I Quit Sugar - anyone up for this?

[Cappster]

I tried quitting sugar during January and it was really good - I lost a few pounds, ate really well, felt very good (after initial detox )

I need to do it again but it would be really good to have a bit of support

Any takers?

You could be right msrisotto although at least during this first sicky, exhausted trimester....there are lots of positives to sticking to it too though!

I am still managing to have breakfast (porridge and blueberries), which is a great achievement for me as I have no appetite first thing. I don't know about you lot , but evenings are the most difficult. The urge to snack on something sweet is hard to resist. So far I have, by thinking of how relieved I will be next morning that I didn't give in.

Its interesting because I don't want to eat sweet stuff because I am hungry, I mean, I've not long had my tea so I can't be hungry. I just want to eat something sweet.

Just checked back up the thread. I started doing this on Sunday 24th May so that's a week and four days so far.

I haven't told anyone in RL what I am doing either. It takes the pressure off me and it also means that I am solely doing it for myself.

How's everyone else doing?

I've always found after a meal especially a heavy meal , it sets up a craving for sweet stuff.

I'm still getting it now. Even if I'm stuffed.

I just ride it out. There's no quick fix I'm afraid.

I had a wobble yesterday. I had a drink yesterday with my friend who was upset. It was one of those drinks with cream in it. Sickly . Yuck. Didn't enjoy it.

Later I had 3 small teaspoons of ice cream from my grand daughters Mcslurry. Yuck. Putrid.

I'm glad to be back on the straight and narrow again.

I can relate to what you're saying absent re wanting something sweet-tasting to round off a meal. I am allowing myself a small piece of (low fructose) fruit after my evening meal. Yoghurt with some ground almonds stirred in is quite nice and creamy.

Otherwise, a coffee (decaff if necessary) with some milk is nice. I also like Pukka "Detox" tea, it tastes really sweet to me now.

I'm nearly at 4 weeks and have only told a couple of people. I didn't tell DH for the first week and he didn't notice.

My only concern at this point is that I don't want to eat too much animal fat (meat, dairy) because I don't believe it's necessarily good for us or the environment, but clearly vegetables don't really give us the same amount of protein, fat or calories :) or keep us full for long!

Right, off to make some hummus now...

I can't believe I've gone nearly a month without chocolate! I used to eat massive quantities of the very dark stuff. I don't crave it too much anymore. My skin is really glowing and no spots :) This is a real motivating factor for me.

Ive just worked out that I have done a month and a day with no sugar!!! I have only slipped up once, with the amaretto yum thing.

I struggle with the eves a bit too. I have a cup of tea and half a bowl of porridge.

Hi guys! I hope it's not too late to join? I've actually been doing the sugar free thing since mid February! I don't know anyone else doing it so it's nice to find a group of like minded people . My DH is sick of me going on about it but it's made such a change in me I want everyone to do it! I've lost a total of 17lbs since I started so it's had quite a dramatic effect on me and I feel fantastic. My sleep has improved and my digestion and energy levels. After the first 2 months I reintroduced a bit of chocolate but only 85% dark as the sugar levels are very low. I only have a few squares as a treat every few days and it tastes really sweet! I haven't given up whole fruit and still eat a bit of bread but only have spelt bread which is low in sugar and gluten. Flavoured crisps have been the hardest thing for me to give up but I still have plain salted ones and now live on salted popcorn. Hang in there if you've only just started as the effects weren't immediate for me but it's so worth it!

I'm late to the party but really need to do this. I haven't read the thread so can someone point me in the right direction for some hints and tips?

Hi sometimesyouwin, it's never too late . 17 lbs is super; you'll be down a dress size at least. shopping expedition beckons?

mygastisflabbered, i started on this road two weeks ago tomorrow after watching a documentary on netflix called "Fed Up"; it changed my whole view on sugar (toxic to our body in refined large amounts), how the food industry manipulates consumers, and the addictive nature of processed sweet 'foods' generally. I realised that I could no longer deny that my eating habits were making me unhealthy, and that health issues were becoming a problem.

All I have done is stopped eating stuff that is obviously sugared; sweets, cakes, biscuits, ice cream etc. Also cutting down on processed savoury foods where possible and cooking simpler meat/fish veg and potatoes/rice/pasta dishes, and use brown seeded bread for sandwiches. In the future I may make other changes but I'm happy with what I've achieved so far.

The hardest thing is to confront cravings for something sweet in the evenings. So far I have just remembered watching the documentary and the effect it had on me.

I have another thread in 'weight loss chat' (have you seen Fed Up) where I have written a synopsis of the programme if you can't watch it.

17 lbs. what a fantastic weight loss and well done for keeping going since February. You should be very proud.

I've been going omg! 6 weeks and 1 day!

Weight loss is zilch.
That's combined with being gluten and dairy free.

I don't know what else I can do!

Wow 17lbs is fab!

