Welcome to week four! For many of you, it’s your second week of life completely devoid of sugar…how are you feeling? Noticing any changes in your body? Moods?
Via Trendhunter
But first, some housekeeping:
- if you’re enjoying the detox process and want to take it further…Nutritionist Michele Chevalley Hedge is running a four-day Cleanse & Nourish Retreat in Byron late April. Find the details here. I’ll be dropping in for sure!
- A gentle reminder to get on board with me for FebFast. Join my team or donate here. I VERY much endorse quitting booze if you’re quitting sugar…it will make the process easier. And while you’re on a righteous roll…!
- I’m giving away 60 packs of sugar free The Muesli (worth $20)..it involves a quick questionnaire…details here…the offer ends THIS Wednesday COB.
- And, yes, finally, we’re going to do a webinar next Monday January 30 at 6:30pm.
You’ll need to join via my I Quit Sugar facebook page here
But back to cravings and crankiness…I found some info this week that backs up my approach (and which I really implore everyone to observe):
Don’t push it. We’re experimenting, people. Everything’s cool.
Some of you are feeling guilty about giving in and lapsing. Like I’ve said before, not a problem. Sit. Observe what the cake or the chocolate or whatever did to your mood, your mouth, your vibe. And move on.
Some of you are also getting a bit fretty about whether you’re doing things “right”…all I can say is, Yep, you are (if you’re conscious of your habits now). And keep asking questions. The comments forum is proving a festy petri dish of tips and advice. Wade in!
Just quickly, I cam across this factoid during the week, which I find interesting:
An estimated 70 per cent of Americans do not consume sufficient nutrients – due to the amount of refined and processed foods eaten. Can you believe it??? Modern malnutrition, hey. Esteemed wellness guru Dr. Joel Fuhrman says malnutrition is what causes us to crave certain food. He says to stop the “addictive drives and perverted cravings” we suffer from, it is essential to restore nutritional excellence.
Ergo, he says, eat nutrient-dense foods: Green veggies, non-starchy veggies, beans, raw nuts and seeds, and it helps the cravings.
Try this for a sweet hit
Macadamia oil...I use this Brookfarm one…it’s local to Byron Bay (in fact Macadamias are native to the area). It’s a mono-unsaturated fat and is full of great nutrients…and it tastes seriously sweet! Don’t cook with the stuff – pour it on salads. I love it on steamed zucchini. I also pour it on some yoghurt with a sprinkle of celtic sea salt for an afternoon snack.
your questions answered
This week I have nutritionist Lola Berry and author of Sweet Poison David Gillespi answering a few of your questions. As well as my good self.
Jess Jantzen asks: So I buy smoked salmon 100g net – 5 slices in it. On the back it tells me: Serving Size 50g. So 50g divided by 4 = 12.5. So 12.5 teaspoons of sugar in this pack?
Sarah: Ahhh, I might have confused you. Go to the amount of sugar listed under the serving size column (as opposed to the 100g column). I imagine it would be very little. You then divide the sugar figure by 4.
Calculating sugar content is a little hit and miss, because some foods contain “sugar” but it’s actually only lactose (ergo, no fructose); some contain “sugar” but this figure is sucrose (1/2 fructose, 1/2 glucose) PLUS extra straight fructose (eg: fruit). Just do you best…
Brittany says: Just wanted to know what brand of coconut oil your using Sarah.
Sarah: I really like the Niugini Organic brand because it comes in a mason preserving jar (worth a good $8; I use afterwards for making sauerkraut etc). It’s also travelled the least to come here (from PNG)…so less carbon miles.
Amyer asks: Probiotics…I looked up Yakult and found that it has 11.4g of sugar, most of which is sucrose (and a small bit of glucose and lactose)…?
David: I’d avoid probiotics unless your doctor is telling you to have them (because say you’ve just taken a heavy course of anti-biotics) – many of them contain serious amounts of sugar (Yakult contains 2.5 teaspoons of sugar in a single 65ml serve) to make them palatable. If you can find one without sugar and you really need to take one – then go for it.
Ellen asks: I am still nursing my son, so I am afraid that I will not be able to get what I need to maintain milk supply and stay safe [if I quit sugar]
Lola: This is a great question, as you are eating for two your food intake and requirements will be much higher. The best advice I can give you is to listen to your body. If you feel like something sweet one of my favorites is a bowl of blueberries mixed with cinnamon and coconut oil. The blueberries give you that sweetness, the cinnamon balances blood sugar levels and the coconut oil will give you sustained release energy. Plus, as you’re still nursing you’ll need lots more energy, so coconut oil is something I would increase in the diet, it’s a healthy fat the body loves!
Erin asks: Tinned tomatoes in cooking ok?
Sarah: Yep. They’re less than 1g/100g and you really only eat about 150g in a meal.
Marnie asks: I’m curious about butter. Stupid question, perhaps – what category of the above fats does butter fall into?
Sarah: Not a stupid question. It’s a saturated fat, which we’ve been told is bad. But isn’t. Check out this post on saturated fat to read more. Butter is REALLY good (as long as you’re not casein sensitive). It’s one of the best fats to help with the absorption of vitamins in veggies, calcium uptake, immune function, and cell membrane structure. But always buy organic, NEVER the hydrogenated (spreadable) ones and never low fat.
Stacey asks: I am a vegetarian and I know that eating “meaty” meals were a big part your (Sarah’s) diet…what to do?
Sarah: Can I suggest you check out Maria’s 21-day vegan sugar-free challenge over at scandifoodie?
extra reading
Just two apps this week that you might like:
The Eatery gets others to rate how healthy you’re eating…they have a specific philosophy behind this approach. You can watch the video here.
And this one…FoodSwitch…which allows you to scan the barcode on a grocery item and it tells you the healthiest option in the category. I’ve only just downloaded it and am still playing with it…it seems to be missing a lot of the foods in my pantry. Tell me if you’ve had better luck.
That’s all for now folks. Give me feedback on what else you’d like answered. And don’t forget to join in the webinar next Monday at 6.30pm…
Ahhh … hello week 4.
Still going string and very happy for it. I have not experienced any crankiness, if anything my moods seem to have vastly improved.
What IS troubling me however, is I am starting to cop flak from well meaning bystanders … “What do you mean no fruit? Sugar in fruit is natural!”
I visited my folks over the weekend and mum tut-tutted me yesterday morning for having a scrambled egg for breakfast and encouraged me to have muesli + fruit yoghurt instead. Gah! I tried to explain myself, but she wasn’t interested.
I know you’ve given advice previously on how to deal with the naysayers and I’m trying to adopt these techniques. Just curious if anybody else has any other nifty ways to handle these situations?
