And like Amarantha, I'm not doing low-carb either, but the carbs I do eat are all whole grain. I even eat potatoes as long as they still have their jackets on. Not too often though, don't really crave potatoes.
Gypsy, I don't think that I've ever seen a margarita mix that didn't have sugar. Sorry. But it sounds like that was a false alarm anyway.
Amarantha, interesting to see that you've given up Splenda. It's one of those thimngs that I dared not ever start with. I know it tastes like sugar, so suspected that it would really get me going with cravings again. About the stevia, I'll look around and see if I have any good recipes. It's very sweet, and I find that it has a rather "green" aftertaste--it's an herb after all!
Speaking of green, I've managed to come down with a heck of a cold. I really thoight all my good behaviour would spare me this winter. I guess I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.....
Hi, all!!! I'm on day 35 and doing well, except I have to do some of this payin' writin' today, so should not come out to play.
Yes, E, Splenda tastes just like sugar. I suspect the feeling of insulin spikes I was having when I ate it recently was psychosomatic, but why mess myself up.
I even ate oatmeal with no sweetener of any kind ... a first for me. I usually put some Splenda on it. As for the stevia, I found when I looked at the package of leaves that you were supposed to steep them before using, so that was too much trouble. This morning I went to the health food store and bought some stevia "tabs" ... I had to look some to find a brand with no additives. This one has chromium in it, but some of the others had MALTODEXTRIN, which I refuse to eat. So I'll see how using the tabs works. I plan on only using it in recipes now and then, not for general sweetening, as I find now that most food is sweet enough all by itself.
Speaking of potatoes, I can only have sweet potatoes and yams since Sugar Busters, sweet potatoes are less cals, so I've experimented with these. Going to make a concentrated effort to learn to like these. Recipes would be appreciated!
Gypsy, funny how we sometimes plan on having something (like you and the margarita) and find when the moment arrives, it has no appeal. Was good you didn't have it since the mixes apparently have sugar ... you're doing great!!!!
I have made a bet with a friend to do yoga and/or pilates every day for a week. I realize this is off topic for a no sugar thread, but it's kind of not, since I think these particular forms of exercise raise endorphins much like, well, for me a cupcake might.
I think it's interesting to watch my food cravings since I've been sick the last 3 days. What I really want is sugar and pizza with a thick white flour crust! However, I haven't given in, and have contented myself with fruit [my darling clementines! yum!] and whole wheat pasta with LOTS of garlic and red pepper flakes. It's kind of pizza-esque.
I read on the Radiant Recovery site about how when you're sick you want to raise those beta-endorphin levels any way you can and that's why you'll want sugar or other high GI foods---anything to make you feel better!
I wouldn't be aware of any of this stewing away in my brain if I didn't faithfully keep a food journal. Gotta get a plug in for journaling whenever i can--it's the best!
Amarantha, Kathleen DesMaisons says that any sweetener [sugar, natural artificial, whatever] will cause cravings of some degree--so that's why the last step of her program is giving up all sugars. Yikes!
Have you tried the liquid stevia? Usually comes in a little dropper bottle. The one I have is in a water/alcohol base though.
You mentioned that now food tastes sweet enough---I had some brocolli with my pasta today and was struck at how sweet it [the brocolli] was! Has it always been? And sweet potatoes seem extraordinarily sweet!
I feel better today than yesterday--can't smell a thing though. Got a magazine today with the perfume ads and couldn't smell it at all.
I felt so bad yesterday that I didn't do any exercise at all. Broke my perfect record. I'd managed to workout every day this year so far. Oh well....
Amarantha, just for fun, I'd like to join you in your Pilates/Yoga challenge! Maybe we could do a quick report here. I kinda miss the St. Val's exercise thread!
You're on, E!!!! Maybe you'd want to start a separate thread for it here ... a Pilates/Yoga challenge "club" ... dunno, just a thought. I did a paltry 10 minutes of random yoga moves and dragon/fire breath thingies. Will do at least part of a Wai Lana vid tomorrow, methinks. My friend (walking partner, actually) has never done yoga so I gave her a book and made the challenge. We will get a reward for completing the week! I really need to get back into it ... will also throw some pilates into the mix.
