I'm going sugar free for seven days, anyone up for giving it a go?

[SugaryTwat]

I'm only committing to seven days initially because if I went for more, I know I'd sulk and give up really quickly 😁

But seven days is do-able: Long enough to have a good shot at it, short enough that it's not daunting.

I'm not going insane. I'll still have sweeteners, just not sugary or sugary things. For me this will mean giving up:

• Sweet cereal in the morning
• Mid-morning chocolate biscuits
• Chocolate bar after lunch
• Mid-afternoon sweets
• Chocolate bar after evening meal

I'm aiming to replace sugary puddings with fruit and snacks with nuts.

Anyone up for giving it a try?

I had friends over for lunch and had 2 choc cookies first sugar in almost 3 weeks it was nice but nothing special. I'm loving the eay apples and grapes taste when you cut sugar out so back on it fir me.

Day 6 today!

That’s really positive, @Tontostitis. Having reached the 3 week mark, I’m now feeling the benefits of better sleep, more alert mind, more energy and happy mental space.

At this point, I can get blasé and think I can have the odd treat, but for me it’s a slippery slope back to full sugar addiction and a reversal of the above benefits (disturbed sleep, brain fog, fatigue, depression) so the next couple of weeks will be crucial for me staying with it.

Hi all I went to cinema with DD to see Barbie and had chocolate and a Pepsi max cherry oooops! Not feeling too guilty as it's been 1 day in almost 2 weeks xx

I completed day 6 today. A good day except my eldest and I baked and it was so crap not being able to eat the end result!!! I explained to him why I'm not eating it today and promised him I can't wait to eat it on Monday and he understood bless him.

@Cece92 - great attitude 👍 How was Barbie? I went for the second time today, to take my partner after already taking my daughter. Loved it!

@bakewellbride - it’s hard isn’t it. I find the kids do understand though. My eldest is really proud of the efforts I’m making and I love that.

Day 1 tomorrow for any new joiners xx

Day 1 for anyone who wants to join in.

Just read this article and thought I'd share it. I think @Tontostitis was the one who talked on here about keeping a journal and I felt this article really highlights the power of tuning in to what the sugar is doing for me and giving me another way of achieving that feeling.

I will start a journal today because I would love to be more aware of what I need, rather than simply switching off my need for sugar, which is a good first step, but perhaps more sustainable if I meet my needs - but in a positive way - rather than simply supressing my needs.

Oops - the link!

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/31/drinking-coffee-why-i-quit

I've been doing this for a while since finding my blood sugar levels are in the prediabetic range. Was expecting the weight to drop off me but it didn't really start to until I reduced my bread intake to 2 slices a day.

When I get a sweet craving I have a low sugar bar like the skinny bars, max one a day.

Today for breakfast I've had porridge with stevia to sweeten.

Hey welcome @LivingDeadGirlUK - I was the same with prediabetic levels and the doctor had asked me to go on some course thing. I didn't do it, but I did this instead and I am now in normal range and not diabetic anymore. I dropped 2 stone too. But it was over the course of 18 months/2 years.

I then had some sugary stuff at Xmas last year and have spent the whole of this year so far trying to get back to sugar free again and just couldn't stick to it....until I found this thread. I have been back on it for 3 weeks now so I'm really pleased.

I am not just sugar free, I'm also gluten (coeliac), dairy, caffeine, alcohol, tomatoes, potatoes free. But I find the other things really easy and don't miss them at all. It's only since doing this a couple of years ago that I realised I had a sugar addiction so that's why I use this thread - to keep me off the sugar.

That is great to hear, well done on sticking to it for so long. I was in a similar position about 3 years ago but had a bereavement and really hit the comfort food again. It was really sad to see that I was back in the prediabetic range but not unexpected tbh.

Hi everyone I am looking trying to go sugar free as I eat far too much sweet stuff and don’t feel great at the moment. Could you give me some breakfast ideas. I really can’t eat bran flakes or porridge without something like honey in it.

No breakfast? @way2serious

I find Stevia on porridge is ok, but the best breakfast imo is something with eggs, really filling and delish.

Welcome @way2serious ! I enjoy rice cakes with peanut butter or hazelnut butter for breakfast. Or, as @LivingDeadGirlUK said, anything with eggs. So a couple of boiled eggs or scrambled eggs. Sometimes I do egg fried rice (made with brown rice and some peas thrown in for sweetness) for breakfast, which is rather random, I know, but I find it satisfying!

No shade from me, my fav breakfast is yesterdays rice and curry :D

@LivingDeadGirlUK Yum!!

2 egg omelette incorporating spinach, or mushrooms, or bell peppers, or broccoli, or any vegetables you have left over from last night's dinner. I always try to make extra vegetables, so I never have an excuse to eat rubbish.

The eggs will keep you satisfied for several hours. Even better if you can delay breakfast (call it brunch instead!) until 10 or 11 am.

Day 2 - how are people doing today?

I’m feeling under the weather. Had a convo yesterday with a trusted friend that went really deep really quickly and I ended up uncovering memories of a really difficult time of my life.

How do you guys process this sort of stuff? Because for me, it has really flared up my body - feel sick, faint, weak, sore stomach. I only spoke to her about it for about 15 mins but I’m still under par about 21 hours later and I’d been feeling really buoyant up to that moment. I find it interesting how linked my physical wellbeing is to my emotional wellbeing.

Anyway, defo no sugar today as it will exacerbate these feelings.

I've found therapy really helpful if you can afford it. I was having weekly sessions since January after loosing my Dad last year.

No sugar yesterday but did have pizza and garlic bread for dinner which is quite high carb compared to what I aim for.

Sorry to hear about losing your dad, @LivingDeadGirlUK . That must’ve been really tough.

I do counselling once a week so I do have that support already, and agree that this is a brilliant way to process things. I try ink I was more asking about how your body processes things - is it like mine where my body seems to flare up in relation to not only food I’ve eaten (hence all the things cut out) but also in relation to emotion?

Day 3 - I’ve still got a poorly stomach from Monday so it’s very easy for me this week as I’m off my food in general - it hurts to eat at the moment.

I’ll have a challenge this eve as partner asked me to buy her (we’re both female) some choc today for her to eat when home from work later and I of course got her something I would like because that’s what was shouting at me from the supermarket aisle! So it’s going to be very hard to not dive in when she opens the bag (choc orange buttons).

I've had a bit of an upset tummy too, I have to say that all the vegetables are making me fart a lot as well! I'm super tired and that is when my willpower is really low so I think this highlights how important good sleep is to stop cravings and giving in to cravings.

There was someone else on the thread that suggested keeping a journal, which I thought was a great way to learn what your triggers are, eg tiredness. This is definitely one of mine. As is the feeling after being tearful - a shot of sugar always helps to numb me back to feeling 'together' emotionally again. So it's really good to be aware of these triggers.

Hope your tummy feels better soon too @LivingDeadGirlUK xx

Day 4 - how's everyone doing?

Luckily my partner only got a few buttons from the fridge at the point where she wanted some while we watching TV so I didn't feel any temptation. She's taken them off to work with her today so I don't feel them calling to me. 😂