I can’t give up SUGAR because…..

So how many of you have said I couldn’t give up SUGAR because…. I have been that person a million times over, over the years. SUGARY foods are just so yummy aren’t they..WHY would you want to give them up?

I have lost count of the amount of times that I have considered giving up sugar, or told someone else that I couldn’t do it. I’m not sure about you, but it was my worst nightmare. SUGAR symbolised something comforting, something to take away the pain, something to make me feel better, something to enjoy. SUGARY foods were ingrained in me..no pun intended. Taking away SUGAR left me bare, exposed, and alone. All my life SUGAR had played a part, my guilty pleasure, so how could I let go of it. In away looking back our relationship with SUGAR is I guess like one of those unhealthy relationships. You know the type that is so bad for you, it messes you up, plays around with you, but at the end of the day you can’t be without it. Maybe you try multiple times to let it go, but you just can’t….

Sometimes the biggest stumbling block to giving up SUGAR is the I CAN’TS. Maybe the not even the I CAN’S from you, maybe from a loving family member or friend.Has someone every said to you, I would love to give up SUGAR but I CAN’T. So is your saboteur..yourself or someone else? My saboteur was me! Though it took me a long time to recognise it.

One thing I have learnt since I have been doing this is, it all starts with the BIG BUT’S!! I’m not talking the physical kind either. These BIG BUT’S CAN SABOTAGE EVERYTHING.

I have a question for you….Are these thought’s in control? Or are YOU in control?

I spent years being controlled by my negative thoughts around food including those BIG BUTS. In my experience once you have gained controlled of those thoughts and your eating habits, that’s what will help you with your eating patterns. Easier said than done, I hear you say? Yes, absolutely. BUT it’s not impossible. Here are a few things that might just help you adjust your mindset and take control of your eating habits.

• . Write down every BIG BUT, or even the little BUT’S that block you from giving up SUGAR. What stops you? Take some time to write down every single one. This bit of paper is all that holds you back from giving up SUGAR…Are you ready to let go of all that holds you back? Take a look at your thoughts, what would you like to do with this piece of paper? Maybe you might want to bin it, tear it up, or even burn it. If you are not ready to let go what else is holding you back?

• When you are ready to let go of all those BUT’S grabbed a new piece of paper and write down how you want your SUGAR FREE EXPERIENCE to look like. Forget any books you have read about it, any diets you have previously followed. This is your journey, and it’s up to you how and where you travel. How would you like YOUR SUGAR FREE JOURNEY TO BE? What would you like to achieve? What small steps can you take over the next day, week, month to achieve this. One of the biggest things that helped me was, I ditched the words PASS OR FAIL!! Instead, I made it about choice, and the wonderful thing about choice is YOU ARE IN CONTROL. So if you make a choice you aren’t happy with, you can just make a different one next time.

Something that stopped me going SUGAR FREE for many years was what other people said, SUGAR FREE DIETS, and the concept that it was a diet. When I went SUGAR FREE I decided to ditch other peoples suggestions and ideas, and did it my way. These are the things I did that helped me.

I made my eating plan about choice, and NOT about good or bad foods, and never used the word diet.

I didn’t follow a plan, I did it my way. I ate what I wanted when I wanted, but I just didn’t eat SUGAR.

I checked food labels.

If I had something with SUGAR in I didn’t beat myself up. But made a different choice next time.

These are just a few of the things that helped me. Overtime my relationship with food begun to alter, and I started to learn that my relationship with food wasn’t just about what I ate, it was about a life time of experiences both good and bad. I also began to recognise my negative thoughts and beliefs around food came from childhood, and whilst I wasn’t about to start blaming my childhood for all my negative eating patterns as an adult, it did help me start to understand my relationship with food. Once I began to understand my relationship with food, then I could set to change it and establish a healthier more positive relationship with food.

I hope this helps some of you that might have been held back by the BIG BUTS! Once you are able to let go of all the buts that hold you back it can leave you free to move forward in life.

I used to eat my feelings!

Having had my second Covid vaccine a couple of days ago, I was feeling really miserable and really sorry for myself yesterday. I was talking to my mum and some of the words that I said later struck me, and were a reminder of how life has changed since going sugar free.

