New Year, New Start!!

Happy new year everyone. I hope the year ahead is a healthy, and happy one for you. Thank you everyone for all your support , and interest this year.

This last year for me has been very much the year of going sugar free!!! My experiences have quite simply changed my life. I had no idea on 5th January 2016 where my experiences would lead, and I am delighted with the results. I really believe anyone can do this.  Best of all this way is FREE!!!

I spent years signing up to slimming groups, gyms, buying books, and buying the right stuff to get in shape , and lose weight. But you can actually lose weight, and get into shape for FREE!!! Yes FREE!!! No subscriptions or memberships at all. You don’t even need a set of scales!!!! This is not a criticisim of other methods, I spent years going to slimming groups, gyms, and buying the right stuff, and it all helped to a point. At the time it was the right thing for me. However following my experiences over the last year, I have realised there are just two things you need to do. Just two…CUT OUT SUGAR, AND WALK!!! Yes, it’s that simple. If you were to do these two things during 2017, I am pretty certain by this December 2017, you would see AMAZING results!!

So how do you start? These are a few things I have found useful over the last year.

• Decide what is your motivation for doing this? Make small goals. My first one was to lose weight for my brothers wedding in 6 months.
• Ditch the scales!!! Yes, ditch them. Get rid of them!!! My life for years was controlled by what the number said on the scales. I became obsessed . Even down to what clothes I wore to slimming, to lose that extra lb. As soon as I ditched the scales, I felt liberated. I very rarely weigh myself now.
• Check the sugar content on foods. Yes, I know it could be painful . But sugar is everywhere, and when I started reading the sugar content in foods I was truly shocked. Cereals, canned soups, beans, and fruit juices are some of the worst offenders!!
• Keep a feelings diary. THINK about why you are eating these sugary foods. HOW ARE YOU FEELING WHEN YOU EAT THEM? ARE YOU EATING THEM FOR ENJOYMENT, AND PLEASURE? OR ARE YOU EATING THEM BECAUSE YOU ARE ANGRY, UPSET, OR DEPRESSED?
• Drink LOTS of water!!!
• Walk yes, walk. Just one foot in front of the other. If you aren’t used to walking , just walk to the end of the road and back. Once you have done that walk to the end of two roads, and back. Then just keep building up how far you walk. I found it the most relaxing thing. You will notice all those things, you don’t normally notice.
• GET CREATIVE IN THE KITCHEN. IF WHAT YOU LIKE HAS SUGAR IN, WHY NOT MAKE A SUGAR FREE VERSION?
• DON’T FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN’T HAVE, FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN HAVE
• Get support, get others involved. Raise money for charity by quitting sugar??
• Check out all the free online sites, facebook pages.
• Use this blog, and the PRACTICALLY SUGAR FREE ME FACEBOOK PAGE!!
• If you have questions, or need support please feel free to contact me.

 

Having spent a year doing this. I KNOW this has worked for me. I have lost over 2 stone, and dropped about 4 dress sizes since last year. Above all I have seen a huge improvement in my emotional, and physical wellbeing. Last but not least,I am very excited to say that I have already set myself a goal for 2017!!  I am going to walk a 26 mile walking marathon in September 2017!! I have always wanted to run a marathon, but due to past and current medical conditions decided that would be too much. So a chance remark from a work colleague inspired me to walk a marathon!! So I have signed up to do the London walking marathon to raise money for the Stroke Association in memory of my late gran, who also inspired this page!! A year ago, I never imagined walking a marathon, now I am signed up for it, and training!!!

Wishing you all well with your challenges, and goals for 2017. I hope this year I have shown that anything is possible, and I really believe it is. 2016 was the year that changed my life, maybe 2017 can be the year that changed yours!!

Lots of Love

Tracy xxx

 

Merry Christmas, and positive change!!

Firstly thank you to all of you for your support this year, whether you have liked, commented, shared the link to my blog, or read some of my posts. The support I am overwhelmed, and genuinely humbled that people have paid an interest in this blog. I hope that somewhere along the way, it might have helped or inspired some of you. Whilst a lot of this blog shares my sugar free experiences, the intention isn’t for it to be about me but rather to be about others..YOU!!! When I learnt how sugar effected me, I wanted others to know the negative effects it could have on their emotional, and physical wellbeing. Furthermore that you don’t have to join some group, sign up to a gym or similar, or buy loads of books. YOU COULD DO ALL THIS FOR FREE!!! YOU COULD DO THIS YOURSELF WITHOUT PAYING OUT A PENNY!!! From my experience it is very easy when I have been desperate not just to lose weight, but in all sorts of situations, to spend lots of money. That carrot is dangled in front of your nose, and if I thought it was miracle cure or answer I would go for it. After all it was going to solve all my problems wasn’t it?!

