David Gillespie - Weight loss

28 Jul 2010 8:45 PM

Quote

Reply # 392145 on 383611

Deleted user

Hi Jan,

Thanks for your words of encouragement.

I have lost 1.5kg so I am pretty happy and know it will continue, the slower it comes off the more likely to stay off hopefully!

Yes, it can be challenging with kids but what I love about taking the sugar out is that normal meals are still pretty much the same so there is no other major adjustments which makes it easy to continue and become a normal part of my life!

All the best,

Nicole

30 Jul 2010 7:43 AM

Quote

Reply # 393041 on 383611

Anonymous

Some people seem to lose lots of weight very quickly and then plateau, some do it slowly and evenly and some lose nothing for months and then suddenly drop. I suspect it has a lot to do with how we get through withdrawal. We we initially stop eating sugar we still have the sugar cravings, but substitute foods that don't have any sugar. I remember being ravenously hungry most of the time during the first few weeks. Then slowly our appetite control returns and what we can eat gets dialed down.

Breaking the sugar habit is about reseting that appetite control. Weight loss usually won't happen until that reset has happened (after withdrawal). For some people this all happens in the first week. For others it takes a month (or more). But it always seems to happen if you stick with it.

This is partially why I put the warning about dextrose in the book. Dextrose is just non-addicitve sugar. It has all the calories of any other food. So if you eat it in large quantities BEFORE your appetite control has reset, it will make you just as fat as anything else.

You will know when you are swtiching into weightloss mode, because meals that you would have previously eaten without a problem are suddenly filling you before you finish. I noticed it with Pizza. I would normally eat 4 slices. Then I had to dial back to 3... now 2 will do me most of the time.

When you reach this stage you will also notice that you can have a dextrose treat or the next meal but you can rarely manage both.

Hope that is of some assistance?

Cheers

David.

30 Jul 2010 1:23 PM

Quote

Reply # 393407 on 383611

Deleted user

At the end of week two I have recorded a further weight loss of 1.2 kilograms and a further reduction in girth by 1.5cm. I have had no sweet drinks this week at all. The Lucozade has gone and I have had only one litre of diet ginger ale. I have significantly cut snacking as a result of a lack of hunger after mealtimes. There is still a residual habit that impels me toward the refrigerator, but I find it easy to overcome without any feeling that I am dieting.

Given that I am eating a lot less it seems extraordinary that I have no feelings of deprivation and no active conception of dieting. I have still experienced none of the expected withdrawal symptoms; I simply do not eat sugar anymore.

During the week, I had coffee with a friend who made me my usual white-and-two-sugars. Rather than correct her, I decided to indulge and found I could not drink the brew. It genuinely tasted as I would have expected coffee with six spoons of sugar to taste only a couple of weeks ago. I bought some Sugarfree sweetener at the supermarket this week but when I tried just half a packet in coffee (equal to one teaspoon) I also found I could not drink it and tossed the rest of the box of sachets into the bin. I still use one spoon of dextrose in coffee, but not in tea.

The total weight loss since commencing the sugar free life (2 weeks) is 3kg with a corresponding reduction of 2.5cm from my waist. I don't feel any different, I am not imbued with new energy, I am not consciously limiting my calorie intake, I continue to eat more red meat and fish than I have since I was living at home in my teens and I have made no difference to my level of physical activity. I don't know if my cholesterol level has changed but my resting heart rate has dropped from 60 to 55, and my blood pressure which has never been a problem is marginally lower at 114/70. (For those with some medical knowledge, and who know more about these things than me, I am 59 years old). Interestingly during the week, I received my first positive comment from an aquaintance who enquired if I had lost weight....YAY!!

I cannot expect the weight and measurement to continue its fall at this same rate....but stranger things have happened.

David F

Last modified: 30 Jul 2010 1:33 PM | Deleted user

30 Jul 2010 11:10 PM

Quote

Reply # 393541 on 383611

Deleted user

Thanks David. Your post is definitely of value. I removed sugar from my diet on the 11th July. I had a headache for a week and a few mood swings but now feel fine. I attended a conference in the second week and managed to avoid all morning and afternoon tea tempters. I am now finding that I am not hungry til lunchtime although I still need an afternoon snack.

I have only lost 1kg (although I have analogue scales so not precise) so was a bit disappointed but a friend suggested at more than 500g per week would be unusual and mostly fluid.

I am wondering whether weight loss is different for women. I guess patience is the key.

30 Jul 2010 11:23 PM

Quote

Reply # 393558 on 393407

Deleted user

David F wrote:
At the end of week two I have recorded a further weight loss of 1.2 kilograms and a further reduction in girth by 1.5cm. I have had no sweet drinks this week at all. The Lucozade has gone and I have had only one litre of diet ginger ale. I have significantly cut snacking as a result of a lack of hunger after mealtimes. There is still a residual habit that impels me toward the refrigerator, but I find it easy to overcome without any feeling that I am dieting.

