My Fight Against Sugar

[PGS28]

I exercise a lot so that calms my nerves about my sugar intake when I do start back eating sugar, which will be on a very limited basis but for now I'm not yet strong enough to eat it without going overboard so I'll wait it out.  The longer we go without something the less of it we need.  I'm just glad I made this decision before my teeth started to fall out or the migraines continued or God forbid the diabetes returned and caused complications. 

I have to watch my sugar intake too. I like cookie and cakes but have never been one to add sugar to foods like coffee or tea. I don't bake except at the holidays. I do eat a couple pieces of chocolate every few days. If I don't give into my cravings every few days . I will go way over board on chocolate. Exercise really helps lower sugar level too.
Good luck to all who continue to fight cravings and make healthy choices.

[ancmetro]

 
   My fight against invasive plants...that is where sugar comes from: "Sugar cane". Your fight against sugar is my fight against sugar! Replace it with honey or shop at Walmart which has Walmart brand food stuff with "no sugar". For example: Instant oatmeal. Look at the box and find the sign: "No sugar".

[Skandon]

Some of the sugar-free stuff is really good, but some of the drinks taste horrible.  The artificial sweetner gives it a bad taste.

[jcalexis]

 I like your strategy. I use honey instead of sugar.

[Delphyne]

I have to research that diet.  I kicked soda in 09 so I know the feeling.  I got through day one without having any sugar! I'm proud of myself, and it really wasn't as hard as I thought.  I think we sometimes make things harder than they have to be, but then again there were no real threats present like there will be during spring break, that's when the real test come. But if I can exercise portion control on Thanksgiving I can have a very limited amount of sugar on Easter. Congrats on kicking soda and chocolate!!! 


I went on a Ketogenic Diet last year to help seizure control.  It is a high-fat, low sugar, low carb diet.  My biggest issue was soda.  I love soda.  Luckily, we found sugar free soda that does not have artificial sweeteners.  There are sodas made with stevia (which also helps blood sugar).  Love them. 

The fight against sugar was a hard one.  After a few months, I no longer craved it.  (And man, I ate chocolate all the time...)  Now, I rarely touch it.  I love baking, too.  So, I still bake sugary things, I just don't eat them anymore.  Needless to say, our neighbors love us.  I am constantly sending treats to our neighbors.

[/quote]



This is an awesome site to use.  I highly recommend it. 

http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/




From the site: 

"Some medical researchers and physicians are using ketogenic, carb restricted diets to:

    Drive cancer into remission with new and effective cancer treatments.

    Improve epilepsy treatment outcomes by reducing, and in some cases, eliminating seizures.

    Help patients with Alzheimers disease regain memory and thought function.

    Give diabetics control over their blood sugar with more effective diabetes treatment plans.

    Eliminate gluten allergy symptoms and relieve the symptoms of other allergic conditions associated with autoimmune reactions. "

Yes, I can attest to the seizure control.  I have better seizure control and better pain control with this diet.  Also, after a while, because you are burning fat as energy, you simply do not crave sugar like you did.  It is a trip, honestly.  Now, I just crave bacon and cheese all the time. 

My cholesterol is at healthy levels, too. 

 


But I still bake.  And I bake well.  Even with all the sweets I make, I am not interested in them...except for the toffee popcorn I made which was so good, we couldn't stop eating it.  Hahahaha!


 

[lorettahknox]

The first thing you should do is dump white sugar and white sugar products. It's hard to fight the sugar cravings so switch to raw sugar, organic if you can find it. Bit by bit cut back. If you crave sugar eat fruit not processed sugar. If you eat fruit it will help you stay away from the processed stuff. I am with you on this sugar trip. I am fighting with you. You can do it!

[PGS28]

Honey has a lot of calories but the next time I have a craving I'll have a teaspoon of honey.  Wish I had thought about this last night when I had those marshmallows. I read somewhere that when foods have no sugar they are sweetened with other artificial substances that can be just as, if not more harmful than sugar. I've been meaning to start reading food labels anyway so your tip will force me to start doing so 

   My fight against invasive plants...that is where sugar comes from: "Sugar cane". Your fight against sugar is my fight against sugar! Replace it with honey or shop at Walmart which has Walmart brand food stuff with "no sugar". For example: Instant oatmeal. Look at the box and find the sign: "No sugar".

[PGS28]

I agree, I'll still keep trying alternatives though until I figure out what all I like and what all I'll pass on.

Some of the sugar-free stuff is really good, but some of the drinks taste horrible.  The artificial sweetner gives it a bad taste.

[PGS28]

Thanks so much for the site and info!! I'm so glad you found this diet to help with your seizures!! I watched a documentary called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead last year and I realized afterwards that many ailments can be controlled and prevented through proper eating habits so I'll definitely be looking into this but instead of high fat I'll have to do reduced fat because I'm one of those people that if I eat unhealthy one day I'll step on the scale the next day and be 2 pounds heavier.  I have to count every calorie and workout often to stay in shape, which is exhausting, but when I can run around Chuck E Cheese with my kids without getting winded it makes it worth it.

I have to research that diet.  I kicked soda in 09 so I know the feeling.  I got through day one without having any sugar! I'm proud of myself, and it really wasn't as hard as I thought.  I think we sometimes make things harder than they have to be, but then again there were no real threats present like there will be during spring break, that's when the real test come. But if I can exercise portion control on Thanksgiving I can have a very limited amount of sugar on Easter. Congrats on kicking soda and chocolate!!! 


