Sugar

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

Hi everyone! So, yesterday I posted in the Food discussion board that I had decided to cut out sugar from my diet cold turkey for the next 21 days to see if I feel better, look better, have more energy, lose some weight, etc... I guess I made the mistake of saying that sugar is poison, as that statement didn't go over too well with a few folks. Anyway, that is beside the point and I am happy to report that I made it 2 days, 2 DAYS!!!without sugar!
Yes, I know vegetables even have sugar, but I'm talking about all things refined and processed and the cause of my serious weight gain over the last 6 months. I'm feeling pretty good, but tired and I have a headache, but when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was down 4 pounds just from yesterday. I know, probably mostly water weight, but it's okay...my weight will hopefully trend in the right direction now. Anyway, could use encouragement, advice, or any new friends who'd like to join me. I'm using the 21 day sugar detox. I am just following the list that I found on google images with the list of yes food and no foods!

mysteps2beauty · October 2016

I'm here for you!!!! Guess what...just like high school, some people are for you, and some people aren't...Just like life, you get to pick your friends.....so don't wait for them to come to you....search the ones who are asking the same questions as you.

I'm here for my 2nd time on MFP, 3rd time dieting in my 56 years....

I am choosing less sugar and less sodium for health reasons....
Working for me...have lost 15 lbs, 10 while here on MFP...
....do I care what others say....yes, yes, I do...but I will continue what I think is best for me, until what I think is not working...then I will shift to finally find the fit for me...this is a cycle for all of us...can you see yourself wearing the clothes from junior high...hopefully not, but whatever...you are evolving...try new (healthy) things give it a month, if not working move on.

Most people don't want to eschew the desirable things in life, and will attempt to intimidate you into thinking your path is wrong....i.e. sugar decrease...ong

my advice....do you what works for you, and if it doesn't, admit (publically or not) and do something else.

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

Thank you mysteps2beauty! You're so right! Great points and congratulations on your hard work and success! I love your screen name too!

snickerscharlie · October 2016

Wannabmarathoner wrote: »

Hi everyone! So, yesterday I posted in the Food discussion board that I had decided to cut out sugar from my diet cold turkey for the next 21 days to see if I feel better, look better, have more energy, lose some weight, etc... I guess I made the mistake of saying that sugar is poison, as that statement didn't go over too well with a few folks. Anyway, that is beside the point and I am happy to report that I made it 2 days, 2 DAYS!!!without sugar!
Yes, I know vegetables even have sugar, but I'm talking about all things refined and processed and the cause of my serious weight gain over the last 6 months. I'm feeling pretty good, but tired and I have a headache, but when I stepped on the scale this morning, I was down 4 pounds just from yesterday. I know, probably mostly water weight, but it's okay...my weight will hopefully trend in the right direction now. Anyway, could use encouragement, advice, or any new friends who'd like to join me. I'm using the 21 day sugar detox. I am just following the list that I found on google images with the list of yes food and no foods!

Just going to point out here - for others who are merely lurking and learning - that you absolutely DO NOT have to eliminate sugar from your diet in order to lose weight. If doing so causes you to lose weight it's only because you are now eating in a calorie deficit as a result, which means you are consuming less calories in a day than your body is able to burn off.

I guess I made the mistake of saying that sugar is poison, as that statement didn't go over too well with a few folks. Anyway, that is beside the point...

No, that's not beside the point. That IS the point.

Sugar, in and of itself, is not evil. Eliminating it is not magical. Nor do you need to "detox" from it, for 21 days or at all. And for most, having a "list of yes and no foods" is overly restrictive and - purely from a weight loss perspective - completely unnecessary. Demonizing foods gives it a power completely beyond its intention which is merely to fuel your body.

I'm not for a second suggesting that people go out and exclusively fill their day with all things deliciously sugary and ignore their overall nutrition. Nutrition *is* important. Different foods provide essential elements that your body requires. And striking that balance is what drives long term nutritional health.

So for those who want to lose weight without having to completely stop eating foods they happen to enjoy, they need to know that you absolutely CAN do that. The key is in applying moderation as opposed to elimination. Sugar - in all forms - can be a part of their successful weight loss plan.

I lost 75 lbs in one year simply by eating less and moving more. I ate the foods I enjoy, just less of them. I did allow myself daily 'treats.' But since I accounted for them in my calorie budget for each day, it did not negatively impact my weight loss efforts one bit. In fact - for me - those little treats were the very reason I could stick with my plan, long term, and lose the weight that I did.

