After nearly messing up on day 1 when we got stuck out longer than anticipated and had to buy lunch supplies to eat on the go (when I discovered just in time that even plain roast chicken in a packet contains added sugar! Shame on you Tesco) I have now been officially sugar free for a week (and a bit). Aside from an accidental swig of a coffee made with sugar at a friend’s house (my fault, forgot to tell her I was off the white stuff) early last week I’ve not consumed any sugar apart from some small amounts of fruit.
Honestly, it’s been incredibly simple. I’ve not had any specific sugar cravings, withdrawal symptoms or anything like that. Giving up dairy was much, much harder. However, on the flip side I’ve not noticed any immediate benefits: no change in digestion, mood or energy levels. No apparent weight loss (I’ve not weighed myself but my clothes fit the same.) My running doesn’t appear to have been affected.
I have found that the cheaper supermarket breads, particularly Aldi stuff, don’t contain sugar which means I’ve not had to make my own. Elaine’s 10 second mayonnaise really is that quick and simple. I’ve replaced my breakfast cereal mostly with peanut butter on toast for speed and porridge if I’m feeling blah (with a pinch of salt, ergh). My other meals are all homecooked foods that don’t require sugar anyway… stews, spag bol, pasta etc. I guess as someone who cooks every day, I’m actually consuming quite low amounts of sugar (and salt) compared to someone who eats mostly supermarket prepared stuff.
I still instinctively reach for the pot of sugar when I make a coffee, which is actually worrying if you think about it because it means my consumption is based on habit rather than any actual overriding desire or need to have that sugar. On hard days with naggy kids and stupid workloads, I’ve missed the option of dipping into the pack of biscuits in the cupboard to comfort binge.
I might try a spot of sugar free baking using fruit or similar this week to keep me on track but I’m not desperate for cake … yet. ;)
09 Sep at 7:27 pm
Wow, well done. That really is impressive. There is a really good recipe for blueberry pancakes on littlegrazers.com that uses mashed apple instead of sugar and makes very yummy pancakes. A few blueberries stewed in a bit of water also makes a nice sugar-free syrup for them. I’ll be interested to hear about any sugar free baking you do – I’d love to make some healthier snacks for the girls.
10 Sep at 4:09 pm
Unless you cut all carbohydrates (less than 20-30 a day) you won’t see a significant benefit.
10 Sep at 5:40 pm
I live on carbs. I would die :P
10 Sep at 6:05 pm
If you’re expecting weight loss or physical changes you’re not going to get there just cutting refined sugar. Cutting carbs is the most difficult thing to do, in my opinion, in the modern world. Requires a lot of creative veggies, salad, and meat use. Doing it without dairy would definitely be impossible for me.
10 Sep at 6:09 pm
I’m not interested in losing weight for the sake of losing weight, I was just monitoring it as a potential side effect :)
12 Sep at 4:05 am
Contrary to Audrey’s comment, I think that there are physical benefits that come with only cutting sugar, even if you aren’t cutting out all carbs, they just might not be weight loss. There is a reason that sugary drinks are so much worse for you than many other things.
On that note, great job! :D
12 Sep at 9:02 am
I remember when I stopped drinking fizzy pops years ago – I lost about 14lbs despite not making any other changes to diet and exercise!
12 Sep at 4:33 pm
I don’t disagree that cutting sugary drinks would help lose weight or improve health overall. Of course — your teeth alone would appreciate it. I am saying significant weight loss is more than just cutting pop (as we call it in my region).