day 3 without added sugar (for the most part)

[Deleted]

I've had agave nectar on my oatmeal, but no candy or sweet pastries. I've been fine up until today. Someone brought in a HUGE box of donuts (from a bakery, not DD) as I was walking into the building. Thank GOD he doesn't work in our department! Now I've eaten lunch but I feel that nagging desire for some sugar that I haven't had for the past two days. Help!

[milee]

That totally sucks.

Off the wall suggestion, but is there anywhere somewhat private you can go and do some push ups and squats for 5 minutes? Sounds odd, but sometimes if I do something to get the blood flowing for a few minutes, I'm not hungry any more. Don't know if it's reminding me of the places I don't want the junk food to land or if it's that I'm not hungry after exercise, but it does work.

[tloonya]

WHY are you doing this to yourself?

[Deleted]

If I was closer I'd let you lick my finger.

[milee]

While it does get easier to eat healthy over time, I really envy people for whom cravings go completely away. I'm not sure that will ever happen for me.

[doxieluvr]

Why would you want to give up sugar and sweets? Everything in moderation

[greeniis10]

For me, the craving did go away after abstaining from added sugar (can't remember exactly how long it took though).  It is hard, but it is worth it!  Then, if/when you DO have something sugary it is overwhelming, blech...

[Deleted]

Doxie, I wasn't eating sugar in moderation, that's why I'm doing this. I want sweet treats to be just that - treats, (i.e., something had occasionally). Plus, I notice that eating sugary things actually makes me more hungry/want to eat more.

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2014 13:54:07 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I'm staring Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet on Sunday so I'll be right there with you.  The hardest part for me will be no wine for 2 weeks... we'll see how long that lasts!  I'm not really a big sweets eater.. I think the no pasta/rice/potoatoes/bread will be the hardest part.  I like the alternatives as far as whole grain/brown rice carbs which I'll be able to add back in once I start Phase 2. 

Giving up carbs would essentially be giving me the right to bitch slap every single person I saw.

[sarcasticgirl]

the first week or two are miserable but after that, i would find myself really jonesing for a turkey burger... 

[Sam_2.0]

I started bringing in a bag of oranges and a bag of apples to sit on my desk each week. I know I have them there if I need a sweet snack. No change for the vending machines either. So I just don't let myself have the means of getting sugar and I am too lazy to really go out of my way for it.

Are you drinking enough water? Sometimes sweet cravings are actually thirst. Especially if you used to drink a lot of sugary things before.

[Deleted]

I drink water 95% of the time, and at work I tend to drink a lot just so I can get up to refill my cup. Oranges have been pretty overpriced lately so we haven't bought any, but DAMN now I want one!

[NancysSummerSip]

Jen, I totally get it. I can't seem to do added sugar in moderation, either. It's an all-or-nothing issue.

Sweeter fruits, or even tart fruit like grapefruit might help. It's still Florida citrus season. You want me to send you a bushel or so?

[Deleted]

yes please! 

[Deleted]

I'm having a Mike's Hard Lemonade.... I guess that kinda counts. but I didn't have any candy/sweets!

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Good luck Jen.

[grits]

Sometimes, our body's will react to certain foods as if they are drugs. Certain foods to which I am allergic will do it to me. Unfortunately, I am allergic to sugar because of the chemical solution in which they soak the cane. So, sugar can be a drug. I can be just fine without it for weeks, and BAM! It is withdrawals. I can substitute fruit but it doesn't take away the craving.

I have a list of coworkers I would like you to slap.

[Deleted]

Feb 21, 2014 13:55:36 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

Doxie, I wasn't eating sugar in moderation, that's why I'm doing this. I want sweet treats to be just that - treats, (i.e., something had occasionally). Plus, I notice that eating sugary things actually makes me more hungry/want to eat more.

I believe that Agave isn't any healthier than plain sugar.
My understanding is that eating carbs triggers something in the brain that causes us to crave more carbs. Stevia has helped me cut the sugar cravings.

