No sugar til January 2nd
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Why is it assumed that "no junk" = "low carb"? Lots of stuff that some might consider "junk" is low carb, and as cwolfman correctly pointed out, many carbs are nutrient dense or not reasonably considered "junk."
Sigh.
Anyway, OP, I do stuff like that sometimes, last January, in fact, but December doesn't work for me -- I probably eat more sweet stuff and other "junk" this month than in most others, and am okay with that. It's actually been good motivation to focus on making sure I also get lots of nutrient dense foods too (especially those carbs cwolfman mentioned) and to ramp up my workout schedule (well, that and that I've signed up for a few winter races). Good luck with it -- if you are going vegan I think there's a vegan group around here, and janejellyroll always impresses me with her advice and takes on things, so you might want to look at what she does.
Aw, thanks! I pretty much eat all the carbs!
Not really, but I eat about 60% carbohydrates and I don't limit added sugars. I'm lucky, I guess, in that my sweet tooth is smaller than many, but I'll still have non-dairy ice cream, maple syrup or dates in smoothies, cookies. I also eat condiments with sugar (like ketchup and chutney). I eat plenty of the stuff that I suspect is the "junk" OP is trying to avoid -- I have a bagel every Sunday, french fries about once a week, pizza, pasta, non-dairy cheeses, wine, etc.
Like you, I just focus on getting nutrient-rich foods. Beyond the stuff I've cut for ethical reasons, I'm terrible at saying I'm not going to eat something -- it makes me obsess and leads to binges. Fortunately, logging has helped me realize that I don't have to cut anything out to meet my health and fitness goals. It's much easier for me to say, "Well, I'd like that cookie, but I don't have the calories for it today . . . let's see about tomorrow" than it is for me to say "No cookies!"
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lemurcat12 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Why is it assumed that "no junk" = "low carb"? Lots of stuff that some might consider "junk" is low carb, and as cwolfman correctly pointed out, many carbs are nutrient dense or not reasonably considered "junk."
Sigh.
Anyway, OP, I do stuff like that sometimes, last January, in fact, but December doesn't work for me -- I probably eat more sweet stuff and other "junk" this month than in most others, and am okay with that. It's actually been good motivation to focus on making sure I also get lots of nutrient dense foods too (especially those carbs cwolfman mentioned) and to ramp up my workout schedule (well, that and that I've signed up for a few winter races). Good luck with it -- if you are going vegan I think there's a vegan group around here, and janejellyroll always impresses me with her advice and takes on things, so you might want to look at what she does.
Where did anyone say it was?
When nvmomketo responded to OP's statement that she wanted to give up "junk" for the month by suggesting that she join the low carb group (and noted that many give up grains, which are certainly not universally considered "junk").
Otherwise, what the heck does the low carb group have to do with anything? Especially since OP is apparently a vegan.
She said that many of the people there have cut out sugars and limited grains - the cutting out sugar portion is certainly relevant to the OP's question, and if the OP is trying to cut out "junk food," ideas from people who are limiting grains are certainly relevant because grains/flour are found in things that are often considered "junk food" as well as many pre-packaged processed foods which also contain added sugars. She also said that even if the person isn't doing low carb, it might be a good place to get some ideas. Pointing out a similarity in eating style to what the OP is trying to accomplish is not equating "no junk" with "low carb."0 -
We disagree about the obvious assumption within ketomom's comment.
And I also disagree that there is likely to be any similarity in eating style or that hanging out in a low carb forum if one is not low carb would be a sensible thing to do merely because one was trying to focus on eating a nutrient-dense (and "no junk") diet. For example, cutting out "sugar" for the keto world tends to include fruit (or most fruits), limiting carrots and beets, and often is used broadly to encompass all carbs (since they become sugar in the body). Many people limit or cut out added sugar without being low carb, and not all low carbers do (and many who do use things like stevia or other artificial sweeteners, which would likely be among that OP is avoiding). But I suppose this goes with the point WinoGelato made above, which is that "junk" is probably too vague to allow for meaningful comments.
