No Sugar Challenge!

haliesuzy

This week, some friends from Facebook are joining me here on myfitnesspal for a No Sugar Challenge. The challenge will run from tonight at midnight through next Friday midnight. Anyone is welcome to join our challenge, so feel free to make positive contributions to the discussion. Participants will appreciate hearing healthy ways to avoid sucrose, such as sugar-free recipes and overall healthy eating tips. The main goal of this week, however, is to avoid sugar, so we'll be helping each other through those first rough days of cutting soda and junk from the diet and replacing them with water and healthy meals.

To join the challenge, please reply to this thread. We look forward to hearing about you and where you are with your goals for healthy eating.

Halie Hovenga

sblair77

I can't do it this week due to family being in town but next week I am going to give this a go!

TLC1975

If it doesn't include fruit, I'm in!

Paulette56

The first three days are the hardest. If you can make it over the withdrawal (sugar is like a drug) you can get control over those awful cravings. If you stick to it, you will eventually find that everything tastes sweeter because you become so much more sensative to it. One day while making a salad, I dropped some on the counter and picked it up and ate it. I could not believe that lettuce actually has flavor all by its self! Who would have thought???

Best wishes on your quest. I've been sugar-free since January 2011 and feel so much better. Less aches and pains even.

fittocycle

I'd love to join this challenge! I think reducing sugar will also help lower my cholesterol. At least I hope it will!

AnneMK5

I'm not joining but just wishing you all great success and encouragement to remain sugar free even after next Friday.

I vowed to myself back at the end of December (2010) to become sugar free due to finally realizing the I am a total and complete sugar addict. I have been happily successful. I will admit that over the last month or so I had a half of an organic candy bar and a little bit of soy ice cream. Those were a definite treat.

The first couple weeks were a challenge. You will go through withdrawals. You may experience headache, the shakes and moodiness. Those things will go away over time.
Read the nutrition label of every process food your thinking of eating. Any thing ending in "ose" is a form of sugar. Watch out for the sugar substitutes like aspartame.

I'd be happy to tell more about my journey or answer any question if anyone wants to know.

Again, Good luck to you all.

wdwghettogirl

Are you talking no processed sugar (i.e. cookies, cakes, candy, etc.)? or no sugar whatsoever? Fruits are very high in sugar and veggies have some as well. Almost everything has some sugar in it. I'm with TLC1975, if it doesn't include natural sugars, I'm in too.

bgoeke4

Totally down!

haliesuzy

Totally down!

Bridget, So cool to see that you're joining us! And I'm amazed to see all the interest from people on MyFitnessPal (so cool!)

Halie

haliesuzy

Are you talking no processed sugar (i.e. cookies, cakes, candy, etc.)? or no sugar whatsoever? Fruits are very high in sugar and veggies have some as well. Almost everything has some sugar in it. I'm with TLC1975, if it doesn't include natural sugars, I'm in too.

To reply to both of you, first, I apologize for not clarifying here in this thread the details of the challenge. I didn't expect so much interest, but I'm thrilled to see people getting motivated to join this challenge.

Okay, Fruits are allowed! We're going sucrose free. So processed foods like cereals, candies, cookies, etc. with sucrose are OUT. But fruits are IN!

Halie

monalisahofmann

I'm in:) This is a great way to help and motivate a friend in need as well as friends who don't want to admit that they are in need to reevaluate themselves.:flowerforyou:

haliesuzy

On Truvia / Stevia in Coffee

A while ago, I joined myfitnesspal to lose some weight, and I started watching where my calories come from. I was amazed by how many calories milk has, which was a problem because I was drinking 2-3 lattes a day (3+ cups of 2% milk). Obviously, I had to cut down some milk calories, so I started drinking smaller (stronger) lattes. I've become pretty creative at the types of coffees I make and how little milk I need, but with less milk comes MORE SUGAR. Obviously, I was trading milk calories for sugar calories. This was a problem for my fitness goals (trying to convert body fat to muscle), so I bought some (all natural and wonderful) stevia in Truvia form to give it a try.

Let me just say, Truvia is terrible in coffee! So I'm at a loss. I have to now drink my coffee stronger and stronger (no sugar and less milk). Yes, I can switch/drink tea with Truvia, and it is good, but I miss the lattes (which remind me of the social pleasures in Spain & Europe from living there for three years). I wonder if anyone has any ideas / solutions?

Halie

haliesuzy

Anne,

Thanks for your input. A friend of mine inspired me to do this challenge, and her health needs require that she abstain from sugar substitutes as well. She is okay with fructose. Most of us will have different requirements, and some are joining just to give a particular friend support, so most are abstaining only from sucrose (just to make it simple). That being said, your contributions sounds like just what would help my friend. I don't see her on here yet, but I hope she has the opportunity to learn from you!

