AIBU to think giving up sugar is really hard? If you’ve done it, what do you eat?

[Hallomother]

I really want to do this as I get bad migraines and think sugar is a trigger. I never used to eat much aside from natural sugar but during lockdown went a bit mad and now feel so
Lethargic and sluggish.. but I seem to crave it!!

What kind of thing do you eat if you don’t eat sugar? I want to put a bit of a plan together

I’ve given up refined sugar for health reasons and dark chocolate is unfortunately what triggers my migraines so I resort to nuts, crisps, fruit as afternoon snacks.

For me the hardest is after dinner, I love something sweet while we watch a show, sometimes a yogurt does it for me.

Energy balls dates, coconut oil, chia seeds, ground almonds and desiccated coconut and blend then mould into balls and pop in fridge. Surprisingly tasty!

I did a 21 day no/low sugar program a few years back and now I can eat the odd sugary thing without the constant craving for more that comes after when you're addicted.

I found that after a month days I genuinely wasn't bothered about eating sweet things like I had been before so I didn't have to 'replace' those things - just didn't want them.

It's been long enough now that if I do want a sweet treat I know I can have it without overindulging.

Do you think our ancestors didn’t eat fruit? No berries, no apples, figs, stone fruits? I find that very unlikely TBH. I fail to believe the obesity crisis is caused by too many strawberries.

Would there be enough of us here to form a sort of clean eating for migraine sufferers type thread? As someone who has struggled with an ED in the past and doesn’t want/need to lose weight I’d love to have somewhere to talk about food without the focus being on weight loss.

My own story is that I started getting bad migraines in November 2019 and spent last year experimenting with different medications and dietary adjustments. I’ve began properly cleaning up my diet in September 2020 and have noticed a reduction in the migraines in the second half of my cycle. My goal is to get them to under 6 per month (so they can be well controlled with acute medication alone).

I meant to add that I think, for me, I suspect there is an element of insulin resistance to my migraines. If you google migraine and insulin resistance there does seem to be a link. Sugar cravings are an early sign of insulin resistance.

I have a family history of T1 and T2 and relatives who are ‘skinny-fat’

This is really interesting for me. I've had chronic migraine for 20 years now. Triggered by the combined pill originally. I am now having a monthly Ajovy (fremanezumab) injection, which really helps, but I do think there's a possible sugar/carb connection.

That’s a really good idea for a thread @TheSockMonster I’d definitely be interested as my focus is to feel better and stop the brain fog and migraine which inevitably crops up regularly when I feel like this

@NavigatingAdolescence

For the last 3 months I’ve only eaten functional food. That means:

No fruit
No root veg
No wheat
No dairy
No sugar (including honey)
No caffeine
No additives/processed foods

and I’ve never felt better. Haven’t eaten meat for 30odd years so most meals are some sort of fish or eggs with vegetables. Nuts and seeds for snacks (and extremely rarely, a piece of 85-100% dark chocolate).

I’m not interested in sweet things any more, I sleep better (and for less time), have no inflammation or allergies, no back pain, have tons more energy and focus and have lost 2.5 stone in about 10 weeks. I’m more creative with food and feeling fantastic.

Lots of science around all of the above. Even managed 10 days away with no cooking - it’s really not as hard as it sounds.

Why no fruit or root veg in moderation?

Because we wouldn’t have had them available to us all year round. Scientifically they signal to your body that winter is coming and you need to build fat stores. If you don’t take a break from them guess what happens - your body is constantly getting the signal to store fat. Humans evolved to eat seasonally and cycle fat on and off our bodies. We don’t do it anymore = obesity crisis.

(I’ve been following a coached programme called Wildfit - very clever science and psychology. Not cheap but the best money I’ve ever spent on myself. Genuinely feel like I’ve discovered what it is to feel good. Have always been quite sugar sensitive (veggie food is very carb heavy) but no migraines. I’m furious at the lies peddled to us in order for companies to sell us crap food that makes us ill.)

Check out the van Talluken brothers podcast about ultra processed food and the harm it does as well.

@Firstwelive

No fruit or root vegetables - because they are high in carbs which your body turns into glucose once consumed. This causes insulin spike which eventually turns into a fat around your liver. If you are metabolicly healthy, then these don’t tend to be a problem but if you are insulin resistant or have T2 diabetes, you are best to eliminate these.

Many people can’t have these in moderation at all. Apples, pears and berries are better but tropical fruits are very high in sugar and have been cultivated to be extremely sweet in order to sell more.

