The Sweetest Goodbye (eliminating sugar update)

[mrshandy]

If I was inspired enough to write a blog, this would be my title.

So far H and I have been purging and cutting refined sugar out of our diet. H has been more aggressive than me.

Starting Monday we're going completely refined sugar free for 2 weeks.

My main goal is to eliminate refined sugar and limit other sugars. Refined sugar has no nutritional value that I know of and is addictive. I would love to lose at least 10 lbs over the next 6 months or so, in order to be a faster runner. Right now, I'm 5'2" at 134, which I'm not crying over or anything. But it would be really cool to get down in the 120s which I haven't really been in since high school.

Here's what my menu is going to be looking like (H will probably eat a little less than me since he has more weight to lose and he's running less and not BF). Feel free to critique.

Breakfast - Veggie Egg Quiches or oatmeal with the one piece of fruit, PB toast (I think I found a sugar free bread), black coffee

Lunch - Homemade Veggie/Meat soup (we made a yummy chicken chipotle one this week)

Dinner - Veggies and meat  + maybe a simple carb like brown rice or quinoa (does couscous qualify as a simple carb?) Off to google

Snacks throughout the day - cottage cheese, nuts, one piece of fruit (still debating about this), avocado, kale chips?, maybe boiled eggs if I don't have eggs for BF

Water and coffee only for drinks (which I already do for the most part)
NO ALCOHOL (this is going to be hard, but doable) and after the two weeks I will probably go back to having 3-4 drinks/week.

I would appreciate any thoughts from those that have done this before. The fruit thing is bugging me the most. I really don't want to give it up. I think limiting to one serving a day is reasonable. But I'm curious what the rationale is for giving it up.

[spunkypenguin]

Do you have cream in your coffee now? Black coffee is not very good IMO. Coconut milk has helped me through the whole 30...now I don't even miss the sugar/creamers.

I have not eliminated fruit. I am trying to phase it out most days. Fructose is not nearly as bad as refined/cane sugar. It can be a trigger, though - some fruits more than others. Apples, for example, trigger the same sugar cravings for me that candy and other super sweet things do. Other fruits don't trigger that quite as much - It may take some trial and error to see how it affects you personally. It's also best to stay away from dried fruit b/c the sugar is concentrated...I try to only do dried fruit in larabars/energy bars for running...otherwise it's a slippery slope for me.

[mrshandy]

Feb 7, 2014 10:24:26 GMT -5 spunkypenguin said:

Do you have cream in your coffee now? Black coffee is not very good IMO. Coconut milk has helped me through the whole 30...now I don't even miss the sugar/creamers.

I have not eliminated fruit. I am trying to phase it out most days. Fructose is not nearly as bad as refined/cane sugar. It can be a trigger, though - some fruits more than others. Apples, for example, trigger the same sugar cravings for me that candy and other super sweet things do. Other fruits don't trigger that quite as much - It may take some trial and error to see how it affects you personally. It's also best to stay away from dried fruit b/c the sugar is concentrated...I try to only do dried fruit in larabars/energy bars for running...otherwise it's a slippery slope for me.

We've both been reducing the milk and sugar in our coffee over the last week. So getting closer to black. I think H has been drinking it black. I only put a splash of milk and tiny bit of raw brown sugar in this morning.

Thanks for the advice, it's very helpful. I'm thinking berries for fruit or an orange. We'll see. No dried fruit.

[Wines Not Whines]

I think that sounds really good. I wouldn't want to give up fruit either. Please report back after the first week and let us know how it went.

[Susie]

Feb 7, 2014 10:14:05 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

Right now, I'm 5'2" at 134, which I'm not crying over or anything. But it would be really cool to get down in the 120s which I haven't really been in since high school.

That's almost exactly where I am.  (Well, I was 135.4 today )  I have only seen 128-129 during one brief period as an adult.  That's my current goal, and I'm not sure whether 125ish (which I haven't seen since college) is possible.

I am not sure I could do what you're doing, but I'm interested in following your journey!

[ebeth]

Feb 7, 2014 10:14:05 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

If I was inspired enough to write a blog, this would be my title.

