Welcome to the Group

Welcome! We would love get to know you, so please tell us a little bit about yourself. You can choose any format you'd like, but most of us here share some or all of the following details:

1. History with weight loss:
2. History with Calorie Count:
3. Reason for joining this group:
4. Some interesting details about yourself, such as your job, your family, your pets and your interests:

And now just go ahead and make that first post!

A couple of times in my life I have lost upwards of 20 pounds.  However, it was not a lifestyle change.  Now I have changed my lifestyle and I am now up to 45 pounds lost!  It doesn't reflect it on CC because I joined it after already losing 15 pounds.

I didn't start out to lose weight.  I was having mental block issues and gave up refined sugar.  My mental blocks went away and one of the side benefits was losing 15 pounds without any effort.  I had used CC in the past just to look up calories in food but this time I joined.

I have now been off of sugar for the last 6 months and don't miss it a bit.  I joined this group to see what other issues people have as a result of sugar.  I have been toying with the idea of giving up on white flour.  I have heard of some great health benefits.  From what I understand, it takes less than a week to see the benefits although, the holidays are making it somewhat tough.

Good for you for going that long without sugar, bigdad!  I am on day four and already looking forward to the Christmas cookies I plan to allow myself.    DId you miss it in the beginning? 

I am giving up sugar because I honestly believe I am (was?) addicted to it.  I know it's not the same kind of addiction as drugs or alcohol, but I planned my day around dessert.  I would run to the groery store at 10pm if I realized I was out of chocolate, to make sure I'd have some in case of cravings later in the nigth!  I was eating at least 500 calories of candy/dessert, etc. a day.  Often 1,000 or more.  The breaking point came when I was out of dessert and actually ate sugar out of the bag one night! 

I don't know much about giving up white flour.  It seems like that would be harder than giving up sugar-----you couldn't even order a cheeseburger without a wheat bun, lol, but I guess you shouldn't eat a cheeseburger anyhow!  Good luck if you decide to try.

Lost 43 lbs since July 07. Diabetic so I have been monitoring my intake. Carbs turn into sugar, so remember that also!

Take care and God bless.

Giving up sugar was tough at first.  The first three days were the worst, after that my body adjusted and the craving went away.  It wasn't until about a month later that the constant thoughts and desire were mostly gone.

I still have a desire every now and then but I only allow myself a sugary treat for special occasions.  If I sweeten anything, it is with honey or a mashed banana.  I think it is better than artificial sweeteners and refined sweeteners.  My wife uses stevia but I even stay away from that.

Your pallet will adjust over time and your tastes will change.  All I have to do is remind myself about the way things were and that is motivation enough.

As for the white flour, six months ago I couldn't have given it up either but now things are different.  I heard that the effects are almost as dramatic as giving up sugar.  I am willing to experiment for a week.  If I have no benefit or the benefit is minimal, I may not give it up.  If I notice a big enough change, one week may turn into a month or longer or for good.  I am just experimenting.

Yuyu, your quote of - "I am giving up sugar because I honestly believe I am (was?) addictedto it.  I know it's not the same kind of addiction as drugs or alcohol, but I planned my day around dessert.  I would run to the groery store at 10pm if I realized I was out of chocolate, to make sure I'd have some in case of cravings later in the nigth!  I was eating at least 500 calories of candy/dessert, etc. a day.  Often 1,000 or more.  The breaking point came when I was out of dessert and actually ate sugar out of the bag one night!" - would show and addiction.  Your body was probably looking for a sugar rush or may have an issue regulating its blood sugar levels.  Good for you realizing "rock bottom"!  If you need some inspiration, read about Jack LaLanne's life story.  He and his wife Elaine were "sugarholics".  At 94 Jack is a real testament to what good nutrition and exercise will do for you.

Blessings

1. I've been on a roller coaster of weight ever since I graduated high school 4 years ago.  I was about 140 then, gained about 20 pounds, lost it all, and gained about 15 back.  And that was all without trying or paying any attention.  Since I started working out in September, I have lost a few pounds and have about 8 to go to fit nicely back in my high school jeans!

2. I joined CC about a month ago.  I never thought I would become this active in it!  Reading and posting in the forums keeps me motivated.  