Halie

haliesuzy

Sorry, just learning this board. This comment was to AnneMK5.
Halie

mikey1976

this is amazing topic if you look at food lables close enough you will see sugars in alot of thing you wouldn't exspect it in like ketchup. i no longer use it. i totaly agree sugar is hard to quiet because you can't walk into a store with out seeing candy. i'm in on this journey of no sugar

haliesuzy

this is amazing topic if you look at food lables close enough you will see sugars in alot of thing you wouldn't exspect it in like ketchup. i no longer use it. i totaly agree sugar is hard to quiet because you can't walk into a store with out seeing candy. i'm in on this journey of no sugar

Mikey,

Your thoughts on added sugar in products go me searching the net for a good source of information. I found a very long .pdf put out by the govt. with product numbers and the amount of added sugar, but I found it too complex for most of us. Thankfully, I just found another document that's informative but meant for the average consumer, and I believe it will be helpful for those of us making a genuine effort to reduce the "added" sugar in our foods, which we're trying hard to avoid starting at midnight tonight.

Check it out here: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/html/chapter8.html (scroll down about half way).

The entire "book" looks very informative for those seeking comprehensive advice on healthy eating: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/contents.htm

An excellent article from the Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/added-sugar/my00845

If anyone finds other good sources of information, please feel free to share.

Halie

NubyGloom

So healthy sugars are a go? or no honey ..extra! Iam down been thinking about doing this kind of challenge for a cuple weeks, but knew I had no susport on it.. right know Iam on a no cheese challenge! but would love to add the no sugar! sounds like fun!

mags911

Aww first I cut my carbs by eliminating processed starches and now you are going to get me to give up my fun pops and flavored yogurt too! Maybe baby steps is the way for me but I am supportive 100%. You can do it!

haliesuzy

So healthy sugars are a go? or no honey ..extra! Iam down been thinking about doing this kind of challenge for a cuple weeks, but knew I had no susport on it.. right know Iam on a no cheese challenge! but would love to add the no sugar! sounds like fun!

Nubygloom,

We're all accountable to ourselves, and each of us has different requirements. And the more I learn, the more I realize that it's the "added sugars" that are bad. For this challenge, fruits are allowed, and honey is allowed. Some may allow themselves artificial sweeteners (no problem with stevia, for example), while others will choose to forego all sweeteners. I think the most important thing we'll get out of this exercise is the knowledge of where all the added sugars are coming from. Hopefully, we'll learn how to make smarter choices at the grocery store and how to prepare healthy meals to replace the junk we're conditioned to eat. For some of us, this is a health requirement at the advice of a doctor, while for others, this is an effort to eat healthier or get in shape. No matter what your reason, we welcome you to join along this week.

Halie

Ariyasnow1

Good luck everyone! You are truly doing yourself a huge favor by cutting out process sugars (and sweeteners if you can do it) from your diet. I've been off of processed sugar for months now and the results are amazing for weight lost and overall health.
It is also true about how more sensitive your taste buds get. Fruits are super sweet to me now and I love them. If I want desert I usually will grab a banana or an apple. Blueberries also never tasted so good!
Sugar however is indeed in a large majority of processed/packaged foods, and also breads! So be prepared to go primal/natural with your eating habits/selections if you want to hit this challenge full on.

NubyGloom

ok sweet! thanks. that all makes perfect sence! so glad to finally start this challenge! I already had to cut out one thing. the peanut butter my roommates have i usually bought real peanut butter but latley just using there and found they have sugar in it wow! lol they sneak that stuff in every thing lol! and Thanks so much for posting this challenge up! ^^ i greatly greatly enjoy this challenge!:happy:

ShellyWashington

Okay so I guess I should confess now...at first I really didn't want to bother with this "myfitnesspal" thing but I must say I am now actually excited about this "no sugar challenge". I think I am going to learn a whole lot. Thanks Halie !!! =0)

fittocycle

I'm wondering if you all have been successful in staying within the MFP sugar guidelines? That's my goal but it's tough-just eating fruit adds a lot of sugar!
Someone said the scale will go down with eating less sugar and I have to believe that's true. I'm excited about this challenge!

haliesuzy

Okay so I guess I should confess now...at first I really didn't want to bother with this "myfitnesspal" thing but I must say I am now actually excited about this "no sugar challenge". I think I am going to learn a whole lot. Thanks Halie !!! =0)

Shelly,

I knew you might think I was a pain in the *kitten*, but it's the only way I knew how to be supportive. I think what you're doing is really brave and intelligent, and I want to be here for you. It's only one week that we'll do this on myfitnesspal, and as you can see, a LOT of people on here are tackling or have already tackled this sugar issue. I mean, look at the great encouragement and advice already :-)

The support of friends and community goes a long way in helping you to reach your goals. And as you can see, everyone on here wants us to succeed and learn. It's a very good thing!

