I'm giving up sugar for Lent - anyone in?

[tinselandlights]

Since Christmas my sugar consumption has been out of control.

I've decided to give up sugar and wheat for Lent, and give the money I would spend on it to the Trussell Trust to keep me on track.

Anyone else in?

@tinselandlights thanks

I made it through!

B: wholemeal scone (homemade) with cream cheese and melon on the side
L: imam bayildi with watercress
D: brown rice, chicken breast, courgette and sweetcorn
Pud: yoghurt, peanut butter, banana, nuts and blueberries

I thought I might have to hit a second pot of coffee but I managed to resist.

Doing well here too, I am actually really surprised at how I don’t feel so hungry and am not having strong hunger pangs or cravings for things

I had a terrible headache yesterday but that could also be baby daughter waking at 5am 🥴

Congrats on your baby @ShirleyPhallus 🥰 how old?

My DD is just 2 and this is the first time since she was born I feel able to consider restricting pleasures like food so hats off to you!

I had some watermelon today and it tasted incredible like eating a bag of Haribo (except delicious) 😋

I had a massive sweet craving after dinner 😬 it did eventually go but it was hard! I did have a slip today as one of my rules is that if my DD wants me to have something, I don't say no. She had made little angel delight puddings and was desperate for us all to try them so I had one - it was intensely sweet (horrible tbh!).

Today I've had:

B- yoghurt (homemade!), banana, granola
L- leftover steak from Saturday night, parsnips, carrot and broccoli
D- coq au vin and a contraband angel delught pudding!

Contraband 🤣🤣🤣🤣 join the being fed contraband by our dc club

I have discovered that redbush tea - with no milk for me - is pretty good at hitting the lightly sweet spot and staving off snacking.

My older children are continuously baking at the moment and always asking me to try stuff... so far I've managed to put them off by saying ooh yes I will have one later with a cup of tea... then pretending I have.

I've been hungry today but first day of period and rather than just mainlining chocolate I've just had a slice of sourdough with banana and almond butter. It was delicious!

Well done everyone, it's all sounding v positive! Early days I know, but still.

I am doing okay - have avoided sugar since Thurs and not missing it that much. Also have stopped eating in the evening. I am constantly tempted to have a bit of toast, but so far have remained strong. Lost about 1.5 lbs so far.

I've given up my freedom this year. Like fuck am I giving up anything else!

@troppibambini6 the sourdough sounds lovely!

@HarrietLong I could ALWAYS eat toast, it is so comforting and takes me back to being a kid!

Wow. Having basically swapped sugar for cheese, I've now lost 5lb!

I think overcoming the addiction to sugar is at play- the first day I ate literally half a block of cheese over the course of the day, but didn't have any yesterday because I didn't feel the need to snack IYSWIM?

I am missing sugar, but got through the headache that lasted thursday/friday. Is eating fruit cheating? I had a couple of segments of orange the other night and also some raisins....which in no way compensated for the lack of sugar!

I'm no expert @BellsaRinging but I'm eating some fruit and trying to have nuts with it when I do I think it helps stop the spike in blood sugar which leads to you craving more sweetness.
I'm happy to be corrected though I may have completely made that up!

I'm now on day 9 and I'm feeling good!! I'm now going to keep a bit more of an eye on what I'm eating as my calories have crept up a bit and I want to lose some weight while I do this.

B- bacon, egg, mushrooms and tomatoes
L-cauliflower and turmeric soup
D-steak and salad

@CorpusCallosum

Congrats on your baby *@ShirleyPhallus* 🥰 how old?

My DD is just 2 and this is the first time since she was born I feel able to consider restricting pleasures like food so hats off to you!

I had some watermelon today and it tasted incredible like eating a bag of Haribo (except delicious) 😋

Ah thanks @CorpusCallosum, she’s 11 months old and was born just as we hit the first lockdown! Consequently I spent A LOT of time walking her with slices of cake hence needing to drop the sugar a bit now. Watermelon sounds delish!

Everyone is doing so well

I slipped up last night with a chocolate bar. To be honest, it tasted vile.

I'm back on the wagon again.

(B: Plain Greek yoghurt, chia seeds and sugar free muesli)

BellsaRinging Wrt fruit with nuts being better, I heard that too. The expert in the documentary 'Fed up' explains it.

As an aside, does anyone know if stevia causes a sugar spike?

That's amazing. Despite giving up sugar I have gained a few llbs!
I have been exercising every day and am wondering if it's muscle or if I just need a good poo send me positive thoughts!

My understanding is that whole fruit doesn't cause a sugar spike because the fibre in the whole fruit slows down your bodies processing and makes it work harder for the sugar? I hope that is true... I eat a lot of fruit.

I was dismayed to find my scales are going upwards too...

Today's menu:
B: chopped fruits, almonds, chia seeds and linseeds

L: wholemeal wrap with houmus, seeds, carrot and lettuce

D: sweet potato and lamb shepherds pie with pickled red cabbage and broccoli.

Pud: Greek yoghurt, peanut butter, plain cocoa powder, few oats, and 4 slices tinned peach

Snacks: 2 satsumas and 3 plums

I remembered it was when I was pregnant and had gestational diabetes I was told about the fruit and nut thing. I was also told never eat a portion of fruit bigger than the palm of your hand and better to eat fruit after a meal rather than as a snack as all these things can cause a blood sugar spike.

But I suppose at end of the day you could go so far with it all and end up surviving on very little I'm not going to sweat a bit of fruit.

No sugar or bread for me this week, but I have eaten an awful lot of cheese and oatcakes!

I am still eating whole, fresh fruit. But none tinned or dried.

No weight loss yet but I'll weigh-in again on Friday.

Gah, finding today a challenge! Have had a headache most of the morning, DD is decidedly not napping while I'm trying to work 😫 I had a v disappointing apple and I'd just like something to give me a little pick me up.

It's great to see so many people trying even when it is challenging. I hope the headaches and struggles ease as we get further in. A colleague asked me what I was eating at lunch time yesterday and looked horrified when I said 'seeds' - I think he thought I meant the ones you buy to plant not the eating types but then we were socially distanced across the office. I love a mix of pumpkin, sunflower, linseed and sesame seeds.

Hi all! Good to see so many are still persevering. It does help to read other people's stories

I have had a good week except one piece of cake DD made-I had a much smaller bit than usual though! I think I've broken my habit of something sweet with coffee after meals.

Weighed today and down by 3lb in a week.
I'm pleased with that as prob premenstrual too which normally means I weigh heavier.

Morning all good here, on day 11 now and I feel really well. I had my first big carby meal the other night (pasta) and felt really bloated after it.
But I did enjoy it!!

It's my mums birthday today and she's coming over and we are getting a takeaway. I've got her a cake but I can honestly say I don't fancy any.
Omg who is this person I've become?!!

Amazingly, I managed at my mums with a constant supply of biscuits on offer. I had already decided I would eat a pudding she had made but wouldn't top up on biscuits / choc. I was surprised how easy it was. Not so easy now I'm back home. I keep eating toast instead

Well done everyone!
I've had a fairly epic fail today. It started with good intentions - I thought I'd make a savoury cornbread with wholemeal flour as a non-sweet treat, intending to eat a piece or two... well I have scarfed 3/4 of it today
It's bloody good - but not ideal.