For some people, elimination of anything sugary from their environment really IS the best way for them to lose weight. If having a stash of chocolate or a big tub of ice cream in the house will cause you to automatically hoover them both in a single sitting, you may well be one of those for whom moderation is not initially ideal.

The point is, different strategies work for different people. The key is to find out which one will work for you. But know that if your chosen route doesn't seem to be working for you once your initial enthusiasm wears thin, there's nothing wrong with re-thinking your strategy and taking a different route. At the very least, you'll have learned something about weight management - and yourself - in the process.

tl;dr : Whichever dietary vehicle you employ to take you to your weight management destination, the road all of us must travel on to get there is identical. Weight loss is driven by eating less than you burn.

And the rest is just personal preference.

WinoGelato · October 2016

mysteps2beauty wrote: »

I'm here for you!!!! Guess what...just like high school, some people are for you, and some people aren't...Just like life, you get to pick your friends.....so don't wait for them to come to you....search the ones who are asking the same questions as you.

I'm here for my 2nd time on MFP, 3rd time dieting in my 56 years....

I am choosing less sugar and less sodium for health reasons....
Working for me...have lost 15 lbs, 10 while here on MFP...
....do I care what others say....yes, yes, I do...but I will continue what I think is best for me, until what I think is not working...then I will shift to finally find the fit for me...this is a cycle for all of us...can you see yourself wearing the clothes from junior high...hopefully not, but whatever...you are evolving...try new (healthy) things give it a month, if not working move on.

Most people don't want to eschew the desirable things in life, and will attempt to intimidate you into thinking your path is wrong....i.e. sugar decrease...ong

my advice....do you what works for you, and if it doesn't, admit (publically or not) and do something else.

Actually, having participated in OPs other thread I just want to speak to the bolded part of your post. It isn't that people were poo pooing her because they don't want to give up sugar, that they were trying to derail her because they couldn't hack it themselves. It is that the OP was making bold and flat out incorrect statements that sugar is poison, referencing pseudoscience and debunked articles as her evidence.

Additionally, the point that many of us are trying to make is that you don't HAVE to give up sugar, or really anything that you enjoy, in order to be successful. Losing weight is hard enough, and there is so much misinformation out there (OP seems to have gotten her good/bad food guidelines from social media, Pinterest I'm guessing) without creating arbitrary, overly restrictive rules for yourself. Creating too restrictive of a plan is why so many people give up, and telling new members that you don't HAVE to give up the foods you enjoy to lose weight and that you CAN eat a healthy diet that includes added sugar and some processed foods is not being negative. It is being supportive, at least that is my intent.

OP I truly do wish you best of luck in this endeavor. Everyone has to figure out what is the right approach for themselves, but please lay off the "sugar is poison" rhetoric unless you want this thread to end up like the other. It's just a beacon for argument and I'm not sure why you felt it necessary to mention it again here.

6502programmer · October 2016

Wannabmarathoner wrote: »

I'm using the 21 day sugar detox. I am just following the list that I found on google images with the list of yes food and no foods!

Humans are omnivores. That means we're built to eat everything. I'm down 35 pounds in a year without any significant dietary changes. I eat less bread and rice, and choose more filling veggies in their place. My liver, kidneys, and skin do a wonderful job of detoxing my body, though I suspect my liver complains when I really tie one on.

Peeps of MFP: you don't have to sacrifice anything to lose weight. Some people eat only organic. Others eat only vegan. Some eat no sugar. It's all personal choice. My choice is a filling, satisfying diet that includes all the foods I want to eat, a well-rounded nutritional profile, and absolutely no sense of loss or deprivation because I am artificially limiting what I can eat.

French_Peasant · October 2016

mysteps2beauty wrote: »

I'm here for you!!!! Guess what...just like high school, some people are for you, and some people aren't...Just like life, you get to pick your friends.....so don't wait for them to come to you....search the ones who are asking the same questions as you.

I'm here for my 2nd time on MFP, 3rd time dieting in my 56 years....

I am choosing less sugar and less sodium for health reasons....
Working for me...have lost 15 lbs, 10 while here on MFP...
....do I care what others say....yes, yes, I do...but I will continue what I think is best for me, until what I think is not working...then I will shift to finally find the fit for me...this is a cycle for all of us...can you see yourself wearing the clothes from junior high...hopefully not, but whatever...you are evolving...try new (healthy) things give it a month, if not working move on.

Most people don't want to eschew the desirable things in life, and will attempt to intimidate you into thinking your path is wrong....i.e. sugar decrease...ong

my advice....do you what works for you, and if it doesn't, admit (publically or not) and do something else.