I simply said ‘I used to eat my feelings.’

Back when I used to eat my feelings, I wasn’t aware of what I was doing or why, I just did it. Whether sad, depressed, angry, lonely, or even to celebrate an achievement I would turn to the sweet stuff. It was my way of coping, and I thought at the time making myself feel better. The reality is, all those sugar binges did nothing to make me feel better, in fact they led me into a pit of despair, weight gain, poor/low self esteem and body image, and generally feeling rubbish. Essentially all those sugary items did was suppress all the pain and emotion I felt.

Ofcourse at the time I didn’t realise this was what I was doing, even when I went practically sugar free I didn’t realise this. However slowly as my body detoxed from the sugar, I changed my food habits, and started to see life a little differently without the sugar free fog, I recognised this was what I was doing.

Eating well, and cutting out sugar isn’t just about changing the foods you it, it’s about understanding your behaviours, why you do what you do, by doing so they you can start to create positive change in your life.

I really believe our eating patterns evolve from our childhood. I don’t think anyone just wakes up one morning and thinks, I’m going to binge on sugar, I’m over weight, I hate my shape/size etc. These behaviour patterns develop over time, based on our personal experiences. However whatever these are, no matter how they impact us we do have the power to take control and create change in our live and our eating patterns. It’s not always easy, and sometimes it can take a while to recognise what is happening, but we all have this power.

So I have a question here that you might like to reflect on,well actually a couple!

Are you happy with your eating habits? Are you happy with how much sugar is in your diet?

If no,

Is there anything that stops you from cutting sugar out of your diet?

If yes, what is it or if it’s more than one thing what are they?

Next I encourage you to write down all the things that hold you back. These thoughts might have come from memories, experiences or things others have said to you in the past. Maybe someone has said something painful or negative about you that has had an impact on your eating or self image.

Write down every single little thing that holds you back.

Now I want to say, you have the power over what you have written on this piece of paper. Now you have the opportunity to take control of these thought’s. What would you like to do with these thoughts? Sometimes answer might be to bin them! If so I encourage you go right ahead bin them, set yourself free from holds you back.

Once you have done that I encourage you to get another piece of paper and write down what you could gain from the experience of going practically sugar free. No matter how small it might appear, write these thoughts down. How do you want it to leave you feeling.

Keep hold of this positive thoughts, take it out daily and remind yourself what you hope to achieve. How do you want to feel from the experience.

Changing our thought patterns and behaviours isn’t always an easy thing to do. Sometimes it can seem like an uphill battle, but it is possible. By changing these it allows us to change our eating habits.

It’s now 5 years since I went practically sugar free, the whole experience has taught me so much. There are up and down moments, and yes very occasionally I might have something that is slightly sweet. But I am really proud to say I no longer eating my feelings. If on a rare occasion I ever do have anything with sugar in, I normally don’t it.

Good luck to all who decide to do this. xx

A Fresh Start

It’s been a little while since I last blogged, I’m still keeping on with my sugar free eating but being ill with Covid last year has knocked me out. I am one of those long Covid people, so I haven’t felt up to posting.

Recovering from Covid has in some ways reminded me of when I first went sugar free. It’s reminded me of the importance of self care and small steps which has been really helpful. When I went sugar free, it in many ways simplified my eating and other areas of my life too. Beforehand I become too overwhelmed with diets, losing weight, keeping fit, and much more.

Giving up sugary foods helped keep things simple, and as I result it then led me to look at other areas of my life. I set simple goals for myself, rather than the over ambitious ones I had previously set. In the past I had fallen into the trap of setting over ambitious goals, not achieving them and then believing I had failed! Even with food, I didn’t beat myself up if I had something sugary I made it about choice rather than ‘eating something naughty’ or failing.

It’s never too late for a fresh start whether you have tried giving up sugar before or not, just like a computer we all need a re boot or update from time to time.

Different things work for different people, and I am sure you will have your own ideas for a fresh start whether it be a sugar free one or not! However, for anyone that might be interested I thought that I might re share some fresh start ideas for those that might be thinking of cutting out the sugary foods.

