Sugar Free Roll Call

[Eloise]

Oh, and just want to add that it all feels quit 'normal' to avoid sugar and opt for fruit.
After horse riding Mozart and I eat apples ( well I eat a 1/2 and he has like 4!) and drink water. He enjoys his hay too, but I take a pass on that!

What I am saying is I am happy about the decisions I have taken.
It was hard initially, but then it gets better and have been able to deal with other issues like anxiety. I continue slowly to lose weight too.
For me anxiety was probably the main trigger behind my drinking.
It is not gone, but getting more and more under control. For example even watching TV can throw me under the anxiety train.
Now I turn it off instead of drinking a bottle of wine. :yay:

[lifechange]

hi Eloise,
you are really inspiring with your posts here.. is Mozart your horse? I would love to have access to a horse I could ride here. I am almost ready to begin the challenge of being sugar free again. I have been eating a shitload the past 2 weeks, and in some ways I think it's helped my return to sobriety. But a couple of days ago I exaggerated and had a terrible sugar hangover. Today I went back to the gym and feel great.. though a bit sad that I have to keep starting over at square one. With everything, it seems. But ok. Now I want to begin to fuel my body with the proper foods, for energy and less stress. My eldest daughter (13) decided to stop eating sugar in March because she didn't like how out of control it made her feel.. she's been very successful with finding healthy alternatives and is so strong in her decision because she feels such a difference.

So my goal is not to eat sugar today.

[Eloise]

Erh... Just wrote a nice comment and lost it.
Anyway, happy to offer a bit of inspiration today lifechange!

[lifechange]

Thanks Eloise!
Didn't make it 100% yesterday, but 95%!
And today is about the same.
Both days I made the mistake of being out and about without a snack and have had to grab for something on the run.
Slowly, slowly.

[Eloise]

Throw an apple in your purse Lifechange, or something similar or next time grab for fuzzy water. That works too.
I know exactly what you were feeling, that used happen to me too. After all this time my sugars are not so up and down and water does the trick.
Damn those strikes of hunger.
95% is good enough for now.

[lifechange]

!!! Thanks EL!
Today I have a hard-boiled egg and a dried fruit based bar in my bag. And I'm throwing away the 2kg bag of peanut MnM's our guests brought as soon as they leave this morning!
I feel more positive this morning than I have in a long time.. and have the energy to give this a real go..

[Eloise]

Sounds great lifechange.
Try and not worry about 100... Work on the big things first, like that bag of M&Ms!
Keep us posted ... In the beginning I had to check in 2x per day... Well worth the effort though!

[lifechange]

mnm's are in the garbage, cola is poured down the drain along with a beer I found. I was going to write that I never have this kind of crap in my house! But actually, in all honesty, I sometimes sneak it in, so the kids don't see. Just like I did with alcohol. That's so embarrassing, but I wanted to write it down again for myself.. for me, the correlation between alcohol and sugar and how I "use" and react to them can't be ignored.
I feel better getting that out.

How often are you able to ride, Eloise?

[lifechange]

So, today I'm going to step it up a notch.
Yesterday I didn't have too much sugar, but then I made up for it with crackers, bread, late iced coffee, etc. and by the afternoon felt like a piece of shit. My stomach felt so unwell and I was again in a bad mood with the girls. I don't want to keep putting such (non)foods into my body so today I will be conscious about each decision and see how I feel.
First thing this morning I made a green tea instead of coffee. Breakfast is still an unknown!

[Eloise]

I have bran cereal for breakfast or oatmeal lifechange... With cinnamon honey & raisins.
I find the a little of the natural sugars keep me from really craving other stuff.
Mind you it is a teaspoon of honey and a handful of raisins.
Make sure to drinks water throughout the day too.

[lifechange]

So, I finally have a day 2 SF licked!
and am, feeling all the better for it.
I took your advice, Eloise, and enjoyed oats with apples, cinnamon, walnuts and a bit of maple syrup for brekkie. Had a HB egg and a piece of fruit on hand at all times.. AND most importantly, for me, I got myself back to the gym. Weight lifting helps to get out my extra, anxious energy, relieves me of the "craving" for bad-for-me foods, leaves me relaxed and clear in the mind. Today I felt a bit guilty going to the gym, leaving the girls at home for an hour and a half (they had friends and my partner here)..but after all the time of "leaving" them while drunk as a skunk, I don't want to lose any more time. On my way back, though, I thought that this work out time is an investment.. it helps insure that I won't drink and allows me to be more present with them. I actually win time with them.
Anyway, I got home and they were all enjoying films, probably hoping I wouldn't interrupt!

Looking forward to a good weekend.

[lifechange]

So, I'm very happy to say that with the daily exercise, the SF thing has been pretty darn easy. Knock on wood! I did have one delicious chocolate cup-cake, from the only person in this city who knows how to bake one, at a "house" party on Sat. evening. I want to try and be open for occasional treats (like NS has said, there can be a bit more lenience here than with alcohol) and it didn't seem to trigger my wanting more. However, it threw me off track in the sense that I was even that little bit out of routine. Sunday I was at the lake all day with the kids and was careful to only eat healthy foods and to swim a lot.. exercise! The main key, along with not drinking, to my sanity..

Hope you're all well and enjoying summer..

[lifechange]

Hi everyone! Hi Lifechange!:happy2:

All more or less going well over here. After my last post and reading some experiences of others, I began to think more about my own history with sugar, exercise and drinking. I have a really hard time with balance in my life in general. Obviously, al is out of the question.. but it's true that in the past, after a really good streak of strictly not eating sugar and exercising, basically over.doing it, the days off or lessening of intensity or getting hurt from over training has led to a relapse.. can that be?
I would like to be able to have a day off of the gym or have an ice cream every once in a while without the fear/anxiety usually associated with that. Fear because often when I've strayed in the past I haven't been able to get myself back on track. One day off and I think, hey, what's one more?
I took a day off on Wednesday because I was too tired and unfocussed and worried about hurting myself. I was also craving sweets. I wanted a pint of ice cream but settled for a bar and a small bag of "juice" sweetened gummy bears. I didn't feel great afterwards.. also emotionally, I felt a bit off on that day. But I was very clear that I would get back on track Thursday and I did, diligently. I wonder if that can work? My goal would be to have the day off from exercising but to eat healthier sweets.. like yesterday I had quark with frozen berries and it was much more satisfying..

Would love to hear if anyone else struggles with this.? I think it's time for me to read back on this thread again. I love it..

[NoSugar]

Hi, LC
I'm 100% on AL and gluten b/c both make me really sick. A treat of dark chocolate, frozen berries, etc. is something I really enjoy and it doesn't make me feel awful so I never feel bad about that. A bunch of cookies, cake, etc. generally makes me feel off so I avoid in general and regret when I have it, usually due to a social situation. I try really hard the next day not to let it escalate. As for exercise - I feel better when I do it physically and mentally but if I just can't get to it, that's ok. I was much more "addicted" to exercise when I was drinking. I think I was trying to prove something to myself - if I could do all that and be in good shape, then I must be "fine" . I think it's good not to be an "all or none" person whenever you can. Congratulations on your 30 AF days! :hug: NS

[lifechange]

Thank you, NS!!