Re the stevia, I saw the kind with water/alcohol, but I can't stand flavorings with alcohol or glycerol, so I went with the least intrusive alternative, the chromium. I do intend at some point to make some desserts that are in the Sugar Busters cookbooks and also create some TRULY sugar free ice cream in the summer, but for now I don't need any sweeteners and it's not been touched. It would seem when I decide to make the desserts, if ever I do, a very little bit of stevia should do the trick as my tastes are dramatically changed.
I AM having some of those "situational desires" sometimes ... keep thinking of the Valentine's Day cupcakes in the stores that I missed ... now they have Easter cupcakes (same overly refined recipe, different holiday). I keep thinking what it would be like to get dressed (I've been working at home most of the day, as I will tomorrow) and go out and have one of my previous binges. But that's what convinces me that the sugar is actually a physical addiction for me (a limited one because you don't go into life-threatening withdrawal, at least I don't think so) ... I can have that nostalgic yearning that I've mentioned to you, E, but it doesn't translate into action, whereas when addicted to the stuff physically, I would not be deterred until I'd gone out in the rain and bought a lot of it and eaten it ... then I would want more and by the next day, I'd be off and running again ...
Now I'm free (thanks for the journal entry) NOT to go have a binge and can safely eat a reasonable dinner and snack later.
I LOVE sugar and yes, I think I am addicted. I would go out in the rain for a sweet in the middle of the night! I have been talking about giving it up but I always chicken out or give-up after a few days. I have seen your thread several times this past week and you all are such an inspiration so, as of today, my first goal is to go at least 50 days with NO Sugar.
One of the hardest parts for me is the little things I eat that have sugar in them - my soy creamer. I noticed Amarantha that you discovered this too. They do make a no sugar added soy milk but it is not the same. Do you still drink it?
Any suggestions on getting through the first couple of days sugar-free? Also, did you give up "true" fruit juices? I love OJ!
It be never too late to kick out that ol' Sugar Macon!!!! Welcome!
First, I would like to report to the group that I'm down 1.4 pounds ... this is a 6.2 total loss since Sugar Busters (and the two days I was doing Sugar Busters before I actually read the books). My bodyfat percentage is down another point, my double chin is gone, my jeans are even looser (will buy more soon). This works for me.
Macon, I don't really have any specific advice about the first days off of sugar: except to go to a health food store that has a peanut butter or almond butter machine and make sure they only have the nuts in there and buy yourself a small serving fresh everyday ... heaven and takes the place of sweets for me.
Anyhow, Eydie is the real champ here with more than 150 days under her belt and I bet she has words of wisdom to offer.
I do sometimes have the unsweetened soymilk ... dunno, I'm trying not to do anything that is not specifically addressed in Sugar Busters, but that's just me. But they don't say yea or nay about soymilk (this is an older plan, mayhap soymilk wasn't popular then), so I don't worry about it. The plan has a lot of inconstancies, so I work 'em out as best I can in me feeble brain.
I personally don't do juice, for the same reason: Sugar Busters is agin it ... but this is just the plan I'm following and a lot of people here are doing different things. However, juice per se does have all the sugar of fruit without the protection of all the bulk and fiber, so it's too high on the glycemic index for me, but again, that's my goal, to eat low or moderate on the GI to keep my blood sugar stable.
But if it's only your goal right now to give up refined sugar and you aren't doing the glycemic index, why not suit yourself as to the soy and juice?
Everyone seems to have a different take on this, but we all have a common ENEMY, methinks! YES, it be he, the EVIL, NEFARIOUS, SCHEMING AND THOROUGHLY BAD GUY: the SUGAR DEMON
Ha ha, we laugh in his face!!!!
Last edited by Amarantha2; 02-20-2005 at 02:07 PM.
