Have you Quit Sugar?

livhig82

After watching a documentary about sugar I am really considering quitting altogether.
Has anyone else done this and what was your experience??

sijomial

Absolutely not!
I like food and I like having energy.

TurquoisWater

I have been doing it for a while and have not lost a significant amount of weight, but I feel skinnier and my clothes fit better.
Giving up sugar is not an exclusion diet. Sugar is not a macro-nutrient. Our bodies don't need added sugar. You'll get all the sugar you need from natural sources like fruit, vegetables, whole grain, etc.
You will realize how it is in just about everything, which is the problem. When you eat chocolate cake you know there is sugar and you are consciously allowing yourself a treat. When you are cooking with canned kidney beans, you don't expect there to be sugar, because there shouldn't be.
I strongly encourage you to embrace this lifestyle. I believe it will have huge benefits in the long run.

Best wishes!

magairlin

Yes- pretty much. I know that sugar is in some foods that I eat and I like to drink beer and wine which also contain sugar but in general I don't eat sugary food- cakes, biscuits, chocolate etc. It works well for me. If I don't eat it I don't want it but if I eat it I crave more and I wanted to rid myself of cravings and I have done so. I don't eat much processed food but if I am buying it I check labels and if sugar comes within the first three ingredients listed I regard it as a sugar product and I don't buy it. Be careful with bread- you'd be surprised how many breads on the market have sugar in the first three ingredients. In my case it's what makes it "moreish" and hard to resist eating too much of it. Christmas, Easter etc can be a huge challenge. I usually indulge at Christmas and put on several pounds which I often regret. This Easter I plan on sticking to my no sugar. I will have treats but they will be wine, beer, and diet coke. I really feel so much better without sugary food. A slice of apple tart is about 350 calories and is eaten in a few seconds and I always want more! For 350 calories I could treat myself to some wine or beer or something that I really want and not experience cravings afterwards. Good luck with whatever you decide.

DawnieB1977

magairlin wrote: »

Yes- pretty much. I know that sugar is in some foods that I eat and I like to drink beer and wine which also contain sugar but in general I don't eat sugary food- cakes, biscuits, chocolate etc. It works well for me. If I don't eat it I don't want it but if I eat it I crave more and I wanted to rid myself of cravings and I have done so. I don't eat much processed food but if I am buying it I check labels and if sugar comes within the first three ingredients listed I regard it as a sugar product and I don't buy it. Be careful with bread- you'd be surprised how many breads on the market have sugar in the first three ingredients. In my case it's what makes it "moreish" and hard to resist eating too much of it. Christmas, Easter etc can be a huge challenge. I usually indulge at Christmas and put on several pounds which I often regret. This Easter I plan on sticking to my no sugar. I will have treats but they will be wine, beer, and diet coke. I really feel so much better without sugary food. A slice of apple tart is about 350 calories and is eaten in a few seconds and I always want more! For 350 calories I could treat myself to some wine or beer or something that I really want and not experience cravings afterwards. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Wine is pretty sugary.

We don't tend to have sugar in bread in England, at least not the bread i buy. One of my friends went to the US and said the bread was really sweet.

I agree with not having too much added sugar, but like anything it's ok in moderation.

yarwell

livhig82 wrote: »

After watching a documentary about sugar I am really considering quitting altogether.
Has anyone else done this and what was your experience??

I don't add sugar to beverages or food, nor do I cook / bake with it. I do eat things that contain sugars like berries, vegetables, apples etc.

MissBabyJane

Nope! I've tried and it just doesn't work for me...

isulo_kura

livhig82 wrote: »

After watching a documentary about sugar I am really considering quitting altogether.
Has anyone else done this and what was your experience??

No because I like fruit.

PeachyCarol

I limit sugar because excessive consumption triggers migraines for me, but I haven't eliminated it at all. I have berries and gelato every day.

lauracups

I have cut back on refined sugar. I have read from many how whether it's from an apple or frosting the body doesn't know they difference. Well for calorie burn maybe not, but my skin seems to know...less refined...no rosacea...more refined...I get a flare up.
To answer, do what you're comfortable with for you and what you feel you can successfully maintain.

cbhubbybubble

It would be virtually impossible to quit sugar since it's naturally found in so many foods. I restrict "added" sugar and watch how much fruit I eat in a day because I was borderline diabetic before I started losing weight, but you can't avoid natural sugar altogether in a nutritious diet.

