The 'Towards a Sugar-Free Future' Challenge

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That is great that you haven't craved sugar all day, Jazee.  

Yesterday, after my lapse with the cake, I managed to avoid sugar for the rest of the day so things went better than I expected.  Today, I really wanted some chocolate but I managed to distract myself so I've had a proper sugar-free day.  

Honey_Bear, you are very organised!  I don't have a graph but I have a feeling mine would have a similar pattern.  I don't have any self-restraint at all over the weekend! 

Let's see how Wednesday goes.  

Honey_Bear

Well done both of you. 

I've disgraced myself.  I was okay, thinking I was doing fine and thought I'd treat myself to a few squares of mint A3r0 after supper while we were watching TV.  Apparently I still can't stop at a few squares.

However, on a more positive note, I baked some Twinks which I make with crystalised ginger and normally can't stop eating them once I start.  I needed to check they were cold enough to put in the tin and that they were okay to give to guests, but couldn't manage even half of one and didn't even want more than a small bite.  Yes, I'd just scoffed a bar of chocolate but normally that wouldn't stop me from carrying on but I just didn't want any more sugar.  I'm disappointed in myself - again - but it is Tuesday, the bar of chocolate thing is old behaviour and nothing new and there appears to be a bit of a Stop Button developing in my system.  I'll take that as a positive.

in_need_of_direction

This is my last week aiming for one sugar free day.  I’m expecting to struggle but hopefully not too much.  From next week I’m moving to Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

Honey_Bear

Good luck with the two days In Need and well done on getting this far.  I cope better on days when I know what my treat will be if I get serious cravings at 3.30, as opposed to thinking I can tough it out, if that's any help.

After my stupidity with the bar of chocolate I'm aiming for as low a sugar day as I can on Friday, but we've got foodie friends staying with us for a long weekend, so I rather fear I'll be more than tempted.  Still, I don't need to make a big deal of it, and usually if I'm busy the cravings aren't as strong. 

cookie02

Good luck with the two days a week, In Need.  I am also trying for two days but I'm not beating myself up if it doesn't happen! 

Honey_Bear, well done for stopping after the chocolate.  

It is hard but we're all heading in the right direction . I'm in the sugar-craving zone right now but I really, really want to get through today sugar-free so I'm going to much a few nuts and seeds and hope they distract me. 

Honey_Bear

Hang on in there Cookie.  You can do this.  Did the nuts and seeds do the trick?

I've been running around taking care of things but eating sensibly for a sugar-free day - porridge for breakfast and avocado on toast for lunch and now hummus on toast for tea.  I think I can get through today.  Tomorrow and Friday I'm going to see I can stay sugar-free all day until dinner because with foodie friends staying I don't want to be the person who puts a damper on enjoying our meals together.  I won't be the first to say yes to dessert on Friday when they take us out to dinner but if the others want one I will too.  I think that's the best way to play it.

And then from Monday because it's October I'll defo be aiming for three days a week.  Fridays would be tricky because that's where the weekend starts to I'm thinking of Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the moment.  It'll mean in November I'll have to choose whether to do Monday to Thursday sugar-free which would be quite  stretch or to do Monday and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with the obvious drawback of Friday.  But as I'm going to be Monday straight throug to Friday in December I may just bite that bullet then anyway. 

Jazee

I've had two days sugar free and may be on track for a third.  Work has been so stressful that I've lost my appetite and have to force myself just to eat proper meals.  Every cloud eh?

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Honey_Bear, the nuts and seeds worked, thank you.  Your weekend plan sounds good.  I don't bother setting rules for holidays etc and I see having friends over along those lines.  We have to enjoy ourselves too . 

Sorry work is so stressful, Jazee.  Great news that you're on track for three days sugar-free but I hope that work eases off for you soon.  

Food-wise, today started well but it's mid-afternoon that's going to be difficult.  I have more seeds and nuts ready.  Today, I've sprinkled some cinnamon and cayenne on them.  I'd forgotten about it becoming three days a week in October.  I would like to do Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays but I have been struggling most on Mondays.  I think I might reduce sugar on Sundays and only have it at one meal so that way I can ease myself back to sugar-free on Mondays.  

Honey_Bear

Sorry about work Jazee.  I hope the stress decreases back to tolerable levels very soon.  Well done on keeping it sugar-free - you're clearly not someone who turns to sugar when stressed out, which is absolutely my downfall.  It must be really bad if it means you're tempted to skip regular meals too.

Excellent plan, Cookie, particularly about managing Sunday / Monday temptations.  I know I can't do three days in a row because sometimes the only way I can get through one day is to promise myself I can have sugar tomorrow if I just lay off it today.  Good to have a plan, so good luck with it.

Mid-afternoon is the absolutee worst time for temptation for me too, and I can feel myself building up to it right now.  I'm not sure it's helped by the posh Bakewell Tart that arrived today, in advance of the foodie friends that are due to arrive around tea time.  Knowing it's there is bad enough; knowing there is cream in the fridge we will be cracking out that Bakewell at some point today, tomorrow or Saturday isn't helping at all.

If there's any bread left I think I might go and have a hummus toast right now to stave off the pangs.

Honey_Bear

Yesterday and today are definitely High Days and will continue to be so while we have our friends staying with us.  We feasted last night and it most certainly showed when I weighed myself this morning, and as the first day of the month is the normal day for weighing and measuring that means I'm stuck with a gain.  Hey ho.  It's only a few days of indulgence so I'm going to enjoy them and be very stern with myself when they've gone, and I will defo be Monday Wednesday Thursday or Monday Tuesday Thursday.  I'll see how I feel about it on Tuesday morning but this weekend we're carrying on with feasting.