Sugar free in 09 - Page 9

[wendyland]

Originally Posted by rebirth

I'm doing horribly! I'm totally off the wagon. But I'm working hard to do better, even though right now it's not going too well.


anyone else off the wagon after doing great?

I'm pretty far off the wagon. I don't feel totally addicted like I used to. I'm doing better at moderation. I don't have any sugar until later in the day. I like honey in my tea and have been eating dark chocolate in the mid afternoon. That's usually about it for the day, but sometimes I still feel like a Reeses.

I'm going to give myself a break and try again.

[eco_mama]

Hi all! Okay so here's my deal. I pretty much feel like the biggest failure of a mother. Yesterday I discovered that my 5 (almost 6 - in July) yr. old has a cavity. It literally appeared overnight. I can't believe it. I feel so bad. We've been eating sweets too much and my dd has the cavity to prove it. We've been saying for awhile that we're getting too much sugar. We go up and down with it. We'll talk about it for awhile and then stop and then we'll talk again and then stop, etc. etc. But this is really kicking us into gear and putting an end to it. Yesterday we had a big family discussion (as big as you can with almost 6 and 3 yr old's.) They seem okay with everything and my dd is actually really on board. Knowing that she now has a cavity from all those sweets, she says she never wants to eat them again "only good healthy stuff!". --It also helps that we have the Berenstain Bears book "No more Junk Food!"

It'll be much easier for them than it will be for us. But my dh is completely on board and maybe even more so than myself. I've been addicted to sugar for awhile. The biggest thing for me is that I became more addicted to it after I quit smoking. After a meal I would always go have a quick smoke and so that turned into a sweet. I quit smoking for both pregnancies and after my 2nd one I never started back. (It'll be 4 hrs this Oct. that I quit.) But lately, I don't know if it's been extra stress or what but I've been thinking more and more about smoking and I have a feeling that quitting sugar will make me start smoking again.

I'm familiar with Gabe Cousens and raw lifestyle and I've been interested to eat more raw foods for some time now. Our plan is to stock up on nuts, seeds, fruits, raw bars, etc. for snacks. But like a pp said about natural sugars "I just can't convince myself that they're bad." Like how Cousens says to eat low-moderate fruits - well I can't convince myself that strawberries would be the same as a cookie! Of course he's not exactly saying that but you see what I mean? So I'll still use maple syrup, agave, etc. But this white sugar (even though we buy pure cane), and sugary things we buy HAVE to go.

Okay that's all for now - Now I'll go back and finish reading.

[wendyland]

Eco_mama, it's great to get the whole family on board. My oldest had a really bad cavity when she was about 5 or 6. She had to get a crown on it. I don't know how it went bad so fast because she had been going regularly to the dentist and we didn't eat many sweets. We rarely even had juice in the house.

I would watch the dried fruits or fruit bars. Those sugars tend to stick on the teeth. I've read that raisins are one of the worst things for causing cavities. Sugary stuff that disolves fast is better as a treat. You could make cookies at home where you can control the ingredients. My kids mainly eat fresh fruit at home and flavored kefir. They have candy once in a while at school or at a party.

[rebirth]

Originally Posted by wendyland

I'm pretty far off the wagon. I don't feel totally addicted like I used to. I'm doing better at moderation. I don't have any sugar until later in the day. I like honey in my tea and have been eating dark chocolate in the mid afternoon. That's usually about it for the day, but sometimes I still feel like a Reeses.

I'm going to give myself a break and try again.

I don't feel addicted either. Although when I was unpacking a box I found some mini airheads- and even though I told myself no I had one anyhow (then threw them away)

So- that was really my low point, which isn't THAT bad, although it was disappointing.

Overall I'm doing well. Plus I've started an exercise plan, so my body has been extra hungry!
I'm trying though to just overall make good choices more then to elliminate things, although I am trying my best to go without white sugar.

[Smylingeyz]

Originally Posted by MamaFern

Smylingeyz: i had a very similar experience lately with wheat. i was doing great then i ate a bunch because it was convenient and i was away from home, ie away from my wheat free healthy foods. i felt ILL. I'm so not even remotely interested in feeling like that anytime soon. i got home monday night and im only starting to feel like the effects on my body are going away. i don't know if its partly psychological because i had said NO to it before and then all of a sudden im eating it anyways, but i know at least some of it was a physical reaction.

i hope you are feeling better soon! when i read that post i thought right away . SHes pregnanT! not sure why.

I'm not pregnant... but when I felt like that I really though I could be, even though I had my period. Felt like I was.

[momofPL]

eco_mama, it is so nice to have your family on board. I think that is helpful for everyone to be on the same page. Sorry about the cavity, but I agree with the other poster about raisins and dried fruits that tend to stick to the teeth/gums.

