Benefits of a sugar free diet

[megoapesnut]

I gotta slow down with the junk food, sodas...and yes...even beer consumption...

Hec, you can do it. I read Scott's post and I just told myself, NO MORE FRIGGIN JUNK FOOD. And I did it. I haven't touched anything. Gone with the chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, chocolate chip cookies, etc. I don't even have the craving for it anymore, after just two weeks. I cut all fried food out as well. Just smelling fried food makes me slightly sick to the stomach. My wife told me I could have cake on birthdays and such and I said NO WAY. I ain't touching anything.

[Hector]

Pretty impressive fellas!

Mmm...I'm kinda thinking of getting my act together one of these days...I'm a really big fella...and although internally I'm relatively healthy despite my size (except for chronic kidney disease and nerve damage due to other stuff), I'm reaching the big 50...so it only makes sense for me to get my act together.

I gotta slow down with the junk food, sodas...and yes...even beer consumption...

Gotta get more active as well.

Man...so many things...so many things...

[megoscott]

I lost 175 pounds 10 years ago by eliminating sugar and refined carbs (and alcohol) from my life. About 40 of that has creeped back in since I'm not exercising like I used to, and I'm a lot more liberal with carbs than I was. Gotta get back on it.

[megoapesnut]

Ok, so I have been on this sugar free diet since the 16th, right after I read Scott's thread. No refined sugar whatsoever (I still drink fruit juice). I eat small meals every 2.5 hours or so. I drink the same amount of fruit juice I always did, I jut substituted water for the sodas. I cut out all white bread, I only eat whole grain bread. I am NOT giving up baked or mashed potatoes. That would be too much. I now snack on peanuts rather than chips. I eat turkey slices quite a bit.

Sooooo....

I haven't weighed myself since Christmas, but I finally got back to the gym to restart my racquetball routine, so I hopped on the scale. I am down 12 FRIGGIN pounds since Christmas! I couldn't believe my eyes. Thanks again for motivating me Scott. I'd recommend this to everyone. I feel sooooo much better

[noelani72]

Looking forward to seeing you again Chad and Sean. Bring your zombies, I wanna see them up close.

oh you know it brother. We'll bring em and I have something cooking for this year...I need to start a thread soon...maybe sometime today I can plant a hint (insert Dr. Evil laugh here).

[madmarva]

The one thing I have going for me is cholsterol. Even at my heaviest, my levels were very much normal. I could eat a stick of butter and not have the levels increase. So...bring on the bacon, the greatest food ever invented.

Hey Scott, you may know this, but fat has a fairly neutral effect on the metabolism when eaten without sugar and/or high levels of carbs. Without one or the other, its not stored but eliminated.

Strawberries, blueberries and melons are fruits that are relatively low in carbs and have a decent amount of fiber.

I'm going to have to get on the wagon and join you.

[Random Axe]

I don't really need a lot of motivation to be doing this, but just coming back from vacation on Monday, co-workers noticed a difference immediately both in physical appearance and attitude. It's strange to have that kind of recognition for only really having been doing this for three weeks or so.

I was at 282 freakin pounds. For a short guy like me, that's insane. That's an NFL defensive lineman. I'm down to about 260 now, so that still keeps me squarely in fatass territory. My ultimate and realistic goal is 215-220 by June. My thai boxing weight was around 195, but I doubt my metabolism will allow that at age 42. Might not happen, but it's a goal to shoot for. I don't even get hungry anymore, I eat when I need to, not when I want to. For the most part, food is fuel, nothing more.

If I feel this good at a twenty pound loss, what's next for the second twenty? Even if you lose five pounds, that's a gallon jug of milk. Try tying that on a rope and wearing it around your neck all day. That's what you lost.

Looking forward to seeing you again Chad and Sean. Bring your zombies, I wanna see them up close.

