The 'Towards a Sugar-Free Future' Challenge

Honey_Bear

Makingabobor2 said:

I'm quite a newbie to MSE land but have discovered this challenge and would love to join in, as I think its just what I need.
I have been trying to cut out too many cakes, biscuits & chocolate for ages now, without much success.  I am not overweight, in fact, if anything I am actually a bit underweight for my height, but I know that too much sugar is making my digestive system worse and making my IBS worse.

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So I thought if I joined this challenge than I would be more motivated as I can't come on here and lie about what I've eaten. Also I might pick up some tips along the way.  It seems, from reading so far, that you are all doing very well.

Welcome Making, and I'm so glad you found us.  Everything you said in your post rings bells for me - except the bit about being underweight!  I can sometimes go a few days without thinking about sugary things, more particularly chocolate, or keep it under control and then I'll suddenly out of nowhere apparently get cravings and nothing except binging on cake, home made biscuits or a massive amount of chocolate will do. You're very welcome to join us and I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner.  Ultimately, whatever the issue whether it's being a bit underweight, IBS, being overweight or whatever, I think we're probably all here because there's a health problem snapping at our heels.  Or maybe just licking them, very gently like a dog, but at our heels nonetheless.

That's most unlike you to cave in the middle of the week Cookie.  I'm glad you enjoyed the cake!

I didn't go overboard in London, in fact I was far more abstemious than I'd planned on or hoped to be, but I made up for it when I got home yesterday.  I overdid it on the walking front so by the time I got home I was in a lot of pain.  I self-medicated with m@ltezers and I very much fear I will be doing so again today. 

I blame the change in the weather.

hazeldreams

Morning!

Welcome @Makingabobor2 - I'm new to this challenge too and have yet to find my 'groove'.

Managed a chocolate free day yesterday! It was enforced as all the chocolate in the house has run out, but I don't care, I didn't have any and I wasn't even tempted to go to the shops to get some! Result!

@cookie02, I've done IF many times before. I always feel the benefits but find it so very hard to get started as I'm always starving in the morning. It really does control my cravings for sugar though. I've been thinking about giving it another go over the last few weeks - I might have a look at the ZOE project you mention.

Anyway, learn from yesterday - no chocolate in the house is the way forward (always has been tbh). Now how to ensure I don't have any access to it today when it's shopping day and the kids will go nuts if there's no choc for them .

Hazel x

cookie02

Welcome, @Makingabobor2!  You are in the right place to try and tackle your sugar cravings .  I've found Honey_Bear's challenge really helpful and hope it helps you too.  I've been doing this for over a year now and, at this point, it has definitely transformed my tastebuds and eating habits, even though I still slip-up sometimes.  

On the subject of slip-ups, this week has been a total washout for me.  Yesterday, I had another brownie.  It was one of those one-inch ones so it could have been a lot worse but I am definitely struggling to get back on track.  I think I will have to take my own advice next week and just aim for 1/2 sugar-free days and build back up again.  

Honey_Bear, I might blame the change in weather too as I seem to be eating everything in sight right now, not just sugar... I hope you had a lovely trip.  Sorry to hear that you were in pain on your return home. It sounds like the m@lteasers might count as painkillers this time!  Hope you feel better soon.

Well done on the chocolate-free day, Hazel! 🏅 I'm glad IF works for you and I will definitely try it again.  I'm still not convinced that it has any effect for me but, normally, I find it relatively easy as I don't feel hungry or like eating first thing anyway.  I remember Honey_Bear seemed to accidentally do IF a while back and it seemed to work.  I also have friends that swear by it but I've never really seen any major weight change from it.  In contrast, my gradual cutting down of sugar with this challenge has really made a big difference.  I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed this but my skin is much better now than it was pre-challenge - another reason why I need to get myself back on track quickly! 🍀 

Pollybear said:

Welcome making and good luck.   Unfortunately for most of us it's not always a straightforward road but we keep picking ourselves up and keeping going

Pollybear has hit the nail on the head.  This really is what the challenge is all about!  