I have been doing badly this last week myself. I was thinking that instead of beating myself up over this, that I would try to figure out why it was a bad week. What made me turn to my old habits and sugar in the first place? For me it has been a very stressful/rushed week. I am still trying to get used to being back at work and pumping at work is becoming very challenging. I have to find a time and place with no elementary children around. I am worried about my milk supply and trying to keep it up until school lets out in June. Then mornings are hard because I am getting myself, my 5 year old, and 5 month old out the door (including pumping and nursing in the am) by 6:30am. I know that if I don't have time for breakfast in the morning, I turn to muffins and coffee on the road (literately eating in the car). That throws my entire day. I was doing so well with giving myself time in the morning to make a fruit smoothy and oatmeal (with honey) and that seems to set the tone for my whole day. I do great on those days. For some reason fruit in the morning seems to make a difference for me. I have also been very very hungry all day the last few days. (I know my daughter is starting to take more breastmilk, could my supply be adjusting?) I don't think I am bringing enough food to school with me during the day. Then I will snack on anything in the teacher's lounge and everything in the lounge is filled with sugar. I feel like I need to hide in a bubble to make this work on some days. Going sugar free is not the norm around here that is for sure. I know this past week my unbelieveable hunger had a lot to do with it. On Monday, I think I will bring a stash of healthy snacks to keep in my desk. The good news for this crazy busy week (conferences and tons of meetings too this week) is that I have today off to relax with my children. The funny thing today is that we could sleep in and we were all up by 5am! Hopefully next week will be better.

[mommajb]

I am subbed in here, have been sugar free in the past and am having trouble lately (since Thanksgiving). I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the reminders even on days when my mind isn't in the right frame.

I think I need to look at my food intake overall. I am letting myself get too hungry and then my brain thinks it needs sugar for the quick fix.

Keep up the great efforts!

[wendyland]

Hi! How is everyone doing? I'm starting over. Today is day 1. I spiralled out of control this week. My body is paying for it.

[EyesOfTheWorld]

Are any of you all still sugar free? I just found this thread and I'd love a support group. I gave up sugar for almost a year several years ago and I felt awesome, looked great, was so healthy... well, that's all faded away. My little one's birthday party is tomorrow and after that I'm back on the the sugar-free train.

How's everyone doing?

[wendyland]

Originally Posted by EyesOfTheWorld

Are any of you all still sugar free? I just found this thread and I'd love a support group. I gave up sugar for almost a year several years ago and I felt awesome, looked great, was so healthy... well, that's all faded away. My little one's birthday party is tomorrow and after that I'm back on the the sugar-free train.

How's everyone doing?

I'm trying to come back down. I haven't gone cold turkey. I had some agave today in my plain yogurt. I'll probably have a little something this evening. I really do feel better and look better when I don't eat it. Everytime I feel like having something, I'm stopping myself and talking through it. I'm deciding if it's really worth it. I feel like I'm going crazy until the craving passes.

[momofPL]

I have completely failed giving up sugar and am back to some old bad habits. On a positive note I have managed to give up soda and caffeine. The sugar seems to be a huge hurdle for me. I also love this support thread because without the reminders, I would not try it again. So beginning today, I am trying this again. I know one of my biggest problems is that I do not eat enough for breakfast and do not bring enough food to work with me.

How is everyone else doing?

[sugarmoon]

I bombed out a week ago, had the worst day of my life (literally), and was driving home at 9:30 pm having not eaten anything since lunch time, stressed out totally, and had nothing in the car but a tin of oatmeal cookies that I had baked for a playgroup that morning...

you can imagine the rest. And then of course, I rationalized that since I'd already bombed......

but today is day 2 of being back on track. and I'm trying to really pay attention to the little things -- like I had noticed that my skin was really clear and soft, and right now it is dry/breaking out/itchy.

so I'm back on the wagon.... I was also doing south beach and last week was my first week on phase 2, and I think the wheat is a real trigger for me -- I'm doing basically phase 1 right now, today the only non-phase 1 things I've had are apples and a small glass of red wine.

[laohaire]

I'm a week shy of 3 months after completely changiing my views on sugar. I fell off the wagon briefly twice during that time, and got right back on the horse.

In addition to the two times I had sugar (and frankly I didn't binge either time, just had a moderate amount of a treat), I also had a few pieces of bitter (zero sugar) baking chocolate during a few days when I felt emotionally weak and when sugar was tempting me. The chocolate did its duty and totally soothed my cravings.

I've since started focusing on my overeating of simple carbs like pasta. And also started eating meat (local, pastured, hormone-free etc.) again.

