David Gillespie - How much is okay?

27 Jul 2010 1:12 AM

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Message # 390926

Deleted user

Yeah my book arrived yesterday and have finished it already! Just about devoured it and feel more informed about choices I can make. Probably made the fatal mistake of trying dextrose treats too soon. (They were so yummy they were hard to stop eating as one was not 'cured' yet) We have stopped these for the time being. Also now will be cutting out artificial sweetners (I had a sneeking suspicion our use of diet cola adn equal was not doing us any favours and it would have to go!!) I am fine with it though 'cos now I know why! Information is power!

I am confused though about when you can have treats. Dessert, cakes and biscuits etc. I dont go out to parties much but hubby and I have always loved dessert and biscuit/cake snacks. (happy to have our own little party at home each day.) So when you say 'party food are for parties' does that mean only once a year or can we have a little cake treat daily and our usual (now sugar free) dessert (All be it smaller portions as our appetite will hopefully not let us eat much)

I notice you mention putting a sugar free biscuit treats in your kids lunch box so I am thinking maybe a little something daily is okay?? I am just confused. I love sweet things and I know you say you will get past it but I can't imagine how (I guess this means I am not through withdrawl yet) Although most physical symptoms have gone eg headaches and I am finding I can't eat nearly as much - all good signs.

There doesn't seem to much point in making a batch of cup cakes if you can only have 1 or 2 a year!!

Sorry to be so dense but I guess I am stuck somewhere between my old world and my new reality and still learning.

Cheers

Angie.

ps Certainly will let you know how I get on over the next few weeks

27 Jul 2010 5:12 PM

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Reply # 391328 on 390926

Deleted user

Hi Angie
I bought my book on 29th June and started the next day. I suggested to a friend to buy the book and she started last Friday. Our interpretation was if we stop all fructose (cold turkey) then we can use dextrose in recipes straight away. I just about baked every recipe (cake & biscuits) in the book. After 3 weeks I had gained weight. Then I re-read the book only to interpret that I needed to be totally through withdrawal before using dextrose. We are now confused as to which it is. I understand you feeling like you are dense, I'm feeling the same. I've stopped all the baking but I'm still looking for food almost constantly. I'm snacking on lots cracker biscuits (from the ok list) but no weight loss. Feeling very frustrated but at least I'm not looking for chocolate. I'm sure Cadbury stocks have taken a nose-dive now that I have stopped buying it (I worked out that from 30th June to today I would have eaten my way through 5kgs of chocolate if I was still on the stuff!) That is sooo much - I feel embarrassed by the amount. So I have the same question you do. Is it ok to eat cake, biscuits or brownies if they are made without fructose? And can you have them while you are still going through withdrawal? I will keep you posted if I find any answers.
Cheers
Alicia

Last modified: 27 Jul 2010 5:12 PM | Deleted user

27 Jul 2010 6:16 PM

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Reply # 391382 on 390926

Anonymous

clearly I needed to be a little more detailed about this bit in the book ... sorry to everyone for the confusion.

There are two aspects to this issue. Firstly you need to break the sugar addiction in order to remove the cravings. What is happening during withdrawal is that you are still experiencing the sugar driven cravings but substituting non-addictive foods for the cravings so that (eventually - 2-4 weeks later), the cravings will subside. If you have gone cold turkey then you can use the dextrose treats as substitutes in this period. You will eat more than you should (the cravings are still driving your behaviour) and some people will even put on a little weight.

If however you are moderating down your sugar consumption then you should not use the dextrose treats until you have completely removed sugar from your diet. The reason for this is that sugar has been doing significant damage to your blood fat profile and eating high glucose foods will not be healthy or desriable. Instead, use nuts and other non-sugar snacks to satisfy the craving.

Once you are through withdrawal (this may take a month even on the cold turkey method), you will start to notice that eating the dextrose treats precludes you eating anything else. Your appetite control kicks in, you feel full and that's it. This of course means that if you have cake in the afternoon you might not be fitting in dinner that night ... I wouldn't advise you to live on the cake, but I guess you could.

After a while I noticed that the dextrose treats had normal levels of food attractiveness - meaning that I wanted them about as much as I wanted any other food and really only when hungry ... that's what you're aiming for ...

I hope that helps a bit?

Cheers

David.

27 Jul 2010 4:50 PM

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Reply # 391462 on 390926

Deleted user

Thanks so much for the confirmation David!

It's been just over 3 weeks for me, all fructose free (except some hidden bits that snuck past me eg sugar in some dry crackers!)

I started with dextrose treats and as you suggested I gained weight - disconserting I must say, Then went with out even those for about 10 days, lost that extra 2kg and am feeling the 'hungry monster' subside.

Last night made some toffee popcorn (sugar free) cos I just wanted something sweet (honestly I can't believe I will ever equate sugar to broccoli!) It's was delicious, but I COULD NOT eat much at all. I was so disappointed and delighted at the same time. I wished I had eaten less of my main meal. And I think the penny has nowed dropped. It's one or the other NOT both!

Now I will work on adjusting my potion sizes so that I can 'have my cake and eat it too!' I notice when I was in hospital a year ago the portion sizes they served where far smaller than I was use to eating so maybe that will really help. I think eating slowly and savouring it (Boy that reminds me of my Mother) I think that will help too, if I won't be able to eat much I should take the time to enjoy it.

Noticed today I have lost another kilo....got to be happy with that! Feel like I am on the right track now. Will give you an update in a few weeks.

Cheers Angela

09 Aug 2010 2:59 AM

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Reply # 399219 on 390926

Deleted user

Hi,

How do you make toffee popcorn (sugar free). Im excited!!!!

Thanks.

10 Aug 2010 11:18 AM

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Reply # 400282 on 390926

Deleted user

Hi Shelley,

Here is recipe again, have also placed this in recipe forum.

I am excited, Have just experimented with some butter toffee popcorn that works a treat. This was a recipe for toffeed almonds so I'm pretty sure you could use nuts instead of corn. You could probably use plain popcorn but I don't like finding a hard kernel in mine so prefer the fluffy puffed corn.

1/2 cup dextrose

1/2 cup butter

1.5 tablespoons water

1/2 packet puffed corn (Abundant Harvest brand)

Use a deep, heavy-bottomed saucepan to heat all of the ingredients, except the corn. Stir the mixture constantly to prevent scorching. I stirred until mixture become a golden colour. Then I added the puffed corn and mixed until all toffee coated the corn. Add a bit more if it is sloppy at the bottom. Pour the corn mixture onto a greased cookie sheet or greaseproof paper and separate the clumps into bite sized pieces.

Allow to cool -(If you can!!!!)-mixture can burn your fingers until cool - (but that didn't stop me!!)

Have made this several times now and the family LOVE it!

Cheers Angela