Given that I am eating a lot less it seems extraordinary that I have no feelings of deprivation and no active conception of dieting. I have still experienced none of the expected withdrawal symptoms; I simply do not eat sugar anymore.

During the week, I had coffee with a friend who made me my usual white-and-two-sugars. Rather than correct her, I decided to indulge and found I could not drink the brew. It genuinely tasted as I would have expected coffee with six spoons of sugar to taste only a couple of weeks ago. I bought some Sugarfree sweetener at the supermarket this week but when I tried just half a packet in coffee (equal to one teaspoon) I also found I could not drink it and tossed the rest of the box of sachets into the bin. I still use one spoon of dextrose in coffee, but not in tea.

The total weight loss since commencing the sugar free life (2 weeks) is 3kg with a corresponding reduction of 2.5cm from my waist. I don't feel any different, I am not imbued with new energy, I am not consciously limiting my calorie intake, I continue to eat more red meat and fish than I have since I was living at home in my teens and I have made no difference to my level of physical activity. I don't know if my cholesterol level has changed but my resting heart rate has dropped from 60 to 55, and my blood pressure which has never been a problem is marginally lower at 114/70. (For those with some medical knowledge, and who know more about these things than me, I am 59 years old). Interestingly during the week, I received my first positive comment from an aquaintance who enquired if I had lost weight....YAY!!

I cannot expect the weight and measurement to continue its fall at this same rate....but stranger things have happened.

David F

Hi David

I have kept similar to you again. I also have lost 2.5kg in 3 weeks. I also have found I only need one sweetner in my coffee instead of two and that is now also starting to be too sweet. I am tending to have a drink of water when in the old days it would have been a coffee. Dosn't have to same apeal anymore.

I have found it great to be able to have hassle free lunch with friends. On the old low carb diet it became a chore and I would just meet for coffee (with 2 sugars). Family take away night is back. I just love fish and chips but couldn't finish many chips.

I also now make half a sandwich for lunch. I just got out of the freezer two slices and then put one back. That never happened in the old days. I am finding I need to eat something at lunch even if I don't feel like it as the other day I skipped lunch then had cravings at 3pm. I am finding to keep to breakfast, lunch and dinner even if not hungry so I don't get the munchies in between. Does help.

For the newies out there I have found it great to carry either a handful of nuts or a couple of sao's and vegemite or cheese in your bag or car. If you get the munchies when your out shopping or driving you have them handy before you have a chance to look at the cake shop.

Enjoying the new EATING PLAN

Keep up the good work everyone.

30 Jul 2010 7:58 PM

Quote

Reply # 393563 on 383611

Deleted user

Hi Sharon and Jan, I guess weight loss and physical size will, to a greater extent, be governed by many factors including metabolic rate. The only concession I make to my sweet tooth from the recent past, is milk. I was never weaned! I have tried to cut down by drinking more water but I still need to drink 2 litres of skim milk each day.

Prior to embarking on the sugar free route, my scheduled eating times were at best, haphazard. Now I find I need breakfast (canned fish on toast, or Weetbix without sugar or toast and Vegemite). Also I am now eating lunch on a regular basis, something which I did not previously do (salad with a little ham, or a mashed banana sandwich..or a sandwich with walnuts and cream cheese with pepper and very thinly sliced cucumber), and I am eating at a regular time each night.

I have replaced soft drinks with water. I had forgotton just how delicious is Darwin's tap water and can now understand why as a child, water was my drink of choice. I reiterate Jan's sentiments; keep at it, don't become discouraged and good luck to all those who have decided to kick the sugar habit.

David F

Last modified: 30 Jul 2010 8:01 PM | Deleted user

06 Aug 2010 5:26 PM

Quote

Reply # 398218 on 383611

Deleted user

At the completion of week three, my weight is still dropping and my waistline continues to reduce. I am not depriving myself of food and eat whatever I feel like having. I have, as far as I can reasonably calculate, cut all fructose from my diet. I eat no low fat foods except for milk (I prefer skim to full fat milk) and as I no longer feel the need to count calories, I am completely liberated from my former regime of obsessive concern about the foods I ingest. As a direct consequence of this, there is no longer a feeling of guilt or disappointment associated with any failure to adhere to personal dietary impositions.....win-win!

I have no craving for sweet foods and I feel satisfied long before I have eaten anywhere near as much as I would have only a month ago. The shift in desire from sweet processed foods to fresh foods and dairy products has been natural, and not forced in the slightest way.

As far as my physiology is concerned is seems there is a direct correlation between weight loss and physical bulk. Each kilogram lost brings with it a waistline reduction of 1 centimetre. In three weeks I have lost 3.5 kilograms and 3.5cm in girth.

