The 'Towards a Sugar-Free Future' Challenge

Honey_Bear

I'm pleased to say that the worst of the cold is over; I had to go out twice to get meds for it which upset me because I didn't want to be wandering around in public but there's such a low limit to how much paracetemol anyone's allowed to buy with two of us being struck down at the same time we were going through it very fast indeed.  We're both off the meds now so I'm going to lay in a bit of a stock over the next couple of shopping trips so that if we get another one that won't have to happen. 

Yesterday being Friday I allowed myself some chocolate in the evening and didn't have the usual ice cream after supper because I didn't feel like it.  The chocolate was my usual favourite but I didn't enjoy it as much as usual, probably because my tastebuds were dulled with the cold but also because it tasted just a bit too sweet.  Not sure  if iether of those will stay the course - it would be extremely helpful if I could find this particular milk chocolate too sweet in the future but it's never happened before so I don't hold out much hope.

I'm pleased with managing two weeks in a row of minimal chocolate, especially after December and almost the whole of January were such a washout.  I was beginning to think I couldn't do this, so I'm hugely relieved.  I've also lost over a kilo during that time so clearly something's working.

How did everyone else do this week, overall?

Makingabobor2

Well, the last few days I have been feeling a lot better, and thought I was over all my problems, but does feel like it might have come back a bit, so hoping to get rid if it once and for all.  Still had no cakes....haven't actually got any in the house...lol.  Have had a couple of small pieces of chocolate, but I'm breaking the squares up now and only having a small bit at a time. Did have a couple of biscuits, because DH bought a packet home that had a few of my favourites in....oops,  but I won't be having any more for a while now.  I feel I can control it a lot better since feeling bad, as it has made me sit up and take notice of how much c*** I was actually eating sometimes.  I have had 2 eggs this week, but at the moment I don't want to increase that until I see how it affect me.  I've been having Oatibix for breakfast, with half a banana, blackberries and today I had some blueberries on it. So yes, there was some natural sugar there, but much better than refined sugar.  Had veggies every day (but then we always do), and have also upped my exercise regime and drinking a lot more water. So we'll see what next week brings and hopefully I won't slip off the wagon too much this week. 

Well done @Honey_Bear, on the weight loss. That's a good incentive to eat less sugar, once you see the results starting to work. 

Hope everyone has a good weekend. 

cookie02

Thank you for your on-going support, Honey_Bear!  I managed to avoid the cafe but it was thanks to a meeting overrunning vs any discipline on my part.  It's still a win though and I managed to get through yesterday sugar-free too.  The cake had gone but I think it's for the best.  I've got better at saying no to sugar that I know I won't enjoy but I my self-control doesn't really apply when it's something I love and that cake is one of my favourites!  I hope you are both feeling better now and that you are having a relaxing weekend.  Well done for two weeks of low-sugar and multiple sugar-free days, Honey_Bear! 🏅 

Making, glad you are feeling better.  Fruit has additional health benefits and is much better than added / processed sugar - it sounds like a good breakfast.  If you're being careful with eggs right now, chickpeas might be worth a look from a protein perspective. I think they're supposed to be good for your digestion too but I'm not an expert.  I have an uncle that used to suffer badly from IBS.  The thing that he swears really helped him was kefir yoghurt which he eats daily now.  I have tried it and the taste isn't for me - he doesn't like the taste either but he eats it as he's convinced it's what stopped his flare-ups.  I do eat regular yoghurt but I can't say if it works or not as I was lucky not to have IBS to start with. 

Yesterday, I enjoyed a lovely chocolate and a slice of cake.  Today, I'm thinking of making brownies but we're supposed to be going out so I'm not sure if I'll get around to it.  I'm feeling quite lazy so I might try and get out of going out - the promise of brownies might be enough to get me off the hook while the rest of the family heads out... 

Pollybear, how are you getting on?  

Hope everyone is having a relaxing weekend . 

Honey_Bear

cookie02 said:

Thank you for your on-going support, Honey_Bear!  I managed to avoid the cafe but it was thanks to a meeting overrunning vs any discipline on my part.  It's still a win though and I managed to get through yesterday sugar-free too.  The cake had gone but I think it's for the best.  I've got better at saying no to sugar that I know I won't enjoy but I my self-control doesn't really apply when it's something I love and that cake is one of my favourites!  I hope you are both feeling better now and that you are having a relaxing weekend.  Well done for two weeks of low-sugar and multiple sugar-free days, Honey_Bear! 🏅

Thank you for the kind wishes - both Belovéd and I are feeling better.  It was short, sharp but nasty and the meds really helped.  It's the first cold either of us have had in well over three years so it was to be expected but it's very unlike him to stay in bed for a couple of days when feeling under the weather - the last time that happened was when he had C19.

