To be amazed at the difference after cutting down on this?

[Holls7]

I’ve always had a terrible sweet tooth. For the past 10 days I’ve made a huge effort - only having a few squares of high % dark chocolate each day and the occasional low sugar ice lolly if craving.

I feel like a new person! Far less mood swings, less snappy, calmer in general.

I didn’t think it would make that much difference - I’d always have chocolate and sweets before, and my cravings are almost gone.

Was I naive to think this wouldn’t make any difference from a mood perspective?!

Did you lose weight? I recently switched from 2 small toast-able pancakes plus peanut butter, to a protein desert and a banana for breakfast. So far the results are encouraging.

Sugar has so many calories, yet you feel like you ate hardly anything.

It makes a huge difference to mood, well done for managing the switch!

I'm trying to do this for August 😩

I really need to do this. Thanks for the encouragement OP!

If I can manage it, I’m sure you all can! It gets easier with every passing day and the cravings are minimal now.

Have you only cut out sweet things, so still eating white bread, pasta etc?

Yes, but if you eat anythingnsugary again you'll realise how addictive it it.

For me, the first few days cutting out are hardest, then it's easy. Until there's birthday cake you you feel obliged to have some, and then boom, you're straight back into the cycle and need to go through detox again!

What a lovely post, well done OP! It’s amazing how much of a difference these things make. I’ve recently been eating really well, sleeping better, exercising more and have quit drinking alcohol and it’s taken me by complete surprise at how much better I feel. It’s almost annoying that it works 😂
I have more energy through the day, don’t struggle to get out of bed, and more patient and even more sociable and less grumpy and even my skin looks better!

I eliminated sugar, reduced carbs and ate more protein, no snacks and walking 3 times a week (most weeks) and I have lost 2 stone since June ! I CANNOT believe it!

In very small doses, maybe one slice of white bread every couple of days (at night usually)

@Holls7 I’m inspired by you to try the same. Sugar (through chocolate and cakes) is my only real vice. My diet otherwise is really healthy plus I exercise loads and rarely drink. But added sugar is absolutely addictive and you can’t outrun a bad diet! It’s hard for me at the moment because of night waking with my baby, but I want to try harder. What brand of dark chocolate are you having, out of interest?

That’s amazing. Well done!

Any supermarket own brand one, I think they are 72% cocoa

thank you ☺️

Im on day 3 of very low sugar. Virtually nil. Ive been eating eggs, meat, veg. Im not hungry and have no cravings. Im obsessed with sugar and feel like it makes my ibs awful

Thanks OP. I need to do this too. It's so strange because I never had a sweet tooth. I wasn't at all fussed about chocolate, cake, sweet drinks or anything until about 10 years ago. Then suddenly it's as if I "discovered" them. Hard to explain but I started to really crave sweet things. Since then I have something sweet every day, usually at lunchtime. And it's got to stop.

Far fewer mood swings (sorry, I hate me too).

I stopped eating sugar 2 weeks ago. I don’t feel any different. maybe I’m doing it wrong🤣

Yes you were naive but it’s not uncommon. Blood sugar levels are monitored and responded to by the nervous and endocrine systems.

The brain uses glucose (sugar) for fuel - When blood sugar drops or spikes, your brain experiences stress signals, changing levels of adrenaline, cortisol, and serotonin (basically hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate the body and mind) which directly affect mood aka irritability, anxiety, low mood, or sudden emotional swings.

The body is all interconnected and this includes the mind and how we think and feel. All of it is fuelled by messages within the body, hormones, neurotransmitters, receptors, agonists, surges and deficits. Its why exercise, good diet and good habits, good sleep can all interact with mental health in a very real and physical way. It’s why B12 or iron deficiency (just 2 examples) can lead to anxiety or if really low cognitive decline. People seem to think the mood and mind is some isolated sphere within and separate from our biology but it’s all interwoven.

I hate dark chocolate, and I hate sucking lollies too. So this wouldn't work for me.

Good for you if it's worked for you though.

I was the same with fizzy drinks. Diet ones, not full sugar, but when I took a week off them it was like I’d been deflated.

This is really inspiring! Here's to a no sugar August!

I'd say if you don't like chocolate or lollies try dried fruit or cheese in small quantities if craving sugar

I’ve had a lot less last week or so as coming off sertraline and it was making it worse. Had some cake today in office and it was nice but I’m not after any more. It really makes you realise how bad it is!

I am also really trying with this! I was having something sweet every day for months and months....not something small either, a slab of cake etc. Put on a couple of stone and I hate it. I finnnaaaaally am getting a grip on it I think. Allowing myself something yummy over the weekend but then just dark chocolate in the week...I do hope it gets easier... It took me a while to realize I was completely addicted it's mad,I just didn't realize