Saltfae

No. Because then i wouldnt be able to eat fruit. i just try to keep it low and from fruits and vegetable srather than processed foods and white breads. i do add some to coffee because ewwwwwww other wise.

RoxieDawn

This is not going to end well.

PearlAng

I don't see why you'd have to give up sugar. I think moderation is key. I also think that some of those documents are just meant to scare people.

If you like sugar, have it. Have it everyday if you want, as long as you stay in a calorie deficit if trying to lose weight. If you don't want it, don't have it, but remember that sugar is found in many products. That's all, I think.

999tigger

Fruit, milk and many other things. Sweets as well which are yum. Boring but I just moderate and eat sugary things more wisely. Common sense, soemthing thats in short supply.

Acg67

livhig82 wrote: »

After watching a documentary about sugar I am really considering quitting altogether.
Has anyone else done this and what was your experience??

A zero carb diet seems pretty miserable

chivalryder

So, you'd also have to completely avoid all low fat and fat free foods because they add sugar to make up for the lack of fat.

No more baked goods *at all*.

No more eating at any restaurant.

Sounds like a miserable life.

GiveMeCoffee

Nope haven't given it up, I wouldn't be able to enjoy my nightly dessert if I did. I also prefer to base my decisions on my research not based on the agenda they are pushing in a documentary.

amusedmonkey

I eat some form of sugar every single day. Fruits, cookies, cake, ketchup, white sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, chocolate, lemon, carrots, tomatoes..etc.

If you wish to cut out sugar and are okay with not eating most things then it's a choice only you could decide the sustainability of. If you are quitting added sugar that's also your own choice. Just know that even though you are free to cut out whatever you want or include whatever you want, documentaries are not a good source of information and you can lose weight and be healthy just fine without cutting out anything.

eba2003

I think the OP was referring to refined/added sugar which is not required by the body. you can get enough from fruits and other healthy carbs. I have given up refined sugar and I have more energy, fewer cravings and clearer skin. I still eat fruit, starches and grains.

Lrdoflamancha

Yes I have pretty much eliminated sugar. Eliminating added sugar is pretty easy. Eliminating fruit sugar is harder but not impossible. It just depends on your goals and what works for you. For me and my body I had to cut carbs massively to lose weight.

lemurcat12

I eat fruit, veggies, and a good bit of dairy and see no reason to stop, so no.

Assuming you mean added sugar, I don't add sugar to anything regularly (occasionally I make a rhubarb sauce that includes a bit and I usually bake for holidays). I use it rarely enough that it's common for me to not even have sugar on hand, so I don't see why I'd need to cut that out entirely, so again, no.

I have cut out added sugar (in foods I eat) for periods of time (when I first started I did it for a few weeks and I did it again in January) just to change up my diet some and (originally) because I tend to run to sugary things for the emotional eating stuff (this is more because that's the only food around in my office I like, because I don't care for most chips, which is the other alternative). When I did this in January it was mostly a matter of cutting out the ice cream I have in the evening when I have extra calories plus the fancy chocolates I like to buy on occasion (I don't eat lots of packaged foods, so don't care that it's in bread or pasta sauce). It wasn't too hard, and helped me expand my horizons and include some different higher calorie foods, like cheese and more higher fat meats on occasion (like pork shoulder, yum), but I didn't feel any different and I think simply including a moderate amount of all foods makes more sense--not that you must eat sugar any particular amount of time, but why have rules against it? Just pick wisely given the options that day.

So I am back to including it in what I consider limited, moderate amounts.

Amy512tx

I quit sugar but had a heck of a time after the first few days. I actually used a program called the 21 Day Sugar Detox There is my review if you're interested. It really helped me a lot.

AmazonMayan

I gave up refined sugars at first as well as more highly processed carbs overall just to get my overeating and really unhealthy eating habits under control. I eat a bit of everything now, but I eat much much less refined sugar now than before. I was not and am not low carb. I merely eat more whole grains and natural sugars.

I've not been fond of white commercial bread and even some of the wheat for years because it's really sweet homemade white bread is a whole different story

amusedmonkey

AmazonMayan wrote: »

I gave up refined sugars at first as well as more highly processed carbs overall just to get my overeating and really unhealthy eating habits under control. I eat a bit of everything now, but I eat much much less refined sugar now than before. I was not and am not low carb. I merely eat more whole grains and natural sugars.