Hope everyone is well and enjoying the journey.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Hi Peckingbird –
I’m with you on the well meaning bystanders, I have my husband to deal with but I told him that I’m doing this for myself and that I wasn’t forcing him to do it but that I was doing it for me so he should respect it. Anyway he is fine with it, and luckily I live overseas so don’t have to deal with other family members telling me things, I’m sure my mum would be trying to force a piece of fruit down my throat at this stage lol.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 2:45 pm
You know, I was wondering this myself the other day. I really hate having to tell everyone about my health problems every time a well-meaning person asks publicly why I am avoiding sugar or booze. (Doesn’t help that I work in an office where both are supplied to me regularly for free!) Constantly having to talk about my health problems not only makes others uncomfortable, but I get sick of talking about it!
I think it’s just a matter of not giving a shit what other people think. Which is easier said than done I know. I have a friend who embodies healthy living, he is a hockey player and trains ridiculously hard and eats like an athlete and rarely drinks. He has done this for years and still has people ask him all the time why he turns away cake, or doesn’t drink at the pub. Nothing you say or do can convince other people to be ok with your decision. People are nosy and think they know what is best for you, even (especially!) when they mean well. The only thing you can control is your reaction to it. He doesn’t let it bother him, just carries on being “weird” despite the nay-sayers and I think that’s quite a good way to live!
Hope that helps.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 3:51 pm
I purchased the sweet poison & for anyone with major disputes, offer them to read it & form their own opinion. For a quick “cant be bothered” explaination – I often tell people I am fructose intolerant & that tends to leave them baffled & not asking more questions.
my housemate laughed in my face til I started showing the benefits from being sugar free & has since adapted many of my food habits in her cooking – we have a sugar free haven at home which is brilliant for cravings!
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January 23rd, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Hi Peckingbird,
My first response is always to laugh it off, or respond in a light hearted manner. For anybody pushy though, I like a good slap of truth to keep them quiet.
http://www.sugarstacks.com/ is good for this as a brutal visual aid to make a point.
Such a point was made when a friend was poking fun for my eating eggs while he drank a big glass of soft drink. I grabbed a clean glass, calculated how much sugar was in his and doled it out in the glass in front of him. Man was he surprised to see the 9 teaspoons of sugar he didn’t realise he was drinking! Good boy poured it out right then & there, & (mostly) stopped hassling me
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January 24th, 2012 at 2:18 am
I have a simple but cowardly approach. I don’t tell anyone.
The one or two people who do know, and have given me a hard time, I tell them the basics of why I’m doing it and let them know it’s an experiment that I’m giving a go. Then I just smile and nod to all their arguments, I don’t bother to engage.
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January 24th, 2012 at 3:08 am
My way is also a bit cowardly – I just say that it’s because of immunity issues. I tell people that I used to be sick and that if I’m not strict about my diet I’ll get sick again and there’s no way I’m going back to that life. I find people get awkward when you talk about illness and usually leave you alone! You may not have been sick, but you can still use this excuse if people are really giving you crap!
Another option is just to say please. Please support me and if you can’t support me then please don’t try to get in my way. I don’t ask for much, I’m asking for this now.
Truly, I find that if people have been healthy for the majority of their lives, they just don’t get it and never will until they’re sick themselves. Which is a real shame.
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January 24th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
My friends already make fun of me for being vego so going one step further and giving up sugar isn’t a big deal.
Funnily enough, my parents had heard about it from my Aunt who was reading David’s book so they are supportive but they don’t have to put up with catering to my diet if I go for a visit seeing as I am living OS at the moment.
They did send me a violet crumble over Christmas which I can’t eat now
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February 7th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
hi. am just starting the IQS program – only half way through week 1. just want to know, when i hit week 2 and take sugar out completely, does that mean that all labels must read 0g sugar or do we adhere to the ’3-6g’ rule? i.e. can you have weet-bix with milk, or a sandwich with grainy bread that still contains a bit of sugar? thanks, would love someone to reply.
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Hi … another great post. Just a query on butter following Sarah’s advice on not buying hydrogenated butter – I have been buying the Mainland spreadable butter, which lists its ingredients as cream, water, salt. I’m a bit in the dark about what hydrogenated means – is it a process that would not be listed on the packet?
Thanks!
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January 23rd, 2012 at 2:49 pm
I use that butter too as it is the only without added nasties in it. But I would like to know what Sarah thinks about that butter too
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January 26th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for the butter suggestion, I’ve been searching for a spreadable without veg oil in it for ages! My store keeps it in a different section to the other ones so I hadn’t stumbled upon it. found it today and will definitely be switching from marg. Thanks heaps!
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January 26th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
It is a process that tampers with the liquid oils to turn them to a solid. Basically altering the molecules with chemical reactions. These oils are highly tampered with and have been implicated in heart disease ect. I’m not sure if they must declare them on the pack in Australia, I know they have to in America. They would appear as Trans fats on the nutrition chart. Trans fats are apparently banned in Denmark and as they are so harmful to your health.
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Thanks for answering my question Sarah. I tried a little bit of chocolate cake on the weekend and after one bite it was uninteresting and too sweet and I didn’t eat any more. I do not feel guilty about eating it but wanted to test if quitting sugar was working (as I have put on weight) and it is!!
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I feel the same as you Peckingbird, been sugar clean for 2 weeks and really only have felt great! Interested to see how I feel when I return to work next week though after the long school teacher summer break…!
My standard response to the above is a flippant, ‘yeah, I’m just cutting it out for a month or so and then I’ll put some fruit back in’. It also helps that I have pretty serious, chronic health concerns (suppressed immune system / chronic bronchitis resulting from tuberculosis a couple of years ago) and people seem to get it when I tell them I’m trying a new tactic to strengthen my immune system before the cold weather comes. What they don’t know is that I’ll be suprised if I ever go back to the old lifestyle…feels so great to be free of my old cycle of craving sweet food then hating myself for eating and having no self control to stop.
In terms of my immune system, no great news yet but time will tell and in the meantime, I am being as healthy as I possibly can (well, until Febfast starts!!!)
I’ve made a few of your recipes too (coconut icecream, pumpkin muffins and today a variation on the nut balls (with brazil nuts, tahini, almond meal, cacao, coc oil, stevia and coconut) more to have in the freezer if cravings hit) but am so suprised that I don’t even really want them! For the first time in my life I am cooking snacks and they are still there a week later!
So from a very grateful woman, thanks again Sarah.
Meg
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So far so good on the IQS journey, yes I’ve had cravings but have been able to resist well. Cheese is now my new friend
But I’m wondering are all types of cheese ok to have? Also how much cheese can you eat without going OTT.
Also, barley malt syrup and brown rice syrup, what’s the difference and are they both suitable to use?
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January 23rd, 2012 at 2:35 pm
I’m also curious about rice syrup… it seems better than honey in sugar content, but it isn’t sugar free though right?! am sugar free for over 2 months now, would like to use rice syrup (and do for my kids’ porridge) but not sure if it is the best option….?
thanks!
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January 23rd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Yes! Rice syrup is fructose free!
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January 23rd, 2012 at 5:08 pm
really? I’m really confused by this (and also where to get it!).
And can we talk dates? I need to understand how bad dates are? they are in sooo many tasty looking reciepes.
