The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

hi sugar free friends! I had a bit of a glitch in my plan yesterday. Stupid me-- I forgot all about beating my 12 day record. Then I decided to keep on counting and just count yesterday as a "no" day. Until I ate chocolate today. Now I feel I've taken the sugar eating too far to ignore it-- I pulled a little muscle in the middle of my back, which caused me a lot of pain, a bad mood, and a change in plans--and so I sat in bed, watched stupid films and ate chocolate.
Another example of emotional eating. Which I wouldn't mind so much if it didn't make me feel like crap. On a good note-- my skin has completely cleared up, which I credit tothe lack of gluten and dairy and sugar in my diet the past 12 days. I had quite a lot of irritation and redness on my face which has vanished. Could that be?

Londoner, I'm glad to see you doing so well-- thanks for that link.

Skull, awesome job on 2 weeks!!

Nosugar, always good to see you!!

and I'm looking forward to seeing Allan again!

[NoSugar]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Thanks for the link, Londoner. I wish I could get my Dr. to test me for insulin resistance but because I don't have any criteria for metabolic syndrome (I'm grateful!), they won't order it. Oh, well, I guess I'm ok with eating to feel well and assuming that would be reflected in any tests they would be willing to do. And, of course, the blood glucose testing is easy and fairly cheap to do at home.

Sorry about your back, LifeChange. It's amazing how that impacts every aspect of your life! I hope it heals quickly. Did the chocolate make you feel awful? Was it dark chocolate? Maybe eating some dark chocolate won't be a problem for you in the context of a gluten- and dairy-free diet. Chocolate per se actually has many positive attributes!

I saw in the paper that today is Diabetes Day. I hope Allen isn't celebrating by eating MORE sugar!!! When are you going to have had enough, Allen?? We miss you!

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Thanks, NS! I already feel a bit better-- it did upset me, though, and I wasn't in such a great mood with the family!! The chocolate made me feel like crap and compared to my home made super dark choc peanut butter cups, the chocolate I chose tasted like crap, too! I don't have a problem with dark chocolate-- I love it and enjoy it. I guess I was into self destruction yesterday..and for part of today! I've come back to my senses, though!!

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Alrighty, here we go again! Any one out there who wants to start this 30 day sugar free challenge with me? Today? Now? It's not THAT hard!!:H Ok, maybe it is. But maybe it adds character. Who knows?

[Londoner]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

I am having a maintenance day today, upping my calories and carbohydrates. My workouts have dropped in quality as I've dropped the calories a little too much. I can feel the fatigue increasing and the stress too.

So more starch today, had a few slices of toast with honey and feel full already. That's a good sign as my body is listening to it's own hunger signals.

Hopefully tomorrow I will be primed to be straight back on my cutting plan.

[Londoner]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Just thought I'd chime in again.

Feeling much better after that refeed this morning and back on track with my normal eating again.

The refeed, I have realised, was part my low energy from a big week of exercise and reduced calories AND having a completely lacklustre morning on the work front. So semi comfort, semi refeed.

Good to know it did not take a grip this time.

[skullbabyland]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Londoner;1585365 wrote: Just thought I'd chime in again.

Feeling much better after that refeed this morning and back on track with my normal eating again.

The refeed, I have realised, was part my low energy from a big week of exercise and reduced calories AND having a completely lacklustre morning on the work front. So semi comfort, semi refeed.

Good to know it did not take a grip this time.

This is great. I'm really in the same boat lately- learning when low carb/low calorie fatigue comes on, to add just the right amount of safe starches. Seems to be working well, though it sure took me a while to figure this out...and I'm sure I have a lot more learning to do.

[skullbabyland]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

lifechange;1584975 wrote: hi sugar free friends! I had a bit of a glitch in my plan yesterday. Stupid me-- I forgot all about beating my 12 day record. Then I decided to keep on counting and just count yesterday as a "no" day. Until I ate chocolate today. Now I feel I've taken the sugar eating too far to ignore it-- I pulled a little muscle in the middle of my back, which caused me a lot of pain, a bad mood, and a change in plans--and so I sat in bed, watched stupid films and ate chocolate.
Another example of emotional eating. Which I wouldn't mind so much if it didn't make me feel like crap. On a good note-- my skin has completely cleared up, which I credit tothe lack of gluten and dairy and sugar in my diet the past 12 days. I had quite a lot of irritation and redness on my face which has vanished. Could that be?

