~Spring Kicking Sugar Support Thread! ~ - Page 2

[Bailey]

Going without sweetened tea/coffee is proving to be the hardest for me. Its such a comfort thing!

[ricemom3]

I would love to join in!

I think for me though, it is cutting way down. I have to be honest with myself about what I am willing to do. At this point I enjoy my coffee too much to give it up. I have switched to (back and forth) pure cane and raw sugar. I figure at least we are getting rid of the overprocessed stuff. My weakness that I need to overcome is treats - chocolate and ice cream. If I can get over those cravings, I will feel successful.
Since having our youngest (he's 8 mo old) I have wanted to change a lot of the family's eating habits. It's funny that as I am starting to offer him solids, I really look at what the rest of us eat, and think would I give that to him? If the answer is no, then maybe the rest of us shouldn't eat it either. I know that my coffee falls into that, but just don't want to give up my two cups a day, yet.

Good job everyone, I am very impressed with what I've read you are all doing.

[flapjack]

I'm looking at it. Since DS3 was born, I've noticed that I'm having really strong blood sugar slumps after consuming something high-sugar. I don't want to call it sugar-free, because I can live without that pressure right now, but I'm needing to address this.

[BurtsGirl]

I saw a few of you are just looking at your diet and maybe seeing a problem and I think that is a great first step! This thread is for all of us wanting to kick sugar, be that a little or a lot. Good luck to your new beginnings. Hope everyone is having a good day.

[UnschoolnMa]

Another good day for me. No sugar added to any of my drinks, and low sugar/carb snacks all day.

I am going to get some stevia and/or xylitol to experiment with in baking.

[flapjack]

I got agave. I made an amazing curd tart sweetened with honey at the weekend, and it tasted better than anything I've eaten all year. Given that I need baking in the house to keep my horde of locusts full, I think baking with substitutes is going to be one of my first steps- before I go cold turkey, even. They've recently dropped their sugar intake too, and we've seen a difference.

[womama]

Originally Posted by abomgardner417

So I'm just here to tell you all who have gone cold turkey that IT's NOT WORTH IT! DON'T DO IT! DO NOT GIVE IN TO THE CRAVINGS!

Thank you for writing that!

I was super excited to open up this thread and as I started reading words like donuts, chocolate, cake I felt myself getting anxious and craving those things-crazy, huh?

I have been sugar/processed food free for the last 3 dyas. I am going to try and stay this way for 2-4 weeks.

I have problems with yeast and sugar addiction. I realize I need to do something drastic to help my body heal itself.

I started keeping a journal which has been really helpful and motivating.

I think the "idea" of eating something sweet is so much more intoxicating than actually eating the food. So I have been trying to keep that in mind as I walk by boxes of donuts and cookies at work today. "That donut will only be a disappointment once it's in your mouth."-My Mantra today!

Good luck everyone!

[PancakeGoddess]

Does anyone have any good info about xylitol? I'm definitely joining this thread

My main issues are baked goods and sugar in my coffee. I'm going to reduce my coffee sugar by half and/or use an alternative - what is best?

For baked goods, as long as we don't buy packaged cookies or treats, I'll be fine. I occasoinally bake, but I really just can't stop baking for the kiddies, and most defintely can't stop eating it if I bake it But, if I wait until the craving subsides, I won't overdo it.

My biggest problem is that I have a HUGE association with sweets after a meal. I've been eating one or two dark chocolate hershey kisses and then stop for at least 10 minutes - usually the desire for sweets is gone then.

Great thread!

[BurtsGirl]

UnschoolnMa, Congrats on 3 days! Let us know how those alternatives are if you get a hold of them.

Flapjack, is agave like honey?

Womama, Woo hoo to another 3 day-er. You ladies are doing so awesome at this. The journaling can really help you see patterns, at least it has for me. And I TOTALLY feel you on this statement!

I think the "idea" of eating something sweet is so much more intoxicating than actually eating the food.

PG, i haven't done much research on the alternative natural sweeteners beside honey of course and I don't think honey would be very good in coffee, eh? I also have an association with sweets after a meal!

I'm a BIG diet coke drinker and I'm happy to report I've been DC free for four days! I've heard DC referred to as crack and liquid ecstasy in the last week, one of which was my acupuncturist. So I decided to kick that habit also. I've also read that drinking sweetened drinks makes you crave sugary snacks.

Sugar intake yesterday was good, not great, but better. I've also been hitting the gym again!

[oceane]

great job everyone!
I need to report that I ate homemade pancakes twice and had one hot chocolate. Both don't necessarily fall into my avoidance category but I must at least be aware that they contained sugar. so that's only a for the past week.

ok, so Easter. we're staying at the in-laws on Sunday and Monday. There will be cake, and there will be sweets. I'm thinking if I eat one piece of cake and just put away the sweets we're given it's a reasonable choice. But whom could I the give the sweets to? I don't really want DH to eat them all either.

[abomgardner417]

Burtsgirl - way to go on dropping the dc!

oceane - I'm going to have a problem with Easter as well. My kids are too young to get a lot of candy, and right now my dh can eat whatever he wants cause I'm too busy concentrating on myself! Can you give any of it away - maybe take it to work or church or give it to people who don't care what they eat? I hate to waste things but I think in my house if I couldn't give it away I'd probably have to throw it away.

