Let the no added sugar challenge begin!

[xanthepants]

Today is my rep lunch day. I have no idea what they brought for lunch so I'm hoping it's reasonably healthy. Usually its a salad (Can't control the dressing) and I'll skip the dessert. I did pop an altoid this morning and thought DAMMIT!!! before I could stop myself. Old habits man.

[mightybee]

How's everyone doing? We're at day 5!

I feel irritable, but who knows if that's just the lack of sleep talking. The week went good, a little nervous about making through a weekend of a birthday party and bbq. I'm making D's birthday cupcakes tonight and I know I'll be tempted to eat batter.

[mightybee]

So about alcohol...do you think only the hard stuff is allowed? I could use a glass of wine.

[roo1582]

Jul 10, 2015 6:16:16 GMT -5 mightybee said:

So about alcohol...do you think only the hard stuff is allowed? I could use a glass of wine.

I know I'm not doing the challenge, but based on the original link you had shared from the Today show, you are allowed one 5-oz glass of red or white wine a day or a 12-oz bottle of beer per day.

[somethingcleverer]

Jul 10, 2015 6:09:50 GMT -5 mightybee said:

How's everyone doing? We're at day 5!

I feel irritable, but who knows if that's just the lack of sleep talking. The week went good, a little nervous about making through a weekend of a birthday party and bbq. I'm making D's birthday cupcakes tonight and I know I'll be tempted to eat batter.

I've had a few cheats but overall I'm doing much better than I thought I would. I was extremely crabby yesterday morning but I'm not sure if that was because I was coming off the prednisone or sugar. I have also been drinking more than my 5 oz of wine at night.

[mightybee]

Thanks for being on top of it roo1582!

[roo1582]

Jul 10, 2015 10:41:17 GMT -5 mightybee said:

Thanks for being on top of it roo1582!

I always like to make sure I know my alcohol allowances

[xanthepants]

I've had 3 cheats thus far. Better than I thought, but it is way hard. And I'm crabby beyond belief. I can't tell if it's the gluten thing or this though. I'm bored with my choices already.

[mightybee]

Thanks for the salsa burger idea nursedesi! I was at a loss for dinner today and really hangry. It hit the spot, as did my glass of wine.

[somethingcleverer]

Today was a huge failure for me but I did turn down cheesecake that H tried to tempt me with. I'm going to get back on track tomorrow and try to get next weeks meal plan done.

[nursedesi]

Today was a huge failure for me too. I'm not going to even talk about it. But it just reaffirmed that I need to cut back on sugar becasue I had to have an emergency nap because of bad choices.

[mightybee]

Here's to a week down and a few more days to go! The home stretch...

[mightybee]

Here we are--day 10. Thanks for joining me nursedesi somethingcleverer xanthepants!

How did the challenge go? Anything you will take away from it?

[nursedesi]

I did good the forst few days but then started slipping. I've for sure learned a lot by realizing how many things sugar is in. Its crazy. I'm going to try to contine to not to consume so much sugar and try to make things at home instead of using the easy option of prepackaged items.

[xanthepants]

It was crazy hard. I had to be so vigilant all the time! But I think it was a great take away to realize just how much is in processed food. I think the thing that bugged me was finding out why it was in things that it seemed like there was no reason for it to be. And like nursedesi, I'm going to try and make more at home. By doing it hand in hand with the gluten thing - I was cutting out a lot of what stray things I would have to cut anyway (breads, pastas and such). I had the hardest time with my drinks to be honest. I wanted something sweet to drink ALL THE TIME!!! Dessert I could live without.

[mightybee]

Doing a challenge like this really forces you to plan and be aware of what ingredients are in the foods you buy. I didn't eat out at all during the 10 days, but I can see how this would be especially challenging. Also, what about catering to other people, like nursedesi had to do for her family? Definitely throws your plans for a loop!

I found that I didn't experience the blood sugar dips--omg I have to eat something right now--as often. I wasn't craving desserts. I did miss the maple syrup on my breakfast oatmeal!

Doing this has pushed me to look into the Whole 30 program and I'm reading the book It Starts With Food right now (recommend so far!). I always thought that I could eat anything I wanted as long as I exercised. But I don't think this is a healthy way to think about fueling your body. Also, I'm really curious if there are foods I should avoid or eat more in moderation (I have a feeling it's legumes). Anyone up for a whole 30 challenge? Hahaha...

I think the coolest thing that happened is that doing the challenge started a mini conversation about sugar with D. He would offer me crackers and I'd tell him I wasn't eating them this week because I was trying to not eat any food with added sugars because too much sugar is not good for you. He asked if watermelon had sugar and if I could eat that and if other mommys ate sugar. Haha. So I hope I'm on the way to teaching him about a more healthy way of eating and eating more real foods.

[somethingcleverer]

I fell off at the end of the challenge but I plan to continue to eliminate added sugars from my diet. I've also cut out juice for the kids and I'm trying to push us toward healthier snacks instead of sweets.

I posted an article about eliminating sugar on Facebook today and I liked the suggestion of comparing it to an illicit drug. Which is actually what they talked about in Fed Up, because sugar and cocaine got similar responses from the brain. When I think about that it forces me to realize that sugar is just as bad for me. I mean some times I still chose sugar but other times I picked fruit instead.

[mightybee]

The comparison of drugs and sugar really stuck with me too somethingcleverer. It is making me see my use of jelly beans, mini marshmallows, and fruit snacks to bribe D in a new light. Have I stopped doing that cold turkey? No way. But I'm starting to think twice or feel a twinge of guilt in feeding the cycle of addiction in doing so.

It also hard to just purge all of the bad stuff from my house. I'm really against throwing away food. I'll just start replacing with healthier options as we use stuff up. Or make my H eat it. He eats everything.