This is the time in the year, when I have often looked back with regrets from an eating healthy perspective. Either I FAILED again at that diet, I SHOULD have stock to it, and how to I end up weighing 14lbs heavier than I did at the beginning of the year. Not to mention I SHOULD have made use of that gym membership, or I COULD have gone out walking more. Get the picture. Yep, I have done a lot of that beating myself up stuff over the years. That self loathing, when you see how awful you look in that Christmas outfit, that looked great on the model in the shop!!! When you look in the mirror, and see how big you are. Then there is always that person at Christmas who you bump into that was always bigger than you, but is no slimmer. How did that happen??!! This kind of stuff has followed me around for years, and left me on occasion in a very dark depressive place. I’ve cried a lot too!! It is a truly HORRIBLE place to be, and those that don’t struggle with weight or eating issues will find it hard to understand.

This year I feel totally different, and my mind set has changed. If you like me struggle with all those negative emotions, I want to say you can change all this. If I can do this I promise you, you can too. This time next year you can be free of all that stuff. Sounds to easy right?! I mean how can that work….unless you have a fairy godmother with a magic wand!!! My secret was I broke the cycle. Once I did it with sugar I started to break countless other cycle including work, and finances. I realised for years I had gone round, and round on this merry go round of the same old stuff. What I hadn’t realised was this ‘if you keep doing what you always do, and it’s not working….you need to break the cycle, change what you do, and find something that works!’ I realised I have got stuck in a rut doing the same old stuff, and continually failing. In turn I then developed a negative mind set . So before I even started I had failed due to lack of interest, or passion in what I was doing. I realised what I was doing wasn’t working. I change the way I ate, I didn’t make it a diet, I made it about choice. I also ditched the scales!!! I was no longer controlled by the number on the scales. I then changed my job, and started a totally new career. From working with children, and young people to working in a library, then I took control of my finances. Much like sugar , my finances had controlled me rather me taking control of them!!

So with just a couple of days before Christmas, you probably don’t even want to think about going sugar free, and I don’t blame you!! But whether it is going sugar free in the new year, changing a job, lifestyle or anything else. I encourage you to do one thing…. write down a list of all the negatives in your life. I mean EVERYTHING thoughts, feelings , concepts, experiences, people even!!! Now I want you to burn it , cut it up, bin it, whatever!!! Yes, get rid of it!!! Struggling a bit….if someone asked you to hold bags of their rubbish (trash) would you do it?! Exactly!! Let go of all that negative emotion, and feeling. Now grab a blank piece of paper, or a brand new book and write down every single positive you want for 2017. Even if it doesn’t seem doable write it down, how can YOU make it happen??!! This time last year being a sugar free blogger with people from overseas viewing my blog wouldn’t even have made my new positive page. So I promise you the sky is the limit!!! You really can create the change you want, and be the person you want to be. You don’t have to wait till the 1st January 2017, to start those positive changes you can start today!!!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, wherever in the world you might be. I hope the new year is a positive one for you filled with much health, happiness, and positive change.

Thank you again everyone. Lots of love Tracy xxxx

 

 

 

PRACTICALLY A SUGAR FREE ME WORKSHOP COMING SOON!!!

I am super excited to announce, I have decided to run my first ever Practically A Sugar Free Me Workshop in 2017!!! Those that have followed my journey for a while, will know that I launched this blog in February this year, because I wanted to share my experiences with others of going sugar free. Just weeks later, I then set up my Practically A Sugar Free Me facebook page.

Weeks after going sugar free, I started to notice a difference in my skin , and hair which was in better condition that it had been in years. I have always been lucky enough to have good skin, and no spots (or so I thought!) But weeks in I noticed a marked improvement. My skin was shiny, and glossy. I had more energy , and was emotionally happier. I was absolutely SHOCKED by these results, to see such AMAZING results by just cutting out sugar was incredible. I couldn’t believe that doing something so simple could make such a difference. I remember saying to my mum one morning ‘people need to know about this’. And so the idea for my blog, and facebook page were born.

