Hi, David:) Happy Thanksgiving!
From Oct. 30 - Nov. 25, I have 24 out of 27 days-sugar free. Thank you for the challenge, it helped a lot.

I plan to do what you suggested, no sweets except for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, not sure which one yet.

Good-luck to all!

Hey David,
I’ve been sugar-free since November 15th and i’m up to continue the challenge throughout the holidays!
Happy thanksgiving everyone! Enjoy your meals!

However, i was really saddened to discover that sushi contains sugar (in the rice); i’m still not sure if i should make sushi an exception or if i should cross it off completely and just eat sashimi.
Does it make it harder to go sugar-less when you have an exception?

Hi Julia and Kirin,

Thanks for commenting! It makes me happy to know you’re doing well. Kirin, the Sugar Challenge is for learning about how much you want and need sugar in your diet. It’s more about cutting out your trigger foods than it is about not eating rice or potatoes. If you love sushi and you don’t find yourself eating it until you’re bloated, then try it.

Hey David!
I meant to say that there is added sugar in the sushi rice (not just from the rice itself). It’s really everywhere… even in table salt! I have to say i am saving so much money from not going to the restaurant or to coffee shops.
I love this lifestyle change to bits! I see it more as bringing in natural, whole foods into my diet more than cutting something out.
As you said before, you make a choice when faced with food. You become proactive.

Hi David-
I took 4 days off when my parents were visiting for Thanksgiving, but now I’m back in until my blood test on Feb. 10 (except that I will split one carton of eggnog with my husband, and have one box of chocolate-covered cordial cherries to myself, at some point during December).

My cravings had really gone away for the most part before Thanksgiving, and I was able to sit very comfortably when birthday cake was passed out at a gathering on Tuesday, without wanting any myself.  But I hadn’t done the advance thinking necessary to come up with a menu for my guests that was sugar-free, so I let the effort drop.  It gave me a chance to remember that when I’m eating sugar, it’s never enough.  However many pieces of candy I have, or scoops of ice cream, I stop because I “shouldn’t” have any more, or because I’m embarrassed to keep dishing up in front of other people, but I still want it nearly as much when I stop eating as I did just before I started.  It seems the more effective way to feel satisfied is to not start at all, over enough time that the cravings just don’t come in the first place.

Kirin, who knew? Glad sushi was never my thing. Thanks for the info.

Angela, the cravings… enjoy (be careful with) the cherries!

Just found your site. I will be taking your challenge. Keep the encouragement coming!! Is there an article on what to expect?

Hi Mike,

Expect this.

Don’t worry, it gets better. Way better!

I know of at least two people who ate sugar already. How are you doing?

Hey everyone!
I’m still sugar-free as of November 15th. I don’t really miss the junk food that much. I’ve been making my own bread, eating more fruit and veggies, and making everything from scratch. People around me have been very very supportive. My skin has improved 80%, as has my mood, my energy, etc.
I think the book “Sugar blues” really helped me drill the fact that sugar is poison into my head. I highly recommend it.
Good luck to everyone as we enter into our sugar-free new year.

*hugs*

Going pretty good here.  The actual sweets have been fairly easy to avoid, since the cravings went away about 2 weeks in.  I just had my first glass of eggnog last night (one of the 2 exceptions I planned this Christmas season), and I actually didn’t enjoy it that much.  I don’t know if that’s just because it’s a different brand than I usually get, or if my tastes have already changed, but it tasted sweet in a bad way.  My mother unexpectedly sent me a small package of homemade cookies, and even though the phrase “food isn’t love” went through my head, I decided to eat them—but only 2 at a time, sitting down with a cup of tea, to make sure it’s a mindful experience.

The hard part is avoiding sugar in “regular” food, and I can see that will be an ongoing struggle for some time.  I am in the habit of eating out a fair amount, and you just don’t know what’s in restaurant food.  I suspect it’s used a fair amount in Indian and Chinese dishes.  I’ve been eating out a little less lately, but just can’t find enough time to cook.

Also, I haven’t decided just how to deal with alcohol.  Ingredients aren’t usually listed, and even if they were, yeast eat sugar to make the alcohol, so how does the consumer know how much “leftover” sugar there is after the yeast have done their thing?

Hi Angela,
I also have a lot of trouble eating out. So many recipes online include at least a teaspoon of sugar here and there, so i would assume that restaurants may include sugar in some of their salty dishes, breads, etc.
I was actually wondering about Indian food. I make some at home, but i have been avoiding one of my favorite restaurants (an indian restaurant) because i’m not sure if they use sugar. I called and asked and they said “no”, but i can’t really be sure.

As for Alcohol, i just avoid it completely. I was at an office party drinking carbonated water and of course they all asked why i wasn’t having a martini or at least a fruit juice. I said “i don’t drink anymore” and they thought i was a recovering alcoholic! No, but close: a recovering sugar addict.

Glad to hear you’re all doing well. This week is the toughest! I’ve already been invited to partake in some chocolate homemade mousse…