Reducing sugar intake in 2015

[Sashiko]

Inspired by this thread, it seems that quite a few of us want to reduce our sugar intake, and we're all more likely to be successful if we have a bit of support.

What's your weakness? What's your goal? Tips from anyone who has already done it, and links to useful / interesting articles on the subject are very welcome!

Aside from the known health benefits, I'm really hoping that reducing sugar will help my moods, as I do get really irritable and it only recently occurred to me that it could be due to blood sugar spikes / crashes.

My plan is

1. Stop taking sugar in tea and coffee (approx 5 tsp per day)
2. Alcohol on weekends only
3. Attempt to reduce carbohydrates
4. Reduce sweet treats (although these are not a big part of my diet, I do like to bake now and then.)

Who's with me?

How's everyone getting on? I had a cup of tea earlier and almost didn't notice it didn't have sugar in. Almost.

I had a "fuck this I'm having a biscuit" moment earlier, but was really busy, and never actually got around to getting one! I'm not sure if that counts as a fail or not...

That's not a fail sashiko ! It's only a fail if you actually eat it.

I'm not doing great tbh. I have cut down but I can't seem to cut it out. I did 2 days last week but I've struggled since then. It's the bloody coke that's doing it.

feels as hard as ever for me

I accidentally had a bit of ketchup, no big deal though. I stopped as soon as I remembered.

bigbuttons - Sorry to hear you're struggling. Many times i've heard people say that actually, January is the worst time of year to give stuff up. Long nights cold weather, lots of indoor time....makes it harder IMO. Also, I personally, don't see the need to give up sugar/any food stuff completely. I think I will always have weekends off because...life is for living! I don't feel completely deprived and I find it so much easier to stick to when I know it's not forever.

Weekends off is a good idea msrisotto, makes going without a bit more bearable the rest of the week.

Struggled with my coffee this morning, half of it went down the sink. And I've had a hot chocolate (shared with DD so I only drank half).

Dinner tonight is grilled chicken with broccoli, green beans, and mashed potatoes, so as before I'll have a small amount of mash and increase the vegetables.

Does anyone have a link or recommendation to some comprehensive, reliable information about sugar and nutrition?

I'm struggling too bigbuttons - I'm thinking msrisotto's approach might be worth a go. Might feel a bit more doable.

I think having sugar at weekends would simply prolong the agony for me. Sugar is highly addictive. Having it is like trying to give up smoking during the week but smoking at the weekends, if that makes sense? I wonder if I can stop wanting it if I still have a bit everyday? I guess it really depends on your level of need and addiction. It might well work brilliantly for others to cut down slowly. I haven't got that kind of personality!!
I allow myself a little in the morning with my tea and I'm sure that's making the whole process harder. I have lived off sweet tea for so many years.
I am also looking into wheat and grains. They seem to cause higher spikes in blood sugar than actual table sugar!
Oh dear!

how about something else very sweet at weekends, eg quite a luxurious fruit salad?

Very unhungry today. And a large amount of yoga. Feeling so stable it actually feels odd. Not like me.

Dare I say the coffee now doesn't taste too bad with no sugar. I hated giving away my.gingerbread syrup at work though, miss my gingerbread latte!

I love ice lollies and ice cream can cope with frozen grapes during the week but feel I need some thing a bit more special at the weekend. Wonder how bad low sugar angel delight is as I could freeze that in ice cube trays?

I think I'm getting used to sugarless tea, and coffee if it's not too strong. I normally drink decaf, but accidentally picked up DH's this morning. It made me pull a face.

I need to make a meal plan for this week and do some shopping tomorrow. Any suggestions for lunches?

For lunches I've had either last night's leftovers reheated (curry etc) or hummous, a wholemeal pitta and some sliced pepper. Can you reheat anything? I had vegetable soup one day too.

Big buttons - please can you change your name, because every time I read your posts, I think of big chocolate buttons - not a good move.

Do people how much sugar is in pasta sauces? I've started buying passata and throw in herbs, mushrooms, onions etc.

I'm missing my morning glass of fruit juice, and instead am trying to eat a satsuma after breakfast to get that citrus fresh feeling.

I looked at the sugar in my tinned soups today rivercam - I've only really been worrying about sweets, biscuits etc so far - and was horrified! Tomato (my favourite) had on average 10g per half tin
Some of the others weren't so bad so I'll have to stick to them. I'd say I'll start making my own but I won't!

Not too bad today. Did have a square of chocolate but managed to stop there which is a major achievement for me, and that was it. Onwards and upwards!

What's wrong with me?! I've passed up on tomato soup now I know how much sugar is in it, but I'll still drink the can of coke with 3 x more in it. Idiot.

Argh! I'm craaaaaaving chocolate right now!!

rivercam that's funny. If I changed my name i wouldn't know who I was though, sorry!
I had some orange juice straight out of the carton today

My hardest time is after dinner, I really want something sweet then.
Well done everyone on keeping on going, it will get easier, it will, it will......

Very quiet on here!

I've had haribo and coke today - total fail. But it was on a very rare train journey so I'm telling myself it doesn't count. Onwards and upwards from tomorrow :)

Yeah, and creme eggs are shit now anyway...

Yeah, I sort of fell off the wagon a bit. Although, I'm still not having sugar in tea and coffee, and that was my only "absolute" resolution.

I have found that when trying to avoid carbs through the day, I end up just not eating enough, because I haven't planned ahead well enough, and there's nothing suitable in the house. So I was struggling to get through the day, and really short of energy.

What does everyone else have for lunch? I made a spinach, ricotta and cherry tomato frittata today, it was completely tasteless.

I've done quite well today - ok so I ate one biscuit. But other than that it has been a really low carb day. No breakfast (my day for a lie-in, breakfast can swivel, most important meal or not), sausage and egg for lunch, and lasagne for dinner. Yes, lasagne does contain pasta, but much less than other pasta meals, in proportion to the meat etc. I think I only used five or six sheets.

Well done sashiko That sounds good.

I won't post what I ate over the weekend - too embarrassed - but I am determined to get back on it today.

For lunches I make a big batch if homemade soup with lots of chunky veg and chuck in a handful of chopped up chorizo to spice it up.Then I can freeze some for other days.Also find avocados filling,so either sliced on ryvitas with cherry tomatoes,or with some cottage cheese.I also like mackerel fillets,again either on crisp breads or with a mixed salad.Or tuna mixed with chopped peppers and red onion in a pitta bread.

Well, today was going quite well, DD was lovely all day, but then inexplicably became possessed by a malevolent demon around 4.00. I'm afraid I hit the biscuits rather hard.

Oh well, try again tomorrow...

The less said about yesterday the better!

But on the whole it's not going toooooo bad.