• What negative thought’s hold you back from achieving your goals?

• What is your motivation for going sugar free? And what do you hope to gain from it?

• Check the food labels for the sugar content? Not all sugary foods are obvious, it is amazing how much sugar there is in many items. Canned soups are a really good example of this.
• When eating pay attention to how you are eating, take to chew the food and savour the taste, textures and flavours.

• If you get a sugar craving find a distraction, I used to go for a walk which I found helpful.

• Drink plenty of water. Interesting fact, did you know when we feel hungry sometimes it’s because we are dehydrated and need liquid rather than food.

• Get plenty of sleep.

• Set small goals, and congratulate yourself when you achieve them.

• Think about whether there are patterns to your eating? Are you a feelings driven eater, or do you eat out of habit or maybe comfort?

• If you aren’t used to exercise, try starting of gradually, maybe walking down your road to start with.

I hope these ideas might help you. Trying anything new can sometimes be a challenge, but if you can stick with it going sugar free can bring amazing results. It certainly changed my life in ways I never imagined. Good luck everyone. xx

How going sugar free changed my life, and the simple steps you can take to a sugar free lifestyle.

Sometimes part of the challenge of anything in life can be getting started on something new, or maybe re starting something you feel stuck with. Today there seems to be an overwhelming about of information on different topics, and more often than not sometimes the information can differ. I certainly felt like that when I went practically sugar free.

About 15 years before I went sugar free this time, I had to reduce sugar along with many other food items as part of a nutrition plan I was trying to help with my M.E. symptoms. The eating regime was a drastic change for me, and resulted in a huge detox as result I suffered from anxiety and depression for about 5-6 months. I continued with it all and gradually life improved after a year on the strict eating regime along with other lifestyle changes my health improved. As time went by I slipped into my old eating habits, and with no obvious impact on my health I carried on as ‘normal’.

Whilst my M.E health issues improved, I was eventually diagnosed with an under active thyroid which at the time I thought explained my weight issues. I became a yo yo dieter, and tried numerous slimming groups. I would lose weight only to regain it later on. For anyone who has ever struggled with their weight I am sure you will understand the vicious cycle that can transpire, and the highs and lows that it produces.

In November 2015 my grandmother passed away and I believe that was a huge turning point for me. My grandmother was the most incredible lady, and one of the things that kept me going during that time was setting out to make her proud. Another factor alongside this was, my brother was getting married the following year and what would have been my grandmothers birthday, and I had been asked to be chief bridesmaid. I realise then that I needed to do something about my weight, at the time I couldn’t afford to join slimming groups, so I re assessed the idea of going sugar free.

I decided to give cutting out sugar a go, but instead of cutting out other food items I would focus on the sugar element. I was also overwhelmed by the amount of going sugar free information out there, so I decided I would just create my own plan. I allowed myself fruit, and I didn’t cut out ketchup or salad cream, I also allowed myself the very occasional scraping of marmalade on toast once a week, otherwise all sugar and sugar substitutes were off limits. The plan was just to be sugar free so I could lose weight for my brothers wedding. However, what I didn’t realise was that my sugar free experience might actually be a positive one!

Fast forward six weeks, I was seeing an incredible impact to my physical and emotional wellbeing. My sugar free journey became so much more than about weight loss, my physical and emotional wellbeing improved incredibly as a result. So it probably sounds too good to be true, but it was actually far easier than I imagined.

So if you are thinking about cutting out sugar here are some ways that might help you get started.

• Identify all the reasons you want to do this, rather than why you can’t.

• Check the sugar contents on food labels.

• When you are out and about take some snacks with you. When I first cut out sugar, I was shocked about how few sugar free snacks there were available.

• Rather than thinking I can’t eat that, look at ways you can create a sugar free alternative.

• Get active. There are many ways to get active they don’t have to be huge. Sometimes dancing in the living room to some favourite tunes, or vacuuming can be a great work out.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Get plenty of sleep.

• Don’t beat yourself up, if you end up having a sugary snack. When I went sugar free, I decided that it was a choice and that there would be no failing, or eating something naughty involved. This change in mindset really worked for me.
• Plan your meals in advance.
• Keep a journal…think about why in the past you have eaten sugary foods. Are you an emotional eater? Do you eat for comfort?

