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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask: should I give up sugar, caffeine, or carbs?

26 replies

OnceMoreWithoutFeeling · 19/03/2022 15:51

I'm a sleep deprived kid addled mess and my lifestyle and diet are poor. I feel like shit a lot of the time. I feel like I need to knock at least one of these on the head but can't manage all at once as I pretty much subsist on these three things 😆

Which one will make me feel better fastest?

OP posts:
Livedandlearned · 19/03/2022 15:53

A bit of each is probably best so you don't get too much of a withdrawal to add to your tiredness.

Drink loads of water

Ponoka7 · 19/03/2022 15:54

Sugar would. I've gone very low carb and you do feel great for a while, but I like lentils and chick peas too much to carry on. Having said that I have around two coffees a day and that's it for caffeine.

Lubeyboobyalt · 19/03/2022 15:54

I've given up all three (apart from good leafy green and broccoli carbs for the fibre)

Best I've ever felt

Titsflyingsouth · 19/03/2022 15:55

Sugar would probably have the greatest long term benefit. (And by giving up sugar you are massively lowering your carbs...)

Tulipomania · 19/03/2022 15:56

Well sugar is a carb.

Give up sugar completely, no carbs after 6pm and limit caffeine but don't give it up completely.

PickAChew · 19/03/2022 15:57

Cut out most of the processed sugar. Restrict the caffeine to mornings only. The first will help tackle the carbs - make the ones you eat complex carbs with plenty of fibre.

carefullycourageous · 19/03/2022 15:57

I wouldn't ever give up carbs, I would reduce the sugar and give up caffeine.

KTheGrey · 19/03/2022 15:58

Well, yes.

Chimchiminie · 19/03/2022 15:59

Carbs - that includes sugar. Will make an enormous difference, you won’t believe how much energy you were missing out on.

Even just cutting out sugar and white/simple carbs would make a huge difference - white bread/pasta/rice/potatoes, pastries, cakes, etc. and just leaving in small amounts of brown rice and brown pasta. You will feel a million times better.

Papayamya · 19/03/2022 16:00

Refined sugar and cut down on caffeine. Carbs are fine in moderation, just try and choose ones that won't have you crashing in energy not long after you have eaten them. The only sugar I have is sugar from fruits that although is still sugar at least getting the vitamins and goodness as well, and stuff with low levels in like bread ridiculously has sugar in and can't be arsed to make my own. Anything processed with it as a main ingredient I avoid, it was hard at first but I feel great.

HousePlantNeglect · 19/03/2022 16:03

None of them. They are all fine in moderation. Would you not just limit them to recommended daily allowances? Much more likely to stick to it than making them ‘forbidden’.

Chely · 19/03/2022 16:03

Don't give up any, just reduce how much you have.

Relentlessrose · 19/03/2022 16:05

For me, I can't cut sugar without also cutting carbs. I am really sensitive to carbohydrates, so if I have a baked potato or whatever I'll crash a short while later, and be reaching for the biscuit tin. So I have to really reduce my carbs and sugar at the same time. I don't think my body knows the difference between starch carbs and sugar carbs. I have fallen off the wagon but ketosis is the only thing which has helped me not feel like a total zombie with a combination of insomnia and kids who don't sleep.

When I tried to give up caffeine it was like trying to drive a car with no petrol in it! Whereas a keto and caffeine fuelled diet was like when you first drive an automatic car after years fighting with a dodgy clutch and you wonder why you've been struggling for so long.

The only thing better than keto is sleep. On the odd occasion when my kids sleep through the night and I also don't have problems falling to sleep, I wake up after 7/8 hours feeling like I can walk on water.

Relentlessrose · 19/03/2022 16:13

Caffeine wise if it's like 4+ cups coffee or 2+ Costa's a day (there coffee is stronger) I would maybe try subbing some out for green tea, which has a host of health benefits, black tea is better choice than it all being from coffee too.

Looking at reducing (or even eliminating) ultra processed foods from your diet, increasing your omega 3s (to help your brain work the best it's can) especially from oily fish and nuts, getting some probiotics into your diet and drinking lots of water. You might find you don't need to make any drastic changes, just some small swaps. If you dont need to lose weight then low carb can be quite extreme, especially being in and out of ketosis Doesn't make you feel so good, and trying to maintain weight on ketosis is difficult long term.

GrendelsGrandma · 19/03/2022 17:06

I don't think a 'I'm going to eat like a pure saint' diet works for most people, even less when you're cooking fish fingers and chips etc for kids.

Reduce the crap a bit, meal plan, snack on healthy things. But honestly, exhaustion makes you crave carbs and sweet stuff. You're not going to get through the day on a bag of spinach and that's just how it is.

FrenchBoule · 19/03/2022 17:13

Sugar AND carbs.

dipdye · 19/03/2022 17:16

Sugar = carbs

whatwouldsueheckdo · 19/03/2022 17:22

I’ve cut down on carbs massively and am so much better for it. But that includes sugar obviously, which is a carb.

Original poster
OnceMoreWithoutFeeling · 19/03/2022 17:39

The caffeine, I'm ashamed to say, is mostly cherry Pepsi Max - total garbage. Need to get rid of that anyway.

I've tried ketosis before on the Dukan diet - lost a ton of weight but was miserable af.

When I was talking carbs I meant pasta, pots, bread etc - not literally anything with carbs in it. Not that strong!

OP posts:
itsnotdeep · 19/03/2022 17:43

I've given up all three and feel really good. I hung onto caffeine the longest, but I think giving it up has made me feel the most energetic.

I can't do keto - too much fat just makes me feel ill but I eat low(ish) carb/high protein. But no refined carbs, no bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. No sugar. Like a pp have green leafy veg and lots of salads for the carbs.

PollyIndia · 19/03/2022 17:53

I started doing intermittent fasting a year ago, no breakfast, and having brunch and dinner between 11 and 7. I started doing it because I was knackered - running a business and a totally lone parent.
It definitely worked for me and I haven’t cut anything out, although I make sure I eat lots of fruit and veg as well as whatever else I want.

ofwarren · 19/03/2022 18:28

I cut out caffeine, alcohol, gluten and eat food that isn't processed or is only slightly processed like olives and I've lost a stone is just over a month.
I'm much more energetic and I'm not craving foods at all.
I cut out the caffeine first and then the sugar/processed the week after so I didn't have a double crash.

Squidlydoo · 19/03/2022 18:33

Giving up caffeine was the best thing I’ve ever done! I’ve been caffeine free for two years and wish I had done it years ago …. Tired but wired! When I did have a coffee a year ago, I had terrible heart palpitations and 48 hours of anxiety/dread. It’s a terrible drug

I’m trying to give up sugar but struggling

MikeandDave · 19/03/2022 18:37

Reducing the amount of sugar you eat would be very different to Dukan which is one of the strictest of the low carb plans. You could still allow small amounts of the healthier sugars like raw honey and maple syrup and some good quality dark chocolate, if you chose. It's still sugar, of course, but the overall amount would be a lot less.

LuaDipa · 19/03/2022 19:08

I would cut sugar. I struggle to stick to this if I’m honest but I feel so much better and sleep like a baby when I do. I’ve just started again after a Christmas relapse and I’m already feeling better.