Londoner, I'm glad to see you doing so well-- thanks for that link.

Skull, awesome job on 2 weeks!!

Nosugar, always good to see you!!

and I'm looking forward to seeing Allan again!

thanks, Life Don't worry about the slip up, it happens to all of us. Just get back on that horse. Glad your skin irritation is clearing up- it's motivating to see tangible results, eh?

[FlyAway]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

lifechange;1585252 wrote: Alrighty, here we go again! Any one out there who wants to start this 30 day sugar free challenge with me? Today? Now? It's not THAT hard!!:H Ok, maybe it is. But maybe it adds character. Who knows?

I'm with you Lifechange. I've been struggling with sugar cravings the last couple of days. I never had a sweet tooth until I stopped drinking.

[lifechange]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

Hi Flyaway! After making such a big hoopla about starting the challenge again, I'm afraid I'll be starting again on day 1 tomorrow. And I actually don't know how successful I'll be during the holiday season. I had a scary day on Friday, where the urge to drink was stronger than I've had to deal with in ages and I did grab for sugar-- which I think helped short term-- Does anyone have an opinion on that? Nosugar?
And yesterday we celebrated an early Thanksgiving and I couldn't be bothered to do gluten-sugar-dairy free Turkey day-- I didn't eat way too much, but I didn't feel great afterwards. Next year, with more experience and time under my belt I will go full force!
So now...? Theoretically I could go SF until Christmas. But I think I will try to go for as many sugar free days as possible until the new year. They won't necessarily be consecutive, but I will give it my best.

Fly, what is your goal?

Hi Skull! and Allan! and Londoner! You guys are a rockin'!

[allankay]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

LC,

protecting you quit is number one priority. So if at any point you are facing a choice between AL and chocolate. Go grab a bar or two or three. Or my those delicious Reese's anything goes in a war on Alcohol.

I know how hard it is, so take it one day at a time and PM me if you need to talk about it.

Allan

[NoSugar]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

I completely agree that eating something sweet is always a better thing to do than drink. And if you don't eat sweets often, it really works to crush the craving b/c you'll not be so tolerant to sugar.

With your trip and the holidays coming up, Life, maybe it would be better to acknowledge that you will be consuming some sugar but keep the amounts each day under control. If you're like me, moderating sugar intake is possible. And also, choose the best option -- it fruit and candy are both offered, choose the fruit.

You're already going to have challenges turning down the AL that will be offered to you. Also "rejecting" offers of treats could set you up for some stressfull interactions. I have a zero tolerance policy on AL and gluten but occasionally relax on other things that I know I can manage.

[Londoner]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

On a bad one again. Eating way to much food in general and loads of sugar. Not good

[FlyAway]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

NoSugar;1586882 wrote: I completely agree that eating something sweet is always a better thing to do than drink. And if you don't eat sweets often, it really works to crush the craving b/c you'll not be so tolerant to sugar.

This was my thinking when I quit drinking. I went wild eating sugar, but that was okay because I felt like I was slaying the bigger beast. I thought that once I got the booze problem under control I'd be able to stop eating sugar. I'm at 1 year and 9 months sober now and the only reason I stopped eating sugar was because of a health scare. It's probably been about a month since I've intentionally eaten sugar and I've had a couple days that were really hard. But the last few days seem better.

[Rusty]

The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

I just recently went through a sugar frenzy in the form of ice cream and Halloween candy-pre-Halloween and post-Halloween. I have put on 5 lbs! That all ends TODAY. For the last 3 days I have been taking L-Glutamine powder and it really has helped with the sugar cravings. My goal for today is NO sugar of any kind. One day at a time...just like with AL.

Fly-Congratulations on your long-term sobriety!:goodjob::yay: Like you, I went nuts with the sweets when I first quit drinking....I thought I was going to go bonkers, but I thought it was better than drinking so I was ok with it. BTW....I looked for you on the Monthly Abs Knowing November Week 3 thread.