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Original poster

Have you given up sugar? What happened?

91 replies

LookMumNoFeet · 18/04/2019 14:51

I've recently given up sugar. Obviously not completely, I still eat fruit and sugar that's in normal 'healthy' foods. I mean, I've given up chocolate, biscuits, cake, sweets etc..
So if you've given up those too, what happened? Can I expect a massive weight loss , luminous skin and flat stomach?

OP posts:
Floatingfancy · 20/04/2019 21:18

Well I'm a perfectly healthy weight, at 5ft3 and 8st7, so I think I can bear the risk of a bit of honey in my porridge.

Motheroffeminists · 20/04/2019 21:24

I think I'll just give up added sugar in terms of sugar in tea, sweets, chocolate, biscuits, ice cream type things.
Porridge with skimmed milk and a little syrup isn't going to break the calorie bank when I'm cycling over 10 miles a week, walking 30 miles or thereabouts and breastfeeding.
Extremes are not good. Healthy and moderate diet and non of unhealthy attitude to food with borderline eating disorders that seem rife on mumsnet.

Floatingfancy · 20/04/2019 21:28

I could not agree more mother.

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EngagedAgain · 21/04/2019 09:27

I usually forget to do it but porridge can be sort of creamy on it's own if it's been soaked overnight. Also the jumbo oats are better soaked. I find with just a little semi milk they are creamy, so no need for anything sweet. I don't add anything to mine, but that's just my preference. I find adding things becomes a bore anyway. I would like to consistently have porridge for breakfast but find after a while have a break then go back to it.

cyclingmad · 21/04/2019 09:40

Last year I switched to intermittent fasting and keto but also elimated sugar, Keto food is mostly veg, some meat but lots of good fats so naturally I don't buy junk food or anything 'processed'.

I was 19 stone 7 and lost 5 stone and kept it off. I did have some steps backwards and weight went up by a stone where I started comfort eating but I stopped myself. So now this year Im looking to lose the reamining 3-4 stone.

It was hard, the first year but its been worth it and its easy for me to not crave sugar or junk food. Trust me pizza was my vice! Now I have a keto alternative so i can still eat it but its much healthier for me.

I know I won't always eat perfectly especially as my group of gir mates I see once a month want to start doing afternoon teas so I can't avoid bread,sugar etc. however its a one off and I know I will be fine to go back the next day to my usual clean eating.

Losing 5 stones I was worried about saggy skin so I combined it with 5-10 day water fasts every 3 months to allow my body to basically tighten up the skin and its reduced my stretch marks too.

Motheroffeminists · 21/04/2019 09:45

I've got a banana chopped up it it. It's pretty miserable.

Lungelady · 21/04/2019 09:49

I don't eat chocolate, biscuits or cake. Just don't like them particularly. I do love a creamy pudding though.
I have dropped half a stone since Xmas....Not a great deal...but have dropped a dress size. Am at the gym 4 times a week doing weights.
Now 12 and a half stone, size 14 and 6 feet tall.
I still have golden syrup in porridge Wink

Hattifnatt88 · 21/04/2019 10:01

I cut out sugar about 5 days ago! So I'm baking my own bread (can't live without bread haha), without any sugar in, though I still eat a limited amount of fruit. So far I've had some minor cravings, and one headache that I took some paracetamol for. Nothing too bad actually - I am very surprised it's been so easy so far, knock on wood. I'm not obsessing about sugar, despite being used to having chocolate or something else sweet every single day for ages.

I have a lot of weight to lose, but mainly doing this because my sugar habit was way out of control. Plan to do this for a month before introducing back a small amount of sugar. Don't want to go back to how it was, but likewise don't want to never have cake. Just... not chocolate or cake every day.

I don't feel any better yet though! I just feel like normal.

BarrenFieldofFucks · 21/04/2019 10:20

Does xylitol count? I have a teaspoon in coffee... Confused

MintyCedric · 21/04/2019 13:45

cycling that's an amazing achievement and sound alike you have a really level headed outlook too.

Hope some of that rubs off on me...I'm hoping to lose 6.5 - 8 stone Confused!

Motheroffeminists · 21/04/2019 16:25

I have nothing to snack on so having dinner a little early. I'll have to get some healthy snacks in but I'm not a fan of things like nuts and seeds or veggie sticks. Babybels maybe and I don't mind hummus these days so some of that with breadsticks or pittas.

keepmehappy · 21/04/2019 16:48

I really want to give up sugar at least for a bit as my consumption is spiralling - easily 100g bars a day plus whatever extra I dump on cereals etc. Sometimes have sugar on toast if there's no jam. I just feel such an addict and look old, which I really think it's connected.