I have come across many different sugar free sites, but all with very different and confusing information. Over the years I have come across so much confusing , and mixed information from the diet, and fitness industry. There is always a latest craze, or fad. Or the thing that is going to change your life. But how can all these things be the one thing to change your life. Without wanting to cause trouble, or conflict, the problem with a lot of  the diet , and fitness industry is most of it is motivated by making money. But the reality is the way I have done this is so easy, free , and accessible to all!!! When I realised this I wanted people to know that anyone can do this, lose weight, and get fit without spending out loads of money.

This year has all been about learning, and my own sugar free journey. Next year I want to share this new knowledge with others, so you too can do this…..if you wish!!

I am currently planning a half day workshop in Haslemere, Surrey, U.K. I want to help show others how simple this is, and empower anyone that they too have the power to do this!! As 2016 draws to a close I really can’t believe , I am planning my first ever sugar free workshop. This time next year the person sharing their sugar free experiences could be you!!!! Yes , you!!! So make 2017 a year a change, become the person you want to be, and create the change you want to see!!! Based on my experiences anything really is possible. Ha ha.

Thank you everyone for your interest, and support. I have been overwhelmed with all your interest , and support. I am truly humbled. God bless you, and lots of love Tracy xxxx

 

 

 

 

Sugar at Christmas?!

So a lot of people have asked me recently if I will be eating sugar at Christmas. That’s an interesting question. A year ago I would have been planning to gorge on everything sugary, and ‘be good in the new year’. I would cram sugary food down me like it was going out of fashion!! If I was going to be dieting in January, I may as well make the most of it over the Christmas period!!! What I now realise is I was eating so much sugary food, I didn’t savour it, enjoy it, let alone want it!!

My life has changed dramatically this year as a result of going sugar free, and so has my mind set. I no longer follow diets. I don’t worry about failing, falling of the wagon, or having a BAD day. Why not I hear you ask? I don’t because I created my own plan. Instead of following rules, I make choices. By making choices there is NO fail. You have no idea how liberating I found that. I also ditched the scales, and that was liberating too.

So as to if I will have sugar over Christmas, I might well have a glass of wine, or a bit of chocolate. BUT, I don’t actually enjoy sugar anymore. My cravings have gone, and I just don’t fancy it or want to eat sugary stuff anymore. In the very rare occasion I might have had anything sugary this year, I have very quickly thought it was to sweet. Or I just didn’t enjoy it. In fact these days I actually choose to look for, or make sugar free alternatives. And you know the weird thing, I actually don’t think I’m missing out. I really don’t it’s nit to so with being good, or potential weight gain. I have just found other things I enjoy more. I honestly cannot believe I am saying this, so I understand all those of you who might think I am talking rubbish!!! A year ago I would probably have thought the same too I mean no lovely sugary sweet treats at Christmas, you would have to be mad not to want SUGAR!!! But not only do I not crave it anymore, I have seen the AMAZING benefits to my health without it.

So this year I will just go with the flow. I’m not planning on bingeing on loads of sugar. I’m not on a diet. So I am just going to enjoy myself. When I named my facebook page. I called it Practically Sugar Free, because I felt it would be misleading to say sugar free. So this Christmas just like my facebook page I am going to be practically sugar free. Above all I am going to enjoy it!! Whatever you are eating over the festive since, I hope you enjoy it. One thing to remember is all the time you are in charge of what you eat, there is absolutely nothing to fail at. Because you are in control, and make the choices. Now that is a very empowering place to be. Have fun everyone!!

THANK YOU, breaking the cycle, and so much more!!

Tonight wasn’t a night I planned to write a post to be honest. I have one of those seasonal cold/flu virus , and feeling bleurgh!! However I have had the most super exciting 48 hours , that motivated me to post.

Firstly some of you will remember for some time I have been contemplating doing a Practically Sugar Free Me workshop. Well I have been putting some posts up on old facebook this weekend, and I have had incredible interest in it. So that’s it my next step on this journey is a Practically Sugar Free journey is a workshop!! I really can’t believe it. Many of you will have followed my journey for some time, and I can honestly say if it wasn’t for your interest, and support this wouldn’t have happened. I feel incredibly grateful , and blessed that so many people from around the world come on here to check out my blog. Many of you I have never met. I feel truly, and genuinely humbled. Thank you. When I started this blog on 17th February this year, my mission was to share with as many people as possible the negative effect sugar could have on physical, and emotional wellbeing. Not only that but, I wanted people to realise how simple it could be , and that it didn’t have to be difficult or complicated. Above all I wanted to know just what a positive impact giving up sugar could have.

