I thought I would write and tell you all how proud I am of my son 12 and daughter 15 who have been off sugar for 13 days now.  I never thought it would last the first weekend but they are still going strong. How did I do it? Firstly I made sure that I believed it was a better way and was sugar free myself for at least a month before I asked them to try it.  In that month I think I subconsciously started to reduce their sugar intake just because I had to stop killing them. I then explained to their father how much better I felt, looked (he had noticed) and asked him to try it too.  I then asked the kids to give me 2 weeks keeping their sugar under 10gm per day.  I showed them how to read a NIP and understand the "sugars" - they were surprisingly really interested.  I then made sure I had a plan in my mind of what they could eat and was ready with their favourite sugar-free dinners and afterschool snacks, great lunchboxes etc. What I have found is amazing - 12 is no longer starving afterschool, his face and eyes are brighter, his biggish tummy is now flat and lean and he is so pleasant.  I get comments like - that was the best banana in my lunchbox, and lots of "this tastes great", I think his tastebuds are no longer dulled with sugar. 15 is also more pleasant, eager to compete with how well 12 is doing.  They worked out if they shared a paddlepop choco malt after dinner the other night that would be ok.  "SHARED" yep, they shared.  YAY. We are nearly at the end of 2 weeks, and last night 12 and I discussed what would happen after that.  We agreed this was a better way of eating and provided he could have the occasional mini magnum or chupa chup he would be happy to continue.  He even went to a sleepover last weekend (armed with his coke zero and fave chips). The parents could not believe his resolve, with all that temptation, he even asked them to hold his party bag until the end of the week.  My kids are as fussy as they come and I would estimate they could have eaten at least 100gm of sugar every day (on a good day). Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could achieve this with them so soon. Don't just sugar-free yourself, save your family too, they deserve to feel better as much as you do. 

Lyn Leek wrote:

Sarah Andersson wrote:I thought I would write and tell you all how proud I am of my son 12 and daughter 15 who have been off sugar for 13 days now.  I never thought it would last the first weekend but they are still going strong. How did I do it? Firstly I made sure that I believed it was a better way and was sugar free myself for at least a month before I asked them to try it.  In that month I think I subconsciously started to reduce their sugar intake just because I had to stop killing them. I then explained to their father how much better I felt, looked (he had noticed) and asked him to try it too.  I then asked the kids to give me 2 weeks keeping their sugar under 10gm per day.  I showed them how to read a NIP and understand the "sugars" - they were surprisingly really interested.  I then made sure I had a plan in my mind of what they could eat and was ready with their favourite sugar-free dinners and afterschool snacks, great lunchboxes etc. What I have found is amazing - 12 is no longer starving afterschool, his face and eyes are brighter, his biggish tummy is now flat and lean and he is so pleasant.  I get comments like - that was the best banana in my lunchbox, and lots of "this tastes great", I think his tastebuds are no longer dulled with sugar. 15 is also more pleasant, eager to compete with how well 12 is doing.  They worked out if they shared a paddlepop choco malt after dinner the other night that would be ok.  "SHARED" yep, they shared.  YAY. We are nearly at the end of 2 weeks, and last night 12 and I discussed what would happen after that.  We agreed this was a better way of eating and provided he could have the occasional mini magnum or chupa chup he would be happy to continue.  He even went to a sleepover last weekend (armed with his coke zero and fave chips). The parents could not believe his resolve, with all that temptation, he even asked them to hold his party bag until the end of the week.  My kids are as fussy as they come and I would estimate they could have eaten at least 100gm of sugar every day (on a good day). Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could achieve this with them so soon. Don't just sugar-free yourself, save your family too, they deserve to feel better as much as you do. 