So far H and I have been purging and cutting refined sugar out of our diet. H has been more aggressive than me.

Starting Monday we're going completely refined sugar free for 2 weeks.

My main goal is to eliminate refined sugar and limit other sugars. Refined sugar has no nutritional value that I know of and is addictive. I would love to lose at least 10 lbs over the next 6 months or so, in order to be a faster runner. Right now, I'm 5'2" at 134, which I'm not crying over or anything. But it would be really cool to get down in the 120s which I haven't really been in since high school.

Here's what my menu is going to be looking like (H will probably eat a little less than me since he has more weight to lose and he's running less and not BF). Feel free to critique.

Breakfast - Veggie Egg Quiches or oatmeal with the one piece of fruit, PB toast (I think I found a sugar free bread), black coffee

Lunch - Homemade Veggie/Meat soup (we made a yummy chicken chipotle one this week)

Dinner - Veggies and meat  + maybe a simple carb like brown rice or quinoa (does couscous qualify as a simple carb?) Off to google

Snacks throughout the day - cottage cheese, nuts, one piece of fruit (still debating about this), avocado, kale chips?, maybe boiled eggs if I don't have eggs for BF

Water and coffee only for drinks (which I already do for the most part)
NO ALCOHOL (this is going to be hard, but doable) and after the two weeks I will probably go back to having 3-4 drinks/week.

I would appreciate any thoughts from those that have done this before. The fruit thing is bugging me the most. I really don't want to give it up. I think limiting to one serving a day is reasonable. But I'm curious what the rationale is for giving it up.

the rationale for fruit is that you get nothing nutritionally from fruit that you don't get from vegetables for less calories and sugar. you really don't *need* fruit. also, natural or not, the sugar in fruit will case the same spikes in your blood sugar as any other sugar.  if you are going to keep fruit I'd stick to lower sugar fruits like berries and citrus.  however, I'd strongly recommend dropping the fruit for a couple of weeks b/c a) after two weeks without fruit you'll be perfectly content to have fruit when you are craving sweet and b) it's the middle of winter and all the fruit sucks anyway

that said, I can't go truly 'low sugar' while in training.  when do you work out?   I'd move your serving of brown rice/quinoa/other complex carb/fruit to pre-workout.

[mrshandy]

Feb 7, 2014 10:48:14 GMT -5 ebeth said:

Feb 7, 2014 10:14:05 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

If I was inspired enough to write a blog, this would be my title.

So far H and I have been purging and cutting refined sugar out of our diet. H has been more aggressive than me.

Starting Monday we're going completely refined sugar free for 2 weeks.

My main goal is to eliminate refined sugar and limit other sugars. Refined sugar has no nutritional value that I know of and is addictive. I would love to lose at least 10 lbs over the next 6 months or so, in order to be a faster runner. Right now, I'm 5'2" at 134, which I'm not crying over or anything. But it would be really cool to get down in the 120s which I haven't really been in since high school.

Here's what my menu is going to be looking like (H will probably eat a little less than me since he has more weight to lose and he's running less and not BF). Feel free to critique.

Breakfast - Veggie Egg Quiches or oatmeal with the one piece of fruit, PB toast (I think I found a sugar free bread), black coffee

Lunch - Homemade Veggie/Meat soup (we made a yummy chicken chipotle one this week)

Dinner - Veggies and meat  + maybe a simple carb like brown rice or quinoa (does couscous qualify as a simple carb?) Off to google

Snacks throughout the day - cottage cheese, nuts, one piece of fruit (still debating about this), avocado, kale chips?, maybe boiled eggs if I don't have eggs for BF

Water and coffee only for drinks (which I already do for the most part)
NO ALCOHOL (this is going to be hard, but doable) and after the two weeks I will probably go back to having 3-4 drinks/week.

