David Gillespie - New members - 90% convinced, but ....

01 Feb 2011 2:43 AM

Quote

Message # 513117

Deleted user

I bought the SP Quit Plan a couple of weeks ago and it has had a huge impact on my husband (Mark) and me. Our three girls keep threatening to throw the book in the bin, as we wean out high sugar products from our pantry and fridge. We are both attempting the cold turkey approach (subject to one exception). It has been about a week and so far so good other than feeling a bit weird/lightheaded. However, although I find David's arguments very convincing, I do have several "yeah but" questions floating around in my brain.

Our situation is a bit different from many other people on the forum. We are both mid-forties, fit and neither of us need to lose any weight. We run about 3 times a week (total appox 40km) and swim about twice a week (total approx 5km). My cholestrol profile is great, but Mark's is genetically high. Therefore it is more a health and lifestyle choice than weight loss. I have never had much of a sweet tooth, but I will eat home cooked cakes/biscuits etc (must be made with butter, no packet mix either - yuck) or really good quality chocolate. Our fructose would have mainly come from "healthy" foods like fruit, juice, breakfast cereal, yoghurt, condiments and I have a weakness for ice-cream. I think that my "addition" is relatively weak and I would take a hunk of yummy cheese over a piece of chocolate any day of the week.

My "yeah but" questions to David are mainly exercise related. In my opinion, it is exercise that has made it really easy for me to maintain a healthy weight my entire adult life and kept me sane coping with work, family etc. I don't think the equation is a simple as energy in/energy out. Exercise seems to regulate my appetite control and makes me crave the right sort of food. For example, I ran a marathon in 2009 and that night I had the strongest craving for steak and potatoes. If I have over-indulged on sweet stuff such as Christmas or Easter, I actually feel pretty bleh (fructose poisoning I guess), until I go for a good hard run for 10km or so and then I feel normal again. This is not a coginitive thing about depriving or rewarding myself of certain foods because I have exercised. It is reacting to what my body wants. I know of many other people in my running group who have lost weight or easily maintained weight with distance running. I just can't accept that there is no relationship between exercise and weight control.

So some of my questions are:

Is the strict "no sugar" rather than "low sugar" eating plan for everyone? Part of me worries about messing around with my current eating habits. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
We go for a two hour (sometimes more) run on a Sat morning. I always drink some Gatorade before the run and some after. I make this up from powder, about half the recommended strength. About one hour into a run, I also take a GU. It is 4:1 maltodextrin:fructose. If I don't have enough hydration or energy on board I am prone to low blood pressure and get lightheaded. Is it okay to continue with the Gatorade and Gu on the long runs? http://guenergy.com/products/gu-energy-gel/flavors-nutrition_tri-berry
This one is from left field - if traditional Thai and Vietnamese sauces are no go, why aren't people who eat the traditional diet, sugar-addicted and fat? We regularly make some really tasty Asian salads, but of course the dressings are fish sauce, brown sugar and lime juice. It's much harder for me to commit to giving this up than giving up chocolate.

Now as for getting our three girls (8, 10, 12) on board with this ...... sigh.

Katy

01 Feb 2011 7:17 PM

Quote

Reply # 513779 on 513117

Deleted user

Yes, good question about the Thai diet with all the brown sugar in everything - I wondered the same thing myself about this diet and why they aren't obese yet! I did Atkins for the last 2 years (fell off the wagon a bit in the last 6 mths though!) and when I ate a takeaway Thai Green Chicken curry I could taste all the sugar in there but my friend also eating it said it wasn't that sweet... must've been my readjusted taste buds after going without sugar for months... I'd never noticed how sweet this sauce was before.

02 Feb 2011 12:18 AM

Quote

Reply # 513935 on 513779

Deleted user

Mary F Doyle wrote: Yes, good question about the Thai diet with all the brown sugar in everything - I wondered the same thing myself about this diet and why they aren't obese yet! I did Atkins for the last 2 years (fell off the wagon a bit in the last 6 mths though!) and when I ate a takeaway Thai Green Chicken curry I could taste all the sugar in there but my friend also eating it said it wasn't that sweet... must've been my readjusted taste buds after going without sugar for months... I'd never noticed how sweet this sauce was before.

I think you will find there small servings are well below the 3g/100 once you put the rice with it. Also it never stays long enough in my system to be absorbed.

