Anyone else tried giving up sugar?

[titferbrains]

I am on the Anti Candida diet, have been on it for several weeks now and haven't eaten any added sugar/cakes/sweet/chocolate since the end of June.

I am feeling good generally but am wondering how to manage my sugar intake in the future. I have read so much negative stuff about sugar now that i don't think I will ever eat sugar in the same way again.

The diet has been a real eye opener and has helped me to see just how much emotional eating I was doing - sugar was basically my reward for everything! It is much nicer to be able to observe my desire for sugar at various points in the day and not feel compelled to act on it. I do really miss hot chocolate and toast with jam, and proper desserts, but have found that eating berries every day is pretty much enough to keep major cravings at bay. I have had the odd peach too and green apples have also been my saviour.

Anyone else tried giving up sugar? how are you eating now? Do you have it less often? Do you go for a full on dessert at a restaurant once in a blue moon or just have small amounts now and then like jam on toast or a small piece of dark chocolate?

And how do you feel when you eat sugar now?

Well done :)
I did a really strict ant-candida diet too for a few months - I limited ALL carbs as far as I could for two or three months. I also have several food intolerances so it was really difficult (Difficult anyway). Because I was losing weight (which wasn't needed) I resumed eating carbs, but not white flour. I had ALMOST no added sugar and very little fruit or white carbs for 3-4 years until I was diagnosed with cancer last year -bowel, so weight loss was inevitable so I started eating pasta, digestive biscuits and fruit again. It HAS been a BIT of a slippery slope, but I really don't have any desire for puddings, cakes, milk chocolate etc. However, since my ability to eat a normal amount has been regained this year I'm back to being bloated. I've eaten some jelly sweets and liquorice alsorts recently and guess what - yesterday I noticed a patch of ring-worm on my tummy. (ring-worm is fungal -just in case you didn't know that ).
Good luck with your healthy-eating. It sounds like you're doing really well.
Sorry for not being a typical candida person- noticed your post in unanswered. Hopefully someone more normal will come along soon.

I am desperately trying to reduce my sugar intake. I still have one choc bar per day (down from 4, plus numerous cakes/biscuits). Have managed to eliminate it from coffee/tea, but am struggling to give it up altogether.

Am also drastically reducing bread/pasta/potatoes/alcohol in my attempt to lose weight.

How did you do it? I find the cravings almost overwhelming, such was my dependence upon sugar. Like you, it was reward/comfort for everything. Would love to have no desire to eat cake/chocolate.

Hmmm. It's a tough one.
Maybe see if you can go without anything sweet for one morning first. Then each day see if you can last a bit longer before you have a sweet thing.
If you brush your teeth it will give you a sweet taste in your mouth.

Think about the LAST thing you ate before you decide what you're going to choose to eat.
When you've decided you're going to have something sweet check the time and wait for half an hour.
Stevia and xylitol are good natural sweeteners.
One afternoon I was desperate - so I cut half a dried apricot into EIGHT (tiny!) pieces and ate them over as long a time as I could manage!!

I've gotten used to the no sugar in coffee. Must admit, I really look forward to my Crunchie, every day. Another problem for me is that I have substituted fruit juice/squash with diet pepsi, which I know is not ideal in breaking the cravings for sweet things.

Have managed, this evening to just eat dinner and to stay away from the smoothie lollies in the freezer. They are low calorie, but am trying to not eat too much sweet food.

I really miss the days when I could read and eat cake!

Hi Karma,
I get a 0% fat natural yoghurt and add a teaspoon of sugar free jelly mix, then top with chopped strawberries for a sweet but sugar free treat. the protein in the yoghurt fills you up.

That sounds lovely. Will try that one. Thanks 7