Welcome, Macon! Great to have a new friend with us. The more inspiration we all have the better! I've found this is a great thread for keeping me motivated and it's interesting to see what we all struggle with and how we overcome it or the tricks we use to get around it. For example, my whole wheat pasta with garlic and pepper flakes prevented me from going out and getting the doughy white flour pizza yesterday!
About the juice, of course you know that eating the whole fruit is better, so I'd do that as much as possible. My husband is a big juice fan too, and he drinks 1/2 seltzer water and 1/2 juice--works for him.
I think we're all playing around to see what works best for us. One thing I recommend is keeping a journal not only of your food, but tracking how you feel too, if your moods change, if you have strong cravings, whatever. This has helped me more than I can say. Most days I love to journal and other days it's the last thing I want to do, so I write that down too!
Oh and I agree with Amarantha about the nut butters. Don't panic, but it's very common to indulge a bit with fat as we're coming off sugar--it keeps our moods stable and helps with sugar cravings. I was very freaked out about this at first. I mean, I started using real 1/2 and 1/2 in my coffee instead of the fat-free 1/2 and 12/ which has sugar. I bought whipping cream instead of cool whip. And eating nuts as a snack. I was the low-fat queen for so long too, so this was hard for me, but it helped. Just be careful not to trade one addiction for another. Again, this is where journaling is so helpful.
Yikes! I see that I'm really going on and on. I'm so passionate about this, I could go forever. It's a journey and don't be hard on yourself if you slip, okay?
Great having you here, Macon!
Thanks, E! I'm passionate about it, too. Also eating a lot of nuts ... my "diet" plan recommends 'em ... but I count 'em out carefully, 23 cashews for 170 cals. That's plenty to keep blood sugar stable and keep me from being hungry. I keep a can of nuts and some unsweetened applesauce as an emergency kit in the car when I'm traveling. I did find that too many whole apples were making me ill ... I hate the applesauce but it does the trick when I can't find decent food.
Well, I have almost made it through day one! Usually night time is the hardest time for me but I am determined to do this so not feeling any temptation (I am sure that will come back in a few more days!). I know they say emotions play into this but I have never figured out why I have more trouble at night - a reward maybe??? I am just saying NO!
Eydie - Did your husband give up sugar? My husband is almost a foot taller than I am and while not skinny, he can certainly eat a ton more food and often eats very unheathy which can make it hard sometimes. I am going to try to keep a journal and that is a great idea to include my moods - that will really force me to face my fears!
Amarantha - congrats on the 1.4 lbs! That is great!! Question - why applesauce instead of apples? Taste or less sugar?
I guess I should clarify what I am trying to do - for you and for me! I actually eat pretty healthy day-to-day (I am a vegetarian and eat no meat, little dairy and do eat my fruits and veggies - if I do not fill up on bread first ). My downside is bread (I can eat a whole loaf of 100% whole wheat bread), sugar in any form (I never eat high fructose corn syrup but then I can eat vegan cookies all day which is just as bad!), and occasionally white flour (pizza!). So, those are my weaknesses I am going to eliminate sugar and white flour. On my own, I am planning to eat limited whole grains especially these first few weeks. I want to lose 18 lbs. and just feel more in control.
I do find great inspiration from you ladies so thank you for the support!
Congrats on a good Day One, Macon!!! I've no doubt in this world that you'll be with us a long, long time and kick that sugar 'n white flour ... re your question on the apples, I just had such a bad eating style for so long (think cupcakes, candy, dulce de leche) that when I started eating more produce and whole grains I had trouble digesting it, especially the apples, which I liked for their portability ... in the first few days I did need to grab a snack a lot ... so I filled that gap with little cups of unsweetened applesauce ... the most bland substance on earth but useful.
I was a vegetarian for a long time, BTW, (not now) and I ate TONS of sugar ...
Yoga/Pilates Seven-Day Challenge (Not Off-Topic Because It Raises Endorphins In Place o' SUGAR!!! ) Eydie, I did another 10 minutes of yoga but not the Wai Lana tape!