Hi Sarah

I'd just like to say congratulations, encouraging the children is a great, I've been not eating sugar for two weeks now, and feeling fantastic, have you notice your weight is dropping off yet as it sounds like you have been sugar free for at least a month.

would like to hear how your going

Lyn

Thanks Lyn, I have a phobia about getting on scales, so I don't weigh myself (havent for 10 years) but I knew I had between 5-8kgs to lose which I had been trying to do for 10 years. After 2 months I am definitely smaller all over especially the waist area, and because I am not as bloated I am so much more comfortable and have more energy (fewer moods swings and almost zero pmt). It took my friend 6 months to lose her 5 kilos on this plan, I think if you only have a bit to lose it may take some time, but hey, we have the rest of our lives.  Now that I am through all the cravings and withdrawals I think weight loss will be quicker if I further minimise the fruit (I have been eating average 2 pieces per day). My friend had been eating a lot of grapes until she read the second book, once she stopped that she lost her weight more quickly. Do you have a lot of weight to lose?

Sarah

Sarah Andersson wrote:I thought I would write and tell you all how proud I am of my son 12 and daughter 15 who have been off sugar for 13 days now.  I never thought it would last the first weekend but they are still going strong. How did I do it? Firstly I made sure that I believed it was a better way and was sugar free myself for at least a month before I asked them to try it.  In that month I think I subconsciously started to reduce their sugar intake just because I had to stop killing them. I then explained to their father how much better I felt, looked (he had noticed) and asked him to try it too.  I then asked the kids to give me 2 weeks keeping their sugar under 10gm per day.  I showed them how to read a NIP and understand the "sugars" - they were surprisingly really interested.  I then made sure I had a plan in my mind of what they could eat and was ready with their favourite sugar-free dinners and afterschool snacks, great lunchboxes etc. What I have found is amazing - 12 is no longer starving afterschool, his face and eyes are brighter, his biggish tummy is now flat and lean and he is so pleasant.  I get comments like - that was the best banana in my lunchbox, and lots of "this tastes great", I think his tastebuds are no longer dulled with sugar. 15 is also more pleasant, eager to compete with how well 12 is doing.  They worked out if they shared a paddlepop choco malt after dinner the other night that would be ok.  "SHARED" yep, they shared.  YAY. We are nearly at the end of 2 weeks, and last night 12 and I discussed what would happen after that.  We agreed this was a better way of eating and provided he could have the occasional mini magnum or chupa chup he would be happy to continue.  He even went to a sleepover last weekend (armed with his coke zero and fave chips). The parents could not believe his resolve, with all that temptation, he even asked them to hold his party bag until the end of the week.  My kids are as fussy as they come and I would estimate they could have eaten at least 100gm of sugar every day (on a good day). Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could achieve this with them so soon. Don't just sugar-free yourself, save your family too, they deserve to feel better as much as you do. 

Sarah, That is so great to hear!!! Thanks for letting us know.  My kids and husband have been off it for a week now too (apart from 1 birthday party - which wasn't too damaging) and I have noticed the most amazing differences with my boys.  The youngest (5) had suffered badly with asthma and would have an attack most days - He hasn't had anything (not even the mildest cough) for a week now.  The 7 year old has been very pleasant - normally extremely moody and they seemed to have really accepted the lifestyle change.  I've told them how to minimise harm at birthday parties and as long as we don't have any other sugar I think that is pretty damn good.  I packed them off with the dextrose patty cakes and they were a big hit - firetruck red icing.

Anthea Falkiner wrote:

