This wasn’t a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ kind of thing. Just seemed like something (sort of like quitting smoking) that I should pick a start date for. Hubby is actually gonna start Atkins, but I can’t do Atkins because of my propensity for growing kidney stones. Atkins promotes them, unfortunately, in folks prone to them. But, what I can do is: no refined sugar, white flour (including white pasta), white rice, or white potatoes. I know I’m going to go through heavy withdrawal, because I am a big-time sugar junkie! I went sugar-free once before, for about 2 years, and lost a considerable amount of weight. Been on and off diets since then, but I’m convinced none of them have been long-term successful because of my sugar addiction. I’m dreading the first few days, because I know they’ll be very unpleasant. Hopefully, the end results will be worth it.
It’s a little scary to think of never eating refined sugar again, so I’m trying to apply more of an AA philosophy: I don’t have to do it forever, I just have to do it one day at a time.
Good luck to both of you. We’re trying to finish up the high carb disposable foods so we can start Atkin’s Induction soon. I’m thinking Jan 13 will be our official start date, though when we went to the grocery store, we bought only low carb foods. It didn’t help when my husband’s sister brought some late Christmas gifts, including a box of chocolates.
We have shopped in bulk and at special discount stores for a long time now, so it would probably take us a year to use up such foods. What we’re doing, instead, is I’ll continue to prepare them (once I get past the cravings) for the kids. But, as they get used up, I will be replacing them with healthier alternatives, such as whole-grains, etc.
A few years ago, we went low-fat, and both lost some weight doing that, but it didn’t address my sugar addiction. However, since then, we’ve felt guilty about eating high-fat foods. But in the past few days, we’ve pretty much allowed ourselves to eat all kinds of sugar, etc. Sort of a farewell thing, I guess.
Good Luck! I’m doing something similar. I had great luck with Atkins over the past several years (lost about 60 lbs and maintained it for almost 3 years), but the past year has been a rough one and I gained 10 lbs. Back on induction after New Year’s day.
Hi, guys! It’s been 3 days since I went sugar-free. New Year’s Eve was the last time I ate any sugar. Since then, I’ve also had no: rice, potatoes, white flour or corn products.
I had read that taking L-Glutamine (an amino acid) supplements could be helpful. I think these have really helped! I was a little shaky and out of sorts for the first couple of days, but feel better today. Also, I’m not getting hungry between meals! I weighed myself for the first time Monday, but won’t weigh myself again til next Monday, so will have no weight-loss results til then.
Also joined the Y, so I can work out 3 times a week, and am drinking an insane amount of water!
Indygrrl, the problem with these things is the same as the problem with white sugar, which is to say that it causes a sugar-spike in my blood; when that spike resides (which happens fairly rapidly), I crave more sugar. It’s a very unpleasant cycle which has kept me obese for a mojority of my life.
As far as using them for flavoring, I don’t know how much would be safe, therefore, am probably better off with none at all. But I understand extracts are excellent for flavoring (and available in more flavors than you could imagine). Tonight, I made glazed carrots with dinner by adding butter and Splenda (I used to use brown sugar) to sliced carrots. Yum.
What we’re doing, instead, is I’ll continue to prepare them (once I get past the cravings) for the kids. But, as they get used up, I will be replacing them with healthier alternatives, such as whole-grains, etc.