Stop SUGAR Support Thread

marybast

Me, too. I try not to go to restaurants but this weekend met Sat. with friends I hadn't seen in a while and Sun. with brother and sister-in-law and Mom for her birthday. Same restaurant, and it specializes in tempting martinis so I had 2 pear martinis and 2 blueberry martinis (antioxidant!) on Sun. At least I have a sense of humor about sticking with fruit instead of sugary desserts... based on past experience it will take a week at least for my body to quit craving more.

Valgirl

I've been really watching my sugar intake since diagnosis and especially when I found out sugar feeds cancer.  I always loved my sweets.  I've lost 25 lbs since diagnosis and changing my eating habits (low carb and low sugar).   Switched from splenda to Truvia (nauropath suggested that) and even drink my Brassica Green tea with nothing (sometimes a citris wedge).   I do weigh myself everyday and I find that helps to keep my weight down.   We love to eat out and only do it on weekends and I do see that I gain weight after eating out.  I do find  when I allow myself to have a little someting sweet my cravings do come back.   Eating fruit helps.  My snack these days is to mix some raw almonds with a little 70% dark chocolate.   I am also afraid of eating cheese and limit that too.   I do use a little of organic half and half in my one cup of coffee in the morning.  I'm finding I am losing my taste for that too.   Such a journey......

Going to a wedding this weekend in Austin.  We'll see how that goes.....I love wedding cake.  Maybe a small slice???

mdg

I had cut out dairy before my DX and have been adding some in for more protein.  As far as dairy, I do organic lowfat cheese if possible.  If I can't find organic low fat, I get imported cheeses from Europe as they do not contain growth hormone (it is banned from use over there).  I also prefer goat/sheep  milk cheeses...less fat.  Trader Joe's has a lot of cheeses without growth hormone and some organic cheeses.  So does Whole Foods.  If you don't have a specialty market like that Meijer has their own brand of organic including a few brick cheeses, cottage cheese and feta.  I also eat organic fat free Greek yogurt.  Dairy is a good source of protein and vitamin D. 

For snacks lately I have been having:

Whole Wheat Wasa Flat Breads (not organic but contain no transfats or soybean oil) with as smear of organic almond butter or a slice of Finlandia Low Fat Cheese (from Costco).

Almonds

Que Pasa Tortilla Chips (all organic and made with canola oil) with some organic refried beans

organic Carrots

organic Apples

organic popcorn popped in organic EVOO

Kashi crackers (they have some kind of vegetables in them...can't remember the exact name) with lowfat organic cream cheese

lowfat organic cottage cheese

low fat/low sugar/whole grain banana muffins (I bake them...all organic..I use a little honey in them instead of sugar)

I also tried fat free organic Greek yogurt mixed with dark unsweetened cocoa

organic granola (I make it with honey and organic incredients)

Valgirl

mdg - great ideas.  I need to expand my choices for snacks.  I also use the organic almond butter spread on whole wheat crackers.  I have trouble finding any that don't have the (oils) we ER + people are to avoid like safflower Oil etc.  The latest ones I've tried are back to Nature Harvest Whole Wheat crackers 100% natural from whole food market.  They do contain the safflower oil.  Guess a lilttle bit can't hurt. 

I do allow sometimes at night a small scoop of vanilla low fat Kemps frozen yogut.  I take 1/2 of a banana OR 1/4 of thinly sliced apple, sprinke some organic cinnamin on it, microwave (in a glass dish of course) for 1 minute then put my tiny scoop frozen yogurt on top.  Very good and satisfies my sweet craving.

elmcity69

thanks for these great ideas, ladies! i've been trying to eat popcorn at night when the craving hits. also pop it in organic olive oil, bit of sea salt..yumm.

and - i do not get paid to spread the word about Pink Kitchen scones, I swear! but they are that good. just made the mango/coconut (she calls for papaya, but i had none) - delicious. even my kids love them.my daughter already asked me to make the cocoa/banana ones - i actually use bittersweet cocoa and half a banana only.

i sometimes wish our docs would see the great threads here and realize we are hungry (ok, pun intended) for great information and debates on NUTRITION!!

hugs

j

jancie

I went to the barn today and ended up eating a chocolate chip cookie because they were homemade.  I felt guilty right away!  I don't want to start craving sugar again.

My horse trainer did comment that I look better than I had the past 2 months and I attribute that to (1) weight loss and (2) I just feel better.  I used to get those sugar highs and then come down hard - no more!!!!