Anyway, if we all agree that "no junk" doesn't mean "low carb," then we are in agreement about the important stuff, so no need to argue.0 -
If the OP doesn't come back and clarify what she meant by the word "junk", why it is just for the month of December, and if in fact she is going vegan (although I'm not sure where that came from - maybe another thread the OP started or posted in), it's really just a lot of speculation from all of us which is likely to lead to pointless bickering... which, really, is pretty much the same as any other sugar thread, now that I think about it!0
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I would think that being a vegan would be pretty incompatible with low carbing.
Vegan protein sources can be low carb (tofu, seitan, and tempeh aren't all that carby), but man... beans? Legumes? And the necessary complementary whole grains?
OP, I've given up sugar before, and for a really long stretch of time.
I won't be joining you in your current challenge.
I do tend to agree with the posters who feel you might be attempting too many changes at once, though.
Tackle either the veganism or the no-sugar thing. Otherwise, you're going to crash and burn.
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WinoGelato wrote: »If the OP doesn't come back and clarify what she meant by the word "junk", why it is just for the month of December, and if in fact she is going vegan (although I'm not sure where that came from - maybe another thread the OP started or posted in), it's really just a lot of speculation from all of us which is likely to lead to pointless bickering... which, really, is pretty much the same as any other sugar thread, now that I think about it!
It was in another thread and I apologize for muddying the waters by bringing it up in this one. I've just seen lots of newer vegans struggle because they attempt to go vegan and do other stuff (no added sugar, low fat, no caffeine, etc) at the same time.0 -
But how is she going to be vegan and cut out sugar and hit her nutritional targets?0
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The low carb forum is a sensible suggestion because the OP is looking for people to join her. I can guarantee that instead of a bunch of nos, nopes and memes she'd make friends, get encouragement and motivation (and a place to check in) from the monthly challenge thread.
It's a friendly, welcoming group for anyone -- low carb or not -- which is not something that can be found here on the main forums. Which is a shame.0 -
janejellyroll wrote: »WinoGelato wrote: »If the OP doesn't come back and clarify what she meant by the word "junk", why it is just for the month of December, and if in fact she is going vegan (although I'm not sure where that came from - maybe another thread the OP started or posted in), it's really just a lot of speculation from all of us which is likely to lead to pointless bickering... which, really, is pretty much the same as any other sugar thread, now that I think about it!
It was in another thread and I apologize for muddying the waters by bringing it up in this one. I've just seen lots of newer vegans struggle because they attempt to go vegan and do other stuff (no added sugar, low fat, no caffeine, etc) at the same time.
No, it's totally relevant, I just wasn't sure where it originated from. I think a lot of times people think, "well if one change is good, LOTS of change is going to be even better!" and sometimes those changes are potentially incompatible or just straight up too restrictive and can lead to abandonment.0 -
Pretty much all the high cal sweets I get tempted by during the holidays are off the table anyway on a vegan diet. The cheese at wine and cheese parties, the pie, the cake, the cookies, the chocolate. Even the latkes, not to mention the sour cream I like with them. You can make vegan versions of most of this stuff, but it takes more effort so wouldn't be the same kind of easy temptation.
And in case this sounds negative, let me just say that I love the holidays.0 -
AlabasterVerve wrote: »The low carb forum is a sensible suggestion because the OP is looking for people to join her. I can guarantee that instead of a bunch of nos, nopes and memes she'd make friends, get encouragement and motivation (and a place to check in) from the monthly challenge thread.
It's a friendly, welcoming group for anyone -- low carb or not -- which is not something that can be found here on the main forums. Which is a shame.
It's closed. Last time I peeked in (before it was closed) it certainly did not feel welcoming.
I'd think the "clean eating" group is a much better match, or a vegan group.0 -
AlabasterVerve wrote: »The low carb forum is a sensible suggestion because the OP is looking for people to join her. I can guarantee that instead of a bunch of nos, nopes and memes she'd make friends, get encouragement and motivation (and a place to check in) from the monthly challenge thread.
It's a friendly, welcoming group for anyone -- low carb or not -- which is not something that can be found here on the main forums. Which is a shame.
I disagree with that. I think there is a lot of helpful advice on the main forums. Most of the people on my friends list I have encountered initially through the main forums and respect for one another's point of view.