3. I have Type 1 Diabetes and wear an insulin pump.  In almost 12 years, my blood sugar has never been under control, but I'm determined now.  My A1C was 9.1 last week (down from 9.8) but it needs to be between 6-7.  My doctor is an ass but I don't have any alternatives, and he thinks I'm incompetent (I'm really just lazy and have a hard time making myself care).  I'm determined to prove that I can do this.

4. I'm a senior in college at the beach (talk about pressure to look good!).  I have a wonderful boyfriend.  We share a yellow lab/husky mix who stars in my profile picture.  I also have a crazy little orange kitty.  I am absolutely, totally obsessed with both of them!  I work at a bookstore, it's a pretty good job and it's usually fun.  I want to go to law school but I didn't study for the LSAT this summer like I was supposed to, so that dream has to wait a year or so.  Hopefully not too long. 

I just realized I never introduced myself, so here goes.....

1. I was always at a healthy weight and still am for the most part.  I started binging about 5 years ago and slowly added on 10 pounds.  Even then I was in good shape, w/ bmi 21.  A few days ago, however, I realized that I weighed TEN pounds more than I evvvvver have.  I'd been tossing around the idea of giving up sugar for about a year, and that night I finally got motivated to actually do it. 

2. I joined CC about three weeks ago, never thought I'd bee this active in it either!  This is why my screenname is a random assortment of letters that mean nothing.  XD  I'm not really sure what I'm suposed to do as group moderator, so please help me out if you have any suggestions!!

3. A couple weeks ago I realized I am addicted to sugar as I was eating sugar out of a bag with a spoon beause there was no dessert/candy in the house.  Also, I thikn I'm hypoglycemic (or headed that way) because much of my fam is and I have lots of symptoms.  Also, I want to lose those eight pounds! 

4. I'm in grad school studying history.  Love to travel and work out, although working out has gotten hard after breaking my foot. 

Spent  most of my life fighting my weight -- but probably was never very much overweight, just not fitting society's  picture of 5'8" 125lbs.....

Been on CC since Aug 07, have lost 60lb and gained 5...  it is the gaining 5 (or is it 7?) that drew me to this group -- and the fact that I just ate half a pan of brownies.  The chocolate will be the death of me.

I've been a volunteer moderator on site since November 07 -- it keeps me busy.  Other than that, I am a swim coach IRL, as well as a medical receptionist.  I also happen to be retired from the USAF (after 26 years).  I am desperately trying to find a way to tell my husband of 24 years that I want/need a divorce -- this is adding to my stress eating.  Chocolate/sugar (sour things) has always been my goto emotional support food.

I'm new to Calorie Count and a sugar addict. No matter what I do I can't seem to kick it for good. I weigh 275 lbs and I must lose weight, but it seems impossible. I'm depressed about it most of the time. I'm married and have a dog and a cat.

I'm new to Calorie Count.. I joined because my eating habits are having such a negative impact on me at the minute as in.. i'll eat lots of sugary foods in the evening, then i won't be sleep for ages, making me tired and moody the next day, so i eat even more sugarry goods to keep me going... and so on. i want to break this cycle.

I don't really want to loose weight...

And something interesting about me? Uh, my username is an anagram of ballerina. Because i love ballet

Good luck everyone, my sugar ban starts as of now after just having some of works cookies! boo

 

Anyhow good luck everyone!

oh my gosh allribena!!  i love your name!!!  (and i love ballet too)

I am (was!) just the same as you.  I'd pretty much eat healthy all day, but at night out of boredom or addiction or who knows what i'd end up eating about 500 - 1,000 cals of sugar junk, and then i couldn't sleep . . . so i'd get up to eat more sugar, because i'm a logical girl apparently! 

i'm on my 8th day sugar-free and having less trouble falling asleep at night!  this might be because i'm exhausted from studying and running around like crazy all day-----but i fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow last night, and that's hardly happened in my life.  giving up sugar is definitely helpful if you have sleep problems. 

thank you yuyuyuyu!

well i didn't have a sugar binge last night and best night sleep i had in ages! i must keep it up!

1.  I've lost 100 lbs by reducing calories.

2.  I've been with CC for a little over a year

3.  Sugar calories (500+) per day are preventing me from staying within my daily calorie range, preventing me from sleeping well, and contributing to my migraines. 