It’s not always easy starting something new, and changing eating habits that have developed over several years can be particularly challenging sometimes. However, it can lead to positive improvements in our physical and emotional wellbeing.

5 year blog anniversary post!! Does the fear of failing put you off starting something new?!

So today marks the five year anniversary of when I launched this blog!! I really can’t believe it’s 5 years, I knew nothing about blogs, so from a technical perspective I remember what an achievement it felt to have set one up.

Why did I set one up?! 6 weeks after having gone practically sugar free I looked in my bathroom mirror, and was amazed by the changes I noticed. My eyes looked clearer, my hair looked in better condition, I had lost weight, my skin looked in better condition, I had more energy, and my stress levels had reduced. I remember being shocked that cutting out sugar had such a huge impact. I remember saying to my mum people need to know about this!! So I decided, to set up a blog. I remember thinking even if just a few people became more aware of the impact sugar ahead I would be pleased. Fast forward 5 years, and I have had thousands of people view this blog from around the world. Some of whom have told me that this has inspired them, I really can’t tell you how much that means to me. Because spreading awareness was the whole aim of this blog.

Out of the blog, I have a facebook page PRACTICALLY A SUGAR FREE ME, I have run some successful sugar free workshops, I’ve been interviewed by a radio station, and have had people contact me with their stories too. A few years ago this blog was even voted one of the top 5 sugar free blogs in the UK!! I have been overwhelmed by the interest and support that I have received from people. So to everyone thank you so much, I really am so grateful for all your support, I hope that you have found something of interest here.

Three years ago, I moved from the south to the north of the UK, life has changed a lot for me, and I haven’t been in a position to post as much on here. I hope though that I can perhaps start to give a little more time to this. Having been blogging for five years sometimes, I wonder what to put on here and I don’t want to sound like I am repeating stuff I have said before. However, I’m not sure about you but sometimes it’s good to be reminded of things, especially if like me you get stuck in a rut.

So that leads me on to what I wanted to blog about today….does the fear of failure put you off starting something new? When contemplating starting something new or trying something different, does the fear of failing or not being good enough block your way. It certainly does mine!!

Four years ago buoyed up by my first year of sugar free living, I signed up to do an online eating psychology coach course. I printed out all the materials, and was really excited and enthused about doing it. But then I looked at the assessments, doubt crept in and the seeds of doubt were planted!! There was no time limit on the course, so it has just sat in an inbox ready and waiting for me!! Life got in the way health, work, to moves one of them a big move, and multiple other things got conveniently in the way. But it niggled at me that I had done the course, I really would love to be an eating psychology coach, many of you will know that I work as a counsellor, so it would be wonderful to develop skills in this area. But I kept putting it off, until a couple of weeks ago when I decided that maybe I could ditch the doubt and maybe plant some seeds of opportunity!! So I spent one morning working solidly on the first module of the course submitted it, and within a week heard that I had passed the first module with 100%!! I couldn’t believe it. That 100% has inspired me to continue with the course. I spent 4 years in doubt, and within 4 hours and a bit of work planted the seeds of hope!!

So for any of you contemplating going SUGAR FREE, maybe making changes to your eating patterns, you have the power to change this. Yes, I know we are living in a difficult time right now, life has been turned upside down, and life circumstances might be far from ideal. But what I want to say to you is, even the smallest of changes can make a difference. The feel good factor when you achieve something can be incredible!

Simply cutting out one sugary item can make a difference. Six weeks is all it takes to see a difference when you go sugar free! Just 6 weeks!! If you are thinking, I would like to try this but I CAN’T! I wonder what might stop you?! Now if you so choose why not right down all your negative thoughts down that hold you back from reducing sugar. Now I encourage you to tear those thoughts up or burn them. Now get a fresh piece of paper and write down all the positive things you could gain from reducing sugar. Once you have done this, imagine you are these positives. Take time to think about how AMAZING you might feel in just 6 weeks time!! How does that feel for you? Might it be worth giving it a go?! I will share something with you, when I started this I did it on a trial basis I never imagined I would be doing this 5 years later.