Additionally, as I've mentioned, I think the OP's parameters are pretty vague and may not in fact be compatible with each other (ie going vegan and cutting out all sugar), and as @lemurcat12 has pointed out I'm not convinced that what she meant by "no junk" was directly aligned with LC. So I do think that rather than shepherding her off to a group where she will get encouragement and atta girls, keeping topics like this in the main forum with some clarifying question about what OP meant, what her specific goals are, etc - may help open up a variety of suggestions to help her achieve those goals.
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Pretty much all the high cal sweets I get tempted by during the holidays are off the table anyway on a vegan diet. The cheese at wine and cheese parties, the pie, the cake, the cookies, the chocolate. Even the latkes, not to mention the sour cream I like with them. You can make vegan versions of most of this stuff, but it takes more effort so wouldn't be the same kind of easy temptation.
And in case this sounds negative, let me just say that I love the holidays.
I was thinking fruits and veg tbh0 -
WinoGelato wrote: »AlabasterVerve wrote: »The low carb forum is a sensible suggestion because the OP is looking for people to join her. I can guarantee that instead of a bunch of nos, nopes and memes she'd make friends, get encouragement and motivation (and a place to check in) from the monthly challenge thread.
It's a friendly, welcoming group for anyone -- low carb or not -- which is not something that can be found here on the main forums. Which is a shame.
I disagree with that. I think there is a lot of helpful advice on the main forums. Most of the people on my friends list I have encountered initially through the main forums and respect for one another's point of view.
Additionally, as I've mentioned, I think the OP's parameters are pretty vague and may not in fact be compatible with each other (ie going vegan and cutting out all sugar), and as @lemurcat12 has pointed out I'm not convinced that what she meant by "no junk" was directly aligned with LC. So I do think that rather than shepherding her off to a group where she will get encouragement and atta girls, keeping topics like this in the main forum with some clarifying question about what OP meant, what her specific goals are, etc - may help open up a variety of suggestions to help her achieve those goals.
I know exactly what she means when she says "I've been allowing myself too many sweets lately and need to break the habit" -- and I dare say everyone else in the low carb forum does as well -- it's not incompatible with any eating plan and anywhere else in the world it would be considered a perfectly sensible thing to do.
The topic is already in the main forum so there is no downside to suggesting a support group as well -- that's all part of the "variety of suggestions" no?0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »AlabasterVerve wrote: »The low carb forum is a sensible suggestion because the OP is looking for people to join her. I can guarantee that instead of a bunch of nos, nopes and memes she'd make friends, get encouragement and motivation (and a place to check in) from the monthly challenge thread.
It's a friendly, welcoming group for anyone -- low carb or not -- which is not something that can be found here on the main forums. Which is a shame.
It's closed. Last time I peeked in (before it was closed) it certainly did not feel welcoming.
I'd think the "clean eating" group is a much better match, or a vegan group.
I think the clean eating group is an excellent suggestion for someone wanting to cut back on the junk. Personally, I preferred to go the route of allowing small treats but that was just what worked for me. A few squares of high quality dark chocolate per day almost always fit into my calorie allotment and macros.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »We disagree about the obvious assumption within ketomom's comment.
And I also disagree that there is likely to be any similarity in eating style or that hanging out in a low carb forum if one is not low carb would be a sensible thing to do merely because one was trying to focus on eating a nutrient-dense (and "no junk") diet. For example, cutting out "sugar" for the keto world tends to include fruit (or most fruits), limiting carrots and beets, and often is used broadly to encompass all carbs (since they become sugar in the body). Many people limit or cut out added sugar without being low carb, and not all low carbers do (and many who do use things like stevia or other artificial sweeteners, which would likely be among that OP is avoiding). But I suppose this goes with the point WinoGelato made above, which is that "junk" is probably too vague to allow for meaningful comments.
Anyway, if we all agree that "no junk" doesn't mean "low carb," then we are in agreement about the important stuff, so no need to argue.
I think the obvious assumption has less to do with the actual comment and more to do with personal perceptions of the source. Regardless, I don't think suggesting the low carb is not a sensible suggestion - one does not have to eat low carb in order to benefit from some of the ideas. Take what you need and leave the rest, as people often say around here. Just because someone else may choose to eliminate certain foods from their diet as one aspect of their way of eating doesn't mean that someone else can't benefit from ideas where dietary practices overlap.0 -
AlabasterVerve wrote: »I know exactly what she means when she says "I've been allowing myself too many sweets lately and need to break the habit" -- and I dare say everyone else in the low carb forum does as well -- it's not incompatible with any eating plan and anywhere else in the world it would be considered a perfectly sensible thing to do.
