The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Hello everyone!
Good going on those 5 says without desserts, Free! I think after a bit of time without, it does get easier. It's just the getting started again bit.

AllanK, I sure hear you. I had a great 12 SF days and it really was getting easier! really. Then I had a taste of something, which tasted too sweet-- so much so that I thought I was over wanting the sweets! Sound familiar? I thought, ah, maybe not such a problem after all-- after a couple of days I was back to eating loads of sugar. The unhidden, in your face kinds. And now it's proving to be a huge challenge to stop again. I don't know about having a treat day-- for myself, that is-- at least not until after a sufficient amount of time without. That's why I liked the 30 day challenge. It's not forever, but it's long enough to give the body a chance. Now I find myself like Byrdie says she was before she finally stopped drinking, eating more than I ever have before! Waiting for the "perfect"opportunity to quit. It will come-- I'm fairly certain I'm all or nothing when it comes to sugar-- just like with al, I don't think I can moderate.

I wanted to say.. or ask.. if it could be that a very low carb diet induces sugar craving?
Good day to you all,
and AllanK, please let me/us know how you progress with this...

[NoSugar]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

I seem to be all or nothing on just about everything! My experience has been that the less sugar and non-vegetable carbs I eat, the less of any of it that I want. After awhile, you become sort of disinterested, just like with AL. And it is great not to spend time and energy thinking about either of them.

My blood sugar really is affected by sugary foods or high carbs. It goes way too high and stays there too long, both of which are bad news.

The evidence is quite strong that high blood sugar and the associated inflammation is at the base of so many chronic metabolic diseases in addition to diabetes such as heart disease, Alzheimer's, and cancer as well as annoying problems like arthritis. All of these diseases become more prevalent wherever a standard American diet (appropriately designated SAD) is adopted.

If you can give it the 30-day trial, like with AL you might find numerous good changes in things you hadn't even realized were problems.

Ok, I'll quit preaching on this fine Sunday morning :H and congratulations, Free, on your progress!

[allankay]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

NS, Lifechange, I am too an all in or nothing person.

There is sugar in pretty much everything that we eat so I guess the conversation is about artificial sugar and sweeteners.

I am on board with the 30 day challenge!

AK

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

I LOVE your preaching, NS, regardless of the day!
Do you measure your blood sugar daily at home?
For awhile I was eating every 3 hours to see if it helped with stabilizing my blood sugar and though I didn't do a blood test, I felt much better. I will begin that again.

ok Allan! Are you already starting the 30 day challenge today?
I am going to start right this minute-- I've been saying tomorrow for the past week + before scarfing down a bag of ....., so it's NOW-- (I did eat muffins this morning, which made me feel yucky!)--Tomorrow will officially be the first whole day, but I'm beginning now. DONE!

p.s. it makes me feel better knowing you are also all or nothing-- sometimes I feel so crazy.

[allankay]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Lifechange, lets do this!

So I guess we agree not to eat anything processed or anything with added sugar???

Because wholegrain cereal has sugar, yogurt has sugar, fruit has sugar, juice......

So no chocolate, junk food, white or brown sugar, pastries, any sort of sweets or sodas... Do we count diet coke in or out?

AK

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

I'm in there with you, AllanK!

No processed foods, no nothing with added sugar--whole grains, brown rice, quinoa, oats barley, etc. are ok-- I know you are low carb, but I have to have some in the early part of the day. No maple syrup! or honey!--for me, at least. Diet coke isn't something I drink, so I can't say.?? I think I will also try this time to eat as little (starting with none) fruit, in all forms, as possible. If I seem to be going for a "binge" I will head for the fruit-- but I want to try, for awhile, to have as little as possible. -- Last time I tried this, the first couple of days were difficult because I kept forgetting my plan. Then it got easier, because I was so excited that I was following through, then it got really HARD-- as I thought about never eating sweets again. So like you said, with having a cheat day--maybe it's something that's possible at some point. Or maybe it's possible, after 30 days of not eating sugar, to realise better alternatives. ? Anyway, looking forward to the challenge. And I will check in here each day. I know I've said that before... have to prove it to myself!!!!

[skullbabyland]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Hi guys, I'm in! I did no sugar for about 50 days then fell off the wagon (pretty hard) over the past week. Time to get healthy again!

For me, I don't eat any grains except for white rice, and for carbs I eat sweet potatoes/yams about twice a week. Other than that, all my carbs (and sugar) are found in berries/veggies.
I don't do any sodas even diets (aspartame, the sweetener in it, has been linked to cancer). And no processed foods. For me, I'm going for tons of whole veggies, some fruits (berries), lean meats/poultry, coffee and butter, lemonade made with stevia, and omega 3 oil.

