Congratulations, RB! I'm doing OK, although I think I ingested some sugar unwittingly yesterday. We often go to Starbucks for coffee, and they had samples of coffee cake, and I gave one to my son, who fortunately doesn't care much for sweets. I think he shoved some of the coffee cake into my coffee cup while I wasn't looking because there were crumbs in my cup. Well, now that I think about it, I hope that's what happened and the mystery "crumbs" didn't have a more unappetizing source. Not doing well with avoiding white flour. I think I ate a whole pizza yesterday.
Congratulations, RB, on hitting the three week mark!!!
Gypsy, the "crumb" experience would put me off Starbuck's forever! Well, I'm already off of it forever as they don't have anything of value to my bod to offer me!
To all, mentioned and unmentioned, I gotta go but have a great day!
Morning people. Trying to catch up here. Have to reaffirm my commitment to staying off sugar. I kind of looked the other way yesterday when I bought some bread. It wasn't sweet so I'll ignore it but I shouldn't even be ignoring these things. I have to look for it but there is bread out there that doesn't list any sugar on the label and that is what I'll have to seek out if I'm going to have the stuff. It's just so hard. I am so sick of the way sugar is in virtually everything. Sugar, sugar, sugar, you would think the stuff was natural. It's NOT! When I think of the way I grew up, back in the '60s, lots of homemade baked goods, pies, cakes, cookies. I have some of the recipes, well, they haven't changed, have they? Loads of sugar! Why were we doing this? Did people really think it was all sweetness equals goodness equals love and affection?!!? Was this the propaganda of the food industry? Where did this come from? Makes me really pissed! Anyhow, ok, thanks for allowing me my little rant. If that's how I can reaffirm this commitment then so be it!
Snowing out there. Ugh. Have to trudge to work in this. Tokyo is not equipped for snow at all.
Amarantha -- thanks for the lovely red congratulatory message! As for Starbucks, they are big here now too. I have stayed away from all the yummy looking cakes (oh yes, I did have some lemon stuff before my Lenten sugar abstinence. That was good) but I did allow myself some scones. Now that I think of it, they aren't even that good. Why doesn't someone come out with some really good tasting sugarfree things? Perhaps it's too expensive. Sugar is dirt cheap and I guess that's why they use it as filler.
Gypsy -- thanks for the congrats too. That's funny with your Starbucks mystery crumbs tale. Amazing that your son doesn't like sweets. Good for him! White flour would be so hard to avoid unless you do all your own cooking. I don't know about in the States, but things listed as wholewheat or brown rice are often just partially containing such. They don't have to be 100 percent. Is it that way there? Well, good luck, Gypsy, you sound like you are totally resolved about the sugar. How long have you been off it?
Macon -- Thank you as well. I tried my pants on again this morning after they'd been washed. I can still do the zip up. I went to the store and bought some new pants yesterday because, well, because the wearable ones are ripped and the others I have are too small. Funny how they seem to always shrink! I hate clothes shopping. I can feel good about myself and then I see myself in those mirrors in the dressing rooms and I want to cry, really want to cry. I think, what's the use, I will never be happy with what I see in the mirror. Why is that? Why can I be happy with what I see in the mirror at home and yet not in the locker room? Everything, not just my fat, but my skin, my hair, everything. Maybe it's the light. But which do people see outside? Why should I care? Still, how do I prevent myself from getting discouraged because I see everything I don't like still? Good luck Macon on staying off OJ. I heard it is just as bad as sugar too as far as boosting your insulin levels. Someone had suggested mixing it with club soda. Maybe you could try that to wean yourself from it.
Hi everyone--forgive me for not responding pesonally. I'm feeling very sad and out-of-it. We had to say good-bye to our 18 1/2 year old cat today. She'd stopped eating and drinking, was getting really wobbly, and just wasn't "there" anymore. We took her to our vet who was lovely and said all the right things. Lots of tears but a gentle passing and a nice burial at home.
The living room seems rather empty now becasue we'd been so focused on her for the past few weeks. We know we did the right thing for her, but still it's hard to let go.
It's a **** of a time for me to be sugar-free. I've been truly craving it for the past few days! Visions of sugarplums.....Just wanted the comfort, and to take the edge off--but I didn't give in! I even forgot to eat today. Tomorrow will be better.
Eydie-- so sorry to hear about your cat! I can't think of any appropriate words.... am sending a big hug !
The sugar cravings you mentioned tie in with a study I read about how the brain deals with stress, the brain uses lots of glucose and in turn, signals the body for more glucose .....
Knowing this hasnt really helped me much--- I very rarely think ' this is just a natural stress response of me brain"-- .....
In fact, this morning, I am not quite sure why my brain cant' put a few sentences together...
Empress-- hats off to you for your long string of days put together w/o sugar.... sure seems a long,long time ago when we were discussing the pros and cons of liquid meal drinks.....
Eydie, so sorry that yesterday was the day for the good-bye. Wish I could help you more but there are no adequate words.
You did great to not cave in to the Sugar ... kudos on that victory!
Welcome, Gia! I agree with your postie, the Sugar does s**k!
Hi, K, yep a long time. My liquid diet drink now is skim milk!
In fact it got me through a difficult Day 47 yesterday when I wanted to give in all day, especially about 10 p.m. when I was returning from a meeting. But somehow I did not. I stopped and bought a bottle of ff milk, as I hadn't had enough to eat ... and that did the trick.
(((Edyie)))) I am so sorry about your cat. It sounds as though you gave her the most loving and caring home. And what enormous will-power you showed during such a difficult time!
