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?

@SugarfreeBlitz love that slip!

I hope everyone has found today ok?

I'm feeling good (headaches haven't started yet!) and I've stuck to it!

I have made it through but am exhausted!

How is everyone else?

@Seychelles98 I'm going to try to have things like chicken, roast vegetables and salad for lunch, with rice or quinoa if I'm hungry, then for dinner things like cod and chorizo stew. I've Menu-planned this week so my DH knows the parameters and I can share the dinners if you like?

My key for lunches is to make ahead and plan my days' food the day before so I'm not trying to prepare food and decide what to have when I'm hungry in the moment. My plan is that it will stop emotional eating!

Today my DD and DH made gingerbread and I was angelically virtuous!

@Seychelles98 for breakfasts I'm going to have oats, yoghurt and a piece of fruit, or an omelette with veg.

Checking in:

Succeed on the sugar, alcohol, and refined carbs but not caffeine. I had two cups of tea, but that is down on my usual two coffees and two teas.

This time is tricky for me. When I sit down... I associate it with having something sweet.

This week I've meal planned

Seabass with olives, capers and lemon with a big salad and new potatoes
Chicken and orzo done in the slow cooker
Hairy bikers beef madras
Chicken chorizo and chickpea stew

No processed sugar today but I did eat some white rice and a glass of white wine.

Lunch was stir fried onion and courgette with chicken gyoza, plan Greek yoghurt with almonds

Dinner was a small serving of risotto with a huge amount of watercress and broccoli, then melon, banana, Greek yoghurt and peanut butter. With a white wine spritzer.

Everyone is doing well. I like to hear others' menus to get ideas!

I managed to avoid biscuits, chocolate and sweet junk generally today.

Breakfast Overnight oats with nuts, seeds, linseed, chopped dates, yoghurt and rhubarb
Lunch pâte on toast, scotch broth, nuts
Scone no jam!
Dinner chicken Kiev (ok a bit junky) homemade wedges and salad
2 small packs of crisps with a film...

So not bad overall. I'm trying to improve my symptoms which are due to inflammation so hoping low sugar will help.

My weight has crept up on steroids and they have a risk of diabetes, so plenty reasons to eat well.

I managed no sugar today, but I did have quite a lot of crisps because DH walked in with the shopping at exactly the wrong moment. And I had the last glass of wine in the open bottle because it needed drinking. But tomorrow I will be better.

Today I had:
Porridge
Ham and tomato sandwich
Salt and vinegar crisps with a glass of wine
Spag Bol with wholewheat spaghetti.

Today I'm going to have:

B- 30g oats, natural yoghurt, cherries
L- I think tofu scramble with vegetables, edamame beans and homemade peanut sauce (peanut butter, soy sauce, lemon juice and water)
D- sausage casserole

I actually felt ok yesterday but I went to bed early which always helps! My DD was offering me mini eggs but I was able to distract her and she ate them herself!

@troppibambini6 the sea bass sounds delicious!

Well done everyone!
After eating three pancakes I thought I would have massive sugar cravings yesterday, but fortunately I didnt.
The only sugary thing I ate yesterday was blueberries but I ate them with almonds to keep my blood sugar stable.
I had gotten into such a habit of eating dark chocolate before every day, but I honestly don't miss it like I thought I would.
Today
Breakfast bran flakes
Lunch meal replacement soup
Afternoon snack Smoked salmon with tomato and cucumber in a lemon and vinegar dressing.
Dinner- fajita's
Evening snack blueberries and almonds.

I dont think I will lose huge amounts of weight, but hopefully the self discipline will extend itself into other areas as well.

sugarfree you sound very similar to me. I also eat a lot of dark chocolate. I think it’s the thing stopping me losing the four pounds I would like to shift. I also managed fine yesterday. Onwards to balanced blood sugar!

I’m also not giving up caffeine. I don’t eat wheat or dairy and so with no sugar too, caffeine is my only joy

Thanks tinsel it's super easy literally throw it all in a tinfoil parcel and bake for about 15/20 minutes.

I don't think I could do caffeine at the same time as sugar but well done who anyone who is!

So far last night was by far the hardest bit for me so far (day three) I was really craving something sweet. Didn't give in to the cravings and it felt really good this morning knowing I hadn't.

I also weighed myself this morning and I've lost four pounds obviously a lot will be water rather than fat but it still feels good!

L-bacon eggs avocado and mushrooms
D-left over stew and red cabbage

I already don’t do wheat and other gluten containing foods and dairy to help heal my ibs.
I also can’t tolerate fructose glucose syrup...awful stuff
Now I’m giving up dark chocolate ( I don’t eat milk chocolate anyway)for 40 days
I’ve already gone a week..but started my 40 days properly yesterday

@troppibambini6

Thanks tinsel it's super easy literally throw it all in a tinfoil parcel and bake for about 15/20 minutes.

I don't think I could do caffeine at the same time as sugar but well done who anyone who is!

So far last night was by far the hardest bit for me so far (day three) I was really craving something sweet. Didn't give in to the cravings and it felt really good this morning knowing I hadn't.

I also weighed myself this morning and I've lost four pounds obviously a lot will be water rather than fat but it still feels good!

L-bacon eggs avocado and mushrooms
D-left over stew and red cabbage

Can you drink liquorice herb tea..it’s naturally sweet and might take the edge off and is a good herb for tums too

Anyone who thinks they might have a gluten intolerance and only avoids wheat based products.
My dh stopped eating oats and lost half a stone
Gluten for some people is like a poison .

I'm in as Well! No sugar since the pancakes and no particular cravings. Would like to lose 20lb tho obvs that won't happen by Easter.

I didn't have anything sugary yesterday but I did eat well as I had a postponed valentines dinner with DH that included a seafood starter and a steak with our main. I will be eating more simply today though, I have just had a mushroom and onion 2 egg omelette with salad for lunch. I've got edamame bean and sweet potato burgers for tea but I'm not sure what with yet.

Funnily enough @DarcyJack I'm the same - no cravings yet!

Day 2, doing well! Halloumi and bacon for brunch, avoiding treat aisle!

@tinselandlights

Thanks for this thread - it's inspired me to cut out sugar as fully as I can.

Natural Greek yoghurt, low sugar muesli, chicken with veg - they're the sort of meals I'm starting with, but it's day two of no refined sugars and it's great.