I have a horse show this weekend, I am supplying lunch for the barn girls so I went and got nothing but healthy food!  I told them if they wanted dessert, etc. they would have to supply their own.

jancie

I know I shouldn't weigh myself at night but I did and I have another 1.5 lbs of weight loss.  I am now down 7.5 lbs all together since about 3 weeks ago?  Not sure when I started this diet - I should have marked it on my calendar.  After not losing any weight for close to a week, I am glad to see progress again.

Lilah

Jancie -- waaaahooooooooooooooo!!!

jancie

Lilah - I am so excited.  I haven't hit the pool in Vegas the last two trips because I was too embarassed about my weight gain.  I might actually have the nerve this time.

I am also wondering if switching from Tamoxifen to Arimidex didn't help but really not sure since I switched over in March and then started my diet the end of April.

Do you like my new avatar?

Lilah

Jancie -- oh yes I LOVE it!  is that your horse?  (Or an image that looks like your horse)?  And yeah I hear you on the pool in Vegas LOL.  That's inspiring me too.  I've lost 7 pounds so far... and feel very encouraged.

jancie

Lilah - congrats on your weight loss!!!  I am so happy for you.  This thread has really kept me motivated.

Yes, that is Jazzy when she was 7 months old.  A week earlier she was in a TV infomercial or whatever you call them.  I just love that head shot - wish you could see it larger though because then you would see the very narrow white strip she has down the front of her face.

marybast

mdg thank you! I've copied your list, to add to my list, just this morning hit the mark of 20 pounds lost. I love it that no sugar decreases my appetite significantly. Except for last weekend's lapse with the fruit-flavored vodka, I don't crave sugar anymore, although the visual cues are still there -- donuts and Snickers still call to me in the grocery aisles, but my body doesn't respond with that old sugar-ache.

mdg

What else is everyone snacking on?  I started a cooking blog based on the Anti Cancer.  I don't have many sweet things in there so far....just healthy brownies (made with black beans, honey, whole wheat flour, cocoa, etc...).  I have put more in there so far for dinners.  I will have to come up with some healthier low sugar desserts for sure though.  Having occasional treats makes the rest of the dietary changes easier for me (I am doing the Anti Cancer type diet).  I am always looking for more ideas.  I have an Italian cheese cake I am working on but can't find any graham crackers that don't contain soybean oil so I am having trouble with the crust. I hope next week to play around with a graham cracker recipe.  I love graham crackers and that would be a good snack if they were low on sugar grams, made with honey and whole wheat flour. I will keep you posted on that.  If anyone else has ideas for snacks that meet our criteria - post them!  I am getting bored with what I am eating!  I also go back to work in 2 weeks and will have to pack my food as I am on the road all day as a sales rep.  I will have no access to a microwave either....this is going to be fun....so I am definately looking for ideas.

elmcity69

i love mixing bittersweet (ie, 70% cocoa and above) with 7 raw almonds. it is the best snack.

popcorn popped in coconut or olive oil, sprinkled with a bit of sea salt, is also good.

frozen blueberries i defrost with green tea (sounds weird, but i hate frozen berries, and i figure it kills 2 birds with one stone).

i still struggle with "bad" sugar daily, however. had flourless chocolate cake tonight in honor of dad's 71st birthday. sigh. i am improving over my pre-BC self, and am convinced i will get better and better, but i really am an addict to the stuff.

tx for the ideas ladies!

hugs

j

marybast

I'm snacking on watermelon. Supposedly the rind is so thick that pesticides haven't caused as much damage as with berries, etc. And even though the grocery store watermelon is often a far cry from the sweet taste I remember from childhood, it tastes like a big treat. I have to stay away from chocolate, though all these ideas sound fabulous...

LuvRVing

I believe Diamond has cocoa-covered almonds that are really good..,no sugar, just almond and cocoa.  I have bought them before at Sams.

Michelle

jancie

MaryB - congrats on 20 lbs lost!!!  That is great!

For snacks - Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt - the size is larger than the normal yogurts and is only 80 calories each.  Another great snack I like is the Jello Brand low fat chocolate pudding in the cups - only 60 calories each and it fullfills that chocolate fix that we always get.  You can put them in the freezer for 20 min ahead of time and it will be more like soft ice cream.

jancie

I am now down 9 lbs since the last week of April when I started this no sugar diet.  I am feeling better each day.  I don't have any sugar cravings at all and when I do, I make fresh lemonade with splenda instead of sugar.