Although my recorded weight loss this week has been a little less than for the previous two, I am expecting a larger loss for the coming week. I step on the scales and measure up on Saturday mornings only. Last night, I went out for dinner and ate considerably more than I normally would.

My first major goal of breaking through the 100kg barrier is well within sight...The second and third holes back in my favourite belt are equally close.

David F

Last modified: 07 Aug 2010 1:24 AM | Deleted user

07 Aug 2010 6:02 AM

Quote

Reply # 398319 on 398218

Deleted user

David F wrote:
At the completion of week three, my weight is still dropping and my waistline continues to reduce. I am not depriving myself of food and eat whatever I feel like having. I have, as far as I can reasonably calculate, cut all fructose from my diet. I eat no low fat foods except for milk (I prefer skim to full fat milk) and as I no longer feel the need to count calories, I am completely liberated from my former regime of obsessive concern about the foods I ingest. As a direct consequence of this, there is no longer a feeling of guilt or disappointment associated with any failure to adhere to personal dietary impositions.....win-win!

I have no craving for sweet foods and I feel satisfied long before I have eaten anywhere near as much as I would have only a month ago. The shift in desire from sweet processed foods to fresh foods and dairy products has been natural, and not forced in the slightest way.

As far as my physiology is concerned is seems there is a direct correlation between weight loss and physical bulk. Each kilogram lost brings with it a waistline reduction of 1 centimetre. In three weeks I have lost 3.5 kilograms and 3.5cm in girth.

Although my recorded weight loss this week has been a little less than for the previous two, I am expecting a larger loss for the coming week. I step on the scales and measure up on Saturday mornings only. Last night, I went out for dinner and ate considerably more than I normally would.

My first major goal of breaking through the 100kg barrier is well within sight...The second and third holes back in my favourite belt are equally close.

David F

Hi David

Great news your still going strong. I am away at my parents (hip replacement) and don't have scales but I have been strong and sure the cravings are gone. I watched my father buy a nice looking lemon slice today and thought "that looks nice" and when he said he'd share it I had now problem at all saying No and didn't really feel like it. That is progress. I have also noticed that I only needed one equal not two in my coffee and it tasted good. (previously I hated equals taste). I am even having no sugar in my tea as I ran out of my stevia sweetner. It taste fine. They have chocolate in the fridge and I don't even feel tempted. I hope in four weeks the scales reflect this.

My brother was talking about a new way of eating he heard on the radio and said I should look into it. Guess what? Its sweet poison. He has now bought the book.

Still working hard and staying strong.

Jan

08 Aug 2010 5:33 PM

Quote

Reply # 399059 on 383611

Jenny

Hi All,

Your comments are very interesting & motiving. I'm now into week 3 of sugar free & unfortunately I have gained 1.5kg. Very demotivating! However I am keen to keep trying. I have gained approximately 7kg over a 5 year period. Partly of which was giving up smoking. I suppose sometimes you want it to fall off in the first 7 days. "Unrealistic" I know. I'm not going back to my old eating habits but I'm sure over the next few weeks I will start to notice a difference. I never realised how yummy avacado on toast is for breakfast. My 18 year old daughter even enjoys it. Well, the blogs are great reading. Will keep focused.

13 Aug 2010 2:26 PM

Quote

Reply # 402514 on 383611

Deleted user

I am at the end of week four and my weight is still dropping. This week's loss is slightly less than half a kilogram but that still means an average loss per week of one kilogram (4 weeks:3.8kg). My waistline has maintained the reduction of 1kg=1cm.

I had hoped to lose more weight this week and was a little disappointed when I stepped onto the scales this morning. That disappointment threatened, momentarily, to take me back to the diet mentality which, from a weight loss viewpoint, is the precursor to complete failure. In the fructose war, the goal of weight loss is secondary to the much bigger goal of health improvement and represents itself merely as a positive side effect. I reiterate a previous post that freedom from dieting is a true liberation and the only concession I will continue to make to a change in eating habits is fructose avoidance. (Still, I will continue to gleefully celebrate any consequent reduction in bulk).

The eating regime is one of permanent substitution rather than temporary deprivation and I realise that a continued weight loss of one kilogram per week is unsustainable: If it was, I would completely disappear in less than two years.

This week I began to realise the continued quest for sweet things is becoming a chore. I don't miss sweets and therefore see the search for sweetness as habitual and not nearly so rewarding as I would have expected at this stage of my redevelopment. The sweet things I am buying are remaining largely unused. Dextrose powder, glucose syrup and even my latest purchase, rice malt syrup remain practically untouched...yet I am enjoying food more than I can remember doing in the past.

The journey continues.

David F