I've not been fond of white commercial bread and even some of the wheat for years because it's really sweet homemade white bread is a whole different story

You are right that the average American bread is pretty sweet. I was shocked by how sweet it felt when I first tried it. I did not like it one bit. In many other countries the only sugar used in bread is what is used to help the yeast (usually a teaspoon for the whole loaf).

Need2Exerc1se

livhig82 wrote: »

After watching a documentary about sugar I am really considering quitting altogether.
Has anyone else done this and what was your experience??

Assuming you mean added sugar, and not sugar contained in fruits, vegetable, etc., then I have cut back drastically from what I ate as a younger woman. I am much more picky about my sugar these days, but I'm not going to give up the occasional meal of pancakes and syrup. I will make them whole grain and use only pure maple syrup, though.

It's amazing how my tastes have changed. I'll pass up pancakes now if artificial syrup is all that's available, even though it's what I grew up on.

Hottie_McTottie

I am extremely cognizant of foods that have added sugars, the type of sugar it is, where is it on the ingredient list, how many grams are in a serving etc.

I eat fruit (not a lot though. No reason, I just don't) and veggies and will have the occasional dessert when at a restaurant but it's rare when I do.

Sabine_Stroehm

DawnieB1977 wrote: »

magairlin wrote: »

Yes- pretty much. I know that sugar is in some foods that I eat and I like to drink beer and wine which also contain sugar but in general I don't eat sugary food- cakes, biscuits, chocolate etc. It works well for me. If I don't eat it I don't want it but if I eat it I crave more and I wanted to rid myself of cravings and I have done so. I don't eat much processed food but if I am buying it I check labels and if sugar comes within the first three ingredients listed I regard it as a sugar product and I don't buy it. Be careful with bread- you'd be surprised how many breads on the market have sugar in the first three ingredients. In my case it's what makes it "moreish" and hard to resist eating too much of it. Christmas, Easter etc can be a huge challenge. I usually indulge at Christmas and put on several pounds which I often regret. This Easter I plan on sticking to my no sugar. I will have treats but they will be wine, beer, and diet coke. I really feel so much better without sugary food. A slice of apple tart is about 350 calories and is eaten in a few seconds and I always want more! For 350 calories I could treat myself to some wine or beer or something that I really want and not experience cravings afterwards. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Wine is pretty sugary.

We don't tend to have sugar in bread in England, at least not the bread i buy. One of my friends went to the US and said the bread was really sweet.

I agree with not having too much added sugar, but like anything it's ok in moderation.

Not good wines. Moscato may be.

Sabine_Stroehm

I have been LIMITING my added sugars for about 15 years now. I find that the more even I can keep my blood sugars (i.e. no mid morning crash) the easier it is to eat the way I want.

I also very much limit heavily refined carbs (think: white bread) for the same reason. I aim for more whole or intact grains.

I try for a nutrient dense, plant based diet, with daily treats.

breefoshee

I'm friggin' about to have to. I have debated people over sugar for months now-- how its not that big of a deal and that weight loss is calories in vs calories out. And I couldn't wait to live that out so that some of the people in my life could see that you can live a moderate life and still lose weight-- especially my bestie who thinks that cutting out sugar, dairy, meat and gluten (but binging on it every weekend) is the only way to lose weight and live healthy.
Then... I found out that I'm insulin resistant this past week. And that I'll have to drastically cut carbs, sugar, and friggin dairy. I'm totally bitter about it.

amusedmonkey

breefoshee wrote: »

I'm friggin' about to have to. I have debated people over sugar for months now-- how its not that big of a deal and that weight loss is calories in vs calories out. And I couldn't wait to live that out so that some of the people in my life could see that you can live a moderate life and still lose weight-- especially my bestie who thinks that cutting out sugar, dairy, meat and gluten (but binging on it every weekend) is the only way to lose weight and live healthy.
Then... I found out that I'm insulin resistant this past week. And that I'll have to drastically cut carbs, sugar, and friggin dairy. I'm totally bitter about it.

The good news is that in many cases this can go into remission once you lose weight and start exercising. I used to eat much lower carbs back when I had my average fasting blood sugar at 112. After losing a lot of weight and following up with exercise my average is now 75! Best of all, I can eat whatever and my blood sugar won't go an inch over 130 after a meal. So patience!