Sugar

ellenaj52

I have been on one diet after another my whole life. I finally got to the point where I would not eat or skip meals to try and lose weight. I was very frustrated to say the least. I would ask seemingly, "naturally skinny people" what they would eat and more often than not their answer would be, "Why I eat all the time!" This was hard for me to understand as I was hungry all the time and getting no where.

A few years back I tried the low fat, high carbohydrate diet. I gained weight!

Then I tried a very popular diet and good diet which even allowed an occasional cheat. I stayed at my same weight but did not lose on this diet. With this diet I realized that I had put my body in starvation mode and as a result I was miserable. I felt I had to come to terms with eating food again. I was getting to the point of being afraid to eat!

Then I learned about Fitness Pal. I didn't lose weight at first. Then I changed my profile and began to seriously think about sugar intake from all foods. Our body does not really need extra sugar. There is no nutritional benefit from eating extra sugars. We get enough sugar in natural healthy foods. If you look it is added to everything, which is not good for us.

This lead me to the library and I began checking out books about the dangers of sugar. I began reading labels and making an honest attempt at finding out where hidden sugars were and trying to limit sugar as much as possible.

Well for the first time in my life my weight is dropping! I feel so good about this as finally I am getting results and I am able to eat foods. In fact I eat every 3-4 hours and my weight is now dropping. It is insane to be on a diet and get no where. I have also made up my mind that I am not going to substitute artificial for real sugar. I feel this is unhealthy. I just need to get used to not liking the sugar taste.

I condone eating fruits and vegetables but often foods like bananas etc. have a lot of natural sugar. So this does not mean I can eat 4 bananas. They have to be counted in my total sugar content for the day. I have choices during the day. Do I want to eat a bowl of enriched cereal or a banana? Why does the cereal need to be enriched in the first place? Could it possibly be that there was little nutritional value from the beginning? Instead perhaps have a nice piece of Salmon instead for breakfast?

I also think it is important to eat "Whole foods." Stay away from prepackaged foods. Instead make your own food!

I also now eat every 3-4 hours, watching portion control. Also every time I eat I balance foods. In other words I always have some protein or good fat with every meal or snack. It keeps my blood sugar in control.

Does this mean I can never have a treat or forbidden food? I would say not often, but when I do it had better be something that is worth waiting for as I have been good till then. I eat real food with real cream, no diet stuff! I want it to be a real treat!

I feel this is how I have to eat for the rest of my life but at least I have come to terms with food. I have become one of those people who eat all the time and hopefully will soon be the slim, trim, person, I have always desired to become. KIck that sugar habit in all forms. Keep it low and eat healthy and all the time!