Sugar...

Yes, given it up almost completely and have lost weight, sleep better and have more energy.

I say almost as I will have a piece of birthday cake for example on those special occasions totally without guilt.

It's calories in general you have to cut down on. You don't have to give up sugar entirely.

Btw there no difference between "refined" sugar and any other sugars.

If you take in less fuel (calories) than you burn, you will lose weight.

That's true about 'refined' and other sugars being the same.

I think you mean sugars that you, or someone else adds to food? As opposed to sugars that exist naturally in fruit, vegetables, milk, etc?

If you eat a 500 cal piece of Victoria Sponge sandwich at a tea shop, have a lettuce sandwich for dinner.

Thanks both, think I'll have to take the plunge... was it v difficult at first Anya?

there is a lot more to it, and particularly for some people (with insulin resistance for instance) than just calories in and out. Do look at the support for low carb thread and also low GI foods, as it is increasingly evident that carbs are a really important factor in weight gain- as carbs turn straight into sugar if not used up.

This is how alcoholics drinks like beer or whisky are made, adding carbs like barley to turn into sugar and alcohol. Bonne chance.

Get yerself a good virus. I've just lost 11 lbs in 8 weeks. Good eh?!

Not at first Peony as I was full of righteous zeal

But after a couple of weeks I did have to fight a craving. You lose the taste though as those who've given up sugar in tea and coffee will confirm.

Cake now tastes really, really sweet.

No, Don't look at the low carb thread.

Didn't know we were talking about medical abnormalities.

There is nothing more to it than cals in v cals out.

Ahhh v interesting about alcohol, and yes that's exactly what I mean Anya

Eight weeks with a virus? yikes!

Like Anya, I have also given up refined sugar as part of a low-carb diet and really not found it difficult at all. With low-carb you don't have to count calories and you can eat full-fat everything. You do have to add floury potatoes, bread, rice and pasta to the banned list though. There are a few of us low-carbing on here and we have all lost weight (I have gone from size 16 to size 10) and have seen glucose and cholesterol levels fall.
Come and join us on the low-carb thread!

I don't have a sweet tooth so didn't find it at all difficult and DO look at the low carb thread. We've all lost weight!!

But, I think Mamie would agree, giving up added sugars is a good place to start.

Oh absolutely Anya. But some recipes just take out sugar and add honey, maple syrup and such-like which would be a waste of time. Fruit juice has to come out too, I think.

indeed.

medical abnormalities? Well, yes perhaps time to educate yourself about the increasing number of people with insulin resistance and also thyroid impairment- it is actually very common - a bit like mental abnormalities, perhaps?!?

Yes Peony as Mamie says, beware of substituting one sugar for another. And fruit juice, though 'natural' is loaded with it.

It might be getting common, but it's still not normal as such.

I would think mental abnormalities would be a lot harder to pin down than physical ones. But I'm not a psychologist.

I actually find salads fattening as I shove on lots of slat and stuff to make the green stuff edible.
But a dish of cooked veg really shifts that fat!

It's the hidden sugars that do the damage! You can give up putting sugar on and in things, but the hidden sugars in everyday foods add to the calories.

Years ago DH had a suspected stomach ulcer and was put on a sugar free diet. We read every ingredient in food and were really surprised where the hidden sugar was; for example in sausages.

He lost loads of weight, felt better, but could not sustain the diet.

BTW he's very slim.

x

News about a big awareness campaign about sugar on BBC news tonight. The Consultant stated that sugar in high doses can lead to serious health problems for those who are not overweight too.

Very dark chocolate can have minimal sugar, Cari.
I have noted with approval that we now hear far less about cake from GNHQ.