Sugar Free until 2015

I give it til Halloween. But good luck!

I agree. Sounds dreadful but if that's what you feel you have to do to stay on track, go for it.

Do you know how much sugar is in ketchup? :sad:

No. Way. Isn't sugar the foundation of the food pyramid? Or is that beer? I get them confused.

But...but....but.... Christmas cookies.

I have not given up on indulgences, but I have switched up a whole lot and have been eating a TON less sugar. I do eat a dark chocolate square here and there, and ate a halloween mellowcreme pumpkin the other day (lol, shame on me). BUT.... other than the chocolate (Which there is only 4g of sugar in the Ghiradelli Sea Salt Soiree squares per square, and I limit myself to 1, which they are rich so only one needed, in my opinion :happy: ) I have only been getting my sugar in foods I eat from fruit and dairy, which is naturally occurring.
Since I've switched it up, no more sugar crashes, and I feel much more balanced overall and it's fantastic.

but. but. why?

I know exactly how you feel, I can't just have a square of chocolate or a handful of whatever. I'm doing the 30 day no junk challenge, which I'm doing mostly so that I can learn self control. It's been easier than expected, I have messed up twice but not majorly and I plan on doing the whole 30 days since my 2nd mistake. I'm hoping by the end of the month, I'll be able to just say no when I don't need junk and just limit any junk to once a week or something. I've been finding healthier versions when I feel like I want sweet stuff, usually on the form of fruit or yogurt. So maybe start with a 39 day challenge, and continue if you want? For me, saying till 2015 is daunting, whereas if you start off with smaller goals it may be easier to conquer.

It's your choice though! Good luck

Good for you. That's a great goal. Expect some setbacks. There may be times when you fall off the wagon, but keep your eyes on the goal. I'm on a pretty low sugar diet too. A family history of T2 diabetes convinced me to eliminate as much starch and sugar from my diet as I could. Unfortunately, you're going to find some here mocking your dietary choices, but you don't have to justify your choices to anyone here.

Hi EmilyAnn.
I totally understand your plight, I am kind of similar.
I grew up in the 70's, even though dad worked, we never knew were next meal was coming from, so mum used to drill it in to us kids, don't waste anything.

Now 40 years on, that mentality never truly leaves ya, and it can be anything, a bag of 6 packets of crisps, can't just eat 1, has to be all 6, daren't leave any.

Basically if it can be opened or grabbed and eaten without cooking, I go back to those child hood teachings and it almost impossible to leave it alone.

Now if it has to be cooked, thats different, so now I make sure I get stuff for freezer that has to be done in oven or grill, so if I want something I have that bit of time from going to get it to actually cooking it to think mmm, do I really need to eat this?

Still not easy but easier.

But don't go completely sugar free, I'm a diabetic and can tell ya, as good as it might sound, it will send ya into a bad cycle of cravings and cheat days.

Look for foods with overall carbs, but the ones which have an extremely low carbs that sugar.

12g overall carbs = 1 spoon of sugar over time
1g of carbs that sugar = 1 spoon of sugar instantly

Now when i want to be a bit naughty, and I have to be very careful as i managed to get off insulin injections so diet n tab control only, i'll go over to my friends place, he always has junk food in, but because it his home, and not mine, it easy then to just have a couple of biscuits or packets of crisps, think yayyy been naughty, then back home and back to normal, and since I don't keep anything like that in house can't binge out.

Hope that helps you out in some way.

Good morning MFP friends!

I have recently had an extremely difficult time fighting sugar cravings, giving in to them, sugar crashing, then repeating the cycle. I'm not one of those people that can just have a bite of something sweet and be satisfied, because I end up ruining the rest of my day and suffer many "food hangovers" the next day. I've finally decided enough is enough and I'm ready to quit desserts, cookies, brownies, cake, etc. for the rest of the year. I know the first couple weeks will be the most difficult, but I can't wait until those cravings slowly start to disappear and I start enjoying real food again.

I'd love for some of you to join this "sugar addict rehab" with me and share our support for one another. :flowerforyou:

Today is DAY ONE!

I think the problem is you've said is that you want to go 'sugar free', which not only being impractical is impossible. Your body runs on sugar in it's many forms some it makes itself some you ingest. There is a form of sugar in almost everything and your brain needs it just to function.

This thread may have got gone better if you'd just said you were giving up sweet things that give you cravings and that you find it difficult to moderate rather than such as non achievable blanket statement. I applaud your positive mindset but make sure you make goals that are achievable as failure of impossible goals can cause huge mental set backs. Good luck

]I think the problem is you've said is that you want to go 'sugar free', which not only being impractical is impossible. Your body runs on sugar in it's many forms some it makes itself some you ingest. There is a form of sugar in almost everything and your brain needs it just to function.

This thread may have got gone better if you'd just said you were giving up sweet things that give you cravings and that you find it difficult to moderate rather than such as non achievable blanket statement. I applaud your positive mindset but make sure you make goals that are achievable as failure of impossible goals can cause huge mental set backs. Good luck

i don't think she meant giving up sugar such as natural sugar that is in a banana or a carrot. you twisted her post.

No. Way. Isn't sugar the foundation of the food pyramid? Or is that beer? I get them confused.

It's screwdrivers. That way you get the sugar AND the alcohol.

AWESOME!

Unfortunately, I agree with.. uh.. whoever it was who said that "totally sugar-free" is unrealistic - aim to minimize, with a goal of zero.

I aim my total carb count at about 20g per day (sugar and starch combined) and it's remarkably easy. Not stressing over a single raisin [or whatever] makes the difference between "OH GOD I FAILED" and "Meh, I'm still within my goal."

Good luck!