The 'Towards a Sugar-Free Future' Challenge

Pollybear

Good luck for tomorrow Honey Bear, I hope your operation takes place this time.

I had a bar of Caramilk today because it was reduced to 50p.  Even that didn't stop me feeling guilty!  I think I just feel guilty out of habit.  That's what I mean by being too old to change.  I have 70 years of guilt and greed behind me.

Honey_Bear

Hang on in there Polly Bear. Guilt is a habit, we all feel it if we are anything less than 100% saintly all of the time.  It's such nonsense, but we all suffer from it until the day when we realise it means we can never enjoy anything.  If you managed any sugar-free, or chocolate-free days this week you're doing much better than you used to, aren't you?  Nothing to feel guilty about there.

Thank you for your kind wishes.

prowla

I'm not participating in this, because I detest the taste of replacement sweeteners.

The upshot of the "no sugar" incentive is that there is only one mainstream soft drink I can have (Coca Cola original) and I have to carefully read the ingredients to check for "sweeteners".

Instead I find I am buying imports (American & Romanian are ones I've found), speciality squashes, up-market Tonic Water, or beer.

I also bought a soda-maker, but all of the SodaStream flavours include artificial sweeteners, so I have to look for other brands.

Honey_Bear

I can't stand the taste of any of the artificial sweeteners and have never knowingly had any of them other than to see if I could stomach them.  I can't.  I'm not entirely sure I trust the food industry's version of what 'safe' means either, so that's another good reason to avoid them as far as possible, so I'm not sure what you mean by not being able to join in because you detest the taste of them. 

What I'm trying to do is re-educate my palate so that I no longer crave sweet things, ie with sugar or artificial sweeteners.  It seems the height of self-defeating behaviour to me to cut out sugar only to replace it with something that encourages the addictive habit of all things sweet.

What we're trying to do is eat and drink things that are good for us rather than bad for us for one reason or another. 

It would be lovely if you did join in because you're obviously thinking along something like the same lines, albeit coming at it from a slightly different direction, @prowla .

cookie02

Pollybear said:

I had a bar of Caramilk today because it was reduced to 50p.  Even that didn't stop me feeling guilty!  I think I just feel guilty out of habit.  That's what I mean by being too old to change.  I have 70 years of guilt and greed behind me.

I do this sometimes but I no longer feel guilt about it.  If you eat it, enjoy it, Pollybear!  You can definitely change - there is nothing wrong with enjoying chocolate, maybe just try to eat it only on specific days so you reduce your consumption overall.  If having no-chocolate days is too much right now, how about no-chocolate mealtimes (eg you won't have chocolate on Mondays at lunchtime or whenever your chosen time is).  This might help you to gradually reduce your consumption.  I don't think I'll ever be chocolate or sugar-free but I eat far less now than before - you can do it 💪.  

Honey_Bear, I hope your surgery took place and that you are safely on your way to a speedy recovery.  The upcoming concert sounds like a fantastic  (and what a great achievement for your neighbour!).  

Honey_Bear said:

What we're trying to do is eat and drink things that are good for us rather than bad for us for one reason or another. 

It would be lovely if you did join in because you're obviously thinking along something like the same lines, albeit coming at it from a slightly different direction, @prowla .

Good luck, Prowla.  I also hate the taste of artificial sweeteners.  I've found myself opting more for non-alcoholic beer when I'm out.  These seem to be generally available now and I've found that they're a pretty good alternative to fizzy drinks (and some taste just as good as actual beer).  Might be worth a try, if you see any you like (they are also available in most supermarkets).  

Honey_Bear

Excellent post Cookie and I agree with every word.

I'm also a bit zonked out on various drugs, having had my surgery today - hurrah!  I couldn't have had better care if I'd gone private.  I absolutely love the NHS and all the people who work for it.  They are very much in my heart this evening and I will never forget how kind everyone was today.  Thank you everyone who has worked for the NHS for the past 25 years, which is when I stopped working for it.  It's changed a lot since then and I have to say there are some things that are better.  Not everything for everyone, but today for me for sure. 

My post-op meal was a pre-packed sandwich and a mini pot of jelly.  I can't remember what the choices were but I think egg or chicken or maybe cheese (choices!) but the jelly was red.  No idea what flavour, it bore little resemblance to real fruit but it tasted absolutely wonderful.  Not eating much sugar sure makes your taste buds more receptive to it when you've been starved of food for 18 hours.  Nectar.

Pollybear

I'm so pleased your surgery is done.  Hope your recovery is swift and straightforward

Honey_Bear

Thank you Polly Bear.  I'm so glad I've had it, and am now on the path to as full a recovery as possible.  I'm very dutifully following all of the instructions I've been given and I have to say it all takes up a fair amount of time.  My Belovéd is taking very good care of me. 

How was your bank holiday weekend Cookie, Morrning Walker and Polly Bear?  Did you have a lovely time?

Yesterday I had a whole 100g bar of milk chocolate because I could on a bank holiday.  It was delicious but I'm intending to stay off it now for the rest of the week, until Friday evening.  The food my Belovéd is making for me is all good, healthy stuff with the emphasis on veggies, and fruit for dessert with nothing on it.  I doubt this could happen, but wouldn't it be wonderful if when the plaster cast comes off and I weigh myself I found that I'd lost weight, despite not getting any exercise?  That would be such a delight.  At least if I don't lose weight I hope I don't put any on.

cookie02

Very glad to hear that your surgery took place and that everything went smoothly, Honey_Bear .  I'm glad you had a good experience and hope you have a swift recovery.  Well done on having just the one bar of chocolate yesterday.  My weekend was lovely, thank you.  I indulged in cake and chocolate but it was a Bank Holiday and a family birthday celebration so I didn't break any rules.  This week, I'm going to try and stay sugar-free until Friday evening.  I had a date bar earlier and that kept me going.  This evening will be tough as we still have leftover chocolate and cake but, as delicious as they were, I think (hope!) that I'll be able to resist as I'd really like to get back to being sugar-free today.  

I hope everyone has been having a good day.  Good luck with your goals for this week!

cookie02

I managed to stay sugar-free yesterday but I'm already thinking about cake today 🤦‍♀️.  I'm determined to keep going and I've just made a cup of chocolate rooibos tea as I find this quite helpful when I'm having sugar cravings.  The tea smells like chocolate and the flavour is lovely.  I'm not sure if we've discussed it here before but I can definitely recommend it as a tactic to help with cravings.  

In other news, one of my relatives has just been told that they're 'pre-diabetic' by their doctor.  They've heard me talking about this challenge before and, while they're not on the Forum, I'm hoping that they might read, or at least follow the principles of this challenge, to help them get back on track.  It's another reminder of why this is so important and I really appreciate this thread and all the support.  As I was telling my uncle yesterday, even baby steps add up and just starting with one sugar-free meal or day = progress.  Fingers crossed for everyone that is trying to beat the sugar bug!