The 'Towards a Sugar-Free Future' Challenge

Honey_Bear

Wow.  It sure is easy to put on weight!  I don't think I was particularly greedy and actually ate a lot less than I would have in times past when I drank, which would also have been to excess.  It rather explains why I've been carrying round an extra chunk of me in the waist department for some years. 

I need to be very, very stern with myself over the next couple of weeks or this new chunk of me will settle permanently and that is absolutely not going to be allowed to happen. 

Back to sugar-free tomorrow with renewed clarity of thinking for sure.  That Bakewell tart needs to be finished today and the rest of their anniverary cake is defo being donated to the house of students next door to our guests old house because if that hangs around as well I'm done for.

Jazee

I had my three unplanned sugar free days but on Friday DH brought me a little bowl with some sweets in while I was working.  Also had some chocolate peanuts last night but not the whole bag.  Today I have had a mince pie.  This was a taste test, haha, to see which ones to buy nearer Christmas.

Honey_Bear

Jazee said:

I had my three unplanned sugar free days but on Friday DH brought me a little bowl with some sweets in while I was working.  Also had some chocolate peanuts last night but not the whole bag.  Today I have had a mince pie.  This was a taste test, haha, to see which ones to buy nearer Christmas.

It's amazing how easily generosity and kindness can derail us!  I've just helped towards finishing the Bakewell ....

And yes, quality control for Christmas treats - very important.

Jazee

Just tested another to be sure.

Honey_Bear

I hope you got a definitive answer, but if there's any doubt I wouldn't rule out another Taste Test at some point.

I've just been invited out to tea with a couple of very old friends tomorrow.  S has already baked a cake for it.  Obviously it would be rude not to, so apart from that little episode tomorrow will be sugar-free but it won't count as one of my days next week.  So it's going to have to be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Yikes.

cookie02

I mulled some wine over the weekend (also a test, Jazee ).  Despite not cutting back the sugar on Sunday, I managed to get through yesterday sugar-free.  Work was really busy and that definitely helped. We have leftover brownies and cake from the weekend.  I'm still aiming for a sugar-free day today but I'm hoping I won't get too frustrated with myself if I give in.  I hope you enjoyed your tea, Honey_Bear .  

  

Honey_Bear

Well done, Cookie!  That takes some doing, knowing there were leftover brownies and cake.  I'm not sure I'd have been that strong.

I haven't bothered to weigh myself this morning because the very long weekend, Thursday to Monday, has been a total disaster from every point of view nutritionally.  I'm a beached whale right now. 

It was lovely seeing friends of very long standing yesterday but I've realised I eat some things simply to be polite when I'm out and about.  This will sound ungracious but it's a problem that I'm going to document on this journey because it won't be the last time this happens - Christmas is always a case in point, when I always end up eating more than I want, just out of politeness.  Victoria sponge is not my favourite cake; it's bland.  Homemade scones, particulalry those made with wholemeal flour, are heavy on the gut and taste like straw.  Flapjacks made with ginger and lemon peel are fabulous.  It was such a kind thought of the person to go to all of that trouble, but I came away feeling as though I'd eaten too much, and certainly too much sugar.  In the future if I'm going to eat things that I really shouldn't, I'd so much rather really enjoy the flavour but I don't quite know how to get round that difficulty.  There is also a bit of history with that particular friend, when some other friends of mine behaved very badly indeed over a previous tea invitation so I felt more than honour bound to behave impeccably.  I hope I behaved well enough, which would make the bulging stomach worthwhile.

And right now, feeling like this, I have no doubt at all I can manage three days sugar-free.  I might not at 3.30pm though!

cookie02

Honey_Bear said:

Well done, Cookie!  That takes some doing, knowing there were leftover brownies and cake.  I'm not sure I'd have been that strong.

Thank you, Honey_Bear.  I was lucky that things were so busy and kept me distracted.  Today, I found myself wanting cheese instead of chocolate so I've managed to stay sugar-free so far.  The real temptation will be later this evening and I will be trying to stay strong then!  How did you get on this afternoon?  

Hope everyone is well 

Honey_Bear

We've got a lot of left over salads, so I had a generous bowl of celeriac remoulade for tea, which will have to keep me going until we *ping* a lasagne after we've been out this evening. 

Well done you!

phillw

I went processed sugar free years ago and it's certainly something I will recommend.

I also cut out wheat and potatoes at about the same time & decided I would only eat what I could reasonably make (butter ok, margarine not ok) without actually taking the time to make it.

All the foods I was addicted to contained either wheat, potatoes or sugar and they don't really have much going for them nutritionally.

Any food or snack that I wanted, had to be prepared at the time. So no grabbing things out the cupboard and scoffing it all. If I'm prepared to cut up a carrot and dip it in hummus then I can eat it.

I fell off the wagon a little after losing the weight and lockdown had me stress eating paleo bars from aldi. These found their way into my cupboard because I could make them, but they have been discontinued now and I bought up the entire remaining stock from our local shops.

It is a constant struggle, especially when eating out or at friends. But it's better for me to be a healthy weight & I'm working on the triggers.

I cut out artificial sweeteners, honey, coconut sugar etc. They don't really help. I use date nectar or fruit.