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21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 12:33 pm
by kizma
I've flirted with 2 meals and 1 meal a day a few times before and I always run into the same problem: sugar gets really, really tempting.
Most times, I went back to bad habits just because I ended up snacking (before noon) on either cookies, ice cream or chocolate.
I've experimented enough with nutrition and diet to know that if there is one thing I should change in my dietary habits, it's the intake of sugar.

Starting today I will experiment for 21-days the complete removal of sugar and simple carbohydrates from my diet.

I find that having a fixed duration for such a challenge makes it much more easy to accomplish (compared to "quitting forever")

Benefits will include:
Less attachment to foodstuff, more clarity, more energy, less sloth and torpor when meditating (!!), better sleep.

Some tricks to help me in the first few days:
  • Have a bunch of fruits on hand in case of severe craving
    Introduce more vegetables to each meal
    Spend more time outside walking
I am sharing this with you so you may feel inspired to try this out with me.

It can be much easier when we progress together!

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 12:53 pm
by Ben
Fruit is full of simple sugars.
So if you are eating fruit, your diet is far from being simple carb, sugar-free.

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 12:56 pm
by kizma
Good point, Ben. :)

Simple carbs with the exception of fruit.
But somehow I think you knew what I meant.

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:07 pm
by Ben
kizma wrote:Good point, Ben. :)

Simple carbs with the exception of fruit.
But somehow I think you knew what I meant.
I knew what you meant. If you want to go on a simple carbohydrate free diet then you should also remove fruit from your diet.
kind regards,

Ben

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:21 pm
by Coyote
Kizma,

Good luck! I think the body gets used to certain amounts of sugar, so it is good to cut back. I have even heard of children who, since they have not become used to very sweet foods, find fruits like sloe berries edible and not too astringent.

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 2:58 pm
by Mojo

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:01 pm
by Mojo
I think the South Beach Diet offers a balanced approach to breaking sugar cravings. Unsure if you are vegetarian or not, but its no problem on South Beach.

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:22 pm
by binocular
kizma wrote:I've flirted with 2 meals and 1 meal a day a few times before and I always run into the same problem: sugar gets really, really tempting.
Most times, I went back to bad habits just because I ended up snacking (before noon) on either cookies, ice cream or chocolate.
I've experimented enough with nutrition and diet to know that if there is one thing I should change in my dietary habits, it's the intake of sugar.

Starting today I will experiment for 21-days the complete removal of sugar and simple carbohydrates from my diet.
In my experience and insight, the actual problem are processed commercial foods, notably cookies, ice cream, chocolate and pasta.

Foods that I myself cook from the basic ingredients, even if they do contain sugar, arouse far less craving and other problems in me than store-bought ones. After having eaten commercial ready-made foods of any kind, but especially cookies, ice cream, chocolate and pasta, I feel very tired and hungry.
So I think that the most I can do to improve one's diet, is to cook all the food myself, from the basic ingredients.

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:33 pm
by kizma
Foods that I myself cook from the basic ingredients, even if they do contain sugar, arouse far less craving and other problems in me than store-bought ones. After having eaten commercial ready-made foods of any kind, but especially cookies, ice cream, chocolate and pasta, I feel very tired and hungry.
So I think that the most I can do to improve one's diet, is to cook all the food myself, from the basic ingredients.
I've had the same experience.

Usually when I craved sugar(sweets, dessert, etc.) I would eat insane amounts of it. I don't have this problem with any other type of food.
It's been affecting my health for a while now.

As for bread and pasta, I've noticed that it alters my mood in a very similar way. It also increases the craving for sugar.

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:40 am
by retrofuturist
Greetings kizma,

To help me put this in content, what kind of exercise do you typically do?

I ask mainly because I find that what I eat (or more specifically, the number of meals a day) is primarily driven by how much or how little exercise I do, and the thought of no-carbs when I am physically active is pretty uninviting.

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 2:02 am
by kizma
Hi Retro,

Sorry, I realize that the title is misleading.
What I stopped eating for 21 days are these two categories:
1- Food that contain sweeteners such as white/brown sugar, honey, molasses, etc.
2- Food that contain wheat, corn, potatoes and white rice
To help me put this in content, what kind of exercise do you typically do?
I usually go out for long walks in the park or at the mountain and do some stretching.

On most days I'll have brown/wild rice with tempeh, spinach(or bok choy), sauerkraut, wakame, and a tahini+miso sauce.
I believe this kind of meal to be suitable for any kind of physical exercice.

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 2:45 am
by retrofuturist
Would love to see some photos of those aforementioned meals!

Metta,
Retro. :)

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:02 pm
by kizma
Image

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:09 pm
by retrofuturist
:thumbsup:

Re: 21-days no-carb no-sugar challenge

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:08 pm
by Mojo
Looks pretty starchy. Its filling you up until the next time you had planned to eat?