This photograph shows you the difference that I saw in 6 weeks…For me it has been life changing! If you choose to give going sugar free a go, I wish you all the very best in your journey.

Sugar a source of comfort? Or does it fuel our despair?

For many at some point in our lives food especially SUGARY foods can provide a source of comfort. It certainly did for many years, and the sad thing is, I was never aware of this until a few years ago. Without knowing it SUGAR became my drug of choice.

Back in my SUGAR eating days as I have shared here before, I always believed I had quite a healthy lifestyle!! I don’t drive, so I walk a lot, I rarely, rarely drink, I don’t smoke, and I have never done drug. So in my head believed I had a healthy lifestyle, just a bit of a sweet tooth! I was a bit of a yoyo dieter, but I put that down too health problems including an underactive thyroid. In my twenties I was super slim, having managed to lose my chubby teenage weight. When I became ill with M.E at 28 the weight crept in, and I entered about 15 years of yo yo dieting. I never once considered that any of my weight was down to eating for comfort.

Once you get into that cycle of weight gain then weight loss, it’s a bit hard to get off that roundabout. I forever had visions that as I had been slim before, I could lose it again. With every diet I tried, or slimming group I started I slipped further into despair. There were the highs of losing weight, reaching a target, or losing a dress size, yet ultimately they were short lived.

There were TWO things that I didn’t work out until MUCH later they were they following.

1. I comfort ate…A LOT!! Every SUGARY food, or what I would deem a naughty food was more often than not eaten in order to take the pain away. So to crush the pain and emotion I was feeling at that point. In doing so another problem evolved my comfort then became a HABIT, and I believe eventually it became an addictive habit.
2. I had no idea the real impact that SUGAR could have on not only physical wellbeing, but emotional wellbeing too. It probably sounds silly, how could I have not known about the impact SUGARY foods can have to our emotional wellbeing. I mean I’m a counsellor, and I support others emotional wellbeing!! Not only that but I see how people’s emotional wellbeing can be impact by different events, and traumas.

Most of us eat SUGAR because let’s face it, it can taste nice! I’m not sure about you but often growing up having a piece of cake, or some chocolate was a treat. Let’s face it as my mum used to tell me, a little of what you fancy does you good! But when does the little bit become a big bit??!!

As you reach for that SUGARY treat are you eating for comfort? Are you eating to block out all those feelings, and emotions? Is it just because every day you stop at 11am for those 3 dark chocolate digestives with a cuppa?

There are many reasons for why we eat, so one of the things I encourage people to do, if they are think about reducing SUGAR, is to explore why they are reaching for that particular food.

We all need a little comfort in our lives especially during these difficult times, yet it’s useful to consider when does the occasional bit of comfort eating, turn into eating out of despair?

I have never forgotten about 10 years ago, I travelled up to Burton on Trent for a job interview, and was staying at a b and b. Staying at a b and b, or hotel was always my excuse to stock up on junk to binge eat in my room! Having heard I hadn’t got the job, I had, had an emotional phone call home to mum. I was really tearful, and remember eating piles and piles of SUGARY items. Whilst doing this, a thought struck me, that’s the moment when I realised I was eating for comfort, I was eating to push down all that pain and sadness I was feeling. That moment was a real revelation to me, and I have never forgotten it. It took me about 6 years after that, to cut out the SUGARY foods, but it certainly got me thinking about my eating habits.

Since then I have always said that regardless of what diet, slimming group or whatever else you do, having an understanding of your eating habits is key to developing a healthier relationship with food.

So I encourage you to take some time to contemplate why you eat the foods you do.

Upgrade your health and wellbeing!!

So hello everyone, I hope wherever you are in the world, you are keeping safe and well. It’s a time that can bring up so many thoughts, and feelings whether you have suffered, or know anyone else that has suffered Covid 19, or not. Maybe you are out of work, isolated, caring for loved ones, or separated from loved ones at this time.

Some of you will be aware that I was struck down by Covid in March, and although much improved I still experience symptoms, I am definitely a Covid long hauler.So my thoughts and prayers go out to all you who have, or have had Covid 19.

