Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did great yesterday until chinese food. I only get it about 2x a year, and only pork fried rice when the craving hits. Lots of added sugar. Staying strong today.

I think you did great! It’s hard to imagine that pork had more than 2 tablespoons of sugar in it. As long as you just had that, you’re probably within the daily limit and had a successful day. Remember, this is not about full denial. That will lead to discouragement and abandonment.

NP, and I also think it’s important to look at things over the course of a week. If you overindulge, just try to make up for it a bit the next day. Beating yourself up does no good.

Kudos to all of you for making the effort. The label improvement calling out added sugar is really helpful, but this still requires a lot of homework on top of the willpower!

Anonymous wrote:I did great yesterday until chinese food. I only get it about 2x a year, and only pork fried rice when the craving hits. Lots of added sugar. Staying strong today.

I think you did great! It’s hard to imagine that pork had more than 2 tablespoons of sugar in it. As long as you just had that, you’re probably within the daily limit and had a successful day. Remember, this is not about full denial. That will lead to discouragement and abandonment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am glad this thread is helping people. It’s certainly helping me. Today I had oatmeal and blueberries with pecans and 6 g of added brown sugar. No added sugar for lunch or snacks but I may make some hot chocolate with 5 g of added sugar on this dreary Sunday afternoon. I had a nice run today and did my shoulder exercises. This week is going to be very difficult because I have two all day work meetings where I am being fed breakfast lunch and dinner. Going to have to stay strong to meet the challenge.

Good luck with that. Are you likely to get pushback from anybodythere if you avoid dessert? If so, think about what you are going to say ahead of time. Stick with the protein, veggies, and fruit if you can, and if you really need something sweet a cup of coffee with cream and sugar isn't all that bad.

This will not be a social pressure situation at all. All of my coworkers are lovely people who would never comment on anything anyone eats. The problem is my own willpower around sweets like bakery brownies and cookies. They aren’t even that good! The pastries at breakfast? Those will be hard to resist. A free soda? Bring it on. When I have to pay for these things there is a barrier to entry and I do have a money loving heart. But around free food my willpower goes out the window. Actually that’s what broke my streak last year, it was a work trip with lots of free food. I really need a plan to stay on track.

Oh, I totally get that. Sometimes it helps for me to say it out loud to somebody that I'm avoiding the wheat or sugar so I don't get a headache, and then I'm less likely to eat the wheat or sugar because I've told somebody it's what I'm going to do (and I don't want to look like a failure, I guess!)

But you can do this. Before you pick anything up, remember how bad the pastries and brownies actually are! Drink the diet sodas. Drink the coffee with cream and fake sugar - having a low-cal drink can keep you away from the crappy food.

Thank you for the encouragement, I have tried that strategy. And I can’t even believe I do this but sometimes I make sure the person is not in eye shot and hide the sweet in a napkin. It just makes me realize how addictive sugar is that I would go to those links to hide eating it from a friend of mine. Maybe I will do this. I will allow myself one sweet thing each day for the two days. I will carefully evaluate what looks the best and give myself one. I am a tea drinker and it is usually a good strategy to get a cup of tea when I feel like getting a snack. I don’t drink my tea with sugar but I find pleasure in it. since I won’t want to use up my sweet at breakfast I will save it for after lunch. I’m usually so full after dinner that I am not interested in dessert. I can also get a cup of tea after dinner.

I did great yesterday until chinese food. I only get it about 2x a year, and only pork fried rice when the craving hits. Lots of added sugar. Staying strong today.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am glad this thread is helping people. It’s certainly helping me. Today I had oatmeal and blueberries with pecans and 6 g of added brown sugar. No added sugar for lunch or snacks but I may make some hot chocolate with 5 g of added sugar on this dreary Sunday afternoon. I had a nice run today and did my shoulder exercises. This week is going to be very difficult because I have two all day work meetings where I am being fed breakfast lunch and dinner. Going to have to stay strong to meet the challenge.

Good luck with that. Are you likely to get pushback from anybodythere if you avoid dessert? If so, think about what you are going to say ahead of time. Stick with the protein, veggies, and fruit if you can, and if you really need something sweet a cup of coffee with cream and sugar isn't all that bad.

This will not be a social pressure situation at all. All of my coworkers are lovely people who would never comment on anything anyone eats. The problem is my own willpower around sweets like bakery brownies and cookies. They aren’t even that good! The pastries at breakfast? Those will be hard to resist. A free soda? Bring it on. When I have to pay for these things there is a barrier to entry and I do have a money loving heart. But around free food my willpower goes out the window. Actually that’s what broke my streak last year, it was a work trip with lots of free food. I really need a plan to stay on track.

Oh, I totally get that. Sometimes it helps for me to say it out loud to somebody that I'm avoiding the wheat or sugar so I don't get a headache, and then I'm less likely to eat the wheat or sugar because I've told somebody it's what I'm going to do (and I don't want to look like a failure, I guess!)

But you can do this. Before you pick anything up, remember how bad the pastries and brownies actually are! Drink the diet sodas. Drink the coffee with cream and fake sugar - having a low-cal drink can keep you away from the crappy food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am glad this thread is helping people. It’s certainly helping me. Today I had oatmeal and blueberries with pecans and 6 g of added brown sugar. No added sugar for lunch or snacks but I may make some hot chocolate with 5 g of added sugar on this dreary Sunday afternoon. I had a nice run today and did my shoulder exercises. This week is going to be very difficult because I have two all day work meetings where I am being fed breakfast lunch and dinner. Going to have to stay strong to meet the challenge.