[noelani72]

Sounds like you're doing it all right Scott.
I won't go into detail on the open board, but I had an issue that prompted a diet change.
I had ZERO soda pop or tea during the entire 2011 year.
I ate more fruit...less pizza.
I ate more chicken/pork and far less beef.
I ate more salad.
I ate no candybars, instead, I ate Chewy Dipps Granola bars.
While in the office, I snack on about a cup of dry Cheerios before lunch and if hungry in the afternoon, another cup.
I typically eat Subway/Jimmy Johns for lunch M-F.
I typically drink 5-8 bottles of water a day.
I lost 30 pounds in 2011.

Towards the end of 2011, the weather changed and I was not riding my bike the typical 15-25 miles a week...Thanksgiving got here...Christmas dinners came...I put back on about 13lbs...but once the weather gets warmer..those lbs will shed back off.

I absolutely know when I eat too much at one sitting...and I regret it the next day.

I know exactly what you mean about energy.
Amazing how life is when you don't ache, don't feel bloated, don't have chest pain, don't have leg and joint aches, etc...

Can't wait for June bro!

[megoapesnut]

Scott, you inspired me. I cut out refined sugar last week and haven't looked back. No more ginger ale, no more chocolate cake with peanut butter icing . No more white bread (switched to whole grain). Feeling pretty good. Starting to play racquetball again at lunch with a co-worker. I am not giving up natural sugars such as fruit juices. That would be too much for me. So far I feel a little better, I am looking forward to seeing some good results down the line. Thanks for the inspiration, it was long overdue.

[Random Axe]

I had a minor physical this afternoon at my new sleep doctor's office. I've had apnea for many years and it's time for a new machine. Anyway, blood pressure was 132/80, which is pretty good for someone my size. Now here's the shocker. On December 23 I weighed 282 pounds. That's an all-pro defensive lineman's weight. Today I clocked in at 261.5. He also told me I have 100 percent lung capacity, so no traces of my asthma. It's kind of nice to get a good progess report and totally motivating.

[Random Axe]

Beef jerky totally rocks!!! Low in carbs and fat, but loaded with protein!!! Plus, it's really good for long road trips!!!

I plan on hitting up Sam's for a giant box of it. I don't care for the sticks, just the jerky.

[Random Axe]

I am glad you all are doing well and serving as an inspiration to us all.
I have a question? if you can provide information on this please do.
I used to drink Regular soda and juices all the time everyday I drank one or 2 liters of the stuff for yrs. about, then I cut them off drank water only for months, I did lose weight. NOW, i have been drinking Only diet sodas, is diet sodas good? they dont have any sugar or calories. What do you all think, please feel free to im me or email me to dicuse this, I to would like to better myself. Thank you all.

There will always be a debate on the negative effects of diet soda, in fact there was a loooong thread dedicated to the debate. I will not go down that road. I am a Diet Mt. Dew junkie. I have no problem admitting that. However, caffeine does act as a natural diuretic, so be sure to drink water as well. Water flushes out all the impurities and toxins, so drink plenty. I don't think, at this point, I could ever drink a regular soda. I think it would make me nauseous. As a non-alcohol drinker, I turn to Diet Dew in my times of need and will mix in Diet Orange Crush for a twist. Try it.

[RickD]

It is great to see that everyone is aware of what they need to do and you are doing it!

I led the Physical Fitness and Nutrition program for my squadron in the military and one thing I always stressed was 'everything in moderation' and drink that water!

Stay the course and remember to give yourself a break every once in awhile

Congrats to everyone!

[MegoMark71]

It is really helpful to see so many other members going through this same thing. We have our own little support group here. Thanks for the thread Scott.

[emeraldknight47]

Legitimate question. Nobody gets to be my size without a giant dose of unhealthy snacking. I have replaced the Doritos, chips and other assorted salty goodness with whole wheat. I eat Triscuits, Wheat Thins and peanuts. Sometimes I'll add cheese for protein. Snacking for me was always my downfall, always. Once I recognized the pattern, I shut it down completely. Late night snacks for me are now beef jerkey.

Beef jerky totally rocks!!! Low in carbs and fat, but loaded with protein!!! Plus, it's really good for long road trips!!!