Sugar free in 09 - Page 2

[quelindo]

I REALLY need to join you guys. I did this about 1.5 years ago for several months and felt great, but fell off the wagon when my son had his birthday and we had cake and ice cream in the house.

I've started and stopped a few times this month already. Sigh. This is SO.HARD. I know if I could get past the first few days I'd be okay, but it's always "after the coffee creamer is all used up" or "after we make this one pan of brownies." Gah!

[crunchy_mama]

Hey all- I am a sugarfree momma- I was off (yet again) for the last 3-4 months- but then last week I thought I could /should have a little treat for some stupid reason. Well, now I am weaning back off this week and it is just as hard ARGH- I have been super cranky, poor kids and I have been carb binging. Today I am trying to make it without a huge carb binge- ie yesterday I ate a whole bunch of corn tortilla chips before bed- just had to have them. No sugar here, but the carb binges work the same. I was doing so good, I hate it that I do that to myself. I do fruit but low gi stuff- lots of grapefruit. My weight also went up a few pounds from last weeks indiscretions so I would like to get that back off- I worked too hard to lose it the first time! Anywho- hi all!

[ursusarctos]

Originally Posted by Magelet

I've been finding that eating something filling (usually with animal fat of some kind) as soon as I'm hungry has been helping me cut down these past couple days, because its when I get really hungry that I most often reach for the sugar fix. And lowering the sugar content of "dessert". I'm trying really hard to do heavy cream with maple syrup and fruit instead of ice cream for dessert. I know maple syrup is sugar, but last time it was easier to wean off to natural sugars and then lower them down slowly til I really have very little taste for sugar. *sighs* but it comes back so very fast.

I do find that when I'm trying to cut down on sugar, upping fat is key. It helps me feel "full", and sated when I'm full after a meal, and so I'm less likely to go for dessert.

Yes! This is what I did when I weaned myself off sugar and it still works when I'm having sugar cravings. Animal fat, protein, also natural sugars in small amounts really help when you are craving that cinnamon roll.
Though I find that the refined grains and sugar have been slowly creeping back into my life and I probably need to nip that in the bud, I still have nowhere near the desire for/taste for sugary goodies that I used to.

[wendyland]

What do you all snack on when you're off sugar? Or maybe some good transition foods? I've been snacking on raw almonds, raw pecans, and my late evening snack has been frozen pineapple. Only a small amount of pineapple.

I found a recipe on another board that is low gi, but still sweetened with agave. I think it makes 3 dozen.

1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/3 cup agave
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
3 cups quick oats
1 tsp vanilla extract

- stir 1st 4 ingredients together an boil until rolling boil
- add PB and van. Ext.
- stir in oatmeal
- drop by spoonfuls on wax paper and refrigerate

[ursusarctos]

Originally Posted by wendyland

What do you all snack on when you're off sugar? Or maybe some good transition foods?

-cheese
-whole grain crackers or w g bread with butter
-fresh fruit
-plain whole-fat yogurt with a little maple syrup
-hard-boiled eggs
-nuts
-sunflower seeds (better lightly pan-toasted imo)
-leftovers
-sauerkraut out of the jar (ok I know this sounds gross to many of you but if you like sauerkraut it's surprisingly satisfying)
-veggie sticks are good to munch on too but not as satisfying as fatty things
-cottage cheese
-combinations of the above

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by wendyland

What do you all snack on when you're off sugar? Or maybe some good transition foods?

In the hard first few days, I nibble on totally unsweetened chocolate. It completely and totally quiets my cravings.

And here is my recipe for bread I like to snack on, that has no sugar or sugar substitutes; just some fruit.

2 bananas
1 large or 2 small apples
1 3/4 cup whole wheat or rye flour
2 eggs
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup hot water
Optional: things like flax seeds, rolled oats, raisins, blueberries, walnuts, etc. can go in there. Use about 1/2 cup of whatever extra you put in.

1) Preheat oven to 325F.

2) In a vitamix or blender, puree the bananas and apple(s). You may need to add a little water (about 1/4 cup) depending on the device you use. If you don't have a blender, you can mash the bananas and use applesauce or apple juice.

3) Mix all ingredients except the baking soda and hot water in a medium mixing bowl.

4) In a seperate cup, mix the baking soda and hot water together. Then pour into the bowl with the other ingredients, and mix.

5) Pour into a standard 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 325F for 55 minutes or until a knife or toothpick comes out clean.

[crunchy_mama]

my favorite is - corn tortilla chips w/ salsa and black bean dips

homemade popcorn made w/ plenty of coconut oil- yum!

coconut oil w/ cocoa powder, some nuts and a couple of dates- rolled in coconut(unsweetened of course)

baby carrots

copious amounts of nuts and seeds!

fruits sometimes- but I usually try to avoid- I do grapefruits though and melons and berries seem to be ok- but anything else is too sweet

[wendyland]

Sarah, is it getting any better? I'm so glad that I didn't give up when I was feeling terrible. It's so worth it.