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:12 pm
It’s in health food aisle at supermarket and at health food stores.
It’s definitely fructose free. You can Google it and I think I saw Sarah answer it on another post.
Aaaaaand Dates. 70% fructose!
Week 4 – gone so quick! You know what I am looking forward to? Being able to enjoy an occasional sweet treat when out for dinner or something and not having the guilt! Having a bar of dark choc in the house and being able to have only a couple of squares at a time, and not wanting more.
This whole process has been so much easier than I thought it would be, I am eating so much less, getting hungry less regularly and enjoying full fat dairy again after Skim for so long. LOVING this process and experimenting with different things.
So happy to have tried it Sarah! THANK YOU
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I’m still curious about being ok to use sugar substitutes even at week 4 of no fructose?
I’m still using glucose syrup & dextrose (and Natvia in my teas) and I feel like I’m ‘cheating’ and not following the # IQS 8 week quit plan properly.
My question to Sarah and/or David is: Is it ok to keep using the substitute sweetners I have mentioned above? (SPQP book does say these are fine to use whilst quitting, but I just want to be 100% sure)
I too feel like I have gained weight, not lost, and haven’t really felt any of the withdrawal symptoms that people describe.
This is what makes me think that maybe I shouldn’t be using the substitutes at all?
Thanks, jude
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January 23rd, 2012 at 7:34 pm
I’m wondering the same things as Judy… If we are supposed to be cutting sugar cravings, how does it change your mental attitude if you simply substitute a sweetener? Won’t we still think ‘oh, I need some dessert!’?
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January 23rd, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Hi Judy & Lisa
Each person’s journey is their own, so whether you are choosing to have some natural sugar substitute is ultimately up to you. Only you can know how that is making you feel. For my own journey I have chosen to eliminate all replacement/substitute sugars (even the healthier ones) as I really wanted to give it a good go. I felt that if I had those it would be another crutch for me & I didn’t need something else to ‘quit’ once I was thru with this program.
What I can tell you is that I don’t miss any sugar – substitutes or regular at all. I do miss my fruit at times. I don’t have any sugar cravings. I don’t feel that I need treats. I don’t have any slumps in the afternoon – ever. I can go from lunch time to dinner if I need to without a snack (never before!) I have also lost 4kgs in 4 weeks so I’m happy with that. I tried a sip of diet coke one weekend a couple of weeks ago & it was sooooo sickly sweet tasting it was revolting. It made me feel ill.
Good luck & maybe give it a try for a couple of weeks without anything – you will only know if it’s right if you try it for yourself. You can always add back in a substitute sweetener if you feel the need.
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January 26th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Sarah answered this a few posts ago, It’s not the taste of sweet that we are addicted to that makes you want sugar it’s the fructose that’s addictive to your body. so having things that are sweet but fructose free won’t make you crave sugar, but fructose will.
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:09 am
Judy I’m feeling the same as you, I’ve been using brown rice syrup and stevia but I feel like maybe I should even lay off those for a while to really give my body a chance, but then if we’re focusing on fructose then using those should be fine no?
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Well, this is the thing isn’t it…… It’s FRUCTOSE that causes all of the problems so therefore I would have thought, anything(that doesn’t contain fructose), whether it’s sweet or not, is ok to consume in moderation.????
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January 27th, 2013 at 10:28 pm
I really wish Sarah or the others had replied to this one… I’m having the same issues and really want to know!
I’ve been telling people that the no fruit rule was just for the first 6 weeks to recalibrate, then I’ll add some back. But it’s been about 2 months for me and I still don’t really eat much fruit because I realised that it doesn’t fill me up – so it’s kind of pointless! I’d rather eat a carrot or some other raw vegies.
For those saying they aren’t losing weight, although I didn’t do it for that reason, I found that a lot of people are saying I *look* like I’ve lost a lot of weight. Only barely 2kgs in reality but I think my stomach is not so bloated and hence I look better. I drank a lot of detox type herbal teas during the 6 weeks which I think really helped with that, I seemed to have a lot of fluid – maybe from the sugar, I don’t know. Could be worth a try?
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January 23rd, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Hi Angela… I agree with you!
I have lost about 5 kgs in the last three weeks (I started at 104.5, so very heavy) … but it FEELS like more. I’ve had lots of people tell me in the last week that I’m looking better, and normally that wouldn’t happen with just a 5kg loss, so I do think that I have lost “puffiness”.
On the other hand, it could be to do with the fact that I’m smiling a lot more!
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I have a question about Canola oil. Is it ok to use?
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January 24th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Pretty sure it isn’t, I think I recall reading about it in the book.
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About your podcast, do you keep a copy of it on your blog somewhere? I’m not free next Monday evening, but would love to listen as some time.
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January 30th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
THanks Lauren, yes correct. But sugar substitutes have their own inherent problems…
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Thanks for answering my question re: probiotics, David.
Another question: What’s your take on fish oil capsules? Are these things worthwhile or necessary in your opinion?
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January 23rd, 2012 at 6:15 pm
P.S. Sarah mentions sauerkraut, yet David seems against probiotics unless advised to take them by a doctor. Or is David only against store bought options? Still a bit confused with your messages there, sorry.
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January 30th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
I’ll do a post on these fermented veggies in the next week or two….should answer your questions! x
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Hi all, love hearing what you have to say.
I was amazed to find that the sweet cravings were not as bad as I anticipated (I was a true sugar addict) and have all but disappeared. I made Sarah’s sugar free choc balls but added too much of something, so it was sloppy – had to turn it into a huge slice! It was totally effective in getting me thru the first two weeks while on holidays….and I still have some left! Incredible.
My stomach is definitely less bloated, I definitely don’t trawl the cupboards constantly anymore, I am far more in tune with my hunger and tend only to eat when hungry (this is nothing short of miraculous for me) and I feel so much healthier and less….crabby!
BUT I am not losing weight.
This is making me really bummed. I need to lose about 20 kilos.
I know that I am probably eating too many carbs and nuts and so on, and I”ve been testing out lots of yummy sugar free recipes using coconut oil – so I can only guess I’ve just been eating too much, full stop.
What depresses me is that I cannot help but feel that if I have to start restricting carbs and other non sugar treats, it starts to become just another diet doesn’t it?
I’m not giving up yet, because I feel like fructose free is so much the way to go, but I am feeling quite despondent.
HELP!
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January 23rd, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Definitely stick with it! I think it’s best to tackle one thing at a time… give yourself time to adjust to no sugar, then after the 8 weeks consider eating less fats and/or carbs… That’s what I’m planning. Just taking things slowly.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Yes, I agree with you Gabby….I too need to lose 20kgs and haven’t lost anything so far either! ( see my post above) I too don’t want to start restricting carbs etc! I’m feeling the same way as you, but hang in there, I’m at where you’re at and we can do this…..
Judy
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January 23rd, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Thanks Lisa and Judy- nice to have the support of someone in the same position!