Yes, that part of what she said is not ambiguous and everyone understands it. And most of us have dealt with it -- it's not a low carb specific thing. For example, as I mentioned upthread, I cut out added sugar last January. I did not, however, go low carb as a result, and I'm not even vegan. (And I certainly did not think it would improve the health of my diet to cut out fruit or worry about how many carbs might be in root vegetables or winter squash. Thus, I do not think that "I want to break my habit of overeating sweet things" = low carb.)
Moreover, OP also said that she wants to cut out "junk" (whatever that means), and we know she's cutting out meat and eggs and dairy. I realize that in low carb lingo junk seems to mean carbs (despite cwolfman's excellent points above) but many people do not define it so generally, on the one hand, and on the other many (including the USDA) include saturated fat as "empty calories" so might well consider cheese or pork rinds or bacon or whatever is in a fat bomb or coffee with hundreds of calories of oil or cream or butter to be "junk" too. Not saying I do -- I don't use the term "junk" for the most part -- but it is hardly difficult to imagine.
In any case, no need to debate this here if we all agree that "junk" is not, in fact, equivalent to "carbs."0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »We disagree about the obvious assumption within ketomom's comment.
And I also disagree that there is likely to be any similarity in eating style or that hanging out in a low carb forum if one is not low carb would be a sensible thing to do merely because one was trying to focus on eating a nutrient-dense (and "no junk") diet. For example, cutting out "sugar" for the keto world tends to include fruit (or most fruits), limiting carrots and beets, and often is used broadly to encompass all carbs (since they become sugar in the body). Many people limit or cut out added sugar without being low carb, and not all low carbers do (and many who do use things like stevia or other artificial sweeteners, which would likely be among that OP is avoiding). But I suppose this goes with the point WinoGelato made above, which is that "junk" is probably too vague to allow for meaningful comments.
Anyway, if we all agree that "no junk" doesn't mean "low carb," then we are in agreement about the important stuff, so no need to argue.
I think the obvious assumption has less to do with the actual comment and more to do with personal perceptions of the source. Regardless, I don't think suggesting the low carb is not a sensible suggestion - one does not have to eat low carb in order to benefit from some of the ideas. Take what you need and leave the rest, as people often say around here. Just because someone else may choose to eliminate certain foods from their diet as one aspect of their way of eating doesn't mean that someone else can't benefit from ideas where dietary practices overlap.
Let's see, there are lots of people on the general forum who try to eat a nutrient dense diet and include some lower nutrient things in small numbers.
Then there are lots of people who are trying to do a vegan diet and many of those are also really focused on nutrition. Some, not all, cut out "junk" as they define it, whereas others don't really define foods that way and simply try to eat an overall healthy diet.
There are also the "clean eaters," who pretty much do what OP seems to want to do, and have a group.
There are also many time period focused challenges (I'm in one, have been in others) that tend to have the participants set their own goals and encourage each other.
And then we come to the low carb group, which is focused on reducing the # of carbs one eats and in some cases (but quite often not) also on eating an overall healthful diet (beyond lowering carbs). Many or most think that fruit is to be avoided, whole grains of course, oats, legumes (or eaten only in tiny quantities), etc. Many or most include lots of foods that others might consider "junk" in their diets.
Given just these 5 options, and I'm sure there are many more, and given that OP can certainly take what she likes and dismiss the rest, low carb still seems like the worst or least well fitting option. I know we are supposed to pretend like "low carb" means "cares more about nutrition than others," but of course that's not true. As cwolfman pointed out, carbs are often high in nutrients and sought out by people concerned about eating a healthful diet. Saying "I want to cut out junk" by no means should be taken to mean "I want to go low carb." Anyone who thinks carbs are mostly "junk" is uneducated about nutrition.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »We disagree about the obvious assumption within ketomom's comment.
