I Quit Sugar – Week 1

As I mentioned here, this week I started Sarah Wilson’s I Quit Sugar diet. Click here to visit Sarah Wilson.‘No sugar? That’s a bit extreme and fairly unrealistic given your usual eating Amy’, you might say. Well it is fairly extreme to completely quit sugar, but I am sick and tired of the mood swings, my un-lady-like lack of self control and inability to say yes without eating the whole cake/packet and of course the weight gain. Luckily for me, week one is ‘start to cut back’, not go cold turkey and fail miserably day 1. I’ve keep a food diary and I only indulged in sugary goods (‘sometimes food’ as my dietitian calls it)  3 times this week, each of which were when I was out with friends or had people over. I’m okay with that! I also kept natural sugars in, such as that in fruit. In an attempt to make a vegetable snack I combined peas, basil (yes, from my garden) and feta cheese. Simple, easy, delicious! My week 1 IQS experience I was amazed at the difference I felt just cutting back on the sweets this week.  I wasn’t grumpy and anxious, my body looked better, I felt I had more energy and was more positive because I was finally taking some steps to gain control. Whilst I enjoyed my sugary indulgences of cheesecake, pavlova and chocolate cookies this week – however I really noticed a difference the next morning when I awoke. I was irritated, bloated and tired. It was great to see this comparison. For the sake of experiment, I am going to attempt to follow the 8 week program and give you some feedback. Sarah bases her ebook on the idea that frutose (including that found in fruit) makes us eat more and converts directly to fat. It makes us eat more because the appetite hormones do not respond to the fructose molecules (as they do to every other molecule) to tell our brains that we’re full.  When we were cave men, she explains, ‘sugar was highly valuable (as insta-energy for chasing wildebest) and extremely rare (a berry here and there).’ Now sugar is available in abundance and our bodies are unable to cope with such high quantities. From my own personal experience, I would say her assessments are correct. There is no off-switch for me when it comes to eating sugar, especially refined sugars.

What about fruit? This was / is my biggest concern, cutting out fruit because it is fructose-filled also, thus has the same affects. Sarah says no fruit come week 3, to kick the addiction and then you can bring it back later on down the track. I still have reservations, but for the sake of experiment and for you my readers, I will do my best come week 3.

What do I like about the ebook?  If nothing else the ebook was a good purchase for a comprehensible understanding of why sugar makes you feel sick and get fat.  It is set out beautifully and is easy to navigate around. Sarah doesn’t just leave you hanging saying ‘no sugar, now good luck’, she gives you alternative snack and treat ideas and has some great sugar free recipes. Best of all it’s only $15, so go on have a read!Click here to view more details She also has an ‘I quit sugar’ cookbook and you can buy BOTH ebooks for $29 – bargain!

Have you tried I Quit Sugar? What did you think?