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Has anyone almost cut sugar out of their diet?

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Posted 7/29/2014 4:10 AM (GMT 0)
I mean I still consume sugar in certain beverages and of course in my coffee but has anyone else cut out chocolate, candy bars or sweets in general? I haven't actually consumed any chocolate in about 2 years or so...and I used to be a chocoholic majorly! It was like one day I woke up and the urge to eat sweets vanished.

Now whenever I attempt to eat any sweets, it just tastes so artificial that it sort of disgusts me. Perhaps it was my body telling me to avoid it...I dunno.

So I was just wondering, if anyone feels the same way as I do about sweets.
Posted 7/29/2014 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
I think sugar is no different than anything else we consume - our body is the best gauge as far as how much we need -

I did the anti-candida thing a few months ago and it made a big difference in how I felt - I'm still eating sugar, just reduced my intake some - and ya, sometimes sweet stuff just feels wrong - but fortunately, not always ;-)
Posted 7/29/2014 8:01 AM (GMT 0)
I feel the chocolate here in the US is artificial. I don't like it. I miss European chocolate haha

I have been without sugary stuff for 8 months during SCD.

Listen to your body as long as you feel good :-)
Posted 7/29/2014 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
Greg - excellent post!

The cold turkey idea is good, but I find that there's a strong psychological component to it - people eat sugar do to stress/depression (I am guilty of this to). I will argue that there are times when sugar is necessary (to me, it is much more preferable to drugs).

Sometimes, people do need to treat themselves to ice-cream. Good, quality ice-cream might I add and I know some great brands that won't really screw with my health.

Best.
Posted 7/29/2014 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have, with "almost" the operative word haha.
My big problem with sugar is that my body then wants more of it but add stress and it wants it now.

After really cutting back on sugar the sweetness of vegetables really comes through, such as oven baked squash (regular yellow type not acorn which is really sweet) and carrots.
Haagen Daz and B&Jerry's are my nemesis but keeping it down to sharing a pint once a week keeps my crave in control.

I would not want to live in a world where I can't have something like ice cream or GF cookies to look forward to. But having a daily candy bar or other sweet is bad for my weight and although I can't see a big change in my UC symptoms with more sugar it does cause inflammation so better less of it.
Posted 7/29/2014 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
I have. I do feel better, and as mentioned my cravings for it have crashed. I did have some ice cream at Baskin Robins about a month ago that was the food of the gods though-oreo cookie dough I believe :)

Since I eat so much, it's hard for me to go without carbs, so I still eat some fried foods when I go to a lunch buffet, or sweet potatoes, corn totillas etc. To help with this, and help with my number of trips to the bathroom, I've started consuming Isopure low carb protein shake with a tablespoon and a half of olive oil. This helps reduce the carbs/sugars I eat because then I have a small supper. Any sweets I make are with honey.

I have had one really weird side affect from limiting sugar: before I could not stand really spicy food. I would even always get mild sauce at the local Mexican restaurant, which the waiter affectionately calls 'baby sauce'. In the last six months I've developed a real taste for spicy foods. I always get the hot or extra hot version of whatever, and soak things in Texas Pete. It really is strange and almost a complete 180 from the preferences I have ALWAYS had before.
Posted 7/29/2014 1:13 PM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
has anyone else cut out chocolate, candy bars or sweets in general?

Nooooooooooooooo! There cannot be such a thing, no chocolate, *sniffle* how horrible... I think I'd rather deal with the poops sad
Posted 7/29/2014 1:32 PM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
I mean I still consume sugar in certain beverages and of course in my coffee but has anyone else cut out chocolate, candy bars or sweets in general? I haven't actually consumed any chocolate in about 2 years or so...and I used to be a chocoholic majorly! It was like one day I woke up and the urge to eat sweets vanished.

Now whenever I attempt to eat any sweets, it just tastes so artificial that it sort of disgusts me. Perhaps it was my body telling me to avoid it...I dunno.

So I was just wondering, if anyone feels the same way as I do about sweets.


Hi Red, That's great that your body is adjusting! There are many bloggers and professionals who share your thoughts about how your body tolerates sugar after you wean off off it. Go you!

I eliminated sugar+grains in 2012 on a specific diet, and it was difficult and stressful, but i think it changed my body for the better in that short period of time. Kudos to anyone who gives it a shot! A little sugar in the morning coffee never hurt anyone, right? My mom is doing her best but will also attest to how difficult it can be on those mornings.
Posted 7/29/2014 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies :)

It's kind of funny....when I tell my friends that I don't eat sweets or chocolate they look horrified! Like what???? No chocolate??? Lol

But there was no cut back or even adjusting really...literally I woke up and my taste for it went poof! Now salty things on the other hand....I love my potato chips and I use sea salt on just about all my meals. I was using iodized table salt but I like the taste of sea salt better.
Posted 7/29/2014 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I think research is starting to find out that there is some sort of a connection between gut microbes and your brain. If you have bugs that like to eat sugar they seem to send signals to your brain to eat more sugar. By not eating sweets for that long you may have changed your gut microbial population enough where those microbes no longer flourish and you no longer crave sugar, in fact it may not even appeal to you anymore. I went sweet free for 3 weeks once to see if it had any effect on my UC and I was very relieved to find out that it didn't.
Posted 7/29/2014 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Red, the same thing happened to me when I cut junky foods/beverarges and processed foods out of my diet, I experimented one day and had a starburst candy that my son was eating and it tasted very chemical like, it was so gross and I used to love starburst candies and ate them all the time.