Three problems are - life will seem utterly boring and grey without the treats of chocolate, cake etc.

I'll rebel against myself at some point and think "who the hell are you, telling me you can't have that bit of millionaires shortbread?!" How do you overcome that??

I don't think it's realistic - nor do I want to - refuse when eg my DD has baked a cake or something. I don't want to show her my hangups. So I need some strict rules about only eating sugar if it's offered to me/as part of a social situation. Has anyone done this kind of thing?

I kept to a really strict 3 meals a day regime for a while at uni when my eating was pretty disordered and that was amazing - it totally freed me up from all the mental grappling about whether I should 'give in' to this or that. But it was so much easier doing that when I was single. Kids and a job do make it more challenging, definitely. Any tips gratefully received!

keepmehappy · 21/04/2019 16:50

Ohh... I DID put paragraphs in my post, honest!!

Motheroffeminists · 21/04/2019 16:53

Don't worry, the paragraphs are there on the app Smile

keepmehappy · 21/04/2019 16:55

Oh good! Flipping androids...GrinGrin

EngagedAgain · 21/04/2019 17:12

I think too much of a strict regime will fail sooner or later, and life would be pretty miserable without treats. Especially as I don't smoke or drink. I never eat anything sweet until early evening. That bit I find easy. Great, except things can and do every so often spiral out of control, and I slowly increase the amount. Generally some kind of choc, biscuits or cake. I am making the effort to keep it down, or if have a binge, skip a day.

teacherspet · 21/04/2019 17:15

I gave up sugar, lost weight, started eating sugar again, put weight back on Wink

pink412 · 21/04/2019 17:16

I did it about 10 years ago before it was the thing to do. But it’s a great thing to do. I made the big mistake and went from 1kg if sugar a day to none (not even added sugar in food) and was what I would imagine coming off drugs is like I had the shakes and affected my mood, sleep everything. So if you are going to do it cut down slowly. I have since gone back to using sugar but not as much. But really need to do a sugar detox again. It’s great for your healthy

VixenAbroad · 21/04/2019 17:18

I gave up refined sugar a few years ago and I’ve found I have no sweet tooth any more which is a massive help. It took a while but It’s now pretty easy to resist cakes, chocolate etc which I would have stuffed back in the day. Well worth persisting as I feel tons better as well.

keepmehappy · 21/04/2019 18:36

But how do you all do the willpower thing? I'm a normal weight, not trying to lose any so it's almost as if it's less pressing a problem... But it's really not - I'm getting quite scared about the havoc it's wreaking on my insides and skin and the problems I'm storing up for the future.

If you're not cold turkey, what rules do you have for yourself and how do you stick to them? Engaged, what if someone offers you chocs at work or you're asked out for cake - do you just refuse/adapt?

Motheroffeminists · 21/04/2019 19:40

This is my hungry time of day. My stomach is gnawing away. I only had dinner at 5pm though which was my special macaroni cheese made with a tomato sauce, spinach, sweetcorn and served with a big pile of sweetcorn and peas. Lunch was a feta salad with olives and beetroot and cucumber and a packet of crisps, breakfast was the grim porridge with banana and I've had pineapple for a snack/pudding throughout the day. I want toast or a grilled cheese sandwich or a chip buttie. GIVE ME THE CARBS!!!

Original poster
LookMumNoFeet · 21/04/2019 19:43

Thank you for all your replies!
I must admit, I have caved in and had ice cream yesterday but it was just way too hot!!
I'm back on track from today though. All your positive stories have convinced me it's worth it!

OP posts:
crummyusername · 21/04/2019 19:44

I find evenings the trickiest. If I at home I will sometimes brush my teeth early evening - the mint taste takes away any cravings for sweet stuff and also makes it feel like you've finished eating for the day. It's a bit artificial but I find it helpful in breaking the cycle in the early days at least.

I try to think how I'll feel afterwards if I do/don't eat something and really try to enjoy the feeling of being 'clean' and healthy. I think it's pretty hopeless thinking about implications for weight - it's too indirect and slow, and we all know a single hobnob has no impact on weight so it's a poor incentive.

Exercising helps, not so much for direct weight loss but more because even a little bit of exercise makes me feel much more inclined to eat well.

crummyusername · 21/04/2019 19:46

I find this book good on the psychology of overeating

Gillian Riley book

Helmlover1 · 21/04/2019 20:32

What I don’t understand is, if being sugar-free is great and it results in weight loss, clearer skin, higher levels of energy etc- how come most posters on this thread haven’t stuck to it? I’m not trying to be facesus btw I’m genuinely interested..