I can definitely attest that my taste buds did indeed acclimate to the more natural foods's taste. My taste for veggies expanded where before I couldn't stand them.. Berries and fruits are an insane sweetness explosion.

Do we want to do a daily count? I do that in my AF forums, and it really helps keep me on track. If so, I'm counting today as Day 1!

EDIT- if you guys are interested, maybe we can do a daily count in the same manner that Newbies Nest Roll Call does.... ?

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Awesome Skull! Glad you're in! Your plan sounds great. I would like to do a daily count-- Do you know how to set up a roll call? I think that would be helpful, plus checking in here to say hi and talk about obstacles when they come up.? What do you think? I have to have tomorrow as my day 1 'cause of the morning. I also have a stevia sweetened protein drink for emergencies. --

[allankay]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Ok. I have started a Roll Call for Sugar, like the one for AL. The link is below or you can find it in Just Starting out section

https://www.mywayout.org/community/f1...all-81267.html

lets try to reach Goal number 1 - 30 days Sugar Free

[skullbabyland]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Awesome Allan- I'm in. Sugar Free for the win!

[free at last]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Thanks, Allan, for starting the roll call. With my travel, it's really hard to limit a lot of foods, but I can say no to muffins, croissants, cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream. I allow myself one small chocolate a day, but have only had one so far. Really don't want to substitute sugar for AL so am working to change my pattern here.

As for being all or nothing, I think that characteristic is part of what attributes to addition. Not absolving myself of responsiblity, but just saying I see a pattern.....

[NoSugar]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

It seems to me that AF and SF should be handled differently.

AF is AF. Period.

SF can be defined differently by different people and an occasional "treat" does not usually have the consequences of a drink.

For Free, it primarily means giving up desserts. For someone else, it might mean that as well as high glycemic index foods.

For me, it means not eating foods that raise my blood sugar out of the normal range and keep it there too long. So, my definition may be stricter than someone else wants or needs.

I would encourage anyone who is interested in this to get a blood glucose meter. I don't outwardly appear to have any risk factors for type 2 diabetes but in addition to a prediabetic fasting blood sugar concentration, my post-meal concentrations (and durations) indicate diabetes. Most doctors test only fasting levels and don't worry until you are frankly diabetic.

Anyway, my suggestion is that posting on the roll call means a successful day given the poster's definition of SF. For example, I would consider a day on which I ate a small piece of dark chocolate or perhaps a fig to be an SF day for me. It would not be one if I ate a bowl of ice cream or a plate of pasta because for my blood sugar, they have the same effect.

[allankay]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

NoSugar;1565297 wrote: It would not be one if I ate a bowl of ice cream or a plate of pasta because for my blood sugar, they have the same effect.

[Londoner]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Not the best SF weekend for myself. Saturday was okay - had burger and chips during the football and again during the next game. Got home and demolished a couple of cookies.

Yesterday was again more grains

I am starting to accept the life is a journey that is not defined by single moments. So I am okay with the way the weekend went - there is nothing I can do about it now.

This morning I had a couple of small slices of the local bakerys white bread. That set of the cascade in my brain where it leaves me craving more and more.

Luckily I stopped it in the bud there and then, made myself the biggest bowl of salad ever and wacked some sardines on top. Could have quite easily turned today into a binge, but I concentrated on the here and now.



Note:

SF to me means not eating any processed foods or foods with > 1 ingredient. So no bread, no bakery products, no sweet drinks, no sugar etc.

Rice I am okay with. As I am with potatoes. Apart from those two starches I stick to proteins, fats and non starchy veg.

[allankay]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Hey Everyone who tries to better their life!

Not sure if I talked about it before or not but I am a huge fun of the Biggest Loser USA show. And today I am doing a 3000 calorie challenge. It is exactly what it sounds. I need to burn 3000 calories in one day.

For me this involves:

- 25k bike ride (done)
- 8k run (done)
- 40 laps in the pool (done)
- 1 hour high intensity circuit at the gym (done)

just completed my bike ride and about to head of to the swimming pool. Wish me not to drawn as I am already exhausted and I am not even half way through.

Also in the future do you want to post your fitness goals and progress on this thread or should we create a new one? Because from my experience good diet, no alcohol and fitness are all part of a healthy lifestyle

Good day to you all

AK