Abstaining From...
 

I never know where to post new threads! So I'll just do it here.

I'm committing to giving up some particular "trigger foods" for a month, to try and shake off some really poor habits I'm returning to and to see if I can't get my body feeling better. I've been struggling to get out of a rut since new years.

I thought this might be something others would want to do/track/share about. Soooo, here's a spot.

For myself, I am committing to no chips/crisps or candy or regular pop. February 23 will be day 1. Bring on the sugar withdrawel. :dizzy:

Good luck to you! I always find the first 3 days of sugar withdrawal to be the hardest.

I'm on permanent abstention from Diet Coke (and all Nutrasweet). I was physically addicted and I think it was just as bad for me as sugar is for most people. I loved it so much I'm afraid to even have a sip. These days I drink only water, green tea with lemon, milk (occasionally) and wine (on weekends).

I'm on a Lenten sweets fast. I'm on day 13. So far so good. I can't imagine giving up chips!

I am a zero carb eater and abstain is my first name :) :)

but one thing I wish I didn't rely on was AS. I don't use alot but I am trying to shake it gone. I was 2 drops of liquid sweetener in my tea. it makes it almost too sweet and I dropped down to one drop, which makes me notice the more sweet is gone.

But I am holding onto that one drop. it sounds small but it is really a big deal to me. I really want AS out of my life totally but for some mental reason I am hanging onto it and just don't want to let it go....maybe kinda like I feel like I gave up the world of food anyway, WHY does this have to leave? but AS to me is junky yet I hold on LOL

my abstain is 1 drop only in my hot tea WITH a time frame to eliminate it completely....2 weeks? 1 month? ugh....ok....1 month. That way in a month I will get used to the not so sweet taste and by then maybe be in a good state to dump it completely and throw out my bottles.

this thread just made me lock into a decision and I am thankful for that....my challenge is on!!

I'm always so intrigued when I read about zero carbers. It wouldn't work for me because I don't like meat much and especially don't like the price of meat, LOL. I have read all about James Hogan (although she eats trace carbs in eggs and some dairy).

What a commitment!

Anyway, I had to tweak my diet somewhat and follow a SCD. No sugars, grains, beans/legumes, potatoes.

I've been eating close to this way for a long time, but with the urging from my Doc, I've cut out the tiny amounts of starches that I was eating.

Hi Munchy

yea you really have to enjoy being a meat hound to live this way. I just happen to fall into that area, meat hound to the ultimate so I can handle this way of eating. it either 'suits' you or not cause it is hard if you are not a big protein eater.

yes eating the trace carbs is what Dr Atkins (1972 original version) describes as 'eating biological 0 carb'. Trace carbs are ok cause it takes alot to add up into anything. some days I do a salad ONLY if desperate, like eating out with hubby and there is no good food option for me, I fall back onto a salad. but when I eat it I am hungry and not satisfied and guts don't love it :) but at least it is food when needed LOL

sugar sure is a big key item in this whole menu for everyone. get rid of that extra nasty sugar and your body balances back out, at least it did for me!

Ahh, I was thinking of zero carb (what I've read is no vegetables and only meat) - like James Hogan.

Totally get it! My diet is also carb/sugar free, but I have like 75% non-starchy vegetables to 25% meat all the time. Like 1lb of meat is easily 6-8 servings in my meals. :)

most of my days are literally 'what some call' Zero Carb as a plan. I eat meat only and nothing else. In fact that is almost every day but there are times I must eat a salad if in a bad food situation. only when out. I never eat veggies or salad at home, ever.

1 lb of meat is 6 to 8 servings :) :) oh my, I eat a 12 oz ribeye in one sitting then I eat 3-4 chicken thighs later and if wanted, I might fry up a 1/2 lb. of bacon and then a can or 2 of sardines if wanting a snack. I go thru at least 2 lbs of meat per day and sometimes more or less depending on hunger.

one thing eating ZC has done for me has given me such a keto-adapted body that my appetite is very controlled. I crave nothing. but of course the mind sees food, smells food and 'might want' but I can easily get thru those times cause physically I truly want nothing I am so satisfied.

tonight was country style spare ribs but my mind is changing over to 2 lbs. of snow crab legs in butter. my decadent meal :)

Hey! look at all these posters!