I mean we all obviously need sugar in our diet, but it has to be the most natural kind via fruits/honey, not anything that's junky and processed (like table sugar) any kind of sugar that isn't natural isn't going to have ANY health benefit, if anything it will cause you to crave more of it.

Your body and tastebuds can actually be trained is what I learned from my experiences with food.
Posted 7/30/2014 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I typically do not eat sugar but lately I have been making ice cream out of coconut milk where I add some sugar (dextrose specifically) to sweeten it. Otherwise just having fruit is sufficient for me. The fruit is now much sweeter than before I stopped having sugar.

We are in the process of building a little farmstead (house, shed, and barn) and trying to get enough calories into my body has been a challenge at times. I have not been counting my calories but on some days I have had to eat two extra meals because otherwise I'm ravenous. That is why I have been making ice cream. It is a delicious way of getting close to 1000 extra calories into my body swiftly.
Posted 7/30/2014 8:42 PM (GMT 0)

soystud said...
I think sugar is no different than anything else we consume

Except in men sugar reduces "Free" testosterone.

Cutting out 'treats' and running every morning before hitting the weights has me heading to six-pack land, getting very low body fat again which is opposite of prednisone therapy.

However this is normally what precedes another flare so proceeding cautiously.
Posted 7/30/2014 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
I read somewhere that when given the option, mice would pick sugar over cocaine. Sugar is one helluva drug.

Post Edited (Serialflusher) : 7/30/2014 4:02:44 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/30/2014 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I don't eat sugar, not even artificial sweetener(it still causes a insulin release). As I can remember is the first few weeks were hard, but now as others have said, sugary stuff tastes gross now.


I do feel much healthier, great energy levels. My energy foods are animal fats and starch veggies.

I disagree with what was said about NEEDING Sugar, maybe they meant carbohydrates. I eat no sugar, maybe the odd fruit, I work construction, chase a toddler around when I get home, and still have energy for a evening Jog or cycle, and yet still have energy for some late night fun with the missus.
Posted 7/30/2014 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
I can have pop or sugary drinks. But I have never been a fan of chocolate bars, or a lot of candy.
Posted 7/30/2014 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, it's strange. I used to be totally addicted to sugary things...and of course it was during my flares. So there were certain things that didn't agree with, Reeses Peanut butter cups come to mind. No more than 15 minutes after having one I would run to the bathroom.

Maybe I have been slowly cutting sweets out of my diet over the past few years. I haven't really paid much attention honestly.

But my energy level has always been pretty much okay'ish....of course it was hard to get off the couch while flaring but now it seems my energy can be limitless. Is it being somewhat sugar free or maybe it's remission...who knows? lol Because my sugar craving ceased approximately the same time I hit remission.
Posted 7/30/2014 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
this swelteringly blastiousfurnacy weather has me heading for a 6 pack !
Posted 7/31/2014 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
do u even lift soystud?
Posted 7/31/2014 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
"do u even lift soystud?"

how you mean sg ?
Posted 7/31/2014 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
With that answer, no he doesn't, Guardian. lol
Posted 7/31/2014 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
What heat???? I'm in Michigan and this summer has me in sweaters lol not 6 packs. tongue
Posted 7/31/2014 2:45 AM (GMT 0)

soystud said...
"do u even lift soystud?"

how you mean sg ?

Hey soy - it's one my favorite internet memes (quick summary). Thought you'd get the joke, but no worries. :-)
Posted 7/31/2014 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
ohhhh, I get it !

just my kid - haven't tossed any iron in a while = maybe someday i'll get back to the gym :-(
Posted 7/31/2014 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
The only sugar in my house is honey. It's been like this for maybe 6+ years or longer perhaps

I now have pretty much zero craving for it. I can look at a pile of deserts but I seem to just lack the desire to even eat one, or sometimes I try one but then just end up throwing the rest away after a bite or two.

In contrast I used to LOVE sweets before I became ill.

And same as you - I find refined sugar tastes umm "different" or odd. Bitter almost, not sweet. I really don't even eat much honey and tend to decrease the amount in recipes.

To get to this point though I had to go through some serious withdrawal events, haha. In the beginning it was rough. Now I think about sweets like ice cream sundays, cookies and cake - but I seem to lack the desire to actually indulge in it. I usually take two bites of say a cookie and throw the rest away.

EDIT: I should also say that sugar no longer bothers me, or makes IBD symptoms worse for me, whereas in the past it used to. Now if I want to eat a bag of M&M's or a bunch of cookies that's totally fine. I just lack the desire.

Post Edited (Canada Mark) : 7/30/2014 9:34:25 PM (GMT-6)

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