[Mama~Love]

I want to join here too. This will be hard, but I'm up to the challenge !

[wendyland]

Fell off the wagon a little today. I had a reeses. My head is spinning. I think it was actually good for me to eat it to remind myself how bad I feel when I eat sugar. I'm back to no sugar. It feels so much better to be off of it. I wish they made chocolate blinders.

[Anna06]

Glad your back on the wagon Wendyland. I know how easy it is to fall off.

I'm ok, not sugar free, but cut the sugar way down. I'm still eating fruit, nuts, eggs and some cheese for snacks.

laohaire As I did the first time, I ate totally unsweetened bitter chocolate when cravings hit me the first few days. I only need that crutch for a few days and then I'm fine.

And I love dark baking chocolate....hope I can quit that now.

[AngelBee]

Watching your journey and gaining motivation. :

[wendyland]

Has anyone else made an attempt? I had the reeses yesterday, but went right back to no sugar. I was really tired yesterday, but I don't think it was from eating the sugar. I've been sleeping poorly the last few nights. It's probably from the die off of toxins or candida. I usually sleep bad when I'm in detox mode.

I need to come up with a more interesting menu. It's getting kind of bland.

[Elizabeth2008]

I want to do this!!! I've been thinking about it for so long. Sugar is my one weakness that I can't seem to overcome. I eat pretty healthy otherwise. I am going to start this next week after I can plan some alternative snacks and go to the store to stock up. I need to be prepared for the cravings! Any other suggestions people have on alternatives (but I don't want artificial sweeteners) that would be great. I'm not going to cut out fruit though. Will that make this easier or harder?

[wendyland]

The first few days were really hard. I tried to gradually slow down on the sugar, but I think that actually prolonged the pain. When I did cold turkey last year, I was feeling better much faster.

I allowed myself to eat anything else that I wanted that wasn't sugar or processed foods. I nibbled on cheese and whole grain crackers. I've been eating more nuts than usually. I bought some frozen pineapple chunks and would eat a few of those half frozen.

I just started reading potatoes not prozac last night. She has a method that steps you down gradually. It's also been an eye opening book. She said that a lot of people with sugar sensitivities also have problems with alcohol or have direct family members that do. I don't drink. Mainly because I feel sick immediately afterwards. both of my parents were alcoholics and also had sweet tooths.

I don't think eating a little fruit would make it harder. You may want to stick to fruits that are lower in sugar like berries and apples. At least at first. I think a lot of it is trial and error to see what you can handle.

[Elizabeth2008]

ok, today was day #1 with no "sugar" but I found that I was eating fruit and had some orange juice and toast with jam (no sugar added, but still it's sweet). So, my question is: should I be cutting back on all sweet things (even fruit) or is it OK to just cut out the added and refined sugar? I'm afraid of going whole hog because I might have serious withdrawal. But then, if I don't go whole hog will I break the addiction? ugh...

[wendyland]

The book Potatoes not prozac has you gradually cut down. She recommends keeping a journal and seeing how much you're eating and at what time. You should eat protein with every meal. and eat three regular meals a day. If you snack, do it intentionally instead of mindlessly and keep them to a minimum. I was pretty much doing those things anyway, so I jumped right in. She also recommends eating a baked potato before bed to raise your tryptophan (sp?) levels during the night. It'll help you for the next day. She said that the 4th day is usually the hardest.

I ate more fruit than normal when I was coming off sugar. It didn't seem to make it any easier.

It's totally worth the withdrawl. I feel great without sugar. I don't ever want to go back. And really, the withdrawl only makes you irritable and gives you a headache. It's not even as bad as having a head cold. Just pretend you're sick and have your family pamper you.

[rebirth]

We're having a lot of issues getting and staying pregnant, and my midwife appt yesterday has really inspired me to fix my diet. For me that doesn't necessarily mean 100% sugar free, but it means NO processed convienience foods, all homemade, so that I can control what types of sweeteners and how much go into my foods.

I love chewy candies- that is my biggest weakness, anyone have any sugguestions for that? I'm vowing to give away the small package of airheads that hang out in my car- they're my mindless driving snack- and I can really feel the negative effects it's having on my body.

[oceanbaby]

Originally Posted by rebirth

I love chewy candies- that is my biggest weakness, anyone have any sugguestions for that? I'm vowing to give away the small package of airheads that hang out in my car- they're my mindless driving snack- and I can really feel the negative effects it's having on my body.

I like chewy candies as well. I don't keep them around because the kids will want them, but I have found that when I am having a craving, dates or dried apricots (I prefer the harder, unsulphered ones) do the trick. I like to eat them with raw almonds, so I get a crunchy, chewy, sweet little treat.

[rebirth]

I love dates and apricots, and I'll have to get some next time I'm at the store- I do think keeping those in the house (and especially car). Thanks!

The seed you planted is growing.... I'm also going to get a dehydrator- so I can make fruit leathers.