Welcome, Macon! Glad to have you with us! And good job, Amarantha, on the weight loss! I'm doing all right, no sugar and the cravings have subsided, but I'm starting to feel I want to restrict my white flour intake more. This weekend I really had too much. I don't think I'm addicted to it like some people are, but it's not healthy, and it's everywhere and convenient.
Can I join in the pilates/yoga challenge? Since I started my lifestyle change, I've been great about exercising, but in the past 2 weeks I have only exercised 2x/week b/c of illness and child sleep disturbances. I really want to get back on track, and I LOVE pilates and yoga.
I'm truly feeling better and am ready to throw myself into the Pilates/Yoga challenge. Did nothing yesterday, still recovering.
Macon, I'm vegetarian too, so we have that in common. Long time, about 21 years. The plan I'm on now recommends a decent amount of protien [it's not a hi-protein, low-carb thing though.] so I've been eating a bit more cheese than I normally would. Still sorting out how I feel about it.
It's cool that we're doing our own thing but basically on the same page!
Well, now this is great, we have Gypsy in the pilates/yoga challenge as well. It does seem to fit in with the gentler way of life that not eating sugar promotes.
My busiest day so I just went into the dark aerobics room and added 10 min of planks, fire breath, bridges to my gym workout ... and then did the "peace" pose (it's the corpse but I think "peace" is a nicer name) before showering. Short but still qualifies me!
Re sweeteners, stevia is just not a happenin' thing for me. As I think E said, it's just a bit too "green" tasting. But still desiring to use some of the "acceptable" ice cream and other recipes in the cookbooks I got that follow my plan, I bought some Sweet 'n Low, which is an older sweetener and the one used in the recipes. Tried just a few grains in oatmeal and it doesn't seem to give me the rush I was getting from Splenda.
I still desire not to eat a lot of artificial sweeteners and will not usually put it in food, but really have this urge to create a REALLY sugar free ice cream in the summer (as opposed to the kind that says it's sugar free but isn't). But I need to experiment to find just one sweetener that I can safely use ...Sweet 'n Low may be it. Dunno.
If not, I'll make tomato ice cream! I've seen recipes for this and other vege ice creams. Might be good.
Arial Narrow Blue Marvelous Monday Morning to All,
Eyclie hope cold has run its course.
Amarantha congratulations on 35 days and good luck to all who are joining your Yoga & Palates challenge.
Welcome Macon to your new way of eating .
Each Monday is a Marvelous one for me when I have time again to come and chat with you, and to know that you are here for the support that I need on my weight loss journey. Everyday thus far has been a marvelous one I feel so good I have had no desire to eat anything with refined sugar what a blessing that is not to pace the house looking for something that will satisfy me.
I have yet to start excising it’s so easy to make excuses. Today I have a date with Richard that is Richard Simmons for 30 minutes tomorrow it’s with Jack Lalaine. In April my friend is opening a Slender You Work Out Center then that’s where you’ll find me.
Dose anyone take Garlic tablets? I bought a bottle at Sam’s Club (odor-controlled 650 mg) after I had taken them for 3 days Gerald ask me to stop taking them as I was a walking ad for garlic. I then bought some (odor- free 1200 mg) ones when I opened them the smell was extremely strong and I‘m a little afraid if they smell that strong what will I smell like in 3 days. Will everyone be able to smell the garlic for a mile away? Is there a brand that really has no odor?
Has anyone had a cornea transplant or only the back of the cornea removed and replaced with a donated one?
Not too often though, don't really crave potatoes.
Yo!
I'm on day 35 and doing well, except I have to do some of this payin' writin' today, so should not come out to play.
and pizza with a thick white flour crust! However, I haven't given in, and have contented myself with fruit [my darling clementines! yum!] and whole wheat pasta with LOTS of garlic and red pepper flakes. It's kind of pizza-esque. 
E!!!! Maybe you'd want to start a separate thread for it here ... a Pilates/Yoga challenge "club" ... dunno, just a thought. 
Macon!!!! Welcome!
and good luck to all who are joining your Yoga & Palates challenge. 