Sarah Andersson wrote:I thought I would write and tell you all how proud I am of my son 12 and daughter 15 who have been off sugar for 13 days now.  I never thought it would last the first weekend but they are still going strong. How did I do it? Firstly I made sure that I believed it was a better way and was sugar free myself for at least a month before I asked them to try it.  In that month I think I subconsciously started to reduce their sugar intake just because I had to stop killing them. I then explained to their father how much better I felt, looked (he had noticed) and asked him to try it too.  I then asked the kids to give me 2 weeks keeping their sugar under 10gm per day.  I showed them how to read a NIP and understand the "sugars" - they were surprisingly really interested.  I then made sure I had a plan in my mind of what they could eat and was ready with their favourite sugar-free dinners and afterschool snacks, great lunchboxes etc. What I have found is amazing - 12 is no longer starving afterschool, his face and eyes are brighter, his biggish tummy is now flat and lean and he is so pleasant.  I get comments like - that was the best banana in my lunchbox, and lots of "this tastes great", I think his tastebuds are no longer dulled with sugar. 15 is also more pleasant, eager to compete with how well 12 is doing.  They worked out if they shared a paddlepop choco malt after dinner the other night that would be ok.  "SHARED" yep, they shared.  YAY. We are nearly at the end of 2 weeks, and last night 12 and I discussed what would happen after that.  We agreed this was a better way of eating and provided he could have the occasional mini magnum or chupa chup he would be happy to continue.  He even went to a sleepover last weekend (armed with his coke zero and fave chips). The parents could not believe his resolve, with all that temptation, he even asked them to hold his party bag until the end of the week.  My kids are as fussy as they come and I would estimate they could have eaten at least 100gm of sugar every day (on a good day). Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could achieve this with them so soon. Don't just sugar-free yourself, save your family too, they deserve to feel better as much as you do. 

Sarah, That is so great to hear!!! Thanks for letting us know.  My kids and husband have been off it for a week now too (apart from 1 birthday party - which wasn't too damaging) and I have noticed the most amazing differences with my boys.  The youngest (5) had suffered badly with asthma and would have an attack most days - He hasn't had anything (not even the mildest cough) for a week now.  The 7 year old has been very pleasant - normally extremely moody and they seemed to have really accepted the lifestyle change.  I've told them how to minimise harm at birthday parties and as long as we don't have any other sugar I think that is pretty damn good.  I packed them off with the dextrose patty cakes and they were a big hit - firetruck red icing.

Husband is still going through withdrawals I think but doesn't know it (bit of a grumpy socks).  And had a muffin today (so we'll see how long that lasts).  All I can do is make our home a sugar-free haven and thus reduce the temptation here.

... can't believe they shared that paddle pop - that is very inspiring..

Great news especially with the asthma, I am really hoping that my kids stick well enough to it to convince others to try it.  We have lots of friends with bad asthma and it would be wonderful for them to at least experiment. I might try the dextrose cakes one day but seem to be coping without sweet baked goods at the moment, ironically I make cakes as part of my job!

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the no sugar thing and have found that although I didn't have withdrawals for very long (and managed to give up just before easter and not relapse somehow given all the eggs now stashed in our cupboard) I found it only takes a very small amount to regain that 'grazing' feeling where you're not hungry but you still want to eat. I can deal with that myself but I worry about our 2 kids miss 3.5 and miss 1. I know it's doing them harm and find miss 3.5 especially is just constantly looking for snacks all day and even though it isn't effecting her weight I worry about when she gets older as I know from experience that bad eating habits catch up on you when you hit puberty. I also know from experience how much better I feel and want that for them - and I hate the idea of 'poisoning' their little bodies. I just don't know how to implement it fully as my husband (who can eat whatever he wants and never gets fat!) loves his junk food and would not want to convert. And as you can imagine a 3.5yr old will nag for hours if she spots a choccie frog hidden in the cupboard no matter how many times you tell her it's daddy's special frog.

Does anyone have any advice on weaning their young children off sugar? They also go to day care 3 days a week while I work and they have arvo tea such as pancakes or bun some days so I was wondering how it would go with no sugar at home but having it outside the home sometimes? I was hoping it would get to the point where they just don't want it and so not eat much when it was offered?? We can't take food to day care given the allergies everywhere now-a-days and I wouldn't want them to feel different from the other kids anyway. Should I just throw out all the easter eggs (of which there are maaaaany) and other sugar items and just try to squeeze in some more baking of sugar free/dextrose snacks? Honestly I've been putting it off becuse I can see the dramas unfolding already....

Thanks, Sam :)