At times like this it is so easy to want to comfort eat. There was a time in my life, where in these current circumstances, I would have eaten sugar, like it was going out of fashion, just to push down all the pain, fear, anxiety, and sadness I might have felt. Thankfully those days are over. So whilst I have indulged in the odd sweet item, I have on the whole stuck too my practically sugar free eating patterns.

So enough of me! This blog was never all about me…because that would be boring!! It was set up to help, and hopefully support some of you to going sugar free.

I recently read something that got me thinking, our computers, and phones have software upgrades. We upgrade our cars, electrical appliances, wardrobes, and many different things in our life. Yet I wonder how many of you ever stopped to look at upgrading your wellbeing??!! When was the last time you gave yourself an upgrade??!!

So often we look outward at what we want, need, or think we should have. Yet, when was the last time you looked inwards and thought about what from a physical, emotional, and spiritual perspective YOU need? Sometimes it can be easy to look, and project outwards because it can be less painful. However, it can be be more challenging to look inwards, and truthfully look at what we need in life. Whilst there might not be much we can do at this time, one of the things we can do, is take the time to reflect on where we are at, and where we would like to be? Do you deserve better? Do you want a better quality of life? Does your life deserve a bit of an upgrade?!

Okay, so here is the good bit, what if I said, there was a way YOU could upgrade your life for FREE, by changing just one thing??!! Does this sound tempting?? Well here it is, you can DO this??? By going practically SUGAR FREE you can upgrade your physical, and emotional wellbeing, YES YOU CAN!! In January I will have been practically SUGAR FREE for 5 years, yes 5 years!! I didn’t even think I would manage 5 days, or months but I have!

In that time so much has changed about my life and myself, that I really think this was the kick start, I needed. When I started on this journey, my whole life I believe, changed for the better.

I didn’t spend lots of money, or follow a plan. I didn’t buy lots of books. One day I decided enough was enough, and I cut out SUGAR. That meant going through my cupboards, changing my eating habits,kicking old habits, and adapting to a new way of life. BUT whilst it took a little while to adjust, within just 6 weeks I saw the most incredible results, and that’s what SOLD me on this whole idea, and led to this blog, and my PRACTICALLY A SUGAR FREE ME facebook page.

In just 6 weeks, I noticed the following . (I am sure there are many I have forgotten, but this gives you an idea.):

• Increased energy

• Improved hair condition

• Improvement in sleep patterns

• Improved skin condition

• Weight loss

• Less anxious and more relaxed.

• Overall improvement in emotional wellbeing

• My eyes were clearer and brighter

I would never have believed that I could have experienced so many changes in such a short space of time, but I did, and this is what SOLD me on the idea.

Believe it or not once I changed this part of my life, over time other areas of my life changed. I took control of my finances, rather than letting them control, and I am pleased to say just as I ditched SUGAR, I also ditched credit cards, and store cards too.

Going practically SUGAR FREE was something I would never have done if it hadn’t been for my brother and sister in law getting married, and asking me to be chief bridesmaid. If they hadn’t I might never have taken this path but I am so glad I did.

I am sharing below a then and now picture to show how going SUGAR FREE can change your physical appearance. I was particularly struck with how different my eyes look in the two pictures. The first picture was taken back in 2009 on my 39th birthday, the second was taken this year just a few days before, or after my 50th birthday in September 2020.

I hope that this post might inspire you to consider going PRACTICALLY SUGAR FREE. Wishing you all well wherever you are in the world. Thank you for your continued support, and interest. Take care and stay safe.

With love,

Tracy xxx

Sugar free September..A Fresh New Start!!

It’s been a while since I last wrote…again!! When I started this blog would you believe I did 2 small posts everyday!! Then everyday, then weekly, and now when I get the chance. It doesn’t mean, I’m any less committed, it’s just hard to juggle everything in life sometimes. Though I am sure some of you might relate to that. In fact I guess this could just as easily relate to dieting and eating plans. They start of with great enthusiasm, and then time carries on life happens, and our original enthusiasm can dwindle. I hasten to add I still have enthusiasm, it’s just I am really busy with other work. I am hoping at some point in the future, I will be able to give more time to this.