Yes, it is indeed like high school, with the blessing of some highly educated people who generously give and give and give of their time and wisdom, year over year, patiently, just for the gift of having the lightbulb turn on with the apt students, just for the pleasure of helping people learn. Personally, I feel like I've received an upper level college course in fitness and nutrition from the posters here. Thank you guys...I deeply appreciate the knowledge, and you have changed my life.

God help any man or woman whose goal is to fit back into the clothes of their pre pubescent or barely pubescent youth. Personally I love rocking the curves.

ETA to add, congratulations to the OP...although I have not specifically targeted sugar, I have cut out a lot of sugar loaded items and added in a lot of vegetables. It is very difficult to make that change, but the longer you stick with your chosen course, the easier it is.

snickerscharlie · October 2016

jmbmilholland wrote: »

God help any man or woman whose goal is to fit back into the clothes of their pre pubescent or barely pubescent youth.

At 62, I'd get arrested for indecent exposure if I did.

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

Thanks everyone! I am not here to debate the effects of sugar again. My #1 goal is to see if it is sugar that is causing some unusual symptoms I've been experiencing, and the only way to do that is to eliminate most things I've been consuming until a couple days ago. If I lose weight while I experiment then bonus!

snickerscharlie · October 2016

Wannabmarathoner wrote: »

Thanks everyone! I am not here to debate the effects of sugar again. My #1 goal is to see if it is sugar that is causing some unusual symptoms I've been experiencing, and the only way to do that is to eliminate most things I've been consuming until a couple days ago. If I lose weight while I experiment then bonus!

What unusual symptoms have you been experiencing?

kgeyser · October 2016

All,

Please review the following community guideline:

2. No Hi-Jacking, Trolling, or Flame-baiting

Please stay on-topic in an existing thread, and post new threads in the appropriate forum. Taking a thread off-topic is considered hi-jacking. Please either contribute politely and constructively to a topic, or move on without posting. This includes posts that encourage the drama in a topic to escalate, or posts intended to incite an uproar from the community.

Please stay on topic and do not derail the discussion into an argument about beliefs about sugar, even if you believe it is for the benefit of the OP or "lurkers."

Users are welcome to create their own topic and discuss viewpoints about sugar with anyone interested in participating in this topic, however any further off-topic comments in this thread can result in warnings.

Have an awesome weekend,

kgeyser
MFP Moderator

silverfiend · October 2016

kgeyser wrote: »

All,

Please review the following community guideline:

2. No Hi-Jacking, Trolling, or Flame-baiting

Please stay on-topic in an existing thread, and post new threads in the appropriate forum. Taking a thread off-topic is considered hi-jacking. Please either contribute politely and constructively to a topic, or move on without posting. This includes posts that encourage the drama in a topic to escalate, or posts intended to incite an uproar from the community.

Please stay on topic and do not derail the discussion into an argument about beliefs about sugar, even if you believe it is for the benefit of the OP or "lurkers."

Users are welcome to create their own topic and discuss viewpoints about sugar with anyone interested in participating in this topic, however any further off-topic comments in this thread can result in warnings.

Have an awesome weekend,

kgeyser
MFP Moderator

I have found this is a pure impossibility here for certain people.

To the OP, I hope you have success in your goal of cutting the added sugar out of your diet (it's VERY diffucult because its added to almost everything we buy).

Have you looked in the benefits of a ketogenic diet (the extension of removing just sugars)? If not, take some time to research it. It may answer some questions to whatever issues you are having. (just a guess since we don't know what they are)

MamaSooz89129 · October 2016

I started the 21 day sugar detox on July 1st, 2016. I am a sugarholic, and it was totally fogging up my brain, making me ache all over and making me fat of course! It was the hardest, most time consuming thing I've ever done diet-wise. That being said, it is what eventually brought me to MFP; it is what got me started on my quest for health. It got me off the sugar roller coaster. I am not completely sugar free now, but I am nowhere near what I was consuming before. Today is my 100-day anniversary on MFP and my profile says I'm down 17 lbs since joining - I'm actually down 28 pounds since July 1. I'm grateful I made that one choice to stick with it because it was the impetus for lots of other good food and exercise choices. Kudos to you and I wish you well, being sugar free for 21 days is the best decision you can make about your health. You won't be dependent on it anymore, you'll enjoy fruit and vegetables more - and you'll come to enjoy a quality treat once in awhile - and really savor it - far above a steady stream of cheap sugar thrills!

SLLRunner · October 2016

Wannabmarathoner wrote: »

Thanks everyone! I am not here to debate the effects of sugar again. My #1 goal is to see if it is sugar that is causing some unusual symptoms I've been experiencing, and the only way to do that is to eliminate most things I've been consuming until a couple days ago. If I lose weight while I experiment then bonus!