Happy Friday!  Well done to everyone for making progress and persisting.  It's not easy but I really believe it's worth it.  Despite failing to rack up any sugar-free days this week, I'm going to try and be sugar-free until this evening.  Surely, I can manage that?  I guess I'll know in about 12 hours...   

Makingabobor2

Thankyou all for the lovely welcome.
I agree with the comments about the weather. Definitely some comfort eating going on when the temperatures dip. 
Well yesterday I had 1 biscuit only, but I did have 2 squares of 85% chocolate, which according to the nutritional info, is only 17% sugar. So not as bad as some chocolates, but still sugar I probably could have done without
 Although if I'm going to have anything at all, then it should be dark chocolate.  I also had a tiny bite size piece of home made cake that was left in the tin. That's one of my downfalls, I love to bake. Mostly to give my DD for the kids, but I always end up keeping some. I only do it about once a fortnight,so will have to try & make stuff with less sugar. The cake I could easily give up if I try, I think  its the chocolate & biscuits I find hardest. 
Anyway, hope you all have a successful day. 

Pollybear

I've had a pretty rubbish few days, just generally eating too much of everything including sweet stuff, but I just keep getting up every day and trying again.  Better than not trying at all!

Honey_Bear

Well done on being chocolate-free yesterday Hazel.  Every day is a real victory at this time of year because I'm now convinced that the cold weather is a trigger for comfort eating.  I know I found it a lot harder last year in December particulalry, and as we're all now worried about our heating bills I'm pretty sure that the extra stress of that now that the weather's turned is enough to turn anyone to sugary things - good to know it's not just me Making.  Regarding intermittent fasting, the Zoe Project has published the first set of results based on the people who have registered to join it and they're still taking people who are interested in joining in.  It's here, and I had thought about joining in, but at the moment it would just be too much for my Belovéd to have to think about on the days when he's doing all or even some of the cooking because I can't stand up for long.  I will, however, be watching the results videos because as Cookie said, I found it helpful when I was doing it.  I don't particularly need breakfast but if I don't eat something before lunctime I get seriously raging hungry with cravings at 3.30pm so I make myself have something.  Right now Belovéd is bringing me peanut butter toast at about 10.30am which does the trick.

I wish I could say my vice is 85% dark chocolate, because I think I'd be okay with that and if you can limit yourself to one square a day it's definitely doing you more good than harm because it has so many things in it that are superhealthy.  There isn't the same temptation for me with it at all unfortunately; there's no doubt it's the combination of sugar and chocolate I'm after and crave when I get the urge.  I've only got dark chocolate in the house at the moment because of that - I can resist it without much trouble almost all of the time and Belovéd likes it which is a bit of a bonus.  The same cannot be said of various other things when they're in the tin.  I bought him some really good quality 70% and 80% dark chocolate for Christmas a few years back and he admitted defeat with it but it made the most fabulous brownies.

Cookie, a one inch square of brownie is very abstemous of you, but in view of the fact that you've also done cake this week it's clearly a week when you are not at your strongest.  It happens to absolutely all of us, and if you enjoyed it and it helped you cope with whatever then it was thoroughly worthwhile.

As for me - the box of maltezers is no more and I will now admit that it was one of those big boxes, not the little ones.  It disappeared in two sessions and Belovéd only had a couple of very small handfulls.  I've had trouble with pulled muscles in my legs for 30 years and the walking over the two days in London set them all off again.  Stretching is very difficult with a broken ankle!  Anyway, today I've managed some good stretching after hobbling downstairs for lunch which I think will help, but in the meantime I'm taking it easy today because I did waaaay more than I should have done yesterday which is why I was in so much pain again in the afternoon. 

I have just scoffed a 100ml box of homemade ginger icecream that is fab, and only about 15% sugar, which I'm pretty confident is a lot less sugar than in manufactured ice cream.  Basically this week is a total fail, BUT as with all of us on this Challenge who've indulged this week, so much less of a fail than before I started it.  In the olden days I'd have found a way of eating a whole lot more over the entire week, so it's working. 

