I've been basically sugar free for 15 months. Went back onto sugar one day last Xmas and at a birthday party, both when I thought I couldn't say no to the host's food. Interesting thing was that I didn't enjoy the sugar hit (it was SO sickly sweet!) and later experienced the worst migraine and feeling ill - probably withdrawal again. It has taken awhile but now all my friends know and accept my choice, and these days I say no, and do not miss those sugar treats one little bit. (And I used to be such a sugarholic - 5 teaspoons in my coffee, and chocolate - well!)
I've lost over 9 kilos. It has been a slow weight loss, but a sure one. And now that I have my head around this new way of eating, I expect to lose another 2 to 3 kilos by Xmas.
Lost first 3 kgs very quickly, then the weight loss slowed and slowed and then I became very frustrated as I thought that I must be doing something wrong.....
I then remembered David's advice about listening to your body, eat when you are hungry etc. So that night I looked at the meal portion I had served up for myself and realised that it was actually still the same size that I used to have before going sugar free. I halved the meal, and for breakfast the next morning I had just water and a whole orange. I then did not eat until lunchtime by which time I was very hungry, but I had only a small amount of food, and then a little more, and stopped when I felt "satisfied" but not overfull, or even full.
Now this is probably not a great idea to do every day. However, I am really pleased that I did this. The reason is that it gave me the chance to feel what it is like to be really empty, then I felt what it was like to be not completely empty, and then half full, etc etc. I got in touch with all the feelings associated with different levels of empty to full. I realised that even though I had not been getting cravings, I was still eating by habit and the clock, rather than "feel". Now I know the level to aim for when I eat. (By the way, I would NEVER have been able to do this little exercise when I was on sugar as my brain would have been SCREAMING sugar sugar LOL! Gosh its nice to have these control mechanisms working properly!)
So I don't know if this will help get things moving for others, but it may be worth trying.
Our grocery bill has reduced by one-third, which has been nice. My fridge and pantry are so much emptier, cleaner. All this has spinoffs too. My life is so less cluttered and I am now decluttering other aspects of my life! Wonderful!
Good luck and don't lose heart! Try getting in touch with your fuel gauge a little more perhaps, and then try swapping foods around to see what works. (For me, I have to watch out that I don't fill up with too much cheese, and nuts do not work for me. I have also found a sugar free light rye sourdough bread which works well.) Without sugar, you are in the driving seat!
PS David's third book BIG FAT LIES is even better and just as life-changing. Wish you all the very best in your new life!
