Giving up sugar for January, maybe longer

[GrumpyOldBag]

I have decided to try giving up sugar.

Anyone else tried this?

I am going to continue eating fresh fruit, but not dried or juice.

No processed foods containing sugar.

And obviously no fizzy drinks - but don't drink those anyway.

Anyone tried doing this? Can I have honey on my porridge?

I think dry wine & vodka OK?

Anyone got any advice to share? Thanks

I'm not giving up carbs either. I'm aiming for a balanced, healthy, natural diet, as home cooked as possible. I've changed to brown bread and rice, and I don't eat a lot anyway. I travel a lot, to cut out carbs as well as meat and sugar would make eating in hotels and on planes really difficult.

I need to quit sugar. Whenever I try I end up binging before bed. I'm going to read this thread now for any advice, and any more is very welcome. I need to stop it before I make myself ill for life.

Welcome Wetsthefinger. The Case Against Sugar book is interesting and explains it well, but is quite heavy going. I bought Paul McKenna's I Quit Sugar book, which summed everything up in a much lighter way (not criticising the other book, just my concentration!). It's easier when you understand the reasons why it's sensible to do it and what's good and bad when it comes to sugar. I also found the I quit sugar (.com) website useful, but don't think I will be paying to join it.

I would recommend reading Dr Lustig or watching his lecture on YouTube. It really helped when I realised the damage sugar was doing. I also started by saying I'd do it for a month and see. Now I intend on keeping going, but in those first few days I could tell myself it wasn't forever.

Being able to eat cheese helped a lot too,

I'm not giving up carbs either or even going low carb. I've given up added sugar and caffeine and adding anything else would be far too restrictive for me- I love eating! I'm going for eating what I like outwith the sugar/caffeine but using portion control and adding lots of veg to keep me full.

I haven't given up carbs, I don't want to.
I've kept it really simple, no chocolate, sweets, ice cream, biscuits or cake. I don't drink sugary drinks anyway.

If I start being too restrictive I'm worried I'll get overwhelmed and give up. Once I am well underway with this method maybe I can introduce another change, but I've no intention of doing anytime soon. I can already see weight loss and better mood etc so I don't feel that I have to yet anyway.

It's just what works for me, we are all different obviously.

I am trying to opt for the low GI option so brown rice, sweet potatoes etc. I was never a big bread water but had the odd sandwich at lunchtime which I am trying harder to avoid. I really don't want to give up pasta and rice it's too hard and I will fail.

I remember watching a diet program (Horizon I think) and they showed experiments where mice were give unlimited access to sugar or fats or a combination of sugar and fat. It was only the mice having sugar and fat together that got fat. I do think for some people there is something addictive or rewarding about eating chocolate, ice cream and cakes that you just don't get from a bowl of rice.

1.5lbs down so 8.5 lbs in two weeks.

Think I will also weigh myself on Wednesday so I know where I am at the beginning of February.

Anyone else weigh in today?

You must be very pleased with that Lucked.

Whoops, posted too son, meant to say well done too!

Great loss Lucked! 8.5lb in 2 weeks is fantastic.

I'm planning on weighing tomorrow. I'm doing a weekly weigh in. I'm trying to maintain rather than lose, I'm battling an eating disorder and stopping the sugar seems to be the catalyst I needed to get some control over it. It's quite liberating!

Well done, Lucked, that's fantastic!

I haven't done very well the last couple of days. I've been starving all the time and with the combination of work and a poorly baby finding healthy low sugar or preferably no sugar snacks has been really hard. I feel guilty now. I hope i can do better from now on.

Onwards and upwards heavenscent86 No point worrying about what is already done. Draw a line and start again.

Agree with Huckleberry start afresh today. Can you get in little containers of olives/feta cheese, nuts, sliced chorizo/cheddar cheese etc? DS has started snacking on that sort of thing to keep him full after school. I have little ramekins and he fills one and says it's a good snack (and he's a club swimming strapping 14 year old who is always hungry!).

DH tells me I need to plank and do Russian Twists to get my stomach to shrink. I don't do this sort of thing- torture! But I am going to try. I did three one minute planks this morning but the dumb dog stood there the whole time trying to pull my hair bobble out of my hair! Dumb dog!

Hello. Just checking in. I haven't lost anything this week and not sure why. I am wondering if I have become a bit lazy and sugar has started to creep back in. Off now to buy chicken and salad for lunch!

Hello, i'm checking back in as well. I felt a little discouraged by my weight staying the same the last couple of weeks and I had a craving for sugar pretty much all day yesterday! Managed to stay too distracted to actually do anything about it though. And it's that time of the month when I feel permanently bloated which is unpleasant. Hopefully it will go.

Annoying isnt it? I think I need to re-evaluate what I am eating. A typical day for me is porridge ( sick of eggs at the moment ). Some almonds for a snack. Ham salad with cheese. Pear for a snack and then a carb and sugar free dinner. Berrys and Greek yoghurt if I am still hungry.

I just saw this infographic and had to laugh at how 1 tsp of honey or jam = 1.5 tsp sugar!

I did a sneaky weigh this morning (weigh in is technically Friday) and have gained 2lbs! :(

I did start my period today, so not sure if that will contribute. Maybe too many carbs. Argh.

Huckleberry, there is still time to lose before Friday, I bet you period has contributed and if you don't lose this week you will get a big loss next week.

I've lost 5lbs this week and joined a gym which I start next week. Feel so better minus the sugar and also carbs. I really think my body can't deal with sugar/carbs anymore.

So now we are in February & i am keeping going with this.

Had a day working offsite yesterday, so was eating on the hoof. Not very healthy & a lot of carbs, but no sugar. Did have a couple of glasses of wine in the evening.

I find olives good snack in the evening when you feel like eating something.

noofly inspired by your post I googled Russian twists and attempted a plank. Managed one 1 min plank and 30 twists then couldn't consider doing any more. I will do round 2 this evening.

ASDismynormality congrats on the 5lbs and getting to the gym. I keep ignoring that 20% of weight loss is exercise.

huckleberry it is probably water retention and will sort itself out in the long run, dong lose heart.

I got home from my flight yesterday on my weigh day. I should have known better than to jump straight on the scales, as flying bloats you and you retain water, but I did anyway as I'd been so good and was desperate to see a change! I'd gone up a lb!! So I had a tant, went off the rails and ate a choc biscuit and a packet of crisps. (I'd just got home from a 12hr flight and a 4hr drive home. So was exhausted). Today I woke up and my scales show 3lbs less than last week, so 5lbs in two weeks. I'm now mad at myself for weighing myself yesterday!!

honeyroar my legs get so puffy and retain so much water after a flight. Well done on the loss.

A colleague has just handed me a box of baklava 😲😲