21-Day Sugar Detox

Yesterday was good. Found out bananas are ok for me! :) I'm still having a bit of sugar with my coffee and normally that's not a problem. But coffee is pretty acidic and I'd like to cut back on it, right now I'm at 3 cups a day. Last year when I cut out caffeine my skin looked amazing and it didn't affect my energy level at all. I'm still not back to my daily exercise so I'm using the caffeine for energy and it feels like it's going to be hard to cut it out. So I'm going to start by reducing the amount in chunks. But maybe I'll start tomorrow :|(... today is going to be in the low 50's... brrrrrrrr....it's so nice to curl up on the couch with a hot cup of coffee. I might try adding in some black tea as a transition, although I've found that for the long-term, tea is also too acidic for me.

How's everyone doing?

Hi, All.

I am starting day 6 and feeling pretty good. Cravings are pretty much managed. I did have a glass of red wine with dinner last night (steak and piles of broccoli and a few quarters of roasted potatoes) even though I originally planned to avoid it. I don't have a problem with alcohol; no craving for that...just chocolate....and DH gave me a little lecture on how deprivation can backfire. So I had one, very small, and noted that after dinner I wanted to eat something (dessert mind) but I was fine if not. Judith Beck calls that working your muscle....when you do NOT indulge a craving. Anyway this was just a mental craving, sort of a habit thing, but it was not hard to get past it.

My jeans are still tight but based on how much fluid is moving out of me, I am in some kind of de-bloating process. I am tempted to weigh but since I told myself I would give 21 days without the scale I'll do that.

I have been walking and doing some slow, deep yoga; nothing that would look like a cardio workout to anyone but good for me at this stage. The temps went up yesterday and I really feel like running so I may head out for my first slow careful run of the year today. The very fact that I feel like running indicates more energy to me!

I learned some time ago that I react pretty strongly to citrus; I still will cook with lemon juice but I almost immediately have a sneezing, running nose, clogged throat reaction that is brief in duration. But I figure anything my body reacts to that strongly should probably be very limited. I do miss my oranges and grapefruits, though. Good for you, watergoddess, that bananas are okay...they sure are high in carbs and sweet fruits tend to make me crave sugar (but maybe not once I got off far enough....there is always Hope!)

Happy weekend!

leslieann, I have that same reaction to citrus, and it's due to reflux in my case. The highly acidic juice from the fruit irritates my throat and esophagus, and cause a reflux episode that is instantaneous and results in that runny nose.

watergoddess, I am also able to eat bananas. For me they are more digestible once they begin to get brown spots. I find bananas to be extremely filling and so they don't cause any overeating on my part.

I've been really good about not eating sugar, but on Friday, (my day off alone), I ate most of a twelve once bag of roasted nuts. Yesterday, I did my hour and ten minute jog. I have no idea how far it is, but it's a nice circuit through the neighborhood and along a couple of the city's trails. I felt lighter, but also I did not feel like I had much get up and go. The person whose plan I'm supposed to be following doesn't like running, but I think I like to run more than I like sugar.

Every morning for breakfast, I've been sauteeing a handful of arugula, some garlic through the garlic press, and a chopped spring onion in grass-fed butter, and then adding one omega 3 egg and some Quattro Fromaggio from Trader Joe's. It's kind of like an omelette with a much higher greens to egg ratio than normal.

I usually have a salad or some miso soup for lunch.

For dinner, we've been having salmon or tuna or roast chicken with some steamed vegetables. Sometimes I just stir-fry some tempeh or tofu with some kale. My kids are actually eating more of what I cook than my usual brown rice and stir-fry meals. We're eating a lot more meat than I am used to, and I feel bad about that for environmental and ethical reasons. On this plan I'm following, you are supposed to back off the animal sources of protein until they're more of a garnish.

I'm facing the week's grocery shopping today, and I'm not sure if I want to repeat what I did last week or worry over trying something new.

My teen-age daughter made blueberry muffins for her breakfast yesterday, and I managed not to take a single nibble.

Paul - great job on resisting temptation!

Leslieann/Rosemary - interesting that you both have a reaction to oranges. I had never noticed a reaction before (probably wasn't paying attention) and I think the reaction was more noticeable because the air was really dry and I was already having sinus pressure. What I felt was a very sharp pain on my forehead right between the eyes. It went away pretty quickly but was pretty sharp while it lasted. I've since set up the humidifier but I won't be having any orange anytime soon!

I'm really happy with the safe treats that I've been able to identify. In the past I never did and I think that made it easier to fall of the wagon. So far I've found three treats that I can turn to when I need (or want) some sugar or carbs but that don't result in cravings and energy crashes. I've also changed out my coffee to Peet's Major Dickason (my favorite) - it's much smoother and lighter than the Starbucks French Roast so I can use much less sugar and hopefully it's less acidic too.

