Giving up sugar in 2018

[Fabianthefabulous]

Tomorrow I am giving up sugar.

The plan is not to eat anything with sugar or sweeteners as an ingredient but I will be focusing on sweet tasting things, so will concentrate my efforts on foods with more than 5g sugar per 100g and not beat myself up if I eat a few savoury things with small amounts of sugar (eg crackers).

I am expecting my coke zero addiction to be one of the hardest things to stop but I want to loose the taste for sweet things not just replace sugar with sweeteners so it has to go!

Anyone want to join me?

I know there was a long running 'giving up sugar' thread from earlier in the year but I thought it would be good to have a new thread for those of us just starting (or restarting).

Would love some buddies or any advice or encouragement from anyone who has managed to give up sugar already.

Some people get a bit wobbly, others don't feel anything. I never did, and I was a huge chocoholic. I've not given up carbs though, just refined sugar.

It's gone a bit quiet on here. Where are all the people from the start of the thread? I hope they're doing ok.

im still here, doing ok so far still having honey on my porridge in the morning but haven't had any sugar in the daytime. im just trying to replace sweet with savory options at the moment so its not been too hard. i opened a tin of chilli beans yesterday and they tasted so sweet, need to start checking labels as they had sugar in. its in everything! i had to wash the sauce off them and add tomatoes. maybe we need to keep the thread going by adding some sugar free/reduced recipe ideas?

so i will start, usually i have a ton of honey or maple syrup on my porridge but i found a recipe online for 'carrot cake' version. you make as normal then add a grated carrot, raisins, cinnamon nutmeg and a tiny bit of honey. it sounds grim but its actually lovely. it means i can get away with a tiny bit of honey not loads. trying to reduce and find new habits rather than go cold turkey. as my tastes change hopefully i can remove it altogether.

also thinking of getting some nice cheese and crackers as my treat after dinner as im used to eating something sweet after a meal.

I am still here and have now done a week. So far it’s been much easier than I thought. Especially since we still have a massive stash of Christmas chocolates in the house. I still struggle after tea but it’s getting easier.

I love the idea of the recipes.

I have also incorporated 16:8. I still eat 3 meals a day but I eat nothing after 5.30pm. I have a bowl of Greek yogurt, nuts and berries at about 9.30, a small salad at lunchtime and a family tea between 5 & 5.30. It works for me and the family meal times.

Back in the work and school routine means I don’t get to post much but I do lurk a lot.

Day 11 here for me. Have been really busy this week at work and so whether that's distracted me or whether the cravings are now naturally tailing off, I can't say. We're away this weekend at C Parks so I'm going to allow myself some sugar but still try to be mindful of it. I'm not at all fussed about the kids or DH having something sweet after dinner now, hardly even notice.

I had been having some funny issues with my elbows where they would often seem to feel inflamed and creaky, and I've noticed that's hugely reduced this week. Hoping less sugar might also reduce then the inflammation causing my plantar fasciitis and eczema ...wishful thinking I think!

Mostly all fine here, though DH brought home pain au chocolat (the nice ones you bake at home) and I had 2 without thinking about it - they're 13% sugar oh dear. What's done is done.

I am still here, I have lost track of days but it has been over a week. I am proud to have stuck it out as it has been one hell of a time involving my mum having complications with heart valve surgery causing her to be on life support in ITU since last Wednesday and doctors telling us to prepare ourselves for serious brain damage or worse. Yesterday she came around and is 'with us' enough to be a huge relief but my goodness it has been stressful.

Well done everyone.

Odd-boots you sound like you've had a horrific week. Hats off to you. If you can get through this week without snacking/sugar you can get through everything. I really hope your mum gets better soon.

Carrie74 I found a lot of my aches and pains eased after a while - the weight loss probably helped too. I used to get a lot of indigestion before I started this last New Year, it all stopped within a week of cutting sugar. This year over Xmas I had pretty bad toothache on and off - that also disappeared after a few days of no sugar. It's weird!

Still on it. Still no weight loss.

I think maybe I'lm less hungry... and I think I am thinner.

I haven't done it yet myself, but I massively suggest measuring your arms, legs, hips, waist and bust. I know I lost a good inch off my waist last time before I lost much weight. The weight started coming off at week 3.

I'm doing ok. I think it's day 10 for me and going well, I've done two flights and two hotels without going off the rails! My love of grapes and Greek yogurt has returned! That was my godsend last time.

So, day 13 and I have to report that so far I have failed to completely give up sugar. However, I am eating much smaller amounts. I'm now down to 1-2 squares of 85% cocoa chocolate a day and a drizzle of honey on my morning porridge. I've lost 3lbs in weight.

