One Week On...

So it is the end of my first week being 'Sugar Free'.

The first day was a bit of a nightmare. My body was confused as to what was happening. There was no longer sugar in my breakfast bowl. No fruit juice on my break. The biggest adjustment was to the lack of sugar in the evening. After my evening meal, I crave sugar and sweetness, but gone was the Rekordlig, and not a chocolate bar in sight! Headaches, and severe cravings followed.

It was definitely a bit of a battle for the first few days, I had to use good old will power to keep myself away from the chocolate. I gave myself a little help in the form of banana 'ice cream'. This is just blended up frozen bananas, which is allowed because the sugar is natural.

I didn't want to just transfer from one sugar addiction to another though, so after the first two days I didn't have the 'ice cream' either. By day 4 I felt okay, I was still wanting chocolate but the need had been downgraded from a crave to a 'would quite like'. I felt healthier in myself, a bit more alert. By day 6, Saturday, which is the day I am allowed chocolate, I felt fine and was looking forward to a little treat for my hard work.

Then I went mental and had a full blown junk day, a waffle, a chocolate bar ( a huge choceur was my weapon of choice), and pizza. By early evening time I was in a food coma. I'd completely over done it. I felt sluggish and tired. It kinda ruined the whole 'treat' element, but reinforced the idea that sugar is not all that great.

So, this week, I'm going to do things a little differently. Saturday is still chocolate day, but there are going to be limits. One NORMAL sized chocolate bar, and one other sugar/junk type element.  I'll check in again next week to update on the longer term benefits of a 'sugar free' diet.

Did anyone else cut down on the sweetness this week?

A Spoonful of Sugar...

...helps the medicine go down right? But would we even need the medicine if we gave up the sugar?

I have a sugar problem.

I apologise if when I posted this teaser photo on Friday your mouth started watering at the thought of a recipe post, but then maybe you too have a problem!

How much sugar do you eat? Not much? Really think about it. Do you have a can of pop (soda) each day? Do you like a bit of chocolate? How about a bit of cake, a biscuit? Do you like a fruit juice in the morning, a tipple in the evening?

One of these, every now and then is not bad. I repeat sugar is okay in small, very occasional amounts.

But see, I have a sugar problem don't I, and my sugar comes in large, very regular amounts. Thinking of a typical day this is what would happen:

Breakfast: An actual spoonful (or two) of sugar on my weetabix

Lunch: Not too bad here if I'm having chilli, but Friday, I had a sandwich and a still lemonade (sugar central), and the delightful caramel shortbread pictured above.

Tea: Lentil soup, healthy good.

After Tea: You know, the other meal of the day, where you've had your savoury and now you want your sweet. This is where the junkies thrive. I'll have a chocolate bar thanks. Perhaps a sh*t tonne of bourbons. I'd really like to unwind with some Rekorderlig (fruit cider) please.

Why, but WHY? Why is sugar so bad?

I'll tell you for why:

(Not my actual teeth, but they could be one day)

• My teeth aren't so pretty. They're not terrible, but there's definite damage. You know, one year during school I got hooked on Cherry Coke, we're talking multiple bottles a day. That year I had my first ever filling. Quickly followed by five more. Since I gave up the cheery shiz, I haven't had another one.

Again, not me.

• It's no secret that I'm overweight. I now believe I got this way via a two pronged method. Pasta dependence, and sugar addiction. Recently, I have been eating mostly beans, lentils and vegetables, so pasta really hasn't had much of a look in. I just need to tackle the chocolate, and fruit ciders.

 

•  Diabetes. It does not look fun. I searched for an advert that I've seen going round on the buses but alas no cigar. Basically, it's two people crying like this girl, and the tagline, get checked for diabetes, if not for you, for them. Or something. Anyways sugar + excess weight can sometimes (often) = diabetes. 

• So, sugar is literally full of energy, why do I always feel like this guy? Because sugar is full of bullshi*t energy. It's fake energy. Like heroin it gives you the impression everything is all fine and dandy, yeah come on let's gooooo! Then before you've even got out the door it crashes you down, and you realise everything is sh*t and you've done a bad thing to yourself. See also, watching True Blood.

•  Google : Is sugar ethical, and let your brain explode with the guilt that is now added to your candy comedown.

So guys, as of tomorrow. I am sugar free. Obviously, not SUGAR FREE, but I will no longer be having sugar on my cereal, I will be resisting all chocolate, cakes, biscuits, unless it is a Saturday, and fruit cider is also being relegated to the weekends. I will be keeping a sugar journal detailing my withdrawals and will update you all next Sunday.

Anyone fancy joining me?