I'm really pleased with how much the sugar cravings have subsided. I hardly think about it and just over a week ago the thought of giving it up seemed so hard. I can tell the difference in my waist and face too - much less bloat!

Nothing new to report. Still hanging on and it gets easier every day. Haven't had any grains since last week either. Still doing my 3 cups of coffee everyday, it's been cold and I guess I'm not ready to reduce it yet. I do allow myself a small amount of sugar with it but in that quantity it does not create sugar cravings for me so I'm ok with it. I'm almost out of sugar though and I've promised I won't buy any more so that will push me to finally cut it out.

You guys I really admire what you're doing! I had a long chat with a friend the other day who is Celiac, but also has not had sugar since 2005. (I'm sure she's had it IN things, but she said that now if it's in the top 3 ingredients on a label she does not have it). She said she had to go to Overeaters Anonymous to get over it and had decided that she's truly addicted! And when she was describing it, sadly, I can see the same things in myself . . . always wondering when I will have my next sweet treat, where I will get it, always having an "exception" - today I had a mocha in the morning, ice cream for dinner and half a cookie just now (a GF bakery cookie from such a yummy co-op in Mpls). I enjoyed all of it . . . but it leaves me feeling icky afterward . . . . . . . . . . argh. But my DH is such a dessert person . . . . . . I think if it were just me I could do it but not much confidence in being able to resist his nightly dessert offer. :( Well, will keep on trying, I guess I'm not quite there yet on the ladder of change but will keep watching you all with admiration.

I am a real dessert person, too, fidgiegirl (Cafe Latte is still my downfall), but have learned that sugar really does make me feel 'icky' as you stated. In very small quantities it does not - but well, those very small quantities are difficult for me to manage. Fruit sugars never make me feel icky, so when I want a small sweet, I eat a few dried apricots or dried figs with no guilt. I sometimes make 'raw cookies' - mostly dried fruit and nuts. Or a date-sweetened pudding. All of those leave me feeling like I've eaten real food.

When I slip up I get exactly back into the mode you've described, wondering when the next sweet will be or actively planning for it... I keep dried fruit and nuts in my purse so that I always have something if I get delayed between meals, to avoid the temptation of stopping at the bakery!

Also, it helps to cultivate the taste of unsweetened things. Your mocha, for instance, could be a treat that is sugar-free.

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Originally Posted by fidgiegirl

You guys I really admire what you're doing! I had a long chat with a friend the other day who is Celiac, but also has not had sugar since 2005. (I'm sure she's had it IN things, but she said that now if it's in the top 3 ingredients on a label she does not have it). She said she had to go to Overeaters Anonymous to get over it and had decided that she's truly addicted! And when she was describing it, sadly, I can see the same things in myself . . . always wondering when I will have my next sweet treat, where I will get it, always having an "exception" - today I had a mocha in the morning, ice cream for dinner and half a cookie just now (a GF bakery cookie from such a yummy co-op in Mpls). I enjoyed all of it . . . but it leaves me feeling icky afterward . . . . . . . . . . argh. But my DH is such a dessert person . . . . . . I think if it were just me I could do it but not much confidence in being able to resist his nightly dessert offer. :( Well, will keep on trying, I guess I'm not quite there yet on the ladder of change but will keep watching you all with admiration.

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fidgie - It's a process for most of us. I've been working on this for 3 years!!! :|(:0! You should feel very proud of being gluten-free for so long. That's a real accomplishment!

This morning, as I used up my last 1/8 tsp of sugar, I felt a little panicky at the thought of cutting out ALL sugar. But then went ahead and used splenda and the panicky feeling went away when I tasted my coffee and saw that it was just fine. I noticed last night I was feeling a bit of sugar craving too. If I'd had sweets in the house I would have eaten them. But I had a banana instead. I think today might be a bit hard. I keep getting this slight feeling of panic at having NO sugar available to me. It's so interesting how hooked on sugar we are psychologically.

How are my sugar-free buddies doing?

Well, it's feeling kinda lonely here. What happened to all my fellow sugar detoxers? Since interest seems to have fallen off here, I've started an email accountability group with a couple of friends who decided to cut out sugar too when they heard what I'm doing. The support and camaraderie is really helpful for me - I was able to weather yesterday's temptations with minimal damage. And today I feel strong and energized again, ready to forge ahead! Good luck to everyone.