Lilah

WTG Jancie and Mary!

pil

mumayan, I know what you mean. I can pass a desert up now.  At first I did not want to eat ANYTHING. I started eating one meal a day wiht a few almonds and walnuts throughout the day and that lasted for about 2 weeks.  Now I am eating a fruit for breakfast, lavash rollup about 2pm and eat something light about 6pm.  I do have nuts to feel in between not many.  I dont know how much weight I have lost but probably a few pounds.   Today, I had a lavash roll up with lots of greens stuffed in it and Teff cereal about 7pm.  The Teff cereal with a few raisins, a small squirt of agave syrup, walnuts, cinnamon all mixed up. It was fabulous.  You can get Teff at the health food store.  I have gone all organic but still wash all my veggies about 4 to 5 times now where it was 1 and 2.   I have had the most energy I have had in a long time, today.  Must be the eating habit change was something I needed.

marybast

Yancie, re: the yogurt and pudding, I'm staying away from dairy because my BC was estrogen sensitive and commercial cows are fed beaucoup hormones. Not everybody agrees on this, but several docs with cancer suggest no to dairy, unless from 'organic' cows not treated with hormones.

vivre

Here are a couple of my favorite snacks:

Raw Pepitas-these are squash seeds I get from trader joes. I buy them raw and unsalted and sprinkle with sea salt. Do not fear the salt. New studies are showing that it is actually bad for us to keep salt out of our diet, but it should be sea salt, not the white processed stuff.

Almond butter on a stalk of celery spread with a thin layer of raw honey from a local beekeeper. It is great for sweet cravings and combining nuts with the honey lowers the glycemic index because the almonds balance it.

Also add cinnamon to everything sweet. It also balances insulin levels.

I also love to snack on the Greek white beans in tomato sauce that Trader Joes sells in little jars. they make a great salad dressing too.

Trader Joe's use to have to cocoa covered almonds too. They were the best! But now they are not carrying them. I will check out Sam's. I usually skip the candy aisle there, but these things are so yummy.

I have this gal in my town who is making the most amazing chocolate. She puts together all kinds of really healthy combos. Check out www.reneesrawchocolate.com

Rachel1

I love your recipes Vivre. Here's a little something I do with dark chocolate (70% and up). Melt in double boiler and add shredded coconut, organic dried fruit and even sprouted cereal.  Spread on wax paper. Put in fridge to harden. Crack and eat. Yum!

Hugs, Rachel 

pil

Fermented Foods & Digestion : How to Avoid Phytic Acid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6rzGntPo80&feature=related

 Why is it we need to alter the grains and nuts.  ugh  or is it a matter of opinon?

pil

oh, take an apple and chill it.  meanwhile its chilling ground up walnuts very fine.  cut the apple up in wedges and then dip into the fine ground up walnuts.  yum

Anonymous

marybast

I didn't think of the hormones in dairy, but of course you're right - BGH being the WORST.  I stopped dairy to lose weight, never met a chunk of cheese I couldnt' devour in one "tasting" - made me laugh when I finally figured out what a "square inch" of sharp cheddar looked like - & eatig it standing up didn't save the calories one bit!) and the BENFIT, besides weight is: no mucus in nose, sinuses - wow, first seaon I haven't been attacked by Spring Allergies - just wonderful.

But, fair warning, no ne shoul get between me & a piece of cheese if I see one.  JOY of living alone, I get to shop only for me, so it's not in the house!

AmyIsStrong

WAIT - I thought eating standing up DOES negate the calories? No?  NO????? Uh oh...........

mdg

I agree about the hormones in dairy....so the pudding is out for me.  It also contains sugar or artificial sweetener so I avoid that too.  I like the idea of the cocoa almonds but I eat only organic almonds....looking into making my own instead.  Trader Joe's by me does not have cocoa almonds.  I too eat lots of apples....I try to slice a bunch and toss them in lemon juice to have on hand for quick snacks.  I also like carrot sticks with almond butter as I am not a celery fan.  I am going to make some home made granola with oats, honey, oat bran, almonds, etc....I may throw in a few dark chocolate chunks.....

LuvRVing

Rachel - be careful about coconut.  Unless you buy it at a natural foods store, you may be getting way more sugar than you think.  Most of the baking coconut is a sugar bomb!  And it tastes totally different than the shredded coconut without added sugar, which I like much better!

 Your recipe sounds good!

Michelle

elmcity69

rachel, i have to make that recipe! thanks for posting. coordinating a teachers' appreciation luncheon at my childrens' school and need a dessert - that sounds like a fun one!

i buy unsweetened, dried coconut. delicious, much better than the sweetened stuff.

organic applesauce is cutting it for me tonight - with cinnamon, yummm.

j