September certainly in the UK has a back to feel school about it, I think that’s the case no matter how old you are. It’s an opportunity for new beginnings, a fresh start, and to wipe the slate clean. It’s a chance to press the re start button. Last week I celebrated a milestone birthday, my 50th!! I still can’t believe that I have made it to half a century!! A lot of changes have occurred to me over the last 10 years, one of the key ones is me going practically sugar free. Many of you will have heard mention how much going sugar free has changed my life. But when I look back 10 years I am reminded of how much of an impact it has had. I’ve shared a then and now picture of me to give you an idea of that change. The first is me on my 40th birthday, and the second last week on my 50th birthday.

When I was 40, I had just finished uni as a mature student, I had an undetected/unmedicated thyroid condition, and SUGAR was my comfort. It was in fact my crutch. I prided myself that I didn’t do drugs, had never smoked, very rarely drank alcohol, and walked everywhere. The truth was SUGAR was having a hugely negative impact on my health both physically and emotionally. Yet I was oblivious! How could I have been so oblivious?? I guess the truth is, and not just for me. But for many, that food issues don’t just happen overnight they develop over a period of time. Many of you will have read previous blog posts where I have referred to this.

Firstly I am not for a minute I am saying that I have got this whole thing sussed! Because I would suggest I am a work in progress! Certainly in the last year or so I haven’t policed the sugar quite as much as I could. BUT and this is for me the wonderful thing…I AM AWARE OF THIS, AND ABOVE ALL I AM IN CONTROL OF THIS!!

Ten years ago I would have gone through this whole process of eating SO MUCH SUGAR, feeling miserable and disgusted with myself, then gaining weight, then feeling depressed, then eating SUGAR to stop feeling miserable. Then on top of that not fitting into clothes, or evening worse trying on clothes and them not fitting in a changing room. The wonderful thing about going practically SUGAR FREE for me has been, accepting myself as I am, not comfort eating, feeling fat, and not going into changing rooms and leaving in tears because nothing fits.

For over 34 years I struggled with food and weight issues. As I look back much of these were based on beliefs that had been based around other peoples comments, what I had been told, and my experiences. In my experience there are a lot of rules, and do’s and don’ts around food, health and wellbeing. Some of it can be helpful, and yes taking caring of both of our physical and emotional wellbeing is so important. However I believe some this can also have a negative impact on our relationship with food. Many of my experiences were based around people’s negative comments, and also my feel of failing. In fact I had no control over my eating, and weight. I let situations or others control it. The moment I took control of my relationship with food was the moment, I started feeling better about myself.

So as we head into September, maybe it’s a good time to take stock and consider what impacts your eating habits? What controls them? What is your relationship with food/eating? Above all are you happy with where you are at in life, and with your eating habits?

If the answer is NO, could now be a good time to make some changes, adjustments and re educate ourselves on our eating patterns. I always say we are our best teachers, we know ourselves better than anyone else.

If 10 years ago anyone had suggested to me how my life would have changed I would have never believed them. If I can do this, then I really believe anyone can! It took me just 6 weeks to see the positive changes from going PRACTICALLY SUGAR FREE, and you could too!! Even better there is not financial cost involved it’s free!!! All you need to do is invest in yourself!

Why do we eat sugar? And what fuels our sugar eating?

I first posted this back in August in 2016. It’s been a while since then so I thought I would re blog it, in case you have joined us since. Thank you for your continued support and interest. 😊

Practically A Sugar Free Me

So this week I had a really lovely surprise…….Mum , and have the same dress in exactly the same colour. Her’s is two sizes smaller than mine!!! I was going to a prize presentation on Thursday night, and wanted to wear this dress. But discovered it hadn’t washed properly. Mum suggested I borrow hers, I was really sceptical , however I tried it anyway. Imagine my delight when I discovered it fitted!!! So below is a then and now picture. The first picture is me Christmas day 2015, and the last is me in mum’s dress on 25th August 2016!!!! I was soooo pleased.

