300 per day. Do you count calories or is there a need to?

[happysmiling]

Hello I'm doing ok, been pretty good although I can't seem to cut all carbs...think whilst BF I need some or that's what my body is telling me? Definitely don't need sweets, choc, cakes and biscuits though!!!

[MysweetAudrina]

A week today sugar free. Will weigh tomorrow and post results.

Anyone else still doing this?

[3stonedown]

Hi all, Sorry said I would join but went on holiday and it went out the window! Back on now. I'm giving IF a go too as I've read there are a low of benefits. Thought I would log food on here if that's ok. I don't count calories or anything like that because it tends to make me miserable.

B: Peppermint Tea
L: Tuna, Mayo and Egg salad
D: Asparagus Frittata with Salad.

[MysweetAudrina]

It's very hard to keep to any kind of a diet on hols especially in France. Hope you enjoyed it.

I weighed myself yesterday and was a little bit disappointed I was down about 3.5 lbs but thought it would be 5 or so.

Anyway day 10 today and so far so good. Had a lovely lunch from a local deli who do fab roast chicken and really tasty ham and I had that with their broccoli, feta, tomato and nut salad.

Going to have bacon, sausage, egg, mushrooms and tomato when I get home from work.

Are you doing low carb with it ?

[3stonedown]

3.5lb is still very very good mysweet! I have been low carb since May except for 3 holidays so continuing now. I found I let the sweet things creep in a bit too much (dark chocolate and a lot of fruit) so trying to cut that out for September at least