Just hanging in there, and focusing on what I want to eat, instead of the things I don't want to eat. A little mental game that works for me...

watergoddess: I've been busy, and so have not been weighing in, (so to speak). Also, while I'm not eating sugar, I don't really think of it as the main thing I'm doing. The sugar is not so hard, but I do miss the rice, pasta, and bread -- though more for convenience than craving. A sandwich is so easy, and often, if one of my kids doesn't eat their school lunch, I'll eat it. There's a ham sandwich my son didn't want that's been sitting in the refrigerator for days. It's pressing my "wasted food" button, but I'll just throw it out soon.

On Saturday, I got carried away with some leftover chicken and ate a lot of non-sweetened peanut butter. It looked like that bumped my weight up to 192 on Monday morning, but this morning, it was back down to 188, (I was 209 at the doctor's in mid-December). I never thought of my weight as being that variable. What takes discipline for me is to stop eating once I start, to have a handful of almonds and not a bag. I'm in a better mood this week.

My daughter made chocolate chip cookies again last night, and I didn't touch them.

I am still here. I am still okay with myself even though I have been into the chocolate. But only very low sugar, high cacao dark chocolate (so dark that other family members won't eat it) and not too much.

I have been enjoying the veggies though. Stir fried bok choy this evening; at lunch I pleased myself with half a plateful of broccoli and the rest of the plate had carrots, beets, and some ground meat...all left over except the broccoli, of course. Thank heaven for leftovers....I'd not make it otherwise.

This week has been ridiculously busy with work. In fact, I started before eight this morning and just faxed off my last report now at eight thirty pm. Days like that make it hard for me to NOT indulge my sweet tooth...so I did have some chocolate. But two evenings I have staved that off with a cup of herbal tea and I notice that I enjoy it just as much.

I did walk with difficulty for two days after my first run....tomorrow I take my first Pilates class (scary title of "Pilates for the Ultimate Core"....oooh). Overall I feel pretty good though I don't feel like I have dropped any weight. I suspect I'll have to take my carbs lower to drop weight but right now I am focused on those good vegetables even if they are higher in carbs. I have avoided weighing....January 28th is my three week date, when I can use the scales again.

Paul, I have to watch out for the almond butter. I overeat that stuff like crazy. It is okay on this current program but I am aware that I do overeat.

Also, that raises a question. Rosemary, do you know if "dry roasted" nuts are processed with oils? I read at the Bulk Barn that their dry roasted nuts have polyunsaturated oils....but the jars of almond butter only say they have "dry roasted almonds" and don't claim any additional oils. I am trying to avoid those PUFAs and so I wondered....yet another reason to avoid that yummy almond butter.

As far as I know, "dry roasted" means no oil. We buy dry roasted peanuts and almonds, but generally snack on raw nuts (well, unroasted, since most "raw" almonds are steam-pasteurized).
Here's a good summary of the impact of roasting nuts -- http://www.marksdailyapple.com/are-n...goods-healthy/

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Here's a good summary of the impact of roasting nuts -- http://www.marksdailyapple.com/are-n...goods-healthy/

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From that he seems to think it's mostly harmless. I've also heard some say roasting reduces anti-nutrients like phytic acid. So maybe it's a wash, oils versus anti-nutrients. Dry roasted do seem to disgest easier than raw, and I prefer the taste.

Well guys, I have had this on the mind. No progress to speak of, but consciousness is the first step, right?! :D Can't make a change if you don't even realize one needs to be made . . . I'll be happy when the rest of the Xmas crap is used up out of the house and we are back down to a bit of ice cream in the freezer and a dark chocolate bar in the fridge. I can pass on ice cream unless DH dishes it up for me and dark chocolate I can (usually) control myself.

In the past doing a "one sweet a day" rule helped me reduce, and I'm contemplating that. Not a detox, for sure, but baby steps . . .

As far as "using up" holiday sweets - if you really don't want them, pitch them or give them away. Or take them to work and let people there eat them. When they get "used up," they end up on someone's body. I tossed a bunch of stuff during and after the holidays. Better in the garbage than on my midsection.

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Originally Posted by Rosemary

As far as "using up" holiday sweets - if you really don't want them, pitch them or give them away. Or take them to work and let people there eat them. When they get "used up," they end up on someone's body. I tossed a bunch of stuff during and after the holidays. Better in the garbage than on my midsection.

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I can know that intellectually, but I think it's too late - we polished off the last yesterday :(

More successes, all! You inspire me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I threw away Christmas sweets this year, too. It wasn't easy, particularly the ones I made (that should tell me something). I just saw dollars in butter and sugar going in the trash and I hope I can remember the feeling next year when I think I need to bake.

