forgive me blogger...

...for I have sinned. NO!   I haven't eaten sugar but I've been away too long!

At first I thought that this blog could rapidly descend into boring-land as I was likely to get drawn into repetitions of "i didn't eat sugar. I feel super energetic." Ya know, it's not screaming "fun!" is it!

So... I planned to read a little. A little pro sugar some anti sugar and report on my findings and thoughts but Holy Crap there is A LOT out there in interwebs land *shudders*. All sincere and all contradicting each other. One thing I found interesting was a sort-of investigation done by identical twins. One gave up all sugars for a month while the other gave up all fats for the same month. Given their identical genetic make-up it should make it a fairly even test. 

Their findings were that neither option seemed better than the other and further findings showed that the big issue was with the mix of sugar and fat. Apparently it's the combination that switches off the 'I'm full now' switch in our brain. So chocolate, desserts, cakes all these things that we consider to be treats are what lead us to eat more of them.

For me it's been, what? A couple or three weeks? Something like that and I'm hardly getting cravings. I would still like a big fat slice of carrot cake but that's different from losing sight of everything until I manage to get some. 

Although my daughter came home from a trip to Cadbury World today and, in her possession were three bars of chocolate and a bag of chocolate buttons. I must confess that I dove into the larder with a teaspoon and had a mouthful of honey to  deal with wanting the chocolate!

All in all, and so far, life without sugar is going well. Of course, I may have pms to deal with - I'll let you know how that goes...

interesting side effect.

It's been over a week since I ditched the white (and brown) stuff and things are easier. I'm a teensy bit jealous at breakfast because my youngest daughter wanted some Kellogg's Krave which is such a yummy, delicious cereal but I know I'm better without it and I really enjoy my porridge. I've bought a variety of different dried fruits and nuts so I can keep it interesting.

Trust me I get really  bored with flavours if I have them too often!

So, to interesting side effects... The first is TMI! My poo has become lighter in colour! Good or bad thing? Who knows!

Also, I've lost weight. I will be the first to fess up and say I have a few pounds to lose but I'm also happy with the way I am and that isn't the reason for the sugar embargo. However, I lost 2lbs this week with no sugar. It will be interesting to see if it carries on since I'm certainly not holding back on the fat eg. Lunch was a salad. This salad contained, as well as lettuce, tomato, cucumber and celery, avocado, bacon, olives and cheese. It was soooo delicious!

And, it's 22:55, I need to sleep and so I'm off. G'night.

it may be late...

... but I feel I should write.

It's almost midnight but I'm aware that I've nearly missed two days of writing.

Since the Great Cookie Battle of Saturday I haven't been faced with much temptation - not that I haven't been faced with sugar laden food (chocolate fountain and Eton Mess on Sunday or example), but the temptation wasn't there.

However, it's late and we have a trip to Butterfly World tomorrow so Ttfn!

almost caved...

It was a busy but fun Saturday. Apart from losing my phone for several hours in our local Victorian swimming baths - very grateful to the lady and her daughter who handed it in! - I had to go to the bank to pay in some cheques from families of minded children. This was after my daughters' swimming lessons and it was after lunch. We were hungry so stopped in at Subway.

The trouble with being beyond hungry is the cravings take over. The girls wanted cookies and we all know that Subway cookies are to *die* for dahling... I decided that I'd have just this one cookie. No more, just one. As my sub was being made (i accepted the small amount of sugar in the bread) I changed my mind. Hey, I'm a woman, it's my perogative. Right? Nope, no cookie for me! My italian meats, tingly chillis and dusky olives were calling to me now.

Only then we reached the cookie counter.

The rainbow cookies, raspberry cheesecake cookies. Raisin oatmeal cookies and choc chip. My willpower threatened to walk the heck outta that door but I slapped it upside the head, paid for my sub (with no sauce because of extra hidden sugars) and water and the girls' kids paks (as eldest pointed out, paks was spelled incorrectly!) before sitting down to eat feeling all smug and proud of myself ;-)

 I gifted myself with a large pot of fruit salad later and om nom, it was good :)

upsurge in energy.

Friday morning is Toy Library morning. usually it's a two cups of coffee morning, a cake and biscuit fest morning, a bemoaning the week and feeling tired morning.