Well I've been doing this for four weeks now (to try and sort out my skin and hormones, not to lose weight). Actually I think I have gained a bit of weight on my tummy, but I hope I can self-regulate portions in a bit once my body is used to this change of food. I have probably been stuffing myself to avoid that horrible sugar-crash feeling - which I don't really get anymore in fact!

My skin is glowing, best ever, and no spots :)

One month in, I think my PMS was unchanged, you'd have to ask my DH! But having good skin and sleeping well is enough motivation to keep going. I'm amazed that I don't crave sugar any more, and don't feel deprived either. I was the sort of person who planned meals around the dessert.

This morning I met a friend at a local Tea House and we usually indulge in waffles, maple syrup or toast and home made jam with our tea. Today I chose porridge. It came with a jug of cream and pot of sugar. I did sprinkle a tiny amount, not even half a teaspoon of sugar on, and some cream. Wow, the cream made such a difference to the texture. It was totally yummy.

dowser, take the focus away from losing weight, that will happen over time anyway (throw those scales away), and focus instead on the continued improvement in your health now that you're no longer filling up with processed sugar stuff.

I sympathise because I used to diet all the time and weigh myself . It made me obsess to much about the numbers on the scales rather than my health. I don't diet any more, I just eat less and better quality food.

Thank god I found this thread! Week 8 is fast approaching and I haven't eaten sugar , as per Sarah Wilson. I've had it with sugar and have very high risk of diabetes.
But as for the tripping g thru rainbows effect? None here. I M phenomenally PMT ish since giving up. I have lost some weight but not much. But like when I gave up smoking it's filling the gaps where I would have had something g sweet, you know out f boredom or frustration, well that's the hardest bit for me. I haven't found the substitute.
So, veterans of the cause, can you relate? I mean sweet stuff was the backbone of my existence, does it get easier?snd does the weight come off gradually over a long period of time? Thanks

Hi Tenementfunster what were you hoping to achieve by giving up sugar? To avoid the risk of diabetes? That is a very good reason in its own right, and it's one of mine.

I could certainly do with losing weight (size 22) but it is not a priority as much as removing toxic sugars from my body. I don't use scales so will only know I've lost weight by looser clothes.

I've been doing this two weeks tomorrow so am not a veteran by any means but am certain that say, by Christmas, I will be a couple of sizes smaller than I am now, it'll be that gradual (and I'll be a low risk for diabetes too, hopefully).

I am assuming that it will become easier, like second nature, to leave sugary stuff alone but I have to say that I miss it at some point every day, and have feelings of regret when I have the chance to indulge but choose not to.

Interestingly, the next morning I have feelings of relief that I didn't indulge, but no rainbows as such.

I think not focusing on weight loss is important. When I started it was more about the other health benefits but eventually the weight started dropping off. It's made me realise how much rubbish I must have been eating! Popcorn has been the biggest help to me and surprisingly has quite a few health benefits including containing lots of antioxidants. It fills me up and because I'm a bit of a grazer it's something to nibble on.
I've found it shocking since starting this just how many everyday foods have sugar added! Things like coleslaw, salad tubs, sausage rolls, it's shocking! My parents in their 70s have even got into it! My dad used to eat these lovely yogurts until I pointed out they had 28 grams of sugar in!! With approx 4 grams being a teaspoon and 6 teaspoons being the recommended daily allowance, that's horrendous!
My biggest thing has been stopping the teaspoon of sugar I added to every cup if tea. I was using up my daily allowance just with that!
Stick with it everyone! It's not easy to start with but gets much easier the longer you do it. I don't think I'll ever go back to how i was eating before.

Yes some looking at it like the weight loss is a bonus would be a good idea.

"I've found it shocking since starting this just how many everyday foods have sugar added!" Yes, me too. My first visit to the supermarket after making the decision to take sugar out of the equation was a real eye-opener. I would not have been surprised to find that about 80% of foodstuffs for sale contained added sugar, even the savoury stuff! It meant that I wandered about like a lost soul for a while before eventually buying stuff.

Food manufacturers have had it their own way now for far too long. They've been able to add this toxic substance to loads of savoury foods to 'add flavour' or whatever (yes, let's call it toxic because it is a fact that our liver and pancreas cannot cope with too much causing it to be converted to fat and is the cause of the diabetes explosion in not only adults but our children too ).

Fruits in their original state(the fibre) are ok because eating an apple (for example) provides a small amount of sugar+fibre that our body can process. It is therefore much less likely that the liver and pancreas will have a sugar overload and convert excess to fat/raise the diabetes risk.

It is the knowledge that I have gained that has helped me to make better choices and I want to move into 'old age' in good health .