I agree. The first three days are always the hardest. Today, for example, was a complete failure x.x I know if I can get over that hump it will be easier, though. So. Tomorrow is another day.

I am working on less salt, less bread. Not that I ate much bread anyway.

I'm not really abstaining from anything, instead, eliminating, or adding foods, depending on how my body responds and how I feel.

My body does NOT like sugar! I am medically diagnosed allergic to chocolate. But, I love, salty, crunchy, noisy food. Crackers, peanuts, chips, etc.

However, I am finding unless its fresh stuff, while I like it, the salt, is not helping me. And it plays havoc with my body.

What my body really likes is, fresh, natural, food.

So, I have come to the conclusion, that, all that processed crap, we like to call food, it's not, and if we listen, to what our body is telling us, instead of what our mind is screaming, we will figure it out.

good post schirerf

so true to listen to the body on what foods we really want vs. the mind saying eat old favorite junky stuff :)

yesterday I had a 'feeling' to go open a few cans of sardines. Like my body wanted oily fish.
I didn't but at the end of the day I was wanting something to munch and I got 2 cans of sardines and POW I was in a good place. my body got what it wanted and I felt like 'I fed my body what it was demanding'---go figure :)

My little challenge for only 1 drop of sweetener per tea cup---100% a win for me yesterday. it was funny but one cup tasted sweet then when I had another it tasted more tea bitter, like nothing was in there...but I figure that is my taste buds coming around.

I got a little saying to myself...NO MATTER WHAT!! if I make a declaration to myself, I will do exactly what I say. NO MATTER WHAT. Period! Seems to be working for me.

one day. think ONE day only. a month is a tall order but one thing we can do is change our 'one day' and know we can do just that. let tomorrow take care of itself. be in the present at all times. the present of what you eat. don't worry about a month from now at all :dizzy:, this minute, this today is all you have to worry about truly ;)

shcirerf - have you switched to unprocessed salt? I made the switch about two years ago to the Celtic Grey Sea salt. My husband made the switch about a year ago. I buy it in bulk on Amazon. I had to buy a salt grinder to use it. Regular old table salt is quite processed. There's a theory that it is the processed salt (like Morton's) that is bad for us, not the real stuff. I believe it. The Celtic Grey sea salt does not cause me to retain water. Also, my husband, who is on high blood pressure meds, and whose numbers are affected by regular table salt, can use this stuff with abandon.

I abstain from pasta, milk chocolate, and bread products. My major, major problem trigger foods.

As "replacement" bribes/habits/options, I set no limit on quality dark chocolate (and rarely go overboard) :) I make a nice risotto from time to time instead of pasta - pasta I can eat the whole box :( My risotto has more veggies, better portion control, same comfort taste factor. I sometimes* indulge in homemade savoury scones, or homemade pizza, when I'm sharing with friends, because the social sharing is important too.

That's the thing - keto-adaptation is what is ridiculously appealing to me. I don't really vary much in weight as it is, but I just like the idea of bio-hacking and being a fat burning machine!

I wonder if I'd ever give it a go. Anyway, rock on!

Munchy I think for me the deep keto-adapted long term body is my absolute savior and MUST. if I leave this I will be back to old habits in a nano-second. I know me :) and I can lie/excuse/deny every single thing to say it is 'ok' to eat junk. The day I stopped pretending to fool myself and face my truths, then I was on a winning team. I had to have alot of chats with myself LOL

for me it took VERY low carbs to hit keto. I did Atkins net 20 and I never felt in keto cause I still physically craved. when I kept going into induction foods then I felt my best. it dawned on me I was one of those super sensitive carb people. stinky category to be in by the way :) but it is what it is and I found my way.

I never 'knew' keto like I know it now. it is now a best friend and family member, can't give up family now can I :) :)

I'm part of quite a few keto groups, so I'm half in and half out.