Good luck with that. Are you likely to get pushback from anybodythere if you avoid dessert? If so, think about what you are going to say ahead of time. Stick with the protein, veggies, and fruit if you can, and if you really need something sweet a cup of coffee with cream and sugar isn't all that bad.

This will not be a social pressure situation at all. All of my coworkers are lovely people who would never comment on anything anyone eats. The problem is my own willpower around sweets like bakery brownies and cookies. They aren’t even that good! The pastries at breakfast? Those will be hard to resist. A free soda? Bring it on. When I have to pay for these things there is a barrier to entry and I do have a money loving heart. But around free food my willpower goes out the window. Actually that’s what broke my streak last year, it was a work trip with lots of free food. I really need a plan to stay on track.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am glad this thread is helping people. It’s certainly helping me. Today I had oatmeal and blueberries with pecans and 6 g of added brown sugar. No added sugar for lunch or snacks but I may make some hot chocolate with 5 g of added sugar on this dreary Sunday afternoon. I had a nice run today and did my shoulder exercises. This week is going to be very difficult because I have two all day work meetings where I am being fed breakfast lunch and dinner. Going to have to stay strong to meet the challenge.

Good luck with that. Are you likely to get pushback from anybodythere if you avoid dessert? If so, think about what you are going to say ahead of time. Stick with the protein, veggies, and fruit if you can, and if you really need something sweet a cup of coffee with cream and sugar isn't all that bad.

Great job everyone! PP here- ate some chocolate when I was chopping it up for something for my kids and while I may have been over 25 g for the day I was pleased i stopped after a couple small pieces. Definitely not a binge! Go me. Lots of walking today too

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Other than the cake at the party, no added sugar for the day. One slice homemade cake with frosting was over 24 g but I’m ok with that. I didn’t want anything else.

Great job!! Me too! I ate plenty, but just one square off 86% chocolate, about 10g of sugar. Feeling good!!

There is something very motivating about having a treat and then stopping before things get out of control. It is certainly not realistic for me to cut out all sweets until the day I die so I have to find a way to reduce in a sustainable manner. That is my real goal.

OP here. I am glad this thread is helping people. It’s certainly helping me. Today I had oatmeal and blueberries with pecans and 6 g of added brown sugar. No added sugar for lunch or snacks but I may make some hot chocolate with 5 g of added sugar on this dreary Sunday afternoon. I had a nice run today and did my shoulder exercises. This week is going to be very difficult because I have two all day work meetings where I am being fed breakfast lunch and dinner. Going to have to stay strong to meet the challenge.

OP, thank you for starting this thread! It has motivated me to cut added sugar and sweets out of my diet completely! …we’ll see if it lasts!

Anonymous wrote:💕to OP and all PPs. I've wanted to remove added sugars but wasn't sure how to identify them or to start. I like that fruit and milk are freebies. And I'm much more aware of labels and the sneaky additions.

I'm just really bummed about my new oat milk. I bought it so that I would start to make a healthier frothier tea at nighttime (vs. a glass of wine) but it has so. much. sugar. I guess I will cut it with regular milk and use it up. Then look for the ones with no sugar.

Has anyone incorporated non-dairy milks into their regime?

Hi PP. I buy mostly non-dairy milks and I always look for the “unsweetened” label on the box.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Other than the cake at the party, no added sugar for the day. One slice homemade cake with frosting was over 24 g but I’m ok with that. I didn’t want anything else.

Great job!! Me too! I ate plenty, but just one square off 86% chocolate, about 10g of sugar. Feeling good!!

Op here. Other than the cake at the party, no added sugar for the day. One slice homemade cake with frosting was over 24 g but I’m ok with that. I didn’t want anything else.

Anonymous wrote:💕to OP and all PPs. I've wanted to remove added sugars but wasn't sure how to identify them or to start. I like that fruit and milk are freebies. And I'm much more aware of labels and the sneaky additions.

I'm just really bummed about my new oat milk. I bought it so that I would start to make a healthier frothier tea at nighttime (vs. a glass of wine) but it has so. much. sugar. I guess I will cut it with regular milk and use it up. Then look for the ones with no sugar.

Has anyone incorporated non-dairy milks into their regime?

I'm OP. I looked at alternative milks but had the same reaction you did to all the added sugar. Trader Joe's used to sell a wonderful non-sweetened soymilk, but it got discontinued. I tried the unsweetened almond milk, but really didn't like it much. I'm small, Caucasian, tons of osteoporosis and osteopenia in my family, and even though there is debate on how to avoid it, it seemed clear to me I could not get anywhere near the recommended calcium amount without milk. Data on supplements is lackluster. Do you not like cow's milk? It's the cheapest and least processed option. I do all the other stuff, weight bearing exercise, jumping, etc., but I do drink about two cups of milk plus have a serving of cheese each day. The non-nutritive sweeteners don't seem like a great option either. I guess I figured less processing is better, but I totally understand wanting to avoid dairy products.

Anyway, try the almond milk and see what you think. Worth a shot.