[xanthepants]

I find it such a hit to our pocketbook and it gets me mad. Of course processed food is more convenient but does it always have to be cheaper too? I paid nearly $7 for a bag of apples the other day and it made me cringe. It's fine but it still made me cringe.
I kind of walk this terrible line in that I KNOW I have my own food issues and I so don't want to project them on Cosette so I find myself questioning whether I'd be going to far to cut all that stuff out when I clearly cannot walk the walk either. I truly believe though if I start making the changes start with me, I can implement them with more confidence and ease with her too. Meal planning and cooking effort is where I definitely see myself making the biggest impact.

[mightybee]

Jul 15, 2015 15:44:24 GMT -5 xanthepants said:

I find it such a hit to our pocketbook and it gets me mad. Of course processed food is more convenient but does it always have to be cheaper too? I paid nearly $7 for a bag of apples the other day and it made me cringe. It's fine but it still made me cringe.
I kind of walk this terrible line in that I KNOW I have my own food issues and I so don't want to project them on Cosette so I find myself questioning whether I'd be going to far to cut all that stuff out when I clearly cannot walk the walk either. I truly believe though if I start making the changes start with me, I can implement them with more confidence and ease with her too. Meal planning and cooking effort is where I definitely see myself making the biggest impact.

Hear hear! For me, this means not hiding in the kitchen eating cookies or chocolate.

[heatherbee]

Jul 15, 2015 15:44:24 GMT -5 xanthepants said:

I find it such a hit to our pocketbook and it gets me mad. Of course processed food is more convenient but does it always have to be cheaper too? I paid nearly $7 for a bag of apples the other day and it made me cringe. It's fine but it still made me cringe.
I kind of walk this terrible line in that I KNOW I have my own food issues and I so don't want to project them on Cosette so I find myself questioning whether I'd be going to far to cut all that stuff out when I clearly cannot walk the walk either. I truly believe though if I start making the changes start with me, I can implement them with more confidence and ease with her too. Meal planning and cooking effort is where I definitely see myself making the biggest impact.

Although I didn't really follow the challenge, I've been following this thread. I agree with this so much. I've been struggling a lot with what I'm projecting on my kids by my choices. I want to eat healthier, but I also want my kids to learn things like sugar are ok in moderation or at special events. I worry a lot that my DD is going to grow up seeing how self conscious I am about my body. Logically, I know I need to love my body.. I weigh the same as I did pre-DD, but because I don't have defined abs and my belly is a bit flabby, I feel awful about it and I really really want to change my thinking about my body, because it comes across to my kids. I know this is a tangent but just something I have been thinking about a lot while following this thread and trying to do the 21 day fix. I want to show my kids it's important to eat healthy and work out, but not just because the end goal is looking sexy, if that makes sense. Body image is hard, especially when raising a little girl who is going to be so exposed to a certain image of what is sexy.

Thanks for letting me brain dump

[mightybee]

xanthepants have you noticed any improvements for your migraines with your change in diet?

[somethingcleverer]

I should have asked earlier but what did you find for breakfast. I got bored eating eggs with no toast but yogurt with almond butter and fruit didn't keep me full very long.

One more observation from the challenge is that I'm craving fruit and veggies more than I was before. I know some of it is because it's in season and extra tasty but I don't think I would have picked it over junky snack before doing the detox.

[mightybee]

I did a baked oatmeal made with blueberries and pumpkin. I ate it with some yogurt and fresh fruit. I found that I was really hungry a couple of hours later. I don't think I was getting enough protein.

I've gotten out of the habit, but I also like to make egg muffins for mornings. Put any combo of veggies/meat/cheese in greased muffin tins and pour 9 beaten eggs plus 1/4 c milk over top. I think a few of those with some yogurt/fruit might have fueled me better.

[mightybee]

And now I'm pinning whole30/paleo breakfast ideas...how about an egg baked in an avocado or sweet potato half?

[somethingcleverer]

Jul 15, 2015 21:35:29 GMT -5 mightybee said:

And now I'm pinning whole30/paleo breakfast ideas...how about an egg baked in an avocado or sweet potato half?

I was just going through Pinterest for the same thing! I'm kind of curious about those scotch eggs too. The only trouble with baking them is the time it takes in the morning but definitely something I could do on weekends off!

[xanthepants]

I just got off a mild 5 day migraine so not really any better. And total stomach issues. But I have read it takes 3-6 months to get out of your system so I'm going to try and stick it out a while.

[mightybee]

Yum! Those look good somethingcleverer! I'm all about making a big batch of something on Sunday to eat for breakfast for the week. Makes the mornings so much smoother!

Darn xanthepants. I was hoping it would be a more immediate thing for you. Keep at it! Here for support whenever you need it! I think I'm going to do the whole30 thing, so I can be in it with you for another 30 days.

[heatherbee]

Jul 15, 2015 21:20:31 GMT -5 mightybee said:

I did a baked oatmeal made with blueberries and pumpkin. I ate it with some yogurt and fresh fruit. I found that I was really hungry a couple of hours later. I don't think I was getting enough protein.

I've gotten out of the habit, but I also like to make egg muffins for mornings. Put any combo of veggies/meat/cheese in greased muffin tins and pour 9 beaten eggs plus 1/4 c milk over top. I think a few of those with some yogurt/fruit might have fueled me better.

I always like the egg things fresh buy when I refrigerate them, I don't like the texture. Any tricks?

[mightybee]

heatherbee I don't notice any big difference from fresh versus microwaved. I always thought eggs were a good food to reheat! What is it about the texture you don't like?

I do notice that they get pretty watery if a freeze them. The taste is fine though.