02 Feb 2011 6:08 PM

Quote

Reply # 514613 on 513117

Deleted user

Some very good valid points. With regards to the exercise question and as they say everyone is different. Problem being these days we have become a more lazy society compared to the days in the 1800s. Do you know how many calories one would burn doing all the sorts of things they done? How many calories you actually burn just cleaning a house or making bread with your hands (not using any sort of machines). It's actually tough work, and the problem these days like me I work in an office and sit on my backside most of the day, so I need to exercise becuse it gets me moving otherwise I'd be stiff and won't be able to walk. So we need to exercise to help balance out the energy (that's my theory anyway). For people who work in child care, or physical labour I wouldn't think they would need to exercise as they would produce efficient out energy just with their job alone. Now just because someone is slim and the correct weight doesn't mean to say they are healthy on the inside which is a common misconception nowadays. I now people who are very slim, can eat what ever they like including lollies, take away and not gain an ounce of weight, does that make them healthy just because they are slim. No, because as they say it's what's on the inside that counts, and if they got a checkup I'm sure they would be astounded with the results. Fructose if evil and even though someone appears healthy and eats endless amounts of fructose it will still be doing endless damage on the inside. Asians do eat a lot of rice which is actually quite good for you, they also do eat a lot of veges and meats, asians don't actually eat many sweets, cakes or biscuits, so the only sugar they get is from any sauces they consume which is generally not much because they are strong flavours and they only use about 1-2 tablespoons and are generally under the 3g/100g.

25 Aug 2011 6:55 AM

Quote

Reply # 684310 on 513117

Deleted user

Katy Russell wrote:
I bought the SP Quit Plan a couple of weeks ago and it has had a huge impact on my husband (Mark) and me. Our three girls keep threatening to throw the book in the bin, as we wean out high sugar products from our pantry and fridge. We are both attempting the cold turkey approach (subject to one exception). It has been about a week and so far so good other than feeling a bit weird/lightheaded. However, although I find David's arguments very convincing, I do have several "yeah but" questions floating around in my brain.

Our situation is a bit different from many other people on the forum. We are both mid-forties, fit and neither of us need to lose any weight. We run about 3 times a week (total appox 40km) and swim about twice a week (total approx 5km). My cholestrol profile is great, but Mark's is genetically high. Therefore it is more a health and lifestyle choice than weight loss. I have never had much of a sweet tooth, but I will eat home cooked cakes/biscuits etc (must be made with butter, no packet mix either - yuck) or really good quality chocolate. Our fructose would have mainly come from "healthy" foods like fruit, juice, breakfast cereal, yoghurt, condiments and I have a weakness for ice-cream.  I think that my "addition" is relatively weak and I would take a hunk of yummy cheese over a piece of chocolate any day of the week.

My "yeah but" questions to David are mainly exercise related. In my opinion, it is exercise that has made it really easy for me to maintain a healthy weight my entire adult life and kept me sane coping with work, family etc. I don't think the equation is a simple as energy in/energy out. Exercise seems to regulate my appetite control and makes me crave the right sort of food. For example, I ran a marathon in 2009 and that night I had the strongest craving for steak and potatoes. If I have over-indulged on sweet stuff such as Christmas or Easter, I actually feel pretty bleh (fructose poisoning I guess), until I go for a good hard run for 10km or so and then I feel normal again. This is not a coginitive thing about depriving or rewarding myself of certain foods because I have exercised.  It is reacting to what my body wants. I know of many other people in my running group who have lost weight or easily maintained weight with distance running. I just can't accept that there is no relationship between exercise and weight control.

So some of my questions are:

Is the strict "no sugar" rather than "low sugar" eating plan for everyone? Part of me worries about messing around with my current eating habits. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

We go for a two hour (sometimes more) run on a Sat morning. I always drink some Gatorade before the run and some after. I make this up from powder, about half the recommended strength. About one hour into a run, I also take a GU. It is 4:1 maltodextrin:fructose. If I don't have enough hydration or energy on board I am prone to low blood pressure and get lightheaded.  Is it okay to continue with the Gatorade and Gu on the long runs? http://guenergy.com/products/gu-energy-gel/flavors-nutrition_tri-berry

This one is from left field - if traditional Thai and Vietnamese sauces are no go, why aren't people who eat the traditional diet, sugar-addicted and fat? We regularly make some really tasty Asian salads, but of course the dressings are fish sauce, brown sugar and lime juice. It's much harder for me to commit to giving this up than giving up chocolate.

