The Sugar Free Challenge - Who is in??

[mario]

So far this is what I have done, I have cut out all sweets, cakes, chocolate, biscuits ,ice cream. They are alcohol to me now & I will not touch them, Next I have to get educated about the secret foods with sugar, so all help & advise is welcome, I not on a diet as such, just trying to eat healthy.

I am above free since 31st December 2016.

[mario]

I still of me fizzy drinks cakes ice cream etc

Think I have got a few withdrawals as I got quite tired a few times & this so unlike me. Anyway still going for it.

[NoSugar]

Hi, Mario

When you decrease sugar intake, you usually reduce your blood insulin concentration. This changes how your body handles water and salt. To avoid that 'hit by a truck' feeling of fatigue, upping your salt intake can help. If you notice that you're peeing more than usual, it's very likely that you need more salt. Even a daily cup of salty broth will do the trick.

Congratulations on sticking with your plan for 2 weeks! The longer you do it, the less you'll miss your former treats and in fact, new (better) things become rewarding treats. Food that I used to vastly overconsume no longer even appeal to me. Hang in there :smile:! NS

[mario]

I am sticking to it No sugar, thanks for your help.

[SKendall]

NS, just a question. Is baking soda in water the same as salt?

[NoSugar]

Hi, Skendall.

That wouldn't be the same. Both have sodium but only 'salt' is sodium chloride. It's important to have both ions. NS

[satz123]

Hi, Skendall.

That wouldn't be the same. Both have sodium but only 'salt' is sodium chloride. It's important to have both ions. NS

Baking Soda in water is great for alkalizing the system.
I use Himalayan pink salt when I use salt - must use more.

[mario]

I still haven't touch any of the fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits,icecream etc etc , My method is I am treating everyone of them as if there alcohol, So an ice-cream to me is now a vodka n coke, lovely to drink but with deadly consequences for me.

[NoSugar]

Good job changing how you think about those foods, Mario. I haven't been able to eat wheat since the 90s and until recently, the gluten free alternatives for breads, cakes, etc. were pretty gross so I got used to not eating that type of food. One time I was at a Panera's (a chain restaurant focused on breads and pasteries) where the wall decorations were shellacked bread products of all sorts. As we waited in line, the people I was with were commenting on all the "wall breads", saying how hungry they were getting, which one they wanted to have, etc. etc. It hit me all of a sudden that none of it looked like food to me -- they were attractively displayed and looked nice but they didn't look like something I'd eat anymore than a painting! They didn't make me feel hungry or deprived because I couldn't have them. Thankfully, I'm at that ambivalent point with wine now, too. I can look at the cool arty labels and appreciate them for what they are but not think it means the contents would be something to drink.

Are you noticing any benefits to giving up the added sugar?

[mario]

Yes NS, I certainly have, I have lost weight don't feel as bloated, I did go through a bit of withdrawal's in feeling very tired with no energy levels, but they seemed to have passed, I shall weight myself next week n see where am at then, but overall I feel great, don't know wether that's this no sugar or other work I am doing, or most likely a bit of everything.

[satz123]

Bump
Day 2 sugar-free here - after very high glucose readings on my little machine .......... pre-diabetes levels.
No wonder I put on weight so easily - like aggressively
Time to cop on !!!!

[satz123]

Day 3 - so far so good :thumbsup:

[Neo]

alcohol = sugar which is what our body craves. Being 6"3' 93kg and slender ,have never had a weight issue. Heaviest @ 103kg .All times I quit I never had sugar except only on weetbix , no coffee or icecream, cordial and will make a huge diff if quitting both alcohol and cigs together .Did load up on protein powder when got munchies but may not help if your overweight

[NoSugar]

How's it going, Mario? I hope you're feeling energetic and strong. It's great to hear that you and your daughter continue to do well, Kuya. I hope your son who was pre-diabetic is starting to get on board. The consequences of high insulin and high blood sugar over the long term are so serious, it is worth it on both personal and population levels to get this under control. I'm pretty terrified of the downstream outcomes like heart disease and Alzheimer's so am pretty motivated to stick with it. The weight loss/stabilization is nice and is an indicator we're on the right track, I think.

Welcome to the NS world, Satz :hug:. Actually my full name is NS-AF-LCHF because for me, the low carb/high fat part is necessary to keep my blood sugar levels down (and of course AF is critical!! Excess alcohol CAUSES insulin resistance and likely is a big part of the reason why my metabolism got so screwed up in the first place!!! UGH!). My fasting blood sugar (the one that at least here in the US is used to screen for diabetes) was in the borderline diabetic range but after I got a glucose meter and measured the concentrations after eating, I realized I was frankly diabetic ! In some people, and particularly in women, the fasting value is the last to become abnormal so many people are missed in screenings. It is a shame that a glucose meter isn't a standard home tool, just like a scale.

My SIL has been visiting for the last 10 days and is at what she calls the "NS spa". She is metabolically plugged - can't lose weight (and carries it around her abdomen, the worst place for health issues), has high blood triglycerides, and high glucose. She's approaching the age when her mom, who was exactly like her in these issues, died of a heart attack. So, I've been showing her (again!) how to cook and eat LCHF and to do intermittant fasting. Because we're trying to get her "jump-started", I've been eating even lower carb and higher fat than I've been doing lately (so easy to drift when not abstinent :wink and have noticed a further increase in energy and some unplanned weight loss. Although I'm getting a little tired of cooking for her, I'm glad to have been reminded of how good I can feel based on what I eat!

[NoSugar]

Just came across this today: How to Avoid Becoming Diabetic | Reader's Digest