[Deleted]

Agave nectar has a lower glycemic index than sugar or honey.

I thought I was doing well until I realized I put ketchup on a hamburger on Friday.  And then I ordered chipotle honey wings at Hooters last night - D'OH!

after the mommy-son day I had with DS today (and his refusal to nap for more than 35 mins) I caved.  It wasn't as bad as it could have been though so that's something, right?  Back to square one tomorrow I guess.

[Deleted]

are you trying to give up ALL sugar or just white sugar or all foods with sugar or......if you are going cold turkey and then adding back in some stuff (fruit, etc) you will probably need to do just meat and veggies for a bit

[sesfw]

Quite a few years ago I gave up chocolate for Lent. I just wanted to see if I could do it. I have since learned that in some places Sunday is a free day in the Lenten season. I figure the whole idea of Lent is to make a lifestyle change.

I had to have chocolate every day and I was getting tired of it. 40 seems to be a magic number in change. It's more than 5 calendar weeks and that is enough time to change any habit.  It worked for me and now after all these years I can have chocolate on my terms.  Something I felt and still feel good about.

Back to Moses and leading the Israelites around the desert for 40 years. It was enough time for 2 generations of slaves to die so a strong people could be free in their new land.

[Deleted]

I'm trying to give up or SERIOUSLY cut back on eating things with added white sugar (candy, sweet pastries). For bread I'm trying to focus on whole wheat/grain and I'm trying to have a little less of it. I can't do a meat/veggies diet- I can't eat eggs every day and just fruit would not satisfy me.

[thyme4change]

Feb 21, 2014 15:47:00 GMT -5 @wrongsideof30 said:

Feb 21, 2014 14:00:47 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

LMAO!!!  are you saying I should send out an e-mail to my co-workers giving them fair warning? 

I tried to follow a Paleo diet for awhile, but I never adjusted to the lack of carbs. There was always a specific feeling of hunger that never quite went away. The South Beach diet sounds more forgiving.

I'm confused about Paleo - aren't potatoes included?  Everyone I know eats tons and tons of sweet potatoes, so I don't understand how they are Paleo, but other potatoes aren't.  Potatoes are carbs.  

[Jaguar]

Good luck.

[wvugurl26]

I have never been so bitchy in all my life as when I tried a low carb diet.

Good luck Jen. I've been trying to make more things from scratch and cut down on how much refined stuff we consume.

[Deleted]

yesterday afternoon I had 2 Kasugai gummies and about 1/2 cup of Ben and Jerry's raspberry fudge frozen Greek yogurt. That actually seemed to quell the craving. Today I worked out for 30 mins and had a decent breakfast - egg white, cheese, and spinach sandwich on a wheat roll with bacon on the side. I feel satisfied.

[milee]

Yeah, for those of us who aren't huge meat eaters, the no or low carb diets are really tough. I tried one once and although it did work to drop pounds quickly, I'm pretty sure that's mostly because after the first few days of enjoying the novelty of eating all that bacon wore off, the thought of having to eat meat all the time made me a little nauseous and I ate a lot less food. Just couldn't handle all the meat all the time.

And forget about the ones that are so strict you're limited on the amount of veggies and fruit.  Blech. 

[wvugurl26]

I'd be screwed on Paleo. I don't know what I'd eat for breakfast. Meat and nuts? Seems like they push omelets and I have a bad egg white allergy.

[Deleted]

wrongside, I believe you can eat nuts (and beans?) as an alternative to meat. I really REALLY considered going Paleo, but the start-up is expensive. Almond flour, almond milk, the all the meat... I'm not made of money. Plus the recipe for "oatmeal" involving ground almonds didn't give me much hope for how I was going to live without bread/grains.

[Sam_2.0]

Best diet I ever did was strict gluten-free for a year. I dropped 25lbs and pretty much cut out all starches and breads since I didn't buy the expensive replacements. Now I let myself have some things again but I find that I really just don't want them. Bread, fried things, pastries & desserts, I just really don't care for most of them anymore.