I would appreciate any thoughts from those that have done this before. The fruit thing is bugging me the most. I really don't want to give it up. I think limiting to one serving a day is reasonable. But I'm curious what the rationale is for giving it up.

the rationale for fruit is that you get nothing nutritionally from fruit that you don't get from vegetables for less calories and sugar. you really don't *need* fruit. also, natural or not, the sugar in fruit will case the same spikes in your blood sugar as any other sugar.  if you are going to keep fruit I'd stick to lower sugar fruits like berries and citrus.  however, I'd strongly recommend dropping the fruit for a couple of weeks b/c a) after two weeks without fruit you'll be perfectly content to have fruit when you are craving sweet and b) it's the middle of winter and all the fruit sucks anyway

that said, I can't go truly 'low sugar' while in training.  when do you work out?   I'd move your serving of brown rice/quinoa/other complex carb/fruit to pre-workout.

It varies. Weekend - mornings, Mon/Tues - evenings, Wed/Thurs - late afternoon

[texassmith]

I don't have any useful feedback, but I know I need to do this too. I'm pretty sure I have a sugar problem that needs addressing but I DON'T WANNA!!

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[runaways]

Feb 7, 2014 12:27:44 GMT -5 texassmith said:

I don't have any useful feedback, but I know I need to do this too. I'm pretty sure I have a sugar problem that needs addressing but I DON'T WANNA!!

You and me both. My weaknesses are sugar and cheese crackers.

[MrsE]

That's awesome.

I have to be honest, I stopped eating Whole 30 style and Paelo this week when my work lunch was cancelled and I had not brought backup food. In a pinch I grabbed something quick between meetings. Then that something quick turned into a sugary after lunch snack and another day of junky eating.

I've had a headache for the past 48 hours and I am convinced it's either due to the sugar or the other junkies of the food I've been eating. I had zero headaches on Whole 30/Paleo.

I'm restating another one this weekend. I need to keep sugar out of my life with the exception of a rare treat. Good luck.

[texassmith]

Feb 7, 2014 12:31:40 GMT -5 runaways said:

Feb 7, 2014 12:27:44 GMT -5 texassmith said:

I don't have any useful feedback, but I know I need to do this too. I'm pretty sure I have a sugar problem that needs addressing but I DON'T WANNA!!

You and me both. My weaknesses are sugar and cheese crackers.

I tried Whole30 back in the fall and that definitely isn't for me. It cuts out too much all at once and makes me a maniac. But I'm thinking if I can work on sugar, even just with baby steps, it will be more manageable. I'm eyeing this book. Anyone have experience with it?

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1936608111/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

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[wambam]

Feb 7, 2014 13:23:55 GMT -5 texassmith said:

Feb 7, 2014 12:31:40 GMT -5 runaways said:

You and me both. My weaknesses are sugar and cheese crackers.

I tried Whole30 back in the fall and that definitely isn't for me. It cuts out too much all at once and makes me a maniac. But I'm thinking if I can work on sugar, even just with baby steps, it will be more manageable. I'm eyeing this book. Anyone have experience with it?

www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1936608111/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Sent from my HTCEVOV4G using proboards

The most difficult level of 21DSD is basically whole30. You could do a lower level.

The 21DSD cookbook is really good though.

[ebeth]

Feb 7, 2014 10:50:42 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

Feb 7, 2014 10:48:14 GMT -5 ebeth said:

the rationale for fruit is that you get nothing nutritionally from fruit that you don't get from vegetables for less calories and sugar. you really don't *need* fruit. also, natural or not, the sugar in fruit will case the same spikes in your blood sugar as any other sugar.  if you are going to keep fruit I'd stick to lower sugar fruits like berries and citrus.  however, I'd strongly recommend dropping the fruit for a couple of weeks b/c a) after two weeks without fruit you'll be perfectly content to have fruit when you are craving sweet and b) it's the middle of winter and all the fruit sucks anyway

that said, I can't go truly 'low sugar' while in training.  when do you work out?   I'd move your serving of brown rice/quinoa/other complex carb/fruit to pre-workout.

It varies. Weekend - mornings, Mon/Tues - evenings, Wed/Thurs - late afternoon

when I work out after work I tend to have more carbs at lunch/PM snacktime rather than dinner time.

[grace]

I gave sugar up last summer. Strangely, I don't want fruit now. It never sounds good to me. I still eat it sometimes- it could partly be a winter thing, I always want fruit more in the summer.

About weight- it took a long time for my weight to drop off. Around 8 weeks, I think? And then a bunch seemed to fall off at once.