The cravings have been bad some days - I've felt shaky and fatigued, angry on occasion, and sometimes I've felt sort of reckless - it's difficult to describe. I gave up cigarettes 18 years ago - but as far as I can remember, the feelings I'm having are the same.

This afternoon I put on 'That Sugar Film' and watched it with my kids (10 & 6). The older one definitely understood what it was saying and while I found the film gimmicky and annoying in parts it renewed my resolve to overhaul not just my diet, but that of my whole family.

Glad to have found this thread! Bit late to start but i definetly need to give up sugar.
Im addicted and i know it. I crave it every day and always give in with lots of cake/sweets/choc. And really want to lose the weight i have gained since having my son.
Im going to start tomorrow! No time like now.
Kinda scared.

I’m still here but doing badly! Celebrating mum’s birthday this weekend so I’ll try again on Monday

Porridge with cinnamon and chia seeds - no honey/sugar on - tasted fine!! [shocked]

But this is day 14 of no sugar - feels pretty good right now

Day 14 for me no sugar including natural as well as refinded as body doesnt know differnce , i started not craving chocolate have odd days where i would like but soon get over it also not eating as much as my full switch is back on for probably first time ever! Def recommend David Gallipie Sweet posion to read science behind no sugar and what it does. Ive lost half stone so far still long way to go but weight loss wasnt reason my reason was stopping being addicted and for first time in very long time food not something im thinking about as much, nervous about thid being life now but more that other persons attitudes have been surprising likr treat me like i have 3 heads !

Just to add i am having 1 to 2 pieces of friut a day sometimes none as as eating them its fine, even thou now half banana is fine with breakfast at start i was eating 1 banana a day for first 4 days!

I did this last year, lost a load of weight. Bit fell off wagon after some surgery.

I'm doing it again.

Honey/agave syrup are just sugar. You might as well put sugar on your porridge. It has the same effect on your body and won't help cut sugar. I strayed having porridge with banana and cinnamon.

I read Sweet Poison last year and watched the Robert Lustig lecture. I carried on eating carbs and some fruit, but nothing with sugar in- no bagels, sauces, jam, some crisps (!).

I ate nuts and didn't worry about portion size for anything else. I ate very dark chocolate when I needed a fix, ate cream, milk, cheese.

I found that cutting out sugar and sweeteners meant I wasn't as hungry all the time, and didn't really need to snack. Sugar and sweeteners mess with your body's ability to know when it is hungry and full.

Sugar and sweeteners mess with your body's ability to know when it is hungry and full.

Yes - I agree. And that is actually one of the messages of 'That Sugar Film', that you can eat the same overall number of calories in a day, but if a chunk of those calories come from sugar you won't feel full, you'll feel dissatisfied, not only that but you'll weigh more and your overall health will be measurably worse than if you're getting those calories from other sources - fats, proteins, etc.

Can I join you guys?
I’ve a major sugar problem and am trying for the first time to cut out the really bad stuff,
So I’ve cut out sweets and chocolate and fizzy drinks - biscuits, cake all that stuff.
Day 7 so far.
I’m finding I’m hungry all the time and eating like a horse- just going for fruit/ nuts/ sandwich etc.
Doing pretty well since I was making myself icing sugar and water mix to eat of an evening and on some days doing 4/5 bars of chocolate. I’ve also cut out tea- to the tune of 6 tea spoons less sugar a day! Now only drinking herbal tea or black coffee

To get over the hunger eat what you need to. When I did it last year I lost 8lbs in a week, despite eating loads of nuts.

You need to make sure you cut out all sugar (some savoury stiff has it in) to help with the hunger. And drink plenty of water.

What stuff (savoury) should I cut out?

If u look at the ingredients on the back of packets 9 times out of 10 it will have sugar in ,but manufacturers get crafty and just use different words for sugar! so need to do research. By cutting out sugar from diet u dont get hungry as u eat normally 3 meals a day the sugar in your body when u eat it, stops the hungry and full switch from working probably. So when u stop ur switches start working again.

All sorts. Examples I can think of off top of my head include crisps (salt and vinegar, cheese and onion, prawn cocktail), mini cheddar, anything with balsamic vinegar, salad cream, some mayonnaise, coleslaw, all cereal (except shredded wheat and porridge).

All sorts. Examples I can think of off top of my head include crisps (salt and vinegar, cheese and onion, prawn cocktail), mini cheddar, anything with balsamic vinegar, salad cream, some mayonnaise, coleslaw, all cereal (except shredded wheat and porridge).