I went on a Ketogenic Diet last year to help seizure control.  It is a high-fat, low sugar, low carb diet.  My biggest issue was soda.  I love soda.  Luckily, we found sugar free soda that does not have artificial sweeteners.  There are sodas made with stevia (which also helps blood sugar).  Love them. 

The fight against sugar was a hard one.  After a few months, I no longer craved it.  (And man, I ate chocolate all the time...)  Now, I rarely touch it.  I love baking, too.  So, I still bake sugary things, I just don't eat them anymore.  Needless to say, our neighbors love us.  I am constantly sending treats to our neighbors.

This is an awesome site to use.  I highly recommend it. 

http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/




From the site: 

"Some medical researchers and physicians are using ketogenic, carb restricted diets to:

    Drive cancer into remission with new and effective cancer treatments.

    Improve epilepsy treatment outcomes by reducing, and in some cases, eliminating seizures.

    Help patients with Alzheimers disease regain memory and thought function.

    Give diabetics control over their blood sugar with more effective diabetes treatment plans.

    Eliminate gluten allergy symptoms and relieve the symptoms of other allergic conditions associated with autoimmune reactions. "

Yes, I can attest to the seizure control.  I have better seizure control and better pain control with this diet.  Also, after a while, because you are burning fat as energy, you simply do not crave sugar like you did.  It is a trip, honestly.  Now, I just crave bacon and cheese all the time. 

My cholesterol is at healthy levels, too. 

 


But I still bake.  And I bake well.  Even with all the sweets I make, I am not interested in them...except for the toffee popcorn I made which was so good, we couldn't stop eating it.  Hahahaha!


 
[/quote]

[SherylsShado]

Upping protein uptake can help so much.  There's alot of protein bars & shakes that are so convenient, just be sure to check the sugar content before buying because there are many with not much protein and too much sugar.

 Plan/pre-pare meals ahead of time instead of grabbing unhealthy goodies on-the-run.   There's a brand of cookies with some nutritional value called "Who Nu" which I use when "gotta have a cookie".  They're still cookies but at least they aren't total junk.

Having a small amount of dark chocolate (the higher content of cocoa the better) is actually good for you, you can have a piece of that every day as a healthy treat.  I keep a container of homemade trail mix in my handbag in case of munchies made with nuts, seeds, dark chocolate pieces, etc.   **Frozen dark choc. covered banana slices are so yummy!!  Carob is also a healthy chocolate substitute.

Don't bring the sugary stuff home with you...if it's not in the house, you can't eat it.

 

[ghunter]

I love sugar, I try the sugar free things, but I still have problem.  I will continue to work on it.

[alamedann]

I was raised not eating a lot of sugar.  That's helped me not to become an addict.  But I also try to drink lots of water before I go for something sugary to eat or drink.  What I think is a sugar craving may not be that at all.  And drinking the water gives me a few more minutes to think if I really want that item.  I try to avoid eating too much sugar, because I find it just increases my craving and my weight.  Good luck with your efforts!

[PGS28]

I'm about to actually write these tips down lol I've seen Who Nu products and have overlooked them.  I actually have a couple Slimful bars that I haven't eaten b/c they taste so sweet but I'll check the label to see how much is actually in it.  I need more protein anyway since I work out so much, thanks so much!

Upping protein uptake can help so much.  There's alot of protein bars & shakes that are so convenient, just be sure to check the sugar content before buying because there are many with not much protein and too much sugar.

 Plan/pre-pare meals ahead of time instead of grabbing unhealthy goodies on-the-run.   There's a brand of cookies with some nutritional value called "Who Nu" which I use when "gotta have a cookie".  They're still cookies but at least they aren't total junk.

Having a small amount of dark chocolate (the higher content of cocoa the better) is actually good for you, you can have a piece of that every day as a healthy treat.  I keep a container of homemade trail mix in my handbag in case of munchies made with nuts, seeds, dark chocolate pieces, etc.   **Frozen dark choc. covered banana slices are so yummy!!  Carob is also a healthy chocolate substitute.

Don't bring the sugary stuff home with you...if it's not in the house, you can't eat it.

 

[PGS28]

ghunter I'm with you!

It's funny that you said that, I have a very serious limit on fried foods and soda in my household to try to teach my kids better eating habits. I already drink water so I'll drink some before eating something sweet again.  Thanks for the tip!

I was raised not eating a lot of sugar.  That's helped me not to become an addict.  But I also try to drink lots of water before I go for something sugary to eat or drink.  What I think is a sugar craving may not be that at all.  And drinking the water gives me a few more minutes to think if I really want that item.  I try to avoid eating too much sugar, because I find it just increases my craving and my weight.  Good luck with your efforts!

[Delphyne]

ghunter I'm with you!

It's funny that you said that, I have a very serious limit on fried foods and soda in my household to try to teach my kids better eating habits. I already drink water so I'll drink some before eating something sweet again.  Thanks for the tip!

I was raised not eating a lot of sugar.  That's helped me not to become an addict.  But I also try to drink lots of water before I go for something sugary to eat or drink.  What I think is a sugar craving may not be that at all.  And drinking the water gives me a few more minutes to think if I really want that item.  I try to avoid eating too much sugar, because I find it just increases my craving and my weight.  Good luck with your efforts!

You could always buy Zevia or Blue Sky soda as a treat.  They do not have sugar and do not have Aspartame.  They use stevia to sweeten.  They taste a little funky, but I love them.  And Blue Sky has NO calories!


http://www.blueskysoda.com/