To address your question Judy about substitute sweeteners – David seems to see dextrose as a long term option, judging by all the recipes in his book, because (if I remember correctly, and i think i have also seen a thread about this on IQS somewhere) your body does not have the ‘opiate’ response to those sweeteners that it does to fructose ie they are not addictive like fructose is.
What I have found interesting in all of this is that the need for the sweet fix seems to reduce once you withdraw from fructose – all those sweet things seem so much easier to resist than they used to. This has been a really surprising turnup for me – someone who used to scan the dessert menu first at a restaurant before deciding what to order for dinner!
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January 23rd, 2012 at 8:07 pm
I really believe that you can’t go too overboard with carbs anyway, in any healthy eating plan. It glugs you up so much, and don’t you find you just feel so heavy after eating it? Carbs in breads/pastas etc. obviously aren’t fructose, but you can’t really expect to feel lighter, less puffy, or actually lose weight if you’re replacing chocolates and lollies with extra bread, for example.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 8:08 pm
And I’m not implying either of you are, was just using an example.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Matt you’ve lost 11kg haven’t you? You are the kind of inspiration that keeps me going!
(To make things really interesting, I am starting to seriously think I have a gluten intolerance due to increasingly bad reactions to white bread and pasta over the last six months. My body is forcing me to to treat it better!!)
January 24th, 2012 at 7:01 am
oooops! sorry Matt I think I might have been thinking of Gray who has lost all that weight…my apologies if you haven’t lost weight and my comment sounded sarcastic!
But thanks for the response – I think you are absolutely right about the carb thing.
January 23rd, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Gabby stick with it. I initially gained some weight but am now steadily losing without really trying. Have lost 12kgs all up since starting IQS in Oct 2011. I found that once I adjusted to no sugar in my diet, my need for fat lessened. I don’t eat nearly as much as I did during the first 6 weeks (I went cold turkey on sugar). I also haven’t reintroduced much in the way of sugar into my diet – I no longer crave it. If I want something sweet I might have a handful of blueberries with a few cacao nibs or very occasionally a teaspoon of rice syrup. I now have around 30kgs to lose but, having tried everything else, am confident this is the way to do it. Good luck.
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January 24th, 2012 at 2:23 am
Your story is keeping me going. Every time I feel like complaining to my boyfriend that quitting sugar has made me put on weight I try to hope that it’s only temporary!
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Wow, I just tried a nibble of brown rice syrup I had purchased but not yet tried….., far out that stuff is SWEET !!! Overwhelmingly so! I would compare it to golden syrup( the taste and consistency). So, if that doesn’t contain any fructose and someone is after a sugar hit without destroying their progress, go try some…….
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I know!!! Hard to believe something so sweet can be fructose free – also great to use for baking treats in place of honey or golden syrup.
I just made honey joys for the kids (you know those things with cornflakes? Cornflakes not perfect I guess, 7.9g of sugar per 100g, but the whole box only weighs 220g so I figure, not too much damage for the kids…) and also used xylitol in place of sugar.
Its almost impossible to tell the difference!
January 25th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Do you eat the sweetened cacao nibs or raw? I asked Sarah the question about this but didn’t get an answer. I bought the raw ones and they had no flavour what so ever!
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January 26th, 2012 at 4:25 am
I bought some coco nibs the other day, is there a difference between coco nibs and cacao nibs? These ones tasted of nothing as well!
January 26th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Yeah, cacao is much more nutrient rich than cocoa, according to the pack and the organic store lady! different product.
January 26th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Interesting… I bought the cocoa nibs and then I bought the cacao nibs and they pretty much tasted exactly the same! I have to find some ways of adding them to things to make them more palatable!
January 30th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I’ve never come across coco nibs!? Raw cacao nibs, yes, are quite bitter. You don’t scoff these things – a bit of a nibble to deal with choc cravings.
January 24th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Hi Gabby,
I feel exactly the same way. I need to lose about 30 kilograms, so I really do understand.
The way see it, is I am taking a VERY slow, long term approach. You can’t cut everything out at once, you’ll go mad and end up giving in. I do this all the time. Set myself a “starting date” … eat like a crazed lunatic until said date … then cut out all food except salad and pledge to to 52 spin classes a week … guess what? I always last one week, tops.
This time, I am setting monthly goals for myself, building each month by making additions to the plan. For example, in January I pledged to eliminate sugar and alcohol. In February, I will pledge to do a minimum of 4 x 45 min exercise sessions per week, and eliminate my daily milky coffee. In March I plan to increase the exercise to 5 sessions per week, and start monitoring my overall calorie intake. Etc etc etc.
Don’t get bummed out if progress is slow. Remember Sarah’s “gentle” approach! Take it one step at a time, and focus on improvement other than weight loss, such as having more energy, clarity of mind, less overall hunger and cravings. Everything else will fall into place sooner or later and the kgs will start dropping.
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
I know you’re right Peckingbird – I am definitely finding other benefits so I am determined to continue, and keep trying to adjust the carbs till I find the right level for weightloss.
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January 27th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Hi there, I am totally with you, feeling better but no weight loss, but feeling better has to be worth it doesn’t it??
Maybe just time to up my outings to the gym?
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So far so good – have noticed that my hormones are more balanced which may be because I have PCOS and sugar is a no-go . I am not cranky because I have done this quitting thing very slowly and gently. x
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I think one key thing to take from this whole thing and in Sarah’s own word, do it gently… Getting hooked up on some of the technical aspects can cause you to lose focus on the big picture – ie slowly but surely we are taking sugar out of our diets. I had a bit of a blow out on the weekend, no biggie, no excuses either, its done and dusted and today was a great day.
I’ve also found a muesli that is delish, from Coles, Food for Life – Liver Cleansing Museli. Has all the great things in it and near to no sugar! Love it in the mornings with a little full fat milk and a sprinkle of Acai Berry powder on top! I have quite the selection now for breaky!
Just wondering if anyone has come across/made up a nice cool substitue for ice blocks/ice cream/gelati. Heat, heat and more heat coming and it would be nice to have somethings tasty and ice cold….. (Tried the coconut milk in the freezer, didn’t cut the mustard, so to speak).
Happy week all.
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January 23rd, 2012 at 10:47 pm
When you start re-introducing fruit try frozen blueberries. Just like sorbet.
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January 24th, 2012 at 8:07 am
yes … i tried making coconut water ice lollies, but they just didn’t taste of anything! much nicer sucked through a straw, cold from the fridge! yum! buy em by the box load!
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January 24th, 2012 at 11:13 am
When I have felt like an icy-pole, I have filled a very tall glass with heaps of ice, and topped with icy cold soda water and torn fresh mint leaves.
Almost like a mojito (hmmm, not quite), but very refreshing indeed!
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January 25th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
When you reintroduce fruit try coconut milk blended with kiwi, or natural yogurt blended with berries, or coconut milk or yogurt blended with cacao powder for a chocolate hit. Be creative, cinnamon, hazelnut meal, cacao and peanut butter…..
