Anyone wants to join me in quitting sugar for 30 days to start with?

[Bananamuffins123]

I have been out of control since we got back from holidays 6 weeks ago. For some reason can't get get inti the mindset of eating healthily for more then 5 days to the point i binge even on dark chocolate. The only way for me is to do 30 days of no sugar , not even dark chocolate and hopefully my mind will rest again. Anyway wants to join me from tomorrow?

For those who feel a real compulsion and not just a need to cut back, this is a very powerful piece that you could listen to a number of times as there's quite a lot in it. Sometimes we're looking for something beyond the sugar..
https://www.tarabrach.com/eating-addiction/?cn-reloaded=1

I'm intrigued by your "junk sugar" concept, how would you define that?

"High sugar junk food", for me it's biscuits and chocolate bars because I'm not fussed with cakes, sugary drinks etc.

I found the Dr Becky video helpful, specifically the point around adding rather than just taking away. It's common sense but I very easily slip into just cutting out rather than thinking about what I'm replacing here sugar with. Have decide one change is a savoury breakfast. Am having a late breakfast of a slice of sourdough, a fried egg, bit of avocado and it feels so luxurious like a treat in itself! I usually try the Greek yoghurt and berries but I don't find it filling enough and I personally know I need to cut fruit for a bit to lose the sugar craving

I'm in! Day 1 tomorrow. So many useful tips on here already. That Dr Becky video was good!

Are people avoiding alcohol as well? I don't drink much, just a couple of glasses of wine on weekend evenings but wondering whether I should cut that too.

Generally I'll be ditching the sweet treats- biscuits, cake, chocolate- and reducing how much bread I eat. Replacing squash with fizzy water (don't like tap water)

I stopped drinking wine at home a while ago because it became a bit of a habit during lockdown. However, as I'm a very social creature, drinking with friends often added up to more than 14 units a week, so I decided to knock it on the head.

It was the same as with the sugar, and the refined carbs: after a brief period of adjustment I did not feel the urge to drink alcohol anymore. So i don't- except a glass of bubbly every now and again, when the occasion calls for it.

However, if you are just having a couple of glasses of wine on weekend evenings, I wouldn't worry - unless it feeds regular cravings for other unhealthy stuff like crisps, pizza, etc.

That pretty much matches what I'm trying to avoid too.

I’ve had a very motivating first 10 days going from 13st 9lb to under 13st 6lb. (As well as no sugar I started OMAD on Sunday). This broke a bit of a recent plateau.

Am away for the weekend with B&B and a buffet breakfast, so not sure how that will go. I normally indulge in sugary cereal when the opportunity arises.

It is still hard. Right now I would love some chocolate.

I have lost over a stone in weight which came as a welcomed surprise!

Well done everyone and super news on the weight loss. It's so lovely to be the right size for me and wear my clothes comfortably

What I'd OMAD?
I would say eat up a lovely fry at a breakfast buffet and just stay away from the bread and cereals. Eggs, bacon, mushrooms etc. Look at ehat you can enjoy rather than what you can't!

I have managed not to eat anything with added sugar today (I've been tracking and have had 18g of any sugars in total, including natural/in the bread) but I have eaten WAY more calories than usual...mostly high fat from avocado, some chorizo, eggs. Am trusting that my appetite will adjust but will need to cool it on the volume this week to see any benefit!

Don't worry one bit about avocado and eggs etc. If it's real food and unprocessed go for it. You can adjust that overtime if you need to (I do unfortunately as have high cholesterol).

Thank you. I definitely feel full and haven't snacked in between, which is unusual for me... but am only on day one!

Things have gone pretty well here. I have dodged all kinds of sugar whilst away. A couple of near-misses with emotion-induced cravings, but I did it. I am actually looking forward to getting back to longer fasts after getting home tomorrow.

Quite impressed with myself for not even asking for the dessert menu when out with DH today celebrating our wedding anniversary in a lovely seaside restaurant. The thought of losing my streak (6 days without sugar, sweets, biscuits, jam, chocolate or cake!) is enough to put me off. I might buy myself a little present if I manage to stick to it for 30 days, like a grown up version of a sticker chart.

How is everyone else doing?

I recently did it and felt amazing after about 2 weeks - that's just to give you encouragement! Also if you slip don't give up, 6 of 7 days is better than none!

I bought myself a really nice steel coloured water bottle for my treat for doing it and getting back on track with nutrition. Had my eye on one for ages.

Love the idea of buying a small treat. I'm on day two, done well again thus far but really craving sugar now... just by habit, as I'm really full after dinner. Going to take my self off for a bath and hope it passes

Give it a week or two and the cravings will subside. The key is to prepare/cook and eat really tasty savoury food. Protein and/or healthy fats/nuts at every meal. Lots of vegetables with 1-3 of...:
Herbs
Ginger
Lemon or lime juice
Garlic
Adding a bit of heat or soy sauce or curry paste.
Adding fruit to salads - orange, apple, melon, mango, cantaloupe.
Liven it up.

And KOKO!!

Am putting kimchi on everything - something about the tang really livens up a plate!

It's been going well, I stuck to my one added sugary item last week (an ice cream) and have lost about a kilo.

Interestingly I don't know how to describe the "sugary item" because normally people would say "treat". But I don't want to set it up that way in my head, because a lovely savoury meal, or some ripe fruit, should also be a treat - it's just as lovely.

I'm noticing that my bread is inducing cravings. Whereas last week's rye bread didn't. This one is a supermarket sourdough so has no percentage nutritional info, but it says it contains malted flour which I suspect makes it a bit sugary.

I've banished half the loaf to the freezer to stop me powering through it too fast! 😁

It's funny when you sit and take notice the difference between a craving and actually liking the taste. It's not the nicest bread ever, I just want more of it! Straight after lunch when I'm not even hungry- i.e. I don't fancy any other food.

I'm really struggling with cravings for sweet food, and I mean really sweet -- ice cream, cakes and biscuits in the main. I don't restrict fresh fruit.
I've had a bad few days and feeling guilty doesn't help. I'm trying to do the 14/8 method, basically no breakfast and eating within an eight hour period bit it's early days yet.
Has anyone found that taking chromium tabs (one per day) helps with sweet cravings?

14/8 wouldn't work for me and I'd be more likely to crack I think.. perhaps 3 meals would suit you better? Don't feel bad, it's a slip, it's done and you can move on now :)