I’ve also started looking at my eating psychology coach course work. One of the first things it touches on is , why we eat!! I think this is something I have touched on before , but I think it is always worth looking at and reflecting…

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Different types of SUGAR .. July 2020

Many of you will know that I have been suffering from Covid 19 since March, it’s been a long haul! Although thankfully improved I’m still not fully well. One of the symptoms I have been struggling with is brain fog, and poor concentration. So my apologise if at the moment some of my words are a bit jumbled! However it has put me in mind of what a jumble, and confusion going practically sugar free can be! Going practically SUGAR FREE can be an absolute overhaul of the way we eat, and a way of life.

In my workshops in the past I have spoken about breaking the habit, and I really think that can be one of the hardest things to do. Yet, habits can be easy and provide security, it’s safer to stick with what you know than what you don’t!

When I started on this journey four years ago, there was a lot less information on going sugar free, and what there was I found hugely overwhelming. Many of the SUGAR FREE  recipes I saw included ‘natural’ sugars as an alternative to SUGAR. This didn’t make sense to me as things like honey and maple syrup seem just as sweet, as other artificial sweeteners. Additionally rather than the word SUGAR, lots of labels use other words to describe SUGAR! For example one of the ‘healthy’ alternatives might include apple juice or honey. Given that the brain is the most SUGAR hungry part of the body, it makes me wonder what message eating these natural types of SUGAR’S gives to our body.

It can sometimes be easy to pick up something without looking at the label beforehand, but I encourage you when you can to read the labels. For me this was an eye opening experience. I genuinely had no idea about the different types of SUGAR, and the amount of SUGAR in different foods. Basically if it’s in a packet or a tin, there is a good chance it might have some SUGAR in there.

A couple of years ago, I wrote the following blog post on different types of SUGAR’S, rather than repeat myself by writing it again, I thought I would include it in today’s blog post, so here you are the original post from back in 2018…………And I would still echo my sentiments from 2018 today, it still is a SUGAR minefield out there. Regardless of what you read, and hear I would suggest that there is no right or wrong, there is no perfect SUGAR FREE way. There is certainly no quick fix, I’m sorry if that is what you were hoping for. All you can do is your best, and your best is definitely GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

2018:

It’s a SUGAR minefield out there, it really is!!! Sometimes I think you need a PHD to try, and translate the food labels. It doesn’t exactly encourage anyone to go SUGAR FREE. I have to confess my first year of sugar free eating, I felt like the sugar police! I went round the supermarkets checking the food labels, and how many grams of sugar in them. Actually I kind of enjoyed it!! I know weird, but it’s the little things that keep me happy!

If only labels simply said sugar life would be much easier. I don’t profess to know too much about the different types of sugar. However I did learn to translate a little. Some SUGAR FREE sites might include natural sugars, or sugar substitutes in the recipes. Personally I chose not to as certainly for me it would have been a slippery slope back into SUGAR! However it is important you do what’s right for you. For me I have found cutting it all out much easier, it also avoids confusion.

Unfortunately foods aren’t simply labelled SUGAR if only they were, life would be SO much easier. There are of course the obvious SUGARS, there are natural sugars, and sugar substitutes. Many of these are hidden sugars, and often I find the writing so small you can barely read the labels.

Here are just a few other words to look out for when you go SUGAR free:

 

• Agave syrup
• Golden syrup
• Maple Syrup (in fact anything with the word syrup in!)
• Dextrose
• Sucrose
• Fructose
• Molasses
• Honey
• Xylitol
• Stevia
• Apple juice

Basically if it tastes too good to be true, it probably has some kind of sugar in it. You might wonder why I have mentioned Stevia, I know it comes from the leaves of a plant, however it is still a natural sugar.  The only sugar I haven’t quit is whole fruit.

Interestingly enough with regard to labelling on foods,

Gillispie (2001), makes an interesting point in his book, ‘The Sweet

Poison Quit Plan’. He states ‘British law does not require a manufacturer

to break down the ‘sugars’ section on the nutrition label.’

Reference: The Sweet Poison Quit Plan. 2001

I don’t have the healthiest diet but since going PRACTICALLY SUGAR FREE, I have a much healthier diet. There is no right or wrong this is simple the way that worked for me.