I have been making these for my 2 year old son and he loves them! I’m trying to make sure he doesn’t become a fructose addict too.
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Hi guys
I’m into my second week and just have a question about the rule of 3-6 grams of sugar per 100g or 100mls. Here goes, does it matter how many servings are in the packet? Eg if serving size is 200g or 200 mls does this mean you can only have one serve or can you eat the whole lot? Thanks kelllie.
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January 24th, 2012 at 7:19 am
Kelllie thats a really good question and one that I really struggled with after reading David’ books.
I would love to hear other people’s responses too. David recommends eating the equivalent amount of fructose to two pieces of fruit per day – so I guess if you are strict on it you would start measuring and recording each bit of fructose you consume (as much as that is possible – it can be difficult). 2 pieces of fruit apparently contains about 10g of fructose but the effect is mitigated by the large amount of fibre that it contains.
Rebecca has mentioned above about getting caught up in technicalities and losing sight of the big picture. I think Sarah definitely wants us to take the gently gently approach.
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January 30th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Kellie, yes it does matter. The 3-6g/100g applies to solids. But when we’re talking liquids, a cup is about 300g, so you times it by three. I like to use the 3-6g/100g thing as an interesting guide, but revert to looking at the number of teaspoons per serve to get a real VISUAL picture of how much I’m eating. Working to this, you’re trying to keep to about 6tsp of sugar a day….
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Hi Sarah,
I have a question about coconut products. You suggest a lot of coconut products – water, milk, cream, flakes, oil – in a low fructose diet, but a lot of information I have read for people avoiding fructose from a medical perspective have coconut tagged as a high-fructose food to be avoided. In an earlier post you mentioned that coconut water is sugar-free, but a 250ml container of cocobella pure coconut water contains 11.8g of sugar!
Have you read some alternative research that suggests that coconuts are not a problem food?
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January 23rd, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Yeah I’m interested in this too. I’m fructose intolerant and have to avoid coconut milk especially because of it’s high fructan content (which is another form of fructose). I’ve also asked about the coconut water before as there are conflicting reports about its levels of fructose.
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January 24th, 2012 at 11:18 am
I also have fructose malabsorption (for those of you going ‘what the?’ it’s when fructose molecules are poorly absorbed/ not absorbed in the small intestine causing all sorts of grief) and my Fructose Malabsrption guide by Dr Sue Shepherd states ‘limit foods and drinks with a high fructose load including … coconut milk/cream’.
So I guess for those of us with diagnosed FM we need to tone down our consumption of coconut milk and cream – find our own tolerance level.
Coconut oil and cocout flour would be fine and I’ve been having cocout water too. The brand I bought – Beyond – is 3.6g per 100ml and I only use a splash in my smoothie to sweeten. The Cocobella brand sounds very sweet. Is that 100% coconut water or has it fruit added? Because I consider dessicated/ shredded/ shaved coconut to be a dried fruit I’ll use it sparingly.
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January 27th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
When looking at a can of ayam coconut cream the overall sugar content is really low, 1.7g per serving. I have issues with fructose but and find a small amount is ok but generally consume mine fermented with kefir or as a homemade yogurt. The fermentation will consume, process any forms of sugar.
I too have put on weight but, as my lovely husband very gently pointed out, I have been consuming large quantities of corn chips since I quit sugar! So this week I quit corn chips as well. Looking thinner already! So folks lay off the nuts, Dorito’s etc. And you know what? The weight gain really doesn’t bother me as I’m soooo much nicer sugar-free. I’m nearly 1 month in and apart from one lapse it has been fairly easy.
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After Paying Microsoft won’t alow download says its an unsafe site any solution
JimE
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:11 am
Are you refering to the IQS sugar book? I downloaded it on my MAC and it came up with might be unsafe but it was fine.
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January 30th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Hey Jo will be in touch shortly.
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I have a question about tea. I have some lovely loose leaf teas that have a lot of dried fruit in them. Does anyone know how much, if any, sugar from the fruit would go into the tea? It doesn’t really taste overly ‘sweet’ but it definitely gets the fruit flavour.
I’m hoping these teas can be a good go-to when I want a treat. I have a Mango Madness tea that is white tea, dried apple, dried mango, dried orange, dried strawberries, and much more. Soooo good.
Also, I too think that I’m gaining weight at the moment. But I have really taken the fat message to heart so maybe when I dial it back things will even out. I also eat a lot of carbs but I followed this plan partly because I didn’t have to give up carbs so maybe I’ll just live with the weight gain!
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How is everyone finding this affects their sleep? At the moment I’m going to bed at about 8.30-9 pm, waking up at 5.45 am! I’m like an infant! I have more energy when I’m awake, but at night I just can’t stay up! Does anyone think this has any link to quitting sugar? I’ve been sugar free for about 4 months but went a bit off the rails over Xmas so I’m kinda starting all over again!
Sarah, has quitting sugar affected your insomnia at all?
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:13 am
Oh wow I thought it was only me! Well I’m still going to bed when I normally do which is around midnight but I am definitely falling asleep earlier, I just don’t get myself to be until late! I’m waking up way early, this week has been around 5am every day! A few days ago was 4.30am.
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Ahhh… First major fallout in 6 weeks!
I went to Wiltshire (countryside England) with my husband for the weekend and I was overwhelmed by the incredible produce at the farmers market. Before I knew it, I was eating Wiltshire honey and jam by the spoonful!
This led me to eat dessert that night (chocolate fudge cake!!) and then a sugary muesli the next morning. It was like my body reacted to the sugar and just wanted more more more. To top it all off, I bought a packet of Jelly Babies from Waitrose and ate half the packet before my body couldn’t handle anymore and threw it up. Disgusting.
I’ve had no sugar since then, but I’ve felt like I am going to vomit all day and feel like my food isn’t digesting properly. I’m properly annoyed with myself but I’m going to brush myself off and keep going. In the spirit of self analysis, I noticed a few things during this slip up:
- Sugar literally makes me sick now. Six weeks ago, I could have eaten all that plus more and felt totally fine. Instead, after 6 weeks of no sugar, I was keeling over the toilet seat.
- I think that I have to stick to absolutely NO sugar. Just the tiniest bit triggers my addiction and turns me into some kind of animal! It’s pretty scary – like I’m addicted to heroin or something!
- I got incredibly moody and couldn’t sleep that night. Sugar affects my sleep so much.
There we go, I see it as a weekend of self-discovery rather than a terrible mistake. I hope everyone is going better than me!
Katherine
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January 24th, 2012 at 8:51 am
Well done on taking that perspective Katherine, and you never know, next time you might be able to step back and remember this experience and stop after the yummy jam. And thanks heaps for sharing…making it much easier!
Meg
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January 24th, 2012 at 11:20 am
Katherine, it sounds like a really valuable experience!
You’ve had an opportunity to take a step back and really assess how sugar makes you feel. It seems like it has strengthened your motivation to keep going.
Thanks for sharing. This is really inspiring.