And I also disagree that there is likely to be any similarity in eating style or that hanging out in a low carb forum if one is not low carb would be a sensible thing to do merely because one was trying to focus on eating a nutrient-dense (and "no junk") diet. For example, cutting out "sugar" for the keto world tends to include fruit (or most fruits), limiting carrots and beets, and often is used broadly to encompass all carbs (since they become sugar in the body). Many people limit or cut out added sugar without being low carb, and not all low carbers do (and many who do use things like stevia or other artificial sweeteners, which would likely be among that OP is avoiding). But I suppose this goes with the point WinoGelato made above, which is that "junk" is probably too vague to allow for meaningful comments.
Anyway, if we all agree that "no junk" doesn't mean "low carb," then we are in agreement about the important stuff, so no need to argue.
I think the obvious assumption has less to do with the actual comment and more to do with personal perceptions of the source. Regardless, I don't think suggesting the low carb is not a sensible suggestion - one does not have to eat low carb in order to benefit from some of the ideas. Take what you need and leave the rest, as people often say around here. Just because someone else may choose to eliminate certain foods from their diet as one aspect of their way of eating doesn't mean that someone else can't benefit from ideas where dietary practices overlap.
That is an intensely convoluted rationalisation for a referral to an irrelevant group based on the op's stated requirements0 -
I based my welcome to join the LowCarbDaily on the OP's statement:natalienwilson9 wrote: »I've been allowing myself too many sweets and need to break the habit. Anyone wanna join me?
I think of sweets as carbs, although it is possible the OP meant too many sugar substitutes in their protein or fats.
The OP asked if anyone wanted to join her, and it appeared not many did, so I thought the LowCarberDaily could be a source of support. It is a good place to find recipes and support if cutting sweets.
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http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/133-clean-eating-group
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/100425-eating-to-live
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/109696-vegan-vegetarian-whole-food-eaters-unite
There are probably many others that seem a better fit for a vegan who says she wants to cut out "junk food." Again, there is nothing about doing low carb that requires you to cut out "junk food." Lots of foods people would consider such are low carb/high fat.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/133-clean-eating-group
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/100425-eating-to-live
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/109696-vegan-vegetarian-whole-food-eaters-unite
There are probably many others that seem a better fit for a vegan who says she wants to cut out "junk food." Again, there is nothing about doing low carb that requires you to cut out "junk food." Lots of foods people would consider such are low carb/high fat.
That may be true.
I never said she needed to cut out "junk". I'm sure the OP will the support she wants somewhere.0 -
I didn't eat sweets for quite a few years as a vegetarian, but I certainly did not qualify as eating a low carbohydrate diet.
I think the OP would find more support or people with similar diets in a clean eating group where people are eating plant based, carbohydrate-rich diets. A vegan/vegetarian support group or eat to live are both good suggestions.0 -
giasbash6260 wrote: »I have been sugar-free for 14 years, it's so worth it and friggin' tasty!! You just have to expand your horizons!
I'm trying to figure out how you were sugar free. Fruits, veggies, milks, and many other foods have sugar in them.
Do you mean you have eaten no added sugar in 14 years? Even that seems an impossible feat.natalienwilson9 wrote: »So today I've decided that I will have no junk for a month! I've been allowing myself too many sweets and need to break the habit. Anyone wanna join me?
Will you please define junk?
In my opinion, there is no junk there is only food. Lots of good food.
I just had the most amazing Steve's dairy free salted caramel ice cream. Yesterday I had a different kind of ice cream, and the day before too.
Have you considered moderating your sweets? Maybe have a serving a day or something?0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Why is it assumed that "no junk" = "low carb"?
It's that superiority thing, of course.
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PeachyCarol wrote: »I didn't eat sweets for quite a few years as a vegetarian, but I certainly did not qualify as eating a low carbohydrate diet.
I think the OP would find more support or people with similar diets in a clean eating group where people are eating plant based, carbohydrate-rich diets. A vegan/vegetarian support group or eat to live are both good suggestions.
Same here. I have never been low carb before, and I avoided all cakes, cookies, candies, chips, and the like, for several years.
Low carb and cutting out sugar are not synonymous.0 -
giasbash6260 wrote: »I have been sugar-free for 14 years, it's so worth it and friggin' tasty!! You just have to expand your horizons!
14 years is a long time and a record perhaps on MFP.0
This discussion has been closed.
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