Thanks so much for your replies. I mean my insides must be very happy without all the sugar and I will be too. That bit is taking longer. The actual giving up has been the easy part (apart from giving up tomato sauce). It's the habitual aspect of sugar that I miss. I have a 1 in 2 chance of diabetes because of family history so thee really is no turning back ! Good luck all

Yes Numpty, I gave up the yo yo weighing cycle years ago. I go on my clothes which fit but certainly aren't lose.

I gave up sugar to give the old ( literally in my case) innards a break. They are behaving themselves much better.

I don't drink sugary tea or coffee anyway as I don't have dairy. I don't have wheat so no cake or biscuit treats. So its goodbye to chocolate, gluten free cake, mints,child sweets.

If I hav a bit of a sauce with some in, then so be it. I won't fret.

Came home last night to spot an opened pack of mars chocs. One was nearly in my mouth before realising. Thankfully I didn't.

Oh is very good. He's not a sugarholic either.

Diabetes doesn't run in my family but I won't be getting it. Nor cancer. Nor Alzheimer's. Nor heart disease.

I'm going to bed when I'm a ridiculously old lady and will just float gently away.

I've made my mind up lol!

I can't wait to be a ridiculous old lady either, I intend to embarrass my kids at every opportunity .

Bleurgh I had a lot of chocolate after dinner and now I feel SO sick I could puke! I know I don't deserve sympathy, but i've learned a lesson.

Yesterday we had a street party (Big Lunch) and I did have some cakes (made by my neighbour, totally yummy). Also a glass of cider (not the whole bottle). Back to normal today though. It was interesting the reaction of my body after I'd had the cakes; I could feel my heart beating quickly for the rest of the evening and when in bed.

There are two of those cakes left in the fridge, but I'm not having them, although I did look speculatively at them when getting the milk out . I told myself well yes you could have one but why? Are you hungry? The answer was no, but they're really nice. Then, you really can't afford to go back down this path again, can you? But... it's up to you, entirely your decision and your consequence.

So, overall I'm pleased I decided not to eat the cake, and I'll be even more pleased tomorrow morning.

Absent it's really weird that you say that because I got it too! The pounding heart thing. It was a bit freaky. After you said it, I googled it to see if this was a thing and it seems to be:
www.heart-palpitations.net/causes/heart-pounding-after-eating:
"If you experience an increased heart rate after eating sugar, the amount of sugar you consumed also seems to affect how much pounding you get. You may feel like getting an adrenaline rush. Sometimes it is so bad that you can't go to sleep at night. It's also possible to experience shortness of breath, bloating and indigestion with it on occasion. The episodes of heart pounding usually begin within 30 to 60 minutes after eating a meal. The heart starts racing and sometimes goes up to 120 beats per minute or even more. It lasts up to 6 hours sometimes."

Upshot seems to be that it isn't necessarily a concerning symptom.

I've had the heart pounding thing too! Even before giving up sugar I used to get it after eating doughnuts. I've always been sensitive to sugar and doughnuts always seemed to push me over the edge. I would get all jittery and on edge about 30 mins after eating one then my heart would start hammering away. It was horrible!

msrisotto so, the heart pounding thing is a reaction to sugar rush? It's an uncomfortable feeling but glad you've clarified it (what would we do without google )?

The other thing I wanted to say was that I'm not looking at this as a 'diet' and am definitely not weighing either myself or foods. I've been a yo-yo dieter for over thirty years and it's the reason I have lost the plot with food and am fatter than ever .

Now I have only myself to answer for if I make food choices that are not good for my health; there is no weekly weigh-in, no calorie counting, no agonising at the weekly 'diet meet' whether I have lost a pound on the scales. No more doing the daft things we do when we have not dieted properly that week so we don't eat (or drink) on weigh-in day, we wear as little clothing as is decent, go to the loo at least three times just before. Aaargh, I hated that feeling of failure and shame! I see one of my colleagues going through this every Thursday and it's painful to see her struggle.

The feeling of relief not to have to diet is phenomenal, to be honest. It means that it starts and ends with me. I have to agree to take responsibility for what I eat, no one else. That is as it should be.

I am imagining the future when my hips, knees and ankles no longer ache so much when I walk up stairs; this is becoming a real issue . It won't happen unless I start eating for my health though.

I think you are my long lost twin Mrs Numpty. I'm exactly in your camp.

Went to discuss my blood results with dr yesterday. The receptionist told me last week that my blood results are good yeti still feel tired.

Anyway I came away from the drs like I'd won the lottery! I was told my blood is extremely healthy. He seemed genuinely surprised and pleased.

So I know what we are doing Mrs N must be good for us.

I'm tempted to go to SW but I just can't face it either.

My friend thinks I'm not eating enough.

Re your joint pain. Have you tried Serrapeptase. I find it brilliant. Google Robert Redfern . You need to get about 6 weeks worth into you before you notice the difference, it's an enzyme and it works in an empty stomach an hour before eating in the morning or at bedtime are best times to take.

It just eats away joint pain.

Give it a go ;-)