I also participated in your other thread and it got quite disturbing with all the sugar is poison allegations you were making because that sugar is poison or even bad for you is spreading misinformation. Sugar is simply another food, and we cannot live without sugar. Unless you eat only meat, you will not be able to cut out all sugar. My guess, however, is that you mean added sugar into sweets, etc.

Believe me, sugar and I have a sordid history rooted in a lifetime of obesity. I cut out sweets and treats for years because I was convinced it was causing my weight gain. Guess what? didn't no lose any weight, and I continued to gain weight.

At one time, I was also convinced that sugar was causing me other problems: waking up in a handover-type states, stomach cramps, nausea, and great poops. This was during a time when I was binging a lot on cookies, cakes, candy, etc. The interesting thing is that when I ate these food in moderation, I felt fine. It was only when I binged on these foods that I ended up with symptoms. Guess what? I cut back on the sweets, learned moderation, and those symptoms calmed way down.

It also turns out that my long history of digestive problems was not caused by sugar at all, but are symptoms of other medical conditions that needed attention. Once I had my appointments with a GI and registered dietitian, I was able to get my health under control. The low FODMAP diet I have been prescribed by my GI, and monitored by a RD, does not cut out sugar at all.

If you want to cut out sugar to see if it's causing your symptoms, great. But, remember that in those sugar foods are a whole list of other ingredients that could be causing you problems.

Good luck.

SLLRunner · October 2016

snickerscharlie wrote: »

Wannabmarathoner wrote: »

Thanks everyone! I am not here to debate the effects of sugar again. My #1 goal is to see if it is sugar that is causing some unusual symptoms I've been experiencing, and the only way to do that is to eliminate most things I've been consuming until a couple days ago. If I lose weight while I experiment then bonus!

What unusual symptoms have you been experiencing?

That is my question as well.

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

SLLRunner wrote: »

Wannabmarathoner wrote: »

Thanks everyone! I am not here to debate the effects of sugar again. My #1 goal is to see if it is sugar that is causing some unusual symptoms I've been experiencing, and the only way to do that is to eliminate most things I've been consuming until a couple days ago. If I lose weight while I experiment then bonus!

I also participated in your other thread and it got quite disturbing with all the sugar is poison allegations you were making because that sugar is poison or even bad for you is spreading misinformation. Sugar is simply another food, and we cannot live without sugar. Unless you eat only meat, you will not be able to cut out all sugar. My guess, however, is that you mean added sugar into sweets, etc.

Believe me, sugar and I have a sordid history rooted in a lifetime of obesity. I cut out sweets and treats for years because I was convinced it was causing my weight gain. Guess what? didn't no lose any weight, and I continued to gain weight.

At one time, I was also convinced that sugar was causing me other problems: waking up in a handover-type states, stomach cramps, nausea, and great poops. This was during a time when I was binging a lot on cookies, cakes, candy, etc. The interesting thing is that when I ate these food in moderation, I felt fine. It was only when I binged on these foods that I ended up with symptoms. Guess what? I cut back on the sweets, learned moderation, and those symptoms calmed way down.

It also turns out that my long history of digestive problems was not caused by sugar at all, but are symptoms of other medical conditions that needed attention. Once I had my appointments with a GI and registered dietitian, I was able to get my health under control. The low FODMAP diet I have been prescribed by my GI, and monitored by a RD, does not cut out sugar at all.

If you want to cut out sugar to see if it's causing your symptoms, great. But, remember that in those sugar foods are a whole list of other ingredients that could be causing you problems.

Good luck.

Well, I agree and thanks for being a bit nicer this time. The sugar is poison was mentioned by me ONCE. I work with doctors who've stated this same thing and I regret saying it, not because I don't believe it, but because when I wanted encouragement for my choice, I received some pretty rude backlash. You or anyone else doesn't need to believe the bad effects sugar causes. I too have consumed wayyyyy too much of it and for ME the only way I know how to cut down is to completely go cold turkey for a while, and then reintroduce it slowly and in significantly less amounts than I was consuming. The symptoms are things I don't want to discuss publicly, as I have a lot of anxiety about it and I've 2 specialists thus far and we can't figure it out. I want to start with my diet, meditation, etc, and see if I feel better. I had my first acupuncture appointment on Thursday and I am looking forward to seeing how the improvement of my diet helps me. So...I am here for encouragement only! I need it!