Halie

JBBV

This has proved more difficult than I imagined. I've been down this road before (to an extreme [Atkin's Diet]) in support of my husband's health concerns). Now-a-days we are focusing on a more middle-of-the-road approach -- everything in moderation.

My personal sugar addiction is Pepsi. I swear I was weaned on the stuff, LOL! I did slip up once this week when I split a can with my husband, but thanks to you Halie for this challenge, and to everyone who has joined in support, I believe I will make it through :-)

Regarding Agave, you may be interrested in the following c/p from Mercola.com:

"Is Organic Raw Agave Syrup a Healthy Sweetener?"

Agave syrup is a sweetener derived from agave, a desert plant found in the western and southern United States, Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. Agave is more popularly known as the plant used to make tequila but agave syrup (also known as agave nectar) has actually been used for thousands of years as a food ingredient. Mexicans call it aguamiel or “honey water” because it is about 40 percent sweeter than sugar.
Because of the increasing awareness of the dangers of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), people have turned to “healthier” sugar alternatives, which is what food manufacturers are marketing agave syrup to be. But don’t be fooled, Dr. Joseph Mercola warns, because agave syrup is actually WORSE than HFCS!

Before anything else, why is fructose so unhealthy for you? First, your body metabolizes fructose very differently from glucose, the form of sugar every cell in your body uses for energy. Fructose is broken down in your liver in the same way as alcohol and is directly converted into dangerous fats, making you, well, fat. Consuming too much fructose is a major risk factor for obesity and weight gain, spikes your uric acid levels and impairs your appetite control mechanism, among other things, Mercola explains.
Here are the reasons why Dr. Mercola believes you should avoid agave syrup like the plague:

Agave syrup contains the highest amount of fructose – anywhere between 70 to 97 percent, depending on the brand – among all commercial sweetener s, which is FAR HIGHER than HFCS (55 percent on average).
Agave syrup is a highly-processed sweetener. Food manufacturers would like you to believe that agave nectar flows from the agave plant to the jar when in reality, the syrup is produced similarly to how cornstarch turns to HFCS. A natural agave syrup is available in Mexico but it is too expensive to produce. What you gets to the States is either the light or dark syrup – due to poor quality control, some of the product gets burnt and turns dark amber in color.
Agave syrup is highly addictive because it’s basically a sweeter and highly-concentrated form of sugar.
Agave syrup may be a highly sprayed crop. The FDA has rejected shipments of the product due to excessive pesticide residues.
Agave syrup has no nutritional value. It is not whole food or a live one. Processing has stripped it of the nutrients contained in the agave plant, and of natural enzymes to prevent it from fermenting into tequila.
Agave syrup contains large amounts of toxic steroid derivatives called saponins, which are associated with diarrhea, disruption of red blood cells and vomiting. Saponins also stimulate blood flow to the uterus, which is why pregnant women should avoid agave products due to the possible risk of miscarriage.
Agave syrup may contain an organic, heat-formed contaminant called hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which has suspected toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects.
Dr. Mercola advises a severely reduced consumption of sugar if you want to improve your health. But if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, there are healthier alternatives to HFCS and agave. Pure glucose will set you back about a dollar per pound and does not have the harmful effects of fructose when used in moderation. You can also try other health products and natural sweeteners like Lo Han and stevia. Again, the keywords are use in moderation.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/03/30/beware-of-the-agave-nectar-health-food.aspx

http://search.mercola.com/search/Pages/results.aspx?k=agave

http://www.drmercola.com/agave-syrup/7-reasons-why-you-should-avoid-agave-syrup/

JBBV

Here are a few more resources that may help:

http://www.mendosa.com/gi.htm
http://www.mendosa.com/common_foods.htm
http://www.mendosa.com/

haliesuzy

It's Day 6 of the No Sugar Challenge! If you've kept a diary on MFP, you can calculate the % of calories from the (hopefully natural sugar) you've eaten. To calculate the % cals from sugar for a day (or a meal), multiply total sugar grams x 4, divide by the total calories per day, & multiply by 100. How'd you do? Here's mine for the week: Sat 11%, Sun 14%, Mon 14%, Tues 13%, Wed 12%.

Note that these numbers are from naturally ocurring sugars (with the exception of the Subway slip up!). Anyone have any thoughts on these numbers or the value of making such a calculation?

Halie

haliesuzy

Here are a few more resources that may help:

http://www.mendosa.com/gi.htm
http://www.mendosa.com/common_foods.htm
http://www.mendosa.com/

JBBV,

Thanks for sharing these links and the info on agave! ;-)

Halie