4. Sugar is a trigger food for me.  Once I sample something, I crave it all day.  There have been days where I'd fancy a pint of Hageen Dazs over dinner.  Now, I'm planning the days that I will have it instead of having it on a whim and I'm hoping to eliminate it all together.

Welcome, jcbolt!  I totally agree that even though it sounds like a good idea, eating sugar in "moderation" can be really hard.  It's better for me to just give it up cold turkey too.  Isn't it nice to know that if your eating starts to go out of control, you can stop eating sugar and everything turns around pretty quickly?  giving up sugar helps me out mentally as well as physically too.  i think it's a great thing to do if you're going through stress or just need to think clearly.  glad you've found this way to be happy.    (:

(but i do have a confession!  i got sick this weekend and started eating a little sugar.  first time since november 26.  no major sweets, just chocolate covered rice cakes and sweet cereal.  it is unbelievable how overaly sweet these things taste now.  at this point, i can refrain from overeating them just because i don't like the taste!) 

So how do you feel now that you had sugar??? I often feel much crappier when I eat sugar.

Jo

Hi, Im new to CC.  I have also tried to cut out sugar but find it hard. The more I eat the more I want, it is definitely addictive. It makes me feel really tired the next day and also makes me retain fluid. I know its bad for me but I cant enjoy a cup of coffe or tea without it. The only thing that works for me is to try not to have it in the first place, which is easier said than done..I have discovered a product called Stevia which is a natural sweetner, its even sweeter than sugar. I have the liquid form and only need a couple of drops in my coffee. I purchase it from the health food store. Artificial sweetners are so bad for you. As for other sweet foods I try not to buy them or have them around.

Hello! I have been a member of calorie count for awhile. It helped me lose weight last year but now I am right back where I started. I have 8 lbs to lose, I am not considered overweight but I have high standards for my physical appearance. I thought I'd join this group because my biggest weakness in dieting is sugar! I love candy and sweet anything, it is ridiculous trying not to eat it for me because that is what makes me feel deprived and then I binge. I can eat straight vegetables all day but put a butterfinger or sour straw or baked goodie in front of me and it's over. :( I'm having a hard time going one day without sweets. Need support!

The first three days are the toughest when you go cold turkey.  It is important to read the ingredient labels of all the foods you eat.  Make sure you don't buy foods that have any "oses" added to them (sucrose, dextrose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup and so on).  When you need a sweet, grab a natural sweet such as a piece of fruit.  Lastly, never say never, If you have been good to your body, a piece of candy on a special occasion is OK but don't make a habit of it.

Good luck!

jcbolt asked a while back how i felt when i started eating sugar again.  well, fine at first, and i even stopped using calorie-count for a month.  but eventually so bad that i'm going cold turkey again!  i think if you start eating a little you still won't like it for a while, maybe up to about three weeks, but then it's back to addiction.  i got to a new low point when i ate an entire 2,000 or so calorie bag of m&ms in one day yesterday.  now i'm determined to go back to NO SUGAR.

question: for those who have given up sugar, gone back to eating it, and then given it up again, how hard was it to give up the second time?  easier or harder or about the same? 

Hi,

Just joined CC. TOTAL sugar addict. Trying to lose some lbs. and have gone COLD TURKEY from sugar (for the 2nd time). In response to yuyuyu- it is SO much easier this time. I truly don't crave sugar. I check all labels and limit amap any added sugar. I eat fruit whenever I want. I have heard from a no-sugar friend that if you are truly addicted, you can never try to go back to having "just a little". I am not the kind of person who can have ONE cookie, or SOME m&m's. It's always SIX cookies or 1/2 BAG m&m's. I'm going to try to keep this up-it's been 2 weeks, 4 days. Yea!

I hit Reply - is that how you post?

Anyway, I just joined. I have been battling my weight for years. Several years ago I lost (and maintained for a while) a little over 30lbs. Was very active. Then hit my 40's and menopause. I have gained 5 or more lbs a year since then. I am a Diet Coke addict and a sugar addict (they go hand in hand - try to fool myself by drinking the diet stuff). I know I have to really give it up, but am having a hard time.