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

MamaSooz89129 wrote: »

I started the 21 day sugar detox on July 1st, 2016. I am a sugarholic, and it was totally fogging up my brain, making me ache all over and making me fat of course! It was the hardest, most time consuming thing I've ever done diet-wise. That being said, it is what eventually brought me to MFP; it is what got me started on my quest for health. It got me off the sugar roller coaster. I am not completely sugar free now, but I am nowhere near what I was consuming before. Today is my 100-day anniversary on MFP and my profile says I'm down 17 lbs since joining - I'm actually down 28 pounds since July 1. I'm grateful I made that one choice to stick with it because it was the impetus for lots of other good food and exercise choices. Kudos to you and I wish you well, being sugar free for 21 days is the best decision you can make about your health. You won't be dependent on it anymore, you'll enjoy fruit and vegetables more - and you'll come to enjoy a quality treat once in awhile - and really savor it - far above a steady stream of cheap sugar thrills!

You have no idea how much I thoroughly appreciate this! Congratulations on your weight loss and leaving a lot of what you were consuming before in the past! Keep it there

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

silverfiend wrote: »

kgeyser wrote: »

All,

Please review the following community guideline:

2. No Hi-Jacking, Trolling, or Flame-baiting

Please stay on-topic in an existing thread, and post new threads in the appropriate forum. Taking a thread off-topic is considered hi-jacking. Please either contribute politely and constructively to a topic, or move on without posting. This includes posts that encourage the drama in a topic to escalate, or posts intended to incite an uproar from the community.

Please stay on topic and do not derail the discussion into an argument about beliefs about sugar, even if you believe it is for the benefit of the OP or "lurkers."

Users are welcome to create their own topic and discuss viewpoints about sugar with anyone interested in participating in this topic, however any further off-topic comments in this thread can result in warnings.

Have an awesome weekend,

kgeyser
MFP Moderator

I have found this is a pure impossibility here for certain people.

To the OP, I hope you have success in your goal of cutting the added sugar out of your diet (it's VERY diffucult because its added to almost everything we buy).

Have you looked in the benefits of a ketogenic diet (the extension of removing just sugars)? If not, take some time to research it. It may answer some questions to whatever issues you are having. (just a guess since we don't know what they are)

Thank you. I may do that after I see if cutting back on processed food and sugar helps me, or doesn't help me. Somehow, over the last 6 months I've developed a sugar addiction and I'm 3 days in trying to turn it around. Feeling strong so far, aside from a headache. Thanks for the advice, I will look into it. Have you tried it?

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

6502programmer wrote: »

Wannabmarathoner wrote: »

I'm using the 21 day sugar detox. I am just following the list that I found on google images with the list of yes food and no foods!

Humans are omnivores. That means we're built to eat everything. I'm down 35 pounds in a year without any significant dietary changes. I eat less bread and rice, and choose more filling veggies in their place. My liver, kidneys, and skin do a wonderful job of detoxing my body, though I suspect my liver complains when I really tie one on.

Peeps of MFP: you don't have to sacrifice anything to lose weight. Some people eat only organic. Others eat only vegan. Some eat no sugar. It's all personal choice. My choice is a filling, satisfying diet that includes all the foods I want to eat, a well-rounded nutritional profile, and absolutely no sense of loss or deprivation because I am artificially limiting what I can eat.

Congratulations on finding a balance. That is my goal! You're inspiring!

cwolfman13 · October 2016

When I started this stuff over four years ago, I put more emphasis on what I could add to my diet to make it better than what I needed to take away...when I focused on adding positives to my diet, the negatives just naturally fell by the way side.

No qualms at all from me in regards to cutting back on free sugars...most people could stand to do so...but I do think people tend to overemphasize eliminations vs what they can add to their diets to make them better. IMO, focusing on the positives you can add makes the experience much more enjoyable...

I guess it's kind of like focusing on the positive rather than the negative.

Wannabmarathoner · October 2016

cwolfman13 wrote: »

When I started this stuff over four years ago, I put more emphasis on what I could add to my diet to make it better than what I needed to take away...when I focused on adding positives to my diet, the negatives just naturally fell by the way side.

No qualms at all from me in regards to cutting back on free sugars...most people could stand to do so...but I do think people tend to overemphasize eliminations vs what they can add to their diets to make them better. IMO, focusing on the positives you can add makes the experience much more enjoyable...

I guess it's kind of like focusing on the positive rather than the negative.

I like that! That's a great thought process to adopt. I tend to be the type of person who would slip up and have a bite or more of deliciousness in the breakroom at work, then decide I already screwed up for the day, so don't even try to eat healthy. I know, it's a sad state of mind. My 3rd day into this, I've consumed more vegetables and less sugar than I've had in months! This is definitely a positive!

Sugar

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