Eliminating added sugar from your diet
Discussion
Anyone do this or want to do it?
In my 20s when I had more time, less stress and more courage I eliminated all added sugar from my diet. It felt really good to be working out regularly and eating clean.
I started doing this a few weeks ago, caved in after 4 days and had some chocolate ice cream
but went at it again and have completely lost that sugar craving sensation you get after a meal. It is very liberating looking at cakes, biscuits etc and having no desire to eat them.
Energy and motivation levels seem to be up as a result. Every who does any sport should try this
In my 20s when I had more time, less stress and more courage I eliminated all added sugar from my diet. It felt really good to be working out regularly and eating clean.
I started doing this a few weeks ago, caved in after 4 days and had some chocolate ice cream
but went at it again and have completely lost that sugar craving sensation you get after a meal. It is very liberating looking at cakes, biscuits etc and having no desire to eat them.Energy and motivation levels seem to be up as a result. Every who does any sport should try this
No, definitely not given up fruit. Maybe I should have said "artificial" sugars or "extracellular" sugars.
Doing my best to eliminate all hidden sugars though so just fresh meat, fish, veg, fruit and milk/butter/natural yoghurt.
ETA homemade banana cake with no sugar, just fruit for eg.
Doing my best to eliminate all hidden sugars though so just fresh meat, fish, veg, fruit and milk/butter/natural yoghurt.
ETA homemade banana cake with no sugar, just fruit for eg.
Edited by Driller on Friday 18th September 09:11
Yes I have pretty much done this. I now have so much more energy all day long with no peaks and troughs and feel better all the time. I lost about 1.5 stone while eating to put on weight from when I started and I was what most people would have called thin before that (though chickens and weights have put that back on again and more). You don't realise just how addictive sugar is until you give it up, it's not an easy habit to kick but it's absolutely worth it.
I still eat fruit, milk and other natural sugars and I also allow myself the odd cake at the weekends but the benefits of giving it up really are huge.
I still eat fruit, milk and other natural sugars and I also allow myself the odd cake at the weekends but the benefits of giving it up really are huge.
Yes, I don't eat any of the obvious sugar-laden foods on anything like a regular basis - last time I had ice-cream was Christmas 2014 (same with cake) and have absolutely no desire to eat things like that.
The difficult bit is trying to do what the title of your thread says i.e. eliminate ALL added sugar from your diet. For example, I had the Charlie Bigham's Spanish Chicken meal on Wednesday and even that still has sugar needlessly added (given the natural sugar present in the tomato and pepper).
It's a massive commitment to get rid of all added sugar in your diet and not one I can be bothered with. Fair play to anyone who can though.
The difficult bit is trying to do what the title of your thread says i.e. eliminate ALL added sugar from your diet. For example, I had the Charlie Bigham's Spanish Chicken meal on Wednesday and even that still has sugar needlessly added (given the natural sugar present in the tomato and pepper).
It's a massive commitment to get rid of all added sugar in your diet and not one I can be bothered with. Fair play to anyone who can though.
How to achieve eliminating all added sugar from your diet?
In theory it's very easy i.e. you only buy foods that have been "changed" to make them safe/possible to eat.
I think a diet of the below would satisfy a zero added sugar objective.
Breakfast - porridge oats with skimmed milk and blueberries.
Lunch - jacket potato, chicken breast and broccoli.
Dinner - brown rice, salmon fillet and carrots.
The key is to buy non-processed foods which are as close to their natural state as possible.
In theory it's very easy i.e. you only buy foods that have been "changed" to make them safe/possible to eat.
I think a diet of the below would satisfy a zero added sugar objective.
Breakfast - porridge oats with skimmed milk and blueberries.
Lunch - jacket potato, chicken breast and broccoli.
Dinner - brown rice, salmon fillet and carrots.
The key is to buy non-processed foods which are as close to their natural state as possible.
I have been actively doing this since January this year. I feel so much better for it. Dont get the highs and lows throughout the day anymore. I sleep a lot better too. Im really enjoying clean eating at the moment.
Here is a list of different names for sugars that get added to foods: Sugar list
Also, im sure you are aware, but the higher the ingredient in the list the more it contains. It gets a lot easier once the cravings go away.
Here is a list of different names for sugars that get added to foods: Sugar list
Also, im sure you are aware, but the higher the ingredient in the list the more it contains. It gets a lot easier once the cravings go away.
I try to eat a fairly healthy diet. I don't a lot of sugar (and drink mostly tap water), but I don't try to eliminate sugar entirely. I tend to snack on nuts.
I'm not quite convinced by all of the arguments for complete avoidance of sugars.
Being fitter and leaner makes me feel more energetic.
I'm not sure that I experience sugar cravings, I prefer savoury things.
I'm not quite convinced by all of the arguments for complete avoidance of sugars.
Being fitter and leaner makes me feel more energetic.
I'm not sure that I experience sugar cravings, I prefer savoury things.
I've been basically sugar free for about three years now. I even avoid fruit. Every step along the way (dropping alcohol, then sugar, then wheat, now all white carbs) made me get thinner and feel better, thus the progression.
I don't miss sugar at all. I will eat potato occasionally - chips are a rare treat. These days my digestive system doesn't like me eating wheat, even in small doses.
I don't miss sugar at all. I will eat potato occasionally - chips are a rare treat. These days my digestive system doesn't like me eating wheat, even in small doses.
MC Bodge said:
I'm not quite convinced by all of the arguments for complete avoidance of sugars.
No removing all sugars is not right. People often trot out about fruit containing lots of sugar. It does, but it also contains lots of fibre which slows the absorption of sugar and minimises the blood sugar spike. They also contain lots of other good things. A can of coke contains nothing of benefit.The key thing to aim for is removing ADDED sugar.
Driller said:
Also a lot of the sugar in fruit is held in cells i.e. intracellular sugars so is less available than pure added sugar.
Which I understand is why smoothies and/or juicing fruits is considerably worse than eating them in their natural form as these cells are broken down, meaning the sugar escapes?MrBarry123 said:
Driller said:
Also a lot of the sugar in fruit is held in cells i.e. intracellular sugars so is less available than pure added sugar.
Which I understand is why smoothies and/or juicing fruits is considerably worse than eating them in their natural form as these cells are broken down, meaning the sugar escapes?I don't have fruit juice anymore, just filtered tap water.
It is quite astonishing just how much sugar there is in foods advertised as 'healthy' or 'low fat', I have found that sticking to mainly wholefoods works quite well - but am sure most things are fine if taken in moderation - more so if you keep fit/train on a regular basis..
It is quite astonishing just how much sugar there is in foods advertised as 'healthy' or 'low fat', I have found that sticking to mainly wholefoods works quite well - but am sure most things are fine if taken in moderation - more so if you keep fit/train on a regular basis..
chris watton said:
I don't have fruit juice anymore, just filtered tap water.
It is quite astonishing just how much sugar there is in foods advertised as 'healthy' or 'low fat', I have found that sticking to mainly wholefoods works quite well - but am sure most things are fine if taken in moderation - more so if you keep fit/train on a regular basis..
Low fat =====> High sugar.It is quite astonishing just how much sugar there is in foods advertised as 'healthy' or 'low fat', I have found that sticking to mainly wholefoods works quite well - but am sure most things are fine if taken in moderation - more so if you keep fit/train on a regular basis..
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