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January 25th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Wow, thanks for the support guys! I love this forum and I feel like I’m part of a community.
After three days of detox I’m back on track and no longer craving sugar. It’s good to know that it doesn’t take much to get back on track.
I was also meditating on this today and realised how good the IQS program is compared to other “diets”. I’ve been on other diets that have been very restrictive and after inevitably falling off the wagon I gave up and just ate crap. However, the IQS program is a lifestyle change and very easy to keep up despite a slip up now and again. I also think that my relationship with food has matured and I no longer think “I can’t eat anything” before giving up and binging. It’s very exciting to consider that my relationship with has reached a new season.
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Okay, so I cracked last week and had a diet Coke over lunch on Friday, and a slice of cake after dinner on Saturday night. The Coke was awful (and a nice reminder that I didn’t want to drink it), but the cake was delish.
The interesting thing is that over the past couple of days since I ate it I’ve been both a) hungier, and b) craving sugar again. Whereas for most of last week I didn’t suffer from any cravings (husband brought several packets of TimTams into the house and I haven’t even been tempted to touch them – normally I would inhale them), and didn’t even particularly want to snack.
I don’t know if I’ll stay sugar free forever, but it’s definitely interesting to observe how it affects my body.
Back on the horse!
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I decided to continue my weekend breakfast of whole meal bagels on the weekend. I certainly noticed my body reacting differently than the wholemeal roll I had. I thought Saturday maybe it was the cream cheese and Vegemite combo (which is my usual) but then had a very similar reaction with just butter. Interesting experiment that I will pass on next weekend.
Thankfully there were no after effects of the red wine I consumed on Saturday night apart from a fuzzy head on Sunday morning….can continue experimenting here I believe
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January 25th, 2012 at 2:20 am
Hmmm so you think that the wholemeal bagels have sugar in them which your body is reacting to? I’ve been umming and aahing about my morning wholemeal bagel with egg.
I switched to rye bread this morning but it’s not half as satisfying.
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January 25th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
I think so, I am planning on trying the wholemeal roll with cream cheese and vegemite on Saturday and see if I have the same reaction. I only have it on the weekend when I am at a cafe doing some work so I hope it isn’t that but I fear it is.
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January 25th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I believe bagels usually DO contain sugar, I even googled and read some recipes, all of which did contain sugar. I had wondered about them too and decided to avoid during my IQS program initially as I was pretty sure they had sugar (they taste sweet to me). Now I would have them occasionally but not too often. I have been off the sugar since early November, yay!
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January 25th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Thanks Angela, I didn’t want to google them then I could live in ignorance
I’m giving them a miss now, I’ll probably have them every now and again after I finish the 8 weeks but who knows, maybe they’ll be a special treat now not a regular weekend one.
January 26th, 2012 at 1:39 am
Damn, you’ve foiled my attempt to remain ignorant. Rye toast it is. Boo.
January 26th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
LOL, I know! Not fair, now I know I definitely can’t go back to having them on the weekend
To Gabby: Yep, I lost the 11kgs from the other post.
I have a display picture now so hopefully it’ll be easier to tell me apart. 
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Hi All, I just want to say a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who is on the IQS wagon! I started at the end of last year and was really good for about 7 weeks (and felt great) up until Christmas eve – I fell off the wagon and am now a worse sugar addict than ever! I really feel like I am under some sort of spell – the sugarfree me from before Christmas feels like a far distant friend from a past life! I ate the majority of a 1 litre tub of maggie beer ice cream on sunday – I went back about 8 times during the course of the day with absolutely no self control – THATS NOT A GOOD THING – I know!! But after reading your posts, I am inspired – I am now, FROM THIS VERY MOMENT, back on the IQS band wagon with the rest of you. Day 1, week 1, IQS! Yaaay! THANKS EVERYONE FOR SHARING AND FOR THE MUCH NEEDED INSPIRATION!
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January 24th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Good luck
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January 24th, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Well done Leanne, all the best!
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For Australia Day…from http://carbis.com.au/2011/10/sugar-free-lamington-recipe-fructose-free/
Sugar-Free Lamington Recipe (Fructose Free)
Lamintons have three parts- sponge, chocolate icing, and coconut. None of these are optional
How to make the Sponge (Modified from “Complete Perfect Recipes”):
• 6 eggs
• 3/4 cup dextrose
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup plain flour
• 1/2 cup SR flour
• 75g melted butter
Preheat oven to 180 C. Spray a lamington tin with spray oil, baking paper as well.
Combine the eggs, dextrose and vanilla in a heatproof bowl. Microwave on 50% (for about 30 seconds) to disolve the dextrose. Beat in a mixer until pale, thick and doubled in size.
Gently fold in the sifted flours, and the cooled melted butter. Mix until just combined and there is no flour.
Spread the mix into the tin. Cook for 25-30 minutes or until firm to touch. With this lamington sponge, it’s best to cook until it’s firmer then a normal sponge. Leave it to cool.
How to make the Icing (Modified from David Gillespe’s The Sweet Poison Quit Plan):
• 3/4 cup dextrose
• 2 tbs water
• 2 egg whites
• 80-100g butter
• 2 1/2 tbs cocoa
Heat the dextrose and water in a pan (you could also use a saucepan) until it enters ‘soft ball’ stage.
Beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Trickle the dextrose mixtrure into the egg whites while still beating, until combined.
Beat the butter in a separate bowl so it’s light and thoroughly mixed. Mix the two together in a bowl with the cocoa.
Once lamingtons have been dipped in icing, roll in desiccated coconut.
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I am really struggling for ‘that time of month’ ideas of need for comforting chocolate.
It’s REALLY HARD!!!
Is anyone else coping?
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January 24th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Try Sarahs chocolate ball recipe. They are delicious!
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January 24th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Hi Lea
I’ve also just had my period and for once I didn’t turn into a mad chocolate addict. Here’s what worked for me:
- took magnesium. Because chocoate contains magnesium often cravings are actually the body crying out for magnesium. I use the Swisse brand, which is available in the supermarket at a good price but there are many options out there.
- indulged in a hot cacao drink/ cacao smoothie. Raw cacao (available from health food stores/ online but I also use the Van Houten brand of Cacao from Woolies) contains lots of magnesium so you’re addressing your body’s extra needs. For me it also meets my enjoyment of chocolate in a sugar free way!. To a cup of milk (dairy or othewise) I add 2 tsp cacao together with vanilla extract/ powder, cinnamon, sweetner such as stevia or splash of coconut water. Add other spices such as nutmeg or a pinch of chilli flakes, add LSA or infuse your milk with orange peel (for the hot drink). Seriously yum!
- increased my good fat intake from nuts, cold-pressed oils, etc
Good luck!
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January 24th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Hi Leah, I have to confess I bought a little bar of Plamil chocolate (I feel like this was mentioned on a thread of Sarah’s somewhere?) which is a vegan chocolate sweetened with xylitol, from Wray Organic.
