Anonymous wrote:I really need to do this! For those of you who have done this before did you also cut out carbs? Like whole wheat bread, pasta, rice, etc?
I developed a serious sweet tooth when I was pregnant and indulged it and now here I am with a 2 year old and still carrying an extra 15 lbs.

OP here, I am not cutting carbs. If you check the ingredients for most bread, you'll find some form of sugar. It may not be called "sugar" but one of its 65 names or so. Flat breads and some pitas are completely sweetener free.

For me, cakes and things are my biggest downfall, so I'm ok with replacing them with good carbs. Pita and hummus? Great. Fruit smoothies? So much healthier. I don't buy into the belief that carbs are bad for you, but that quality matters. But I guess to each their own.

Anonymous wrote:I really need to do this! For those of you who have done this before did you also cut out carbs? Like whole wheat bread, pasta, rice, etc?
I developed a serious sweet tooth when I was pregnant and indulged it and now here I am with a 2 year old and still carrying an extra 15 lbs.

I did, but that's because those are trigger foods for me. I can't just eat one slice or serving.

I really need to do this! For those of you who have done this before did you also cut out carbs? Like whole wheat bread, pasta, rice, etc?
I developed a serious sweet tooth when I was pregnant and indulged it and now here I am with a 2 year old and still carrying an extra 15 lbs.

Im in. I am trying to get off processed food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going cold turkey off the crap? I have a sweet tooth, too. I think I'd have to taper off or my body might go into shock!

NP here with a sweet tooth, in my experience it's easier to go cold turkey for a month or so, then gradually/occasionally reintroduce. After a few days you really don't miss it. Whenever I've tried to taper off I end up binging on sugar after a couple of days.

That's my experience as well. I just quit two days ago and was feeling good, but ran across a really nice store party with great food and sweets - I allowed myself 1/2 cookie, it was easier to resist more since I had already been without for two days. I recommend you go cold turkey until the actual holidays, avoid overindulging, then return to cold turkey afterwards. The cravings really do go away.

Do you plan to go off fruit too?

I have found eating a lot of fruit has helped me cut my sweet tooth. I love organic frozen fruit and add it to my oatmeal in the morning and make a lot of green smoothies with berries (kale or spinach, frozen berries, bananas). I usually add chia seeds to both the oatmeal and the smoothies.

I also cut out alcohol. I mean maybe one SMALL glass of wine on special occasions but for the most part that has helped me. As you age it really dehydrates you and makes cravings worse.

Anonymous wrote:Quit? No. Drastically reduce, in a realistic and hopefully sustainable way? Yes!

Welcome! The struggle will be real for lots of us, no matter the different degrees of improvement.

The thing about Paleo and Whole 30 (I think?) that really annoy me, is the prohibition on legumes and lentils. That's just nuts to me, especially as someone who eats very little meat. And they're so nutritious!

FYI, here's my grocery list (some I already have but may need to stock up on) - please add any suggestions or recommendations. In checking out my pantry and fridge, I'm realizing just how many things have small amounts of sugar in them - or sugar by another name. I have never done this before and always hear about hidden sugar in food, but holy crap it is indeed in everything.

- oatmeal/farina
- nut butters (most have added sugars)
- red onions (good to caramelize on their own!, top soups, stews, sandwiches, etc)
- beans
- pita bread
- grapes
- pomegranate
- seaweed snacks
- lentils
- frozen fruit
- shredded coconut
- dates
- prunes
- pears
- bananas
- lots of hummus
- sweet potatoes
- yukon potatoes
- tomato paste
- some cheeses
- teas
- carrots
- seasonings?
- pickles
- jalapeno
- walnuts
- mustard
- lemon & lime

Quit? No. Drastically reduce, in a realistic and hopefully sustainable way? Yes!

I am doing Whole30 starting in January.

This thread is so encouraging!! Keep up the great work, PPs!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did it for 30 days at the beginning of 2017. I was addicted to sugar, and had a rough few weeks, but worked through it.

By the end of the month, I had lost 20 pounds, and had broken the sugar addiction.

It's almost a year later. I have added back in the occasional treat with sugar - a few cookies, maybe a slice of cake or bowl of ice cream - but am generally eating about 1,000 times more healthy - fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. I have lost 55 pounds.

You can do it OP.

Holy crap that is awesome! Congratulations!

In that first month, were you cutting calories and doing other diet things, or just cutting processed sugar?

The first month, I was mainly cutting processed sugar rather than calories - but that alone was enough to reduce calorie consumption without really trying, since I was just dropping empty sugar calories from my diet. After i dealt with the sugar problem in month one, I then joined weight watchers, which has been a big help as far as getting me on track and keeping me on track to eat healthier and reduce calories.

I went to my doctor and when they said I was pre-diabetic, it was a wake up call.

I went home and added up the amount of sugar I was consuming each day and weighed out that much sugar. I was shocked at how much was just in 1 soda so imagine what 4 20 oz sodas looked like plus all the other stuff I was eating.

It was hard but I kept that image of the pile of sugar in my mind, even have the picture on my phone. Change that, it was incredibly hard but after a few weeks you start sleeping better, feeling better, looking better.

For those who say I will wait until after NY, you can't do that, it is like the smoker who says they will quit after this pack or I will stop drinking when this bottle is empty.

I exercise more and more and make sure to do that I have lost 25 pounds by just eating right, going to the gym and doing some minimal work and eating more healthy. If you loose weight too fast you look worse than you did before loosing it.

I did the zero sugar diet for about a month until I was defeated by Halloween candy. I felt great, had so much more energy, and lost five pounds.

One thing I suggest is to cut sugar out of your coffee/tea (or really, any beverages) now. That takes some getting used to and it is a small step you can take without worrying about getting derailed by the holidays.

Also, I kept some dates on hand for when I craved something sweet.

Anonymous wrote:Are you going cold turkey off the crap? I have a sweet tooth, too. I think I'd have to taper off or my body might go into shock!

NP here with a sweet tooth, in my experience it's easier to go cold turkey for a month or so, then gradually/occasionally reintroduce. After a few days you really don't miss it. Whenever I've tried to taper off I end up binging on sugar after a couple of days.