Now as for getting our three girls (8, 10, 12) on board with this ...... sigh.

Katy

Hi Katy,

I'm new to the website and was reading through your letter and wanted to know how you got on with your girls and converting them to sugar free. I have two girls (9,12) who are huge addicts and even the mention of sugar free send them into a spin. I have done the Failsafe (no additives, preservatives, colours etc) with them previously and they haven't forgiven me!.

I'd love to hear how you went with them and any advice to make the transition easier.

I've been sugar free for almost 4 weeks, by accident at first as I was following the 17 day diet. Now I've decided to keep going as I was a sugar addict as well! I still get the usual cravings, especially after dinner.

Thanks

Coralee

25 Aug 2011 9:20 AM

Quote

Reply # 684414 on 513117

Deleted user

Katy Russell wrote:
I bought the SP Quit Plan a couple of weeks ago and it has had a huge impact on my husband (Mark) and me. Our three girls keep threatening to throw the book in the bin, as we wean out high sugar products from our pantry and fridge. We are both attempting the cold turkey approach (subject to one exception). It has been about a week and so far so good other than feeling a bit weird/lightheaded. However, although I find David's arguments very convincing, I do have several "yeah but" questions floating around in my brain.

Our situation is a bit different from many other people on the forum. We are both mid-forties, fit and neither of us need to lose any weight. We run about 3 times a week (total appox 40km) and swim about twice a week (total approx 5km). My cholestrol profile is great, but Mark's is genetically high. Therefore it is more a health and lifestyle choice than weight loss. I have never had much of a sweet tooth, but I will eat home cooked cakes/biscuits etc (must be made with butter, no packet mix either - yuck) or really good quality chocolate. Our fructose would have mainly come from "healthy" foods like fruit, juice, breakfast cereal, yoghurt, condiments and I have a weakness for ice-cream.  I think that my "addition" is relatively weak and I would take a hunk of yummy cheese over a piece of chocolate any day of the week.

My "yeah but" questions to David are mainly exercise related. In my opinion, it is exercise that has made it really easy for me to maintain a healthy weight my entire adult life and kept me sane coping with work, family etc. I don't think the equation is a simple as energy in/energy out. Exercise seems to regulate my appetite control and makes me crave the right sort of food. For example, I ran a marathon in 2009 and that night I had the strongest craving for steak and potatoes. If I have over-indulged on sweet stuff such as Christmas or Easter, I actually feel pretty bleh (fructose poisoning I guess), until I go for a good hard run for 10km or so and then I feel normal again. This is not a coginitive thing about depriving or rewarding myself of certain foods because I have exercised.  It is reacting to what my body wants. I know of many other people in my running group who have lost weight or easily maintained weight with distance running. I just can't accept that there is no relationship between exercise and weight control.

So some of my questions are:

Is the strict "no sugar" rather than "low sugar" eating plan for everyone? Part of me worries about messing around with my current eating habits. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

We go for a two hour (sometimes more) run on a Sat morning. I always drink some Gatorade before the run and some after. I make this up from powder, about half the recommended strength. About one hour into a run, I also take a GU. It is 4:1 maltodextrin:fructose. If I don't have enough hydration or energy on board I am prone to low blood pressure and get lightheaded.  Is it okay to continue with the Gatorade and Gu on the long runs? http://guenergy.com/products/gu-energy-gel/flavors-nutrition_tri-berry

This one is from left field - if traditional Thai and Vietnamese sauces are no go, why aren't people who eat the traditional diet, sugar-addicted and fat? We regularly make some really tasty Asian salads, but of course the dressings are fish sauce, brown sugar and lime juice. It's much harder for me to commit to giving this up than giving up chocolate.

Now as for getting our three girls (8, 10, 12) on board with this ...... sigh.

Katy

Hello Katy
yes everyone is different. I used to do as much exercise as you................but the difference with me is that I could still gain weight.
Two years ago I damaged my ankle and it's chronic, so I can't exercise. But I have lost 10 kilos using the fructose free way and feel so much better. My blood pressure has dropped and various other ailments have disappeared.
So, welcome to the forum, you will find us all interestingly very different and very supportive.
cheers
Freda