I can’t say its the best chocolate EVER, and you have to be comfortable with xylitol I guess, but it sure might help those hormonal cravings (or you could just get a mirena and stop having periods, haha, sorry to those men following this thread) with a bit of instant gratification.
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Great ideas Lea! I also make Cacao Brownies and Cacao Pancakes with Coconut Chocolate Butter if I’m craving something sweet. You can find the recipe here http://livehealthysimply.com/2012/01/pancakes-with-coconut-chocolate-butter
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January 24th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
And the Cacao Brownies recipe, Jessica? The pancakes with coconut chocolate butter sound seriously yum. I wonder about using cocoa butter – how would that taste? Sparking with cooking creativity… Is this your website by the way?
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January 24th, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Sounds delicious to me Jessica. I found the brownie recipe on your site. Just wondering whether you’ve tested it with stevia yet? I don’t touch agave.
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How about rhubarb? Good or bad as other fruit?
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January 25th, 2012 at 2:24 am
I didn’t think rhubarb actually qualified as a fruit?
I don’t actually know about its fructose content but I know one of the other blogs, Scandi food I think, had a rhubarb crumble in her eating plan so maybe it’s ok.
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January 25th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
She does, I was wondering if it was alright as well.
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January 25th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Rhubarb is a veg not a fruit and is really sour so I doubt it has much sugar. Sarah posted a rhubarb recipe so I think your safe.
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January 26th, 2012 at 1:41 am
More on this one. I found some comments from David Gillespie responding to a similar comment about rhubarb. Apparently it’s up there with the high fructose veges such as carrot and beetroot. He references this site http://www.fineli.fi/food.php?foodid=338&lang=en
So, apparently not great but definitely better than most fruit options.
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I went totally sugar free for about 6 months in 2011 and easily lost the 4kg post-baby belly. Then I went to Portugal for 2 weeks and as hard as I tried to keep up good habits, I fell off the IQS wagon. It was hard not having one’s own kitchen or access to preferred ingredients, plus being in a place where sugar and carb consumption is very high, in fact consumption in general with my in-laws! But now I know how it works and I am back on the program and going strong. I have lost interest in chocolate, which used to be my biggest weakness, it just doesn’t taste the same anymore. Occasionally I try a dessert, but am always disappointed in the taste. I feel like I have crossed over to the other side, even if I slip up every now and then, there’s no going back. I have experienced how sugar changes me and my moods. My parents and my brother are all doing it now too, and my husband is more and more interested as well. Thanks so much Sarah.
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I seem to be overdoing the dairy now that I am having full fat, I used to have 2 lattes in the morning but I’m finding that one of them needs to go, especially as I’m having yoghurt for breakfast as well. Funny how I am trying to have the same amount out of habit instead of listening to my body which is telling me it doesn’t need as much. I’ll try and break the habit tomorrow and have a tea instead, no dairy in that.
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January 26th, 2012 at 4:33 am
I am also worried I might be over doing it with the dairy. I pretty much have yogurt every night with my dinner, just plain yogurt, and often for lunch as well. Before IQS it was always low-fat but now I have switched to full-fat, I am wondering how much I should be eating.
Am I overdoing it by eating it 2X a day? What is an appropriate serving size?
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January 28th, 2012 at 12:12 am
I think a good serving size of yoghurt is 100g. I used to just heap a whole spoonful of yoghurt into my bowl but I’ve started weighing my servings with a kitchen scale and 100g is really small!!!!
Before I started weighing, I was putting around 300-400g in my bowl! I thought that it looked and felt like 100g and just ate it without thinking.
So maybe try weighing your portions for a week or so, and once you get used to what 100g looks, feels and tastes like, you’ll be able to go without scales.
Also, I think 1-2 portions is okay per day. Then again, I’m definitely not a health expert!
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January 28th, 2012 at 10:42 am
hmm I have never actually measured how much I am having, but ever since I was a kid I have been eating my meals with yogurt on the side, it drives my husband crazy lol. I’ll give the 100g a go and see how it is, I’m sure I’m having more than that in a serve so it will be hard at first!
January 28th, 2012 at 12:02 am
I eat loads of dairy and but I think that’s okay. I would eat this much in a day:
100-200g yoghurt (full fat Greek, no sugar obviously!)
1-2 lattes with full fat milk
tea with a dash of full fat milk
a handful of grated cheddar cheese with a few meals per day (omelet, chicken etc.)
a little bit of goats cheese/Blue stilton in a salad or omelet
More milk if I make a rice or quinoa pudding for dessert (about a cup of milk)
So yeah, between 3-4 servings. However, I’m not worried about my weight and have actually been trying to eat more as a result of losing weight since quitting sugar. I can’t really see a problem with eating lots of dairy. It’s good for you and really satiating.
That being said, I have a vegan friend who keeps showing me articles about why dairy is horrible and you should avoid it at all costs. Each to their own!
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January 28th, 2012 at 10:20 am
Hi, how do you make the rice or quinoa pudding? I’m not worried about having too much, I’m just surprised about how much fuller I seemed from having full fat. I generally have approx 150g greek yoghurt for breakfast with some flaxseed oil. I really like the greek yoghurt.
I’m not giving up dairy, I couldn’t go vegan, I am vego though but I love my cheese too much
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I’m really confused about veggies. I have stopped all fruits for the mean time but I don’t know what the deal is with veggies, and if I should be avoiding any during the 8 week process?
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January 30th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
don’t stop the veggies…eating too much beetroot or carrot is the only thing you should be aware of
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January 30th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Ok great thanks Sarah, I never do beetroot (don’t like them) but I do carrots a lot so now that I know this I will limit my eating of them!
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I’ve been sugar-free for four weeks now, and I was surprised to find that I didn’t really have any trouble with cravings etc this time around. Except now, in week 4, I’m suddenly craving chocolate and my skin has started breaking out. Can anyone tell me if the breaking out is part of the detoxing process, because I thought I would have been fully detoxed by week 4! My skin in usually very clear so I hadn’t expected this at all and it’s kind of annoying. Keep persevering, I guess?
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January 27th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Hi Casey
I am on the end of week 4 now too and I am feeling the same way! My skin has just started to break out but I usually have really good skin and I am thinking about chocolate all the time. I have no idea why but I am eating cheese and organice popcorn so I don’t stray to chocolate!
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January 28th, 2012 at 10:39 am
See I haven’t had any ‘withdrawal’ symptoms yet which makes me think I’m doing something wrong!
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Yep, my skin has broken out too! Couldn’t work out why, then read some more posts & discovered others have had skin breakouts at week 4…,,,,
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January 28th, 2012 at 10:16 am
What did you read, just wondering what sort of break outs. I had some but I actually put it down to chia seed overload cause it seemed like hives.
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January 29th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Hiya, just some of the comments above mentioned their face was breaking out with pimples. Mine has done the same thing which at first I was wondering ‘ what the jobby is going on here?’ I haven’t had any pimple breakouts since I fell pregnant & before I knew I was pregnant! But after reading some of the other posts about breakouts at week 4, I put it down to that! Detoxing that is, not being pregnant again… Phew!