Now I'm reading In Defense of Food and find it to be almost exactly what I'm looking for. I don't know how to describe it exactly, but it's like I'm looking for some ideology of food (though the author points out how ideologies of food are exactly our downfall) that is neither moderate nor cultish. Meaning, I really don't feel like I want to eat junk food "in moderation;" I don't feel like that's the answer for me. But I also don't feel like I want to, say, eat raw vegan. The moderation part was particularly hard for me in terms of sugar - after grappling with this addiction for years, I tried out thee moderation route, and began to eat way more of it than I ever did! But I also don't want to be someone who is so focused on good food and bad food - I just want to eat and be healthy, period, and not worry about it. This book is just fascinating to me, and I will have to buy it (I got it at the library) so I can reread it 20 times.

Anyway I'm probably going way off topic, but since folks were wondering if anyone out there were able to really kick the sugar thing, here I am. And now that I'm here, I'm just thinking about the whole thing from a more global perspective. What's in the future for me for sugar? I think that once I've got a handle on the food thing as a whole, I can open myself up to rare treats again. Savor them. Notice how my body responds. But I'm not ready yet.

[philosophicalmama]

Hey all-
I'm on day 24 of sugar free and foods that act like sugar (grains, high-glycemic fruit etc..) I have to say it has been amazing! I started it as a 30 day challenge- but I think I'm going to go for 60 days. I read a book called sugarettes and the Dr. who wrote it has a web site with the outline of the 30 day challenge- sends e-mails everyday for support.
My digestion has been really good- energy better and my moods are so much more stabilized- I was a serious sugar junkie though- like in times of stress stopping at like 3 different coffee shops for chocolate chip cookies- expensive too in one day! crazy right? much strength to any one who is walking down this path...

[lactivistmama]

Here is a question for all of you.. I am getting my kids off sugar too, so what do you do when you are at a relative or friends house. (I am ok with sugar at say a birthday party for a small treat) but what about if you are just there for dinner/playdate/etc. what do you say? I don't want my kids getting sugar there, but especially the first time after you switch to sugar free? It will of course be a big change for us, and I am clueless how to approach it

[EyesOfTheWorld]

So, I did great for a week - then my little one got sick Friday morning and set off a chain reaction - Saturday I sent my DH out for Sprite since that's been my go to for stomach problems since I was a kid. Totally not thinking of the sugar, only "What can I keep down to rehydrate since water won't?". Then this morning my DH made coffee and I couldn't resist... boo. Starting fresh tomorrow. Also having a very stressful doctor's appointment tomorrow morning, so prayers and good vibes welcome.

Originally Posted by lactivistmama

Here is a question for all of you.. I am getting my kids off sugar too, so what do you do when you are at a relative or friends house. (I am ok with sugar at say a birthday party for a small treat) but what about if you are just there for dinner/playdate/etc. what do you say? I don't want my kids getting sugar there, but especially the first time after you switch to sugar free? It will of course be a big change for us, and I am clueless how to approach it

I guess to me this all depends on how old your children are and what the situation is - for the first 2 years of their lives both mine were sugar free and I just was up front about it - while not everyone loved the idea they were respectful of it. It's a lot easier when they are nursing for a lot of their nutrition though! I'd just tell people up front - PRIOR to the actual playdate/ dinner, what ever - mention it casually "By the way, we're trying to go off sugar and it would be awesome if you didn't offer any to the kids!"

I've totally given up on getting my oldest one sugar free outside of the home unless it's a decision she makes herself, because sugar is just so darn pervasive that I don't want it to become an issue she feels uneasy with or rebels against. It's at all our friends house, relatives, and even preschool. Usually in small, occasional quantities, but I haven't figured out a way to handle it without really making her feel like she's missing out on "the fun", and possibly going to the other extreme (becoming a total sugar junkie) when she's old enough. I hope you can find a way and share it with us!

[lactivistmama]

bumping

[sugarmoon]

I'm glad to see this thread bumped today

I did great for a month, then fell off the no-sugar wagon, pretty hard. Anyway, this morning was my "start again" day.

[nym]

I am starting this again tomorrow. I feel soooooooo bad. I think Im dying sometimes, with how much sugar I eat.

[LoveLife]

I'm going to join you! I'm a bit late on the bandwagon, but I NEED to do this.

My eating sugar has gotten out of control. I ate frosting from the JAR today. Like 1/2 a a jar!! Its nuts. Anyway, I probably won't start fully until next week, after Easter since we are having friends over and they are bringing the dessert. But I'm going to at least start slowly this week and then cut out all sugars except fruits and natural sweetners (honey and maple syrup, etc in small amounts, only occassionally.)

We'll see where that gets me. But I definitely need support and accountability in this.