How are you getting on Polly Bear?  Have you been able to hold out despite the colder weather or are you in the Sin Bin with the rest of us weaklings?!

Honey_Bear

We crossposted Polly, but you can rest assured most of us are in the same boat.  I thought it was just me with the overindulgence but I now think because we've nearly all done the same thing - the weather has been a huge factor.  It's always worth finding out what makes our lives harder and clearly the weather suddenly getting colder has sent us all to the chocolate tins.  It's really helpful knowing it's a common trigger.

phillw

cookie02 said:

Yesterday, I ate a small square of brownie.  I enjoyed it thoroughly and it was worth losing my sugar-free day over.  It also meant that I stopped obsessing over sugar and dreaming of sugar for the rest of the day so I'm not complaining.

How long have you tried going with the obsessions? I believe that getting your blood sugar levels stable will help, but also distracting yourself is also important.

I went vegan a few months ago, my main issue with Vegan+GF+Sugar free is figuring out a decent custard recipe.

cookie02

I managed to get through to yesterday evening sugar-free!  It isn't much but it's still a result so I'm going to celebrate it and hope I do better next week 🎉.  How is everyone?  

Pollybear and Honey_Bear, I've been having exactly the same experience this week and have eaten so much more than normal.  You must be right about the weather.  I haven't had any personal or work-related triggers so that's the only thing I can think of.  I'm hoping I'll get to grips with this next week and I might give myself a target of 1/2.75 sugar-free days instead of the full 4.75 as I don't think I'll achieve that.  

phillw said:

cookie02 said:

Yesterday, I ate a small square of brownie.  I enjoyed it thoroughly and it was worth losing my sugar-free day over.  It also meant that I stopped obsessing over sugar and dreaming of sugar for the rest of the day so I'm not complaining.

How long have you tried going with the obsessions? I believe that getting your blood sugar levels stable will help, but also distracting yourself is also important.

I went vegan a few months ago, my main issue with Vegan+GF+Sugar free is figuring out a decent custard recipe.

Hello phillw 👋, I've been part of this challenge for 14months now and I've had a sugar addiction for most of my life!  I have been trying to improve and cut out fizzy drinks altogether some years ago.  That was a big step for me as I used to drink them all the time (a fizzy drink was my 'breakfast' for years, that's how bad it was).  I think you're right about distractions being important.  Most of the time, if I'm busy with personal or work things, that keeps me on the straight and narrow.  This week, despite being busy, I couldn't seem to stop thinking about sugar. I think Pollybear and Honey_Bear are probably right about it being connected to it getting colder this week.  

You are right about getting blood sugar levels stable. I don't actually test but I just try to follow sensible eating most of the time. I started changing my family's food patterns a while back (pre-challenge) and also addressed some major issues we had with portion sizes, all of which helped.  If you are trying to be sugar-free too, I would go for the easier wins (whatever those are for you).  As an example, Pollybear doesn't take any money when she goes to get the paper, I have asked my family not to offer sweets at the table, except at the weekend (which they remember 90% of the time now!) etc.  

For the vegan custard, have you thought of replacing sugar with maple syrup?  My friend is dairy & GF (due to allergy reasons which unfortunately mean that oats are off the cards too).  They have homemade custard with maple and non-dairy milk (mostly almond but sometimes coconut milk although that has a very distinctive coconut flavour).  

Goals-wise, I'm not aiming for anything since it's the weekend!  I will try and have some self-restraint tomorrow as I'd really like to be sugar-free on Monday.  I'm still debating whether to aim for 1.75 or 2.75 days next week... 

Have a lovely weekend! 

leftatthetrafficlights

It's been a long time since I visited (lost my bookmarks when I got signed out a while back) and I've been so far away from the wagon it's not funny! 🤦‍♀️ 

As before, it's alcohol, mixers and condiments that are my issue as opposed to sweets or chocolate and my consumption of these has become ridiculous again over the last few months 🙄

I've decided that from Monday I am taking the taxi ride back to the wagon and strapping myself on with chains! 😉🤣