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Ok I’m not sure if someone has already asked this, I recall someone possibly mentioning it but I can’t find it now, anyway just wondering what the deal is with pieces of dried fruit in loose leaf teas? I went to buy some the other day but in nearly all of the loose leaf tea they had there was some sort of dried fruit so I wasn’t sure if I should buy and left it. Any ideas?
Also people have been writing about having withdrawal symptoms and that they are breaking out etc…I have not had any of these symptoms so I thought maybe I’d share a somewhat typical day of eating and see if there are any hidden sugars I’ve missed!
Breakfast – 99% of the time I eat oatmeal with almond milk (no sugar added) and pureed pumpkin (again just pumpkin). For toppings I’ll add either one of these: just a few drops of stevia, sprinkling of cinnamon, sprinkling of vanilla powder, a bit of brown rice syrup or some shredded coconut.
If I don’t have oatmeal I’ll have poached eggs with 2 pieces of sourdough crackers or brown rice cakes, with some avocado spread on and some parsley added on top.
Lunch – Usually I’ll have either left overs from dinner, or I’ll have eggs if I didn’t have the for breakfast, pretty much similar to the eggs for breakfast but sometimes with a salad on the side (no dressing) mainly just lettuce and cucumbers with some whole-milk mozzarella cheese. Or I’ll have some sweet potatoes on the side.
Dinner – Will mainly be meat with either rice, pasta or roasted veggies. I do eat white rice and white pasta but try mainly to eat whole wheat pasta. Some nights we will have pearled couscous instead or my husband will make little dumplings with white flour.
I make my own tomato sauce for pasta and don’t add any sugar or wine to it.
I will usually have a serving of whole milk yogurt on the side with lunch and dinner.
If I want a snack I’ll have a rice cake with some almond butter on top, or a piece of cheese ,but usually I don’t have the need to snack.
I don’t drink anything other than water and tea and I don’t sweeten my teas as they are already sweet (licorice root, cinnamon etc.)
Anyway I’m just wondering what my downfall is here or if not everyone has withdrawal symptoms?
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January 29th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I have had withdrawal symptoms, as i mentioned above, but I also know that my sugar intake was absolutely shockingly high before I quit. It could just be that your sugar intake wasn’t as high as mine was to begin with, so there’s less to detox, hence fewer withdrawal symptoms?
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January 31st, 2012 at 5:12 am
Yes, I’m keen to know how much sugar from the dried fruit in tea gets into the finished product.
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Hmmm possibly, prior to IQS I would eat more fruit, not that much mainly bananas and berries, sometimes an orange here or there. But I would make desserts and use things like turbinado sugar and honey. Although that was probably once every few weeks not every night. I also would have jam every now and then and I’ve cut all of that out now.
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Hi, I’m in week 4 – going really well, some relapses but I refuse to feel too much guilt. Receipes from Lee Holmes’ “Supercharged Food” helping! Plus, here’s another couple receipes I have modified from my own cooking:
Spiced Pumpkin Soup – Saute 1 chopped onion, 1 crushed & chopped garlic glove, 1 tbsp chopped fresh root ginger, 1 small red chilli – deseeded & finely chopped, 1 entire root washed & chopped coriander. Saute these ingredients first in about 1-2 tbspns coconut oil. Then add 1 chopped butternut (or any other) pumpkin. Saute on low with lid on for another 5-8 mins. Add enough homecooked vegie OR chicken stock (I used chicken) to cover pumpkin mixture + add one bayleaf, sea salt & peppper. Cook until pumpkin just tender – about 10 mins. Let cool a little & puree – I just do this in saucepan with stick blender. Add 2 tbspns coconut milk & garnish with chopped coriander leaves. All organic (if possible) ingredients, of course. Serve. Yum!
Baked Sweet Potato – wash sweet potato and cut each one in halves lengthways – then again width ways. Do not peel. Brush with coconut or olive oil and bake in 180c oven until tender – 20/30 mins depending on oven. Take out & cut cross wise with knife. Mash in organic butter, couple drops liquid stevia & cinnamon. Sprinkle with 1/2 tblspn pecan nuts. Serve.
Enjoy!
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Well, I can honestly say (and I had my doubts) that I don’t enjoy sugar anymore and it makes me physically feel sick! It was my daughters 2nd birthday party today and although there was no sweet food there, there was a delicious looking marble mud cake as her birthday cake. Yes I was tempted! And as I cut pieces for the guests, I kept thinking , hmm, I’d like to try a bit to taste it ( everyone was saying it was absolutely yum) the funny thing was, I wasn’t desperate to have some (normally would be ravenous to have the biggest slice and go back for more!). I did end up having a small square ‘decoration’ of white chocolate and that was enough. I can honestly say I didn’t even enjoy that small bit. Then when we got home I thought I’d have another small taste (you know, just to try) and bam! That was it. It was too sweet and sickly and I haven’t felt well since! I honestly can’t believe it. While people were having seconds I was thinking ‘yuk’ that is pretty revolting. Words I NEVER thought I’d say in my entire life! So heading into week five I feel a sense of accomplishment and that my addiction is subsiding after my own doubts of my progress! Yay! Hang in there everybody ‘ cos I’m proud to say ‘it really does happen!’
Judy
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January 30th, 2012 at 8:20 am
Yes Judy, I agree! Was making someone else coffee with sugar and dabbed my finger into sugar to have small taste … yuck! But think I have just reverted to type. As a child, I didn’t have much of a sweet tooth (luckily) and in my 20s would prefer cheese & biscuits to desert. It was only much later that I developed a taste for it – I blame my darling Pommy-sugar-addicted husband! And guess whose teeth rotted? His. I am now 51 and have ONE tooth cavity! My father was also never a sugar lover and has only 4 cavities at age 75. My now dentist reckons that even that one cavity was a rort and probably not even there & dentist of the day filled just to make money. So a low sugar diet definitely results in better teeth. Also, as an aside, I still have living grandparents … who are 97 and 92 and still going strong …. they’ve eaten a basic, low-sugar, paleo-based (dripping on toast EVERY DAY for years!) diet.
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Im really confused! i never ate sugar anyway (big health freak) but my mum and i are into week 3 and we have cut out everything we are suppose to. But i have a few questions.
my confusion is with the rice malt syrup. ive been making some of the recipes in the sarahs cookbook but should i be cutting out all sweetners and trying not to have a snack at 3pm because i never use to have a snack then but i find now im starting to eat around the 3pm 4pm mark.
help please im really confused! because im not sure whether my body is having a good cleanse detox from sugar
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Hi folks – I have just started quitting sugar (1 week in). No headaches or withdrawals at this stage but no weight loss either. Weight and health were my prime motivations. My husband started with me and has dropped over a kilo. We have been having a slice of a sugar-free chocolate slice at night after dinner. Is that a no-no this early in the journey? Could that be the reason?
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