The community centre that we hold Toy Library at had a party booked in after our session and asked us if we wanted the bouncy castle (which was part of the party) up during our session too. Well, who could say no to that!

Once it was inflated I leaped onto it and had a mad few minutes! What a blast. During the morning I was up and around the room, chatting and being sociable and later had another mad bounce on the castle.

It was only later that I recognised the extra energy levels!

day five in the no-sugar house...

It's Friday morning and I'm having my ritual Friday morning bath :) lovin' it.

So, yesterday was slightly harder in that I seemed to be surrounded by cake, like some kind of Dr who bad guy. Sitting there and begging me to eeeeaaaaaat them!! It started with breastmates in the morning (a local breastfeeding support group which runs in various venues and I run one of them). We always offer cake and support so I went to buy the cake - and bananas so that I wouldn't be tempted!

It took a lot of willpower to not just ram a piece in my mouth... and there was a bit left which I had to take home (dagnabbit). It sat there, with the rest of the minded child's birthday cakes (which he brought on Wednesday)... After school I shared them all out amongst the kids while smearing peanut butter on bananas for myself!

Aaggghhhhhh!

However, I got through it with my dignity and no cake crumbs attached ;-)

Ps. Headache has eased...

withdrawal symptoms.

*written on the 12th Feb.

I decided to do some research online to find out what sort of symptoms come with sugar withdrawal. This is what I found.

"The withdrawal symptoms may manifest themselves in severe and intense cravings for sugary foods, or they may include more serious conditions such as headaches or nausea."

My first thought was "why in the heck am I doing this?" as, since lunch, a dull ache has hovered between my jaw and eyebrows, encompassing the top of my head. However I am still not craving the sugary foods. One of the children I look after turned up with cake today and I haven't been tempted. At the same time I usually never buy cakes and biscuits because, dagnabbit, they call to me as long as they're in the house. I'm pretty sure I'm not tempted because I know that I won't be eating them.

As for mood swings and nausea - well not at this point...

And my energy? I slept for 9 hours last night and woke up feeling as though I could easily sleep for 9 more!

Today's food was porridge with mixed seeds, nuts and goji berries. Lunch was a salad of mixed leaves, avocado, tomato, walnuts and sunflower seeds with a banana and apple for dessert. For a snack I had more nuts and some cheese. Currently I have gammon cooking. I'll do eggs, peas and broccoli with that.

day one...

I've never been keen on planning these things, spontaneity being the way I work best. I decided to do this approximately two hours before writing yesterday's post.

So? So, I don't have the food in the house that would make it easier. And today was the fourth birthday of one of the kids I look after so I bought a cake for him.

Having said that, I didn't actually crave sugar once. I think knowing that it wasn't an option made the chocolate aisle in our local (ie tiny) supermarket immaterial.

For breakfast I had a bowl of porridge with honey and almonds, then didn't even think of food until almost lunchtime. A quick peak at pintrest for a suitable recipe resulted in a yummy lunch of coconut pancakes with peanut butter (non sugar) spread on top and cucumber on the side. Afterwards I had an apple. Since then I've had some cheese and I'm planning sausages and veggies as well as some pulses for dinner.

So day one seems to be going pretty well. Energy wise I feel knackered, but then I woke up at 4:48am and I'm still standing at 6:30 after a full day of work!

the decision.

Sugar free? I could never do that! I've made that announcement many times but then, I have to question why. Why do I think that I can't live without sugar? Our bodies don't actually need sugar to function whereas fat is an important part of our development. Why do we give our kids full fat foods? For brain development! At what age did we decide that our brains come second to our shape? but, sugar is addictive, the biscuits, the cakes. The chocolate bars. They are the drug dealers skulking in the corner of every supermarket and newspaper shop. They whisper "come and buy me, you know you want me..."

I've been feeling tired, sluggish. I ache all over and have done a little research. On the internet. Because we all know that the internet always tells the facts... Right? ;-)

My research all said GIVE UP THE SUGAR! LOSE IT BABY! And so, I've decided to dedicate 3 months to living sugar free. But I need some rules right? So, I'm talking about refined sugar, I'm talking about pre-packaged foods with sugar added. Fruit is allowed, honey is allowed but the rest is all gone.

Well, as of tomorrow!

And I'll come here to report how I feel as the time goes along, if it's made a difference and if I can make it!