Whilst there is a lot of media hype about sugar, I don’t think that people really realise the effect it can have on people. Within 6 weeks my hair condition improved, my skin looked better, I had more energy, I was less worried, and anxious about things. I knew then that I wanted to share this with people.

I have spent years trapped in a cycle of dieting, slimming groups, and trying all sorts of things to lose weight. But something I never realised was I got so hung up on following someone else’s slimming plan/rules, and then worrying about failing or having a bad week, that I lost sight of one thing ……WHAT WAS BEST FOR ME!!! So I tore up the rule book, and did it my way. I ditched rules, and made sugar free about choice NOT what I could, and couldn’t eat. By doing so I made my plan about choice NOT being bad or failing!! I SET MYSELF FREE…..AND IT WAS LIBERATING. To anyone contemplating this. You will find a way that works for you. DO NOT FOLLOW MY PLAN, AND WORRY ABOUT NOT DOING IT THE SAME WAY. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT!! MAKE IT ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU, AND ABOVE ALL DO IT YOUR WAY!!!

Thank you again everyone. With love Tracy xxx

This time next year!!!

So Christmas is nearly upon us. The time to eat drink , and be merry! A chance to binge out on our favourite foods, and forget all about healthy living. Well at least until January!! This time last year, I would have been planning and looking forward to all sorts of sugary foods. I was worried about my weight, and kept beating myself up with the usual kind of ‘I need to lose weight, but I will start in the year!!’ I held out the distant hope that this time next year, I might actually have lost several stone. However tried a few slimming groups, diets, alternative therapies over the years, I was at a loss to know where to go with it. I felt trapped in a vicious cycle of weight gain, and weight loss. In my twenties I had been very slim, and I longed to be that way again. But after several years of health issues, and an underactive thyroid that had gone undetected for a while. Although thankfully now I’ve been on medication for a few years it makes the difference.

So this time last year, I was in a very different place. If you had told me that I would be approaching my first Practically Sugar Free Christmas, NEVER in a million years would I have believed you. It’s Christmas , so I still intend to enjoy myself. A glass of bubbly, maybe a mouthful or two of Christmas Pud. But you know what something strange happened this year, I LOST my cravings for sugar, and if I’m honest I don’t actually enjoy it anymore. Yes, I kid you not!!! This time last year the idea of giving up sugar was daunting to say the least, actually I don’t think a year ago today I was even thinking it!!

But over the last 11 months not only have I lost my sugar cravings, but I have seen the VERY positive effects of going practically sugar free. My relationship with food has changed, and quite simply a different person. I have made positive changes in so many different areas of my life work and finances among them.

Based on my experiences I really believe that sugar has a huge effect on our emotional , and physical well being. For example I have been taking thyroid medication for 5 years, I realised not long after giving up sugar, that sugar slows the metabolism down. So the medication I was taking, was battling away against the amount of sugar my body was full off. I have also noticed I worry less, and am more relaxed in myself.

So as you contemplate the year ahead, and this time next year….I would say anything is possible. If you are looking to make some lifestyle changes. I would suggest write a list, and then give them a rating between 1-10 of how confident you are of achieving them. Then choose the ones that rate 8 or above, and come up with a plan of how to achieve them. With the plan come up with easy steps, to get you to the ‘this time next year’ goals you have. For instance if you are contemplating giving up sugar ,maybe this might work for you. But it is important to remember if you want to achieve your goals they have to be yours, and nobody else’s. Take your ‘this time next year goals, personalise them, own them, life them, have a passion for them, and make them yours!!!’ Above all remember you are in charge, and control, goals can be altered changed, or developed. Most importantly there is no FAIL, because this is all about choice. When I realised that changing my eating habits was about choice, and not failing this liberated me!!

So for all those thinking so she is talking the talk, can she walk the walk!!! I am really putting myself out here , but here goes…….my this time next year goal. Is to produce, set up, and deliver my first ever PRACTICALLY SUGAR FREE WORKSHOP!! It is something I have contemplated for a while, but in 2017 I’m going to put myself out there!!

Wishing you all well with your ‘this time next year goals’!! Thank you for all your support this year! Please feel free to share this with anyone you know that might find this useful. Lots of Love Tracy xxx