I'm so glad you've found that you can resist sugary things now that you know aren't going to be that lovely.  I've found exactly the same but it's been a very slow, very gradual process.  We've been doing this Challenge now for coming up towards two years and I'd have thought at the beginning that it wouldn't take that long to re-educate either my pallete or my bad habits, but apparently so.  However, I think the change will be fairly permanent and that's great.

Monday and most of Tuesday were sugarfree but it was Valentine's Day yesterday and we decided in honour of that we'd have a date.  We went to see The Fableman's which was excellent in some way, rather dull in others, and then treated ourselves to something cooked in the oven!  Honestly, what has the country come to when putting the oven on is regarded as a treat?!  We've been so abstemious with it over the winter it's a real event when we use it now, but it's worked as we heard yesterday our gat/electricity DD is going down by £5 a month.  We've been a lot more mindful about how much power we use and it appears to be paying off.

Back to dinner - candles and everything, a proper treat for a starter and I don't regret the tiramasu a bit.  It will have to be finished (sorry not sorry) but that will be it for this week.  I think I'll see if I can balance it by not indulging on Saturday but we have got a friend coming to stay for Saturday night so I can't promise myself that.

How's everyone else getting on this week?

Makingabobor2

Started the week with good intentions and then suddenly, for no apparent reason had a biscuit...then another and another. Felt so guilty afterwards. Then yesterday DH bought me a box of my favourite Lindt dark chocolate truffles!  I said I will only eat 1 a day, but I looked at the sugar content and its massive...wish he'd bought me a couple of bars of the 90% chocolate instead.  Hey ho, onwards and upwards! 

Honey_Bear

Making, we all do it.  We all binge occasionally and if I knew what caused it when I can resist sometimes I'd be a very rich and happy lady.  The best we can do is just move on from it.

I can see how this is hard for you though because your husband does seem to be in the habit of bringing home sugary treats which kind of forces you to be grateful to him for being thoughtful about giving you a gift, but is this something you actually want?  Once is a while I can see would be lovely but it seems to be a fairly regular occurence.  Have you had a conversation with him about trying to cut down on sugar? 

I too have a lovely partner who brings treats home, but they tend to be prawn cocktails from M&S and the like, plus a bunch of daffodils at this time of year.  Could yours switch his choices slightly to be less sugary? 

I'm in awe of anyone who can stop at one treat.  That never happens here.

Honey_Bear

Well, all things considered it hasn't been a complete disaster this week but it hasn't been a raging success either. 

On Wednesday I had a crochet lesson with a friend acquaintance, and I need to be a little circumspect with her so when she offered jaffa cakes it would have been both churlish and complicated to explain the sugarfree thing.  She's the same age as me but as skinny as a rake, but she smokes and I only started putting on weight when I gave up, so a swings and roundabout thing is happening there.  Either way, after the tiramasu on Valentine's Day and the jaffa cakes - a bit of a fail.

Today I made it to 6.30 until I caved.  I might forego the m@gnum later but I haven't decided yet.  (Probably not, if I'm honest.)

How did everyone else do?

Makingabobor2

Had egg & toast  for breakfast (allowing myself 2 or 3 a week now). But in the afternoon when I fancied something, I had 1 oatibix with a few blackberries & cherries, no milk, just put a bit of hot water on to soften it....mixed it all up and it was lovely. Have had a couple of squares of the 90% chocolate though. But NO biscuits or cakes. 

~FlowerPot~

@Honey_Bear , jaffa cakes would be hard to refuse under any circumstances!

@Makingabobor2 well done, sounds like your really on it.

Im only coming on to be accountable, ive had a terrible week, completetly back to how i was and stopped caring last couple of days. But im going to renew my efforts tomorrow and Ill come on here to declare what kind of day ive had!!!

~FlowerPot~

Ok, so I've come up to bed. Not feeling great, i think i have caught the cold DH has.
Anyhow, i did better today one arranged snack and 4 mini eggs. So better, much better than previous few days!
I have found a gorgeous granola with a bit of natural yohurt A decent snack in the evening, it takes a while to eat it so it feels satisying. And this particular granola has no added sugar. The sweetness come from beetroot and pear! Win win!