I wish I liked more meat (and wanted to afford it!). My family is lucky if I buy beef maybe once every 2-3 months, just because I can't justify the cost (and it's typically a stew where I can stretch it as much as possible). We do always have bacon and chicken, though, and every vegetable under the sun! I think that's leftover frugality from my ex husband's excessive spending and my subsequent years as a single mom.

My husband smoked 1/2lb of bacon last Sunday. It lasted about 20 hours.

I keep thinking I'll try an egg fast and see how that goes. I can totally justify an egg fast.

I hear you about costs Munchy. prices are frightening out there and still going up.

I only buy the beef on sale. when that 'super sale' comes around then I fill the freezer.

luckily, and most aren't like this probably, my hubby is a hunter. deer. so I have a freezer full of deer burger, sausage and steaks.

this stretches my meat budget so much further. I also tho live on chicken as my second food cause the prices can be so low I can get alot and survive easily on the grocery budget.

smoked 1/2 lb of bacon...20 hours? you have me laughing cause that would be about what it would take here also. this yummy stuff never lasts long LOL

For those trying to give up artificial sweeteners - that was the hardest thing for me to do. I was addicted to Diet soda and AS in my coffee. I gave up all of it several years ago and it was absolute torture. I switched to seltzer and for a while that tasted salty and bitter to me. Coffee without sweetener tasted like battery acid for a full 2 months.

But then one day all the bitterness and yuckiness and misery went away and I was FREE! The slightest bit of sugar or sweetener in my coffee now will have me spitting it out. Diet coke tastes like chemicals to me.

Stick with it and you can change your taste buds. If I could do it anyone can. And the best part of getting rid of AS is that I no longer get pounding migraines. EVER.

Palestrina, thank you for telling your experience ditching AS.

I am down to 1 drop liquid sweetener in my hot tea. ONLY thing I use it in but I can drink 8-12 cups of tea per day easily.

I plan on dropping it lower in a few days. Like 1 drop every other cup. I noticed I am adjusting easily to my 1 drop now. barely taste the sweet in it and that is good for me. soon I will realize I do not even need that drop and just like you said, ONCE I GET ALL fake sweet out of my life, I will feel I did something wonderful for myself.

so far so great.

down to 1 drop sweetener and that is tasting SO sweet now.

since being total sugar free eater ANY sweet is thru the roof.

I will be dropping this 1 drop in a while. sooner than later, I realize now I can do this :) and not be tied to fake sweeteners anymore.

I hope everyone else is doing good on their abstaining!!

Yup. If I also could do it anybody can. And it was also about two months for me before I didn't miss it. I was having dreams about drinking Diet Coke. I can't say headaches have disappeared but my reliable premenstrual headache is GONE! And I can only remember one other headache since I gave up artificial sweeteners (more than a year ago).

Treasa, wow. great results. always better to feel great vs. to eat yourself into some troubles! cool

I'm trying to cut out sugar and AS as well, which has been a long time struggle. I'm also abstaining from all soda and sweets. Once I get past those things, I'm going to attempt to cut out coffee and caffeine as well.

Love Sugar! Of course I have to stay away from that! Carbs I can take or leave, but Buttered Toast does me in!!

Giving up Dairy is HARD!

Interestingly, giving up Meat was easier.

My plan is to be Raw Vegan until the Fall (when I'm looking more good! LOL) and then be a bit more Paleo and eat some Meat.

But Sugar and Grains are out! Dairy? Maybe, Baby! That is my bugaboo!!

I am abstaining from skipping meals, ever. Now that I'm in maintenance I try to eat 3 meals a day regularly. I gave up diet soda last year and have not missed it. I mostly abstain from gluten and I do eat way lower carb that I used to before losing weight. I try to abstain from snacking between meals, knowing I will fill myself up 3x day, though I do occasionally have nuts or fruit. I'm not abstaining from alcohol but I drink way less than before I lost weight, probably average one night a week now, sometimes less. The biggest thing I try to abstain from is eating until I'm stuffed, which I used to do often. It's really hard, this one day at a time thing. Four months of maintenance now and I think it may be a very long time before it takes less attention and energy, if ever, to maintain this new healthy lifestyle.