The 'Towards a Sugar-Free Future' Challenge

cookie02

Pollybear said:

If it's in the house it's calling to me.  My husband can eat one or two squares of chocolate and can have stuff in the cupboard for weeks.  I try to get him things I don't like otherwise they just play on my mind.   Obviously there are time I overlook the fact that I don;t like it and eat it anyway but luckily not too often.  I hate nuts and he likes them so wholenut or fruit and nut is usually the way to go.

This is exactly how I feel each day, Pollybear.  My family try not to tempt me with sugar (and I love all kinds - cookies, cakes, chocolate, the lot) but I struggle knowing it is there and I don't have the option of removing temptation altogether, as it wouldn't be fair to them.  They have been very supportive though and there is far less sugar here than there used to be before this challenge (which is also good for them ).  I used to eat whole packs of biscuits in one go, or large amounts of cake or chocolate (or all three!).  It was the potential health issues that made me take my sugar addiction more seriously but it is really hard, there's no doubt about that.  I have done all kinds of random things to try and stick to this challenge.  Today, I brushed my teeth ridiculously early, to avoid breaking my sugar-free day with some amazing chocolate that my family was having for dessert!  It seems crazy but all of these little things add up over time and your strategy of taking only the voucher when you get the paper is another example of that.  

I hope you find some alternative treats that you enjoy as I think this makes a real difference.  Dates are good and there are some that are so melty and jammy that I genuinely enjoy them and feel like I'm having a treat.  Honey_Bear recommended the L1dl date bars which are very good.  I also enjoy 'gingerbread' pecans (pecans dusted with ginger, cinnamon and a tiny touch of cayenne and drizzled with diluted maple syrup before being toasted).  Well done for making so much progress, Pollybear!  

Honey_Bear said:

There's no doubt that it's harder to go back to No Sugar after a few days indulgence.  I really should have learned that by now but it seems I never do.

Same here.  I think there must be some equation that we do subconsciously to determine if the indulgence will be worth it.  For a homemade muffin, I think that answer will always be yes!  

Pollybear

It's so nice to have support from people who really understand what it's like.  Thank you

Honey_Bear

Polly Bear we absolutely do understand, I can assure you!

I've already failed miserably today.  I had a handful of almonds last night trying to avoid eating something sugary which worked, but it was obviously the last straw for what must have been a fractured filling.  I then slept very badly because of ankle pain and had to visit the dentist today to get it sorted out.  I'm pretty dental phobic but I happen to have an excellent one and he's fixed it, thank goodness.  In all of the excitement I didn't get breakfast so came home around 2.00 pm absolutely ravenous and fell upon a tube of fruit pastilles.  *hangs head in shame*

Pollybear

When you're under stress it's very hard to resist temptation.  At least you recognise it and tomorrow is another day.  I hope your ankle pain eases soon so you can get some proper rest.

Honey_Bear

Thanks Polly Bear.  I'm cutting down on the prescribed medication because I'm having serious trouble getting a repeat prescription out of my GP's surgery.  It's supposed to be 48 hours, and so far it's been 10 days, four emails and no prescription.  I'm weaning myself on to a lower dose that is available over the counter of the same opioid based stuff which is what is what is recommended when the time is appropriate anyway.  I'm just trying to do it earlier than I would if the repeat prescription service at the surgery worked properly.  *sigh*

I may have had some chocolate too. 

I have not covered myself in glory today but as you say, tomorrow is another day.

Honey_Bear

Thank goodness yesterday was Friday.  I held out until after dinner but I had to really work at it and could only salvage the latter part of the day with the help of a date bar and crisps.  I love crisps but I don't allow myself to eat them normally because they are without doubt total junk and they give me indigestion normally.  They didn't yesterday and they satisfied my snack-bandit cravings for salt.  I'm okay so far today but then again, I usually am at this time of day.  The danger zone is mid to late afternoon.

If I can resist I'm going to do so because I need to get to grips with this business of indulging at the weekends because I know it's allowed on this Challenge, but I now know that doing so makes getting back to No Sugar on Mondays so hard. 

We'll see how long those good intentions last.

cookie02

Pollybear said:

When you're under stress it's very hard to resist temptation.  At least you recognise it and tomorrow is another day.  I hope your ankle pain eases soon so you can get some proper rest.

This is so true!  You were very unlucky with that tooth, Honey_Bear.  I hope your prescription comes through soon and that your over-the-counter medication is helping the ankle for now.  

Pollybear, it really does make a difference knowing that you're not alone in having a sugar addiction and trying to cut down.  That is what I really appreciate about this thread.  I hope things are improving for you.  We all slip but just keep trying!

My Thursday was sugar-free and I managed to hold out until Friday evening so I'm very happy about that as I have had more sugar than I should have had since the hospital issues.  Yesterday, I indulged quite a bit with cake, cookies and chocolate.  I'm going to try and have just one treat today, otherwise I'm going to struggle even more tomorrow.  

Honey_Bear said:

If I can resist I'm going to do so because I need to get to grips with this business of indulging at the weekends because I know it's allowed on this Challenge, but I now know that doing so makes getting back to No Sugar on Mondays so hard. 

We'll see how long those good intentions last.

This will be the same for me today, Honey_Bear.  Fingers crossed for today...

Have a lovely day, everyone!

Honey_Bear

You're spot on, as always, Cookie. 

I'm going to try the GP from a different angle tomorrow because it's been a fortnight now since I first asked for more drugs and I'm really worried about running out of the prescription only strength now and that's not okay. 

I did not cover myself in glory yesterday but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  I'm hoping for better things today.

Onwards and upwards.

Pollybear

Hope you get your medication sorted out soon HB.

Still plodding on here.  Saturday I could have chewed my own arm off I was so hungry but I managed to get through it and yesterday was fine.  Just had my shingles jab so hopefully no side effects to make me want chocolate!

Honey_Bear

Hunger doesn't work for me at all Polly Bear.  You must be very strong-willed to resist food if you're hungry.   I eat rubbish if I let myself get hungry but whereas I used to be drawn to sugary snacks I'm now craving salty ones.  That's an improvement.

As for today - rubbish was eaten.  Sugary rubbish at that.  'Nuf said.