RB - I think most women do not like clothes shopping - even thin,toned women (esp. as we age). Part of it is the lightening/coloring in those rooms that make you look pasty. Obviously, a lot of it is psychological. We have got to learn to love ourselves. Just look at your accomplishments and FEEL PROUD!
Amarantha - Yipee- day 48! What great inspriation - coming home at 10:00 at night from a long day would certainly be a weak point for me.
Gia - I agree! Very awful stuff!
Kaylets - thanks for the stress/sugar info. Maybe knowing why it is happening will help us say "no!"
MP - I hope you are doing well!
Darlene - Funny Starbucks story! Great job on the sugar-free.
I am on day 5 of no OJ!! Still not completely over it but am determined to get it out of my system. I also spent all day with my mother and sister. When I first went in her house, it was lunch time and my neices were eating. I immediately wanted to snack but decided to face my demons and say no! The moment passed and the rest of the day, we were gone from the house so it was easier. It is definitely a trigger and I am sure there is some emotional reason - maybe comfort of my youth?? So strange but regardless -I am keeping away from the sugar and flour! And OJ!
I think it was RB who asked about the sugar in everything. I agree and it mkaes it hard. I have read several books that discuss food history (esp. USA) and I think it may have been "fat land" that explained how we keep adding sugar and additives to our foods. You are correct, part of it is that it is cheap. Also, companies sub-out items. More sugar derived ingrediants for less fat. Or cheaper fats that are not good for you. Really makes you read labels and try to cook more at home!
Eydie, I'm so sorry about your loss! It's so horrible to lose an animal companion.
RB, I think it's the fluorescent lighting that makes us all look so awful in dressing rooms. You'd think retailers would get smart and use flattering lighting. I've been off of sugar since January 1st, although my "sugar-free-ness" means no desserts/candy/sweets, etc. I try to be aware of "hidden" sugar ingredients and avoid them, but I'm not as strict as others here.
Amarantha, good job on being strong! And you're at Day 48!!! More than halfway to that magical 90 days.
Macon, great job to you, too, on resisting temptation! My sister is such a saboteur--I'm always tempted when I'm around her. Did you find a substitute for your OJ?
Danicomia, do you teach pilates professionally? I do pilates mat exercises and love them. Do you see a big difference from the results you get with mat exercises when you use machines?
Welcome, Gia!
Kaylets, thanks for the stress info. Very interesting how related the mind and body are.
Macon - Congrats on your #5 day without OJ!! I have been thinking about your addiction. Do you have Costco in your area? The flavored water I buy there, Ice Spark water is Orange/Mango flavor and it is great, with Splenda so sweet that it feels like drinking orange pop. I would give it a try if you can, you will see how easy it is for you to forget about that evil OJ.
Gypsy - About Pilates I don't teach, I have a daycare at home now. But, I do know that working out with Machines accomplish more than doing a mat exercise. The machine as the reformer is more challenging because of the resistance you have to work against with the springs. With the mat you only use your body, so you lack of challenge.
Everybody else - HI!!
BTW I have beenr reading on the Self forums about QUINOA, has anybody tried it.
They also talk a lot about Can pumpkin even on cottage cheese and Hummus.
I need to find something else than brown rice.
I got this recipe from that forum also
1 Cup frozen berries
1 oz promegranet or concorde juice
1 fat free yogurt
8 oz skim milk
Put in blender - YUMMMYY...
I am in crying ****, the baby I am watching is sick, so she has been crying for the last hour. Good Lord help me!!!!
Thanks so much, everybody. I really am feeling better today. Busied myself with cleaning up today and that felt really good, and even worked out for 50 minutes on the new Pilates machine which I love! And I even remembered to eat today. I tell you, it's a freakish thing when I forget to eat. But when I finally got hungry it was very woman for herself. I'm glad I had already prepared some food to just grab and heat.
Glad to hear thou art feelin' better, E, and eating! Eatin' is good!
Dani, I have had quinoa a number of times. I don't really care for its appearance, but it's highly nutritious and useful, especially for vegetarians. I just cook it like any grain.
One thing that's good with any grain, even the ubiquitous brown rice, is to cook it with fruit (if you are eating fruit). Apricots are low glycemic and wonderful for this purpose. I also like whole wheat couscous now, with the unsweetened applesauce and some dark sweet cherries (low glycemic also). Brown rice and fruit make a good breakfast.
Thanks for the idea about the pumpkin and cottage cheese. I need to tuck that away in my brain for the next shopping trip.
Amarantha, Brown rice and apricots sounds yummy. How do you buy the apricots? here in Denver we cannot get them unless is Summer. Can you get them canned?
I am also going to store the pumpkin in my shopping memory, I need also to cook the sweet potatoes I bought on my last trip.
Well, I'm already off of it forever as they don't have anything of value to my bod to offer me! 
I hate clothes shopping. I can feel good about myself and then I see myself in those mirrors in the dressing rooms and I want to cry, really want to cry. I think, what's the use, I will never be happy with what I see in the mirror. Why is that? Why can I be happy with what I see in the mirror at home and yet not in the locker room? Everything, not just my fat, but my skin, my hair, everything. Maybe it's the light. But which do people see outside? Why should I care? Still, how do I prevent myself from getting discouraged because I see everything I don't like still? Good luck Macon on staying off OJ. I heard it is just as bad as sugar too as far as boosting your insulin levels. Someone had suggested mixing it with club soda. Maybe you could try that to wean yourself from it.
... kudos on that victory!
K, yep a long time. My liquid diet drink now is skim milk!