Thank you for the link, Rosemary. In Sally Fallon's cookbook, she recommends NOT eating raw nuts but eating nuts that have been soaked and lightly roasted: she refers to them as "crispy pecans" etc. Actually I found them quite delicious and they FELT lighter than the raw nuts (maybe they were more digestible as she claimed but I can't say from my n=1 experiment). I do like her book, though, for all the various information on foods, plus the recipes. It isn't wheat or dairy free but the emphasis is on traditional foods, so meat and veggies. I made lacto-fermented sauerkraut from this book, among other things.

Here's the book: http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Tra...s=sally+fallon


I am so glad it is Friday! this week is the kind I was having every week before the holidays. I have to figure out some way to get my workload under control. I have more than a day's worth to do today if I want to actually have my weekend off. But diet is okay; I ate two squares of very dark chocolate last night but I noticed that I didn't want more, and maybe I could have just let that go, too...it wasn't a real craving, more like a habit. The days have been so busy I haven't sat for my meals and I know that's not good....scarfed down a big plate of broccoli and a little beefsteak for lunch yesterday but I was actually standing up at the kitchen counter, running between activities. If my digestion is off, it might not be due to the food!!!

Today is the 18th so in 10 more days I'll weigh in. I don't feel any lighter, smaller or thinner but my joints do NOT ache. I am sleeping pretty well. And I have a lot more energy than during the holidays.

Okay, now it is Sunday. I have fallen off the no sugar wagon. I am annoyed at myself that I can't even seem to stick with my OWN plan for three weeks. But this won't be a long decline. I just ate some stuff that should NOT have been in the house.

However, I am also making sure that there will be food this week (I am out on training all week and have to pack lunch and no time to cook in the evening). Crock pot beef stew, a pot of chicken stock soon to become soup, and I stocked up on meats and veggies and have a (hopeful, optimistic) list of things for DH to cook.

love that dog!!! Black lab or some combination of? My fav I had to put my Baxter down in2010 & it broke my heart!! Can't have a dog where I live now but I do have a cat who thinks she's a dog but shes also a diva with major cattitude:)

I'm getting tired of avoiding carbohydrates -- though I'm still sticking to it. I checked a copy of Gary Taubes's "Good Calories, Bad Calories" out of the library to keep myself motivated. We went out to celebrate my son's participation in the district spelling bee today. The kids had milkshakes they couldn't finish. Oh, but it was hard not to finish them for them, (and those fries they didn't eat too), but I managed to eat my kids' uneaten food.

Gary Taubes is always worth a read; GCBC is a valuable reference (if imposingly dense), and his Why We Get Fat is a pithy, much more concise, recap of his earlier work.

The dog is a Lab, goofy and lolloping and unremittingly food-motivated. Eats all sorts of garbage.

Today was the end of my three weeks (21 days). Yesterday was a carb-heavy day for me; I actually ate about two tablespoons of white rice with dinner mostly for my DH's approval (he says "carbs are fuel" and I don't argue. I just know that there are many sources of fuel). Also lots of cooked carrots and a couple of apples, so that is carb heavy. But then, the chocolate.....dark, dark stuff that is quite self limiting.

Anyway, even with all of that I am down three pounds in the three weeks. It would have been more if I dropped out those veggie carbs (and the rice) but I'll take it. This week is my birthday and I am planning (!) to eat cake. Real cake made with wheat flour, so we have to have a small one so that there are NO leftovers.

A couple of years ago I said "no cake" for my birthday and my beloved, who actually listens to me, didn't provide a cake. I found myself distraught at not having a cake for my birthday so I have decided that since it seems important to me, I will enjoy it thoroughly. But just ONE day.

The low-sugar, low carb way works well for me. We have had a thing at our house about there being "too much meat" so DH and DSD are having their pasta nights and their bean burrito nights but I am continuing to cook with lots of leftovers so there is food for me. Seems that a pot of chicken soup made on the weekend makes the week easier (for me). I had chicken soup for breakfast this morning, and the last of the beef stew for lunch.

Keep up the good work, Paul. I do think it gets easier but then I am not controlling my fat or protein intake. Those things are pretty much free food in this model....mostly because they are self limiting. You just don't binge on cocoanut milk, or olives, or avocado. Too much comes pretty soon.

Last summer when I went into this paleo-primal thing I bought Taubes' GFBF but have not yet mustered the wherewithal to actually READ it. Must do, though....should have gotten it from the library.

Jane, I think of you whenever I think about vitamin C...and your note that there is more in green pepper than in oranges....maybe I'll have some pepper strips with my chicken tonight....

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Originally Posted by leslieann

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Jane, I think of you whenever I think about vitamin C...and your note that there is more in green pepper than in oranges....maybe I'll have some pepper strips with my chicken tonight....

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Red, orange, and yellow sweet peppers have even more. You can go wild!