Benefits of a sugar free diet

[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

[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.

[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...

[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]

You speak the truth, my brother...

[Random Axe]

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.

That is too freaking cool. I know how hard it is too begin something like this, you're not sure where to start and the end result seems for far away. Its all about baby steps. I've not had any cravings for anything nor any regrets except for waiting so long to get my act together. Some days are better than others, but overall I feel amazing. I may not reach my ultimate goal, but the improvement in my quality of life is staggering.

Seriously, cut sugar out for seven days, be dilligent and don't cheat. You will feel the results. Start with something like sugar, something fairly easy and then transition into white bread, white rice and...painfully...potatoes. There is ZERO chance you don't get results.

[Fuzzysnail]

wHATS WRONG WITH TEA? I drink Ice tea by the gallon. Its about the only thing I drink. I know its got a lot of cafeine, and its a diretic....but otherwise? No sugar in my tea or any sweetners. I tried to stop and started get bad headaches from the withdrawl of cafeine, also made me pretty cranky to be around.

[Hector]

Nothing wrong with ice tea...especially a Long Island ice tea...



1 part vodka
1 part tequila
1 part rum
1 part gin
1 part triple sec
1 1/2 parts sweet and sour mix
1 splash Coca-Cola®

[TEXASFETT]

Thats one thing that scares me is getting Diabetes. What kind of breakfasts do you start your days with? Just curious! I stop my addiction to Dr.Pepper. Sometimes I wondered what diabetics ate on a dietary everyday schedule. I never bothered to look up but since this came up I thought I ask you guys. Well keep up the good work.

[Random Axe]

I am a poor example of eating breakfast as I usually don't. I never really think about eating in the morning. The old me would grab a donut or a Little Debbie on the way to work. Anymore I munch on some peanuts, or grab a Jack Links beefsteak. I try to concentrate on getting a good level of protein.

I was diagnosed with diabetes a couple of years ago. I had numbness in my calves and couldn't go two hours at night without urinating. I knew what the diagnosis would be before the doctor read it to me. I reduced sugar intake at the time and did lose some weight and never had the symptoms again, still don't. Diabetes eats away at all of your organs with increased sugar levels in all parts of the body. It's a horrible disease, and I am solely to blame for my condition. Some are predetermined to have it through genetics. Some directly inject it into themselves with a steady dose of Doritos, Oreos and Mt. Dew.

The solutions are not all that appetizing. I have eliminated quite a bit of food I enjoy, really enjoy. I have done this for my health and to be a better husband to a very sick wife. I'm no good to her if I don't get better myself. My diet is bland, boring and not even close to what you would call a wide variety. I may at some point dabble with pasta or a baked potato, but I will never allow myself to give up. I've seen the direct cause and effect it has on me and I'll never, ever feel as I once did.

I'm not even close to my goals, but the path to it becomes clearer each passing day. Each of us holds the power to change ourselves, to improve ourselves and the power to help another. I am slowly coming to grips with the power I possess and all the years I've wasted it. It was just my time for change and my moment of clarity. When someone else's life is solely dependent on yours, the obligation can be overwhelming. I escaped my daily grind with all the wrong food choices and then blamed it on hospital food or grabbing crap through a drive thru in between doctor visits and hospitals. Excuses are the bricks we use to build monuments of nothing. It's now my chance to regain control and live a life as best as I can feeling as best as I can.

[jessica]

Wow. Amazing. I will try to be more healthy. Cutting out cookies and sugar will be very difficult for me. I will take baby steps. I have been working out, and I have lost 4 pounds. I have 10 more pounds to go. Very hard to cut out carbs and sugars. I hate dieting, too. I have been more conscious about serving portions though...so instead of powering through half a tub of cookies, I eat one or two. Tomorrow is another day, and I will try for a whole week.

[megoapesnut]

Scott, you are my idol! 6 weeks now and I have dropped over 32 pounds and I feel freakin fantastic. My racquetball partner hasn't won a game in over 3 weeks because my endurance level is WAY up. You thread gave me the motivation. I owe you dinner Friday night at Mego Meet this year. Count on it.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Awesome Scott. I admire your discipline!

Congrats on the good report!!!

Chris

[Random Axe]

That is freaking awesome to hear. Personally, I just rediscovered that I still have a rib cage. Still not a single sweet treat in 2012, and I have no plans in the future. Everyone always tells me I should treat myself every now and then. I disagree. The treat will be buying smaller clothes.

[megoapesnut]

They are telling me the same thing. "You can have a piece of cake on birthday's", etc. Not gunna happen. I turned the sweet treat switch off and it's staying off. My wife is amazed how I can walk by a plate of chocolate chip cookies and not even be tempted. Yesterday, I turned down frozen thin mint girl scout cookies. My wife said she knows now that I am a changed person. That used to be my favorite food in the known and unknown universe.