My main problem will be dinner at my mil's house. Her and I have had problems in the past and she is the type that will be very offended if I don't eat everything she makes, including the dessert. She won't understand that it's nothing personal. It would be easier to avoid her if there were a lot of other people, but it's just dh and me and kids so she'll know if I don't eat any. I think I'm just going to have to have a small small bite of whatever she has and tell her I just can't have sugar anymore due to my adrenal fatigue. Her solution will probably be to mix me up something with Splenda

Anyway, I haven't had sweets since my screw-up, so I'm on....day 3 who hoo!

Try to stay strong through Easter everybody!

[Doodlebugsmom]

Today is day 17 completely sugar-free for me.(No maple syrup, agave, stevia or anything!) I've barely eaten any refined carbs either. I'm eating loads of veggies and more fruit than ever. I feel fantastic, and my skin looks so much better. (It wasn't bad before, but now it's radiant.) This is the first time that I feel that this is a total lifestyle change, and not a temporary fix. I'm so happy!

[cmoma]

great job ladies!

Count me in as well I have cut sugar out before but then it somehow creeps back in slowly at first then WAM! I recently have been majorly binging on chocolate. I truly do feel like sugar (refined anyway) is a drug and knowing how it affects me convinced me of this. The more I have the more I want it. I have a history of diabetes in my family and so the thought of becoming diabetic due to my overindulgences in sugar is just not ok with me. I cut out all the refined sugars about a week ago, and honestly I am not craving it anymore. I ate a bit of ice cream last night and it wasn't even good. If I don't have it I don't want it. I feel more stable to without it atleast the excess as I don't use it a whole lot at home. If I bake I use sucanat and it doesn't seem to affect me the way regular sugar does.

Anyway I'l try and pop in here now and again.

Good Luck to you all!

[UnschoolnMa]

Agave nectar is kind of like honey. I wonder how it'd be in coffee or cocoa? It's not supposed to affect blood sugar levels drastically if memory serves.

I've been drinking my coffee with a bit of vanilla and soy. It's a change, but I think I am getting used to it.

Baking is an absolute must in our family so that is where my focus will be.

[cristeen]

So I have a question here... several of you have said that baking can't be eliminated for the family. So I'm kind of curious as to what you mean by that. Theoretically you're quitting sugar because of all the problems you see occurring in yourself, but are you not afraid of those same problems manifesting in the rest of the family?

Just wondering.

[abomgardner417]

Originally Posted by Doodlebugsmom

Today is day 17 completely sugar-free for me.(No maple syrup, agave, stevia or anything!)

WOW! Way to go!

[abomgardner417]

Originally Posted by cristeen

So I have a question here... several of you have said that baking can't be eliminated for the family. So I'm kind of curious as to what you mean by that. Theoretically you're quitting sugar because of all the problems you see occurring in yourself, but are you not afraid of those same problems manifesting in the rest of the family?

Just wondering.

I don't know if I was one of the one's that said that, but here's my take on it. My twins rarely eat sugar except maple syrup or honey so I don't have a lot to worry about there right now. DH is totally not into eating healthier and I can't force him, so for the time being I'm getting myself healthier and then I figure once the twins and I are all eating the same things, DH will have no choice! But until then I'm not going to put all my energy into trying to change someone who doesn't want to.

[MovingMomma]

Hey, I want to join!

I'm not cutting out sugar entirely, but I've been cutting WAY back for a few weeks. I need to do some more experimenting, but I think a sugar binge one day triggers rages the next. Not fun. Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

[cmoma]

Originally Posted by MovingMomma

Hey, I want to join!

I'm not cutting out sugar entirely, but I've been cutting WAY back for a few weeks. I need to do some more experimenting, but I think a sugar binge one day triggers rages the next. Not fun. Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

YUP, completely agree movingmomma! I usually have no control when eating chocolates like Lindt balls. I'll eat like three at one time then anothe later. Then the next and if theres none in the house I'll just crave it like crazy chocolate that is. I can't even keep chocolate chips in the house cause if their in my house I'll eat them ALL!!! I need to go to CA (chocoholics anonyomous lol!!)

[PancakeGoddess]

Originally Posted by cristeen

So I have a question here... several of you have said that baking can't be eliminated for the family. So I'm kind of curious as to what you mean by that. Theoretically you're quitting sugar because of all the problems you see occurring in yourself, but are you not afraid of those same problems manifesting in the rest of the family?

Just wondering.

That's a totally legitimate question. For us, I'm still baking because my younger two only eat sweet things in very small quantities, and it's fun to have those treats. With whole grain flour, fruit and sugar substitutes, it's pretty harmless. The baking time with my 4 year old is also pretty great.

With my older two who are regularly out of the house, etc, it's either homemade cookies or other worse garbage. So, I'm choosing homemade goodies. Also, my oldest is now hugely involved in the peer scene and I'm willing to make some compromises in my ideals if it means our house is a fun place to hang out.