@NavigatingAdolescence FWIW I eat a very similar way except for I have one coffee with cream in the morning. It is very enjoyable way to eat once you have got over the sugar withdrewal phase. I’m 10 months in and find it very sustainable. A block of quality cheddar is a treat now, not a crappy Penguin bar.

I’m still going to have fruit and dairy etc I’m not going to cut down on everything as I know it won’t be sustainable for me.

I’m making small steps. So today I’ve had:

Roast chicken salad with rice, olives and cubes of cheese

Lamb with bulgar wheat and courgette ribbons in a tomato sauce with garlic and dill

Had the craving for something sweet about an hour ago so had full fat Greek yogurt, berries and some crushed walnuts and cacao nibs which seemed to satiate the craving

It’s only been one day and I’ve still had two coffees (no sugar though) but had loads of water and I have to say I do feel slightly less brain foggy

Well done @Hallomother! Make sure to meal plan for the week ahead. If you are just going to wing it, it’s not going to work out.

It took me months to be ready to ditch my afternoon coffee. I finally did it few weeks ago and in the end wasn’t that big deal. I cut it out as the older I get, caffeine is really starting to affect my sleep. I saw a Dr Chatterjee clip which said caffeine circulates 12 hours in your body, so if you have a cup at 1pm, caffeine is still in your body when you go to bed. It gave me the push to do it.

I love cacao nibs too but bear in mind they are a stimulant and can impact your sleep if you eat them late in the day (and if you are senitive to stimulants that is).

Thank you! I’ve planned as far as Wednesday then we have guests which is going to be tricky but I’m hoping I can exercise a little more will power than usual!

I’ve made a plan for the following week as well. I’ve made it easy for myself this week - cooked chicken from tesco etc, so I couldn’t tel myself I didn’t have time to cook and grab a pastry instead.

Good point about the cacao nibs! I’m switching to decaf coffee slowly and going from there

Good luck 👏🏻👏🏻

I finding this thread fascinating, so won’t derail with a new one quite yet.

For dinner I had salmon which I cooked in tinfoil with some onions and tomatoes, with mashed potatoes (plenty of butter), broccoli and carrots (more butter and some garlic on those).

I have some mango in the fridge that I was going to eat tomorrow, but I am now wondering if I should after reading everything above. I don’t get sugar cravings after eating it (like I would if I ate sweets). Google results are contradictory!

@TheSockMonster Are you very overweight? And/or do you have a lot of abdominal fat?
If yes, eliminate tropical fruits, at least for a while.

Or have maybe a quarter of the said mango but freeze the rest.

I’m not overweight (BMI of 19 point something and smallish waist) but I am very prone to migraines and I suspect insulin resistance might be playing a part in it.

[quote wetpants]@NavigatingAdolescence FWIW I eat a very similar way except for I have one coffee with cream in the morning. It is very enjoyable way to eat once you have got over the sugar withdrewal phase. I’m 10 months in and find it very sustainable. A block of quality cheddar is a treat now, not a crappy Penguin bar.[/quote]
I never thought I could give up coffee or dairy (would have 2 double shot coffees with double cream previously and something cheesy for lunch) but it’s been easier than expected and I feel so well I don’t want to have those things very often anymore.

@wetpants

Well done *@Hallomother*! Make sure to meal plan for the week ahead. If you are just going to wing it, it’s not going to work out.

It took me months to be ready to ditch my afternoon coffee. I finally did it few weeks ago and in the end wasn’t that big deal. I cut it out as the older I get, caffeine is really starting to affect my sleep. I saw a Dr Chatterjee clip which said caffeine circulates 12 hours in your body, so if you have a cup at 1pm, caffeine is still in your body when you go to bed. It gave me the push to do it.

I love cacao nibs too but bear in mind they are a stimulant and can impact your sleep if you eat them late in the day (and if you are senitive to stimulants that is).

Chocolate for breakfast or not at all. :)

Its insanely addictive, that's why. I replaced it for the real stuff, fruit. Best thing you can do for your body

@yahyahs22

Its insanely addictive, that's why. I replaced it for the real stuff, fruit. Best thing you can do for your body

Not sure science agrees with you - fruit sugar has exactly the same effect on your body as any other sugar. Especially if you aren’t eating it on an empty stomach.

I don't know @Hallomother as I have never tried giving up sugar. Hats off to those who have, because I couldn't do it. Wouldn't even try actually.