So. Having delayed and delayed since the post at the beginning of the year when I promised myself I’d go one month sugar free, I’ve finally committed myself to a month of sugar free: September.
My rules are as follows:
- No sugar (white/brown) in coffee, cake, bread, no pastries, cereals or sauces sweetened with sugar, no squashes or ‘fake’ juices
- Only one glass of real fruit juice a week
- No more than two pieces of fruit a day
- No replacing everything with honey / agave syrup / etc
The last I think is most important. Although I may do some sugar free baking, I think the key to accepting less sugar in my diet is to NOT just replace it with something equally as sweet.
I’m most worried about doing without store bought bread and mayonnaise (which I only recently realised has sugar in!) although for the latter I have Elaine’s 10 second mayonnaise.
I assume that, much like cutting out dairy, there’ll be a shitload of things that contain sugar that I have never previously thought about ready to catch me out at any moment. Booo :'(
24 Aug at 2:12 pm
If I can do it, you can do it too!!! Wish you luck on sugarfree September. :) It will be worth the effort.
24 Aug at 8:00 pm
Thanks Kristine :)
24 Aug at 7:22 pm
It will definitely be worth the effort! After you’re done, then all your old sugar cravings will be gone for a very long time.
I actually think that you should allow yourself to eat as much fruit as your like and just focus on cutting out added sugars, though. When compared to pastries and honey and other desserts, fruits come nowhere close in sweetness.
24 Aug at 8:00 pm
I actually ‘beat’ a lot of my cravings when I cut out the dairy, because most of my sugar was ingested as milk chocolate. I remember end of week 1ish I could have killed for a chocolate bar and I reckon that was the sugar talking.
I don’t eat a lot of fruit anyway so I doubt the limit will make much of a difference. I find it faffy; I’m more of a veg girl.
24 Aug at 10:21 pm
Good luck with the sugar free September, I do think you will find a lot of everyday foods (especially processed foods) with added sugars.
24 Aug at 10:43 pm
I suppose I should do something the opposite of this, which is having more sugar one month. I struggle with low blood sugar, but that’s because I basically eliminate it from my diet completely (I’m allergic, because it’s a mold, and sugar makes me weak).
Since being diagnosed with my food allergies, I realized what all is actually in the foods I eat (or ate, that is). Once you start to pay attention, it’s easier to pick out what may be in it. Some foods I eat lacking in sugar include, but do not limit to: tortillas, tortilla chips, beans, rice and some noodles. Not sure if that helps, but good luck!
25 Aug at 3:52 am
Going on a no sugar diet is hard, but I think you can do it. You already completed an important step, setting the rules and writing it out and making it public. The only thing on there I’m weary of is only two pieces of fruit a day. I heard that it’s good to eat lots of fruit, and that actually it’s okay to have sugar from fruit because it has fiber. There are lots of vitamins and nutrients from fruits that are good for you.
25 Aug at 9:51 am
Good luck, it will be difficult as most things contain sugar! Don’t forget though that natural sugars like the ones in fruit aren’t that bad, in fact you sort of need those in your diet (although too much is never good ;) )
25 Aug at 10:44 am
I did a sugar free couple of months about 4 years ago. Hard because SO many things contain sugar, but like the dairy, you get used to it after a few weeks. Good luck!
25 Aug at 8:55 pm
I eat low carb, which is very difficult when you eat out but easy to do at home. Having seen your meal plans, the hardest thing for you will be grains. Make sure you eat enough fat. Heating low fat and low sugar/carb can be bad for you.
25 Aug at 9:06 pm
Fat is definitely not an issue in my diet – I eat a lot of fatty meat, I use animal fats for cooking, coconut milk in place of cow’s milk etc. :)
27 Aug at 8:48 am
I eat low-carb, so sugar-free is how I’ve spent the last year (with a few exceptions.) It’s only difficult for the first couple of weeks, when you’re figuring out what you can eat, and then it’s surprisingly easy! Good luck with your sugar-free month.
Don’t forget, anything you can get in fruit (fibre, vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants) can also be found in vegetables (without any of the fructose), so if you’re not an avid fruit lover (like me) then there’s actually no need to eat any of it. :)
02 Sep at 4:07 pm
How are you getting on? I’d be interested to know what unexpected things contain sugar.
My dad is type 2 diabetic and thought my mum was winding him up when she told him what he shouldn’t eat!
03 Sep at 4:32 pm
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a couple of weeks ago and have also cut out all sugar until I get under control. I am a chocolate fiend – it was hard at first but I’m getting better.
However, I have found ways around it – a chocolate cake made with dates, almond meal, cocoa powder and coconut oil was just divine and it was enough for me to have a couple of slices and leave it.
09 Sep at 6:32 pm
That sounds really good. I’m looking for a recipe but if you have quantities to hand please share :)