Has anyone managed to cut out refined sugar from their diet?

[fishfood]

They had fat kids back in the 1980s you know. Age is a contributing factor to keeping slim or gaining weight, I was always slightly under weight as a kid.

 

 

 

Yes there was the odd overweight kid, but that was a rare thing. In that case you could argue genetics were a factor

[Mandem]

I have read this thread through, and no one has mentioned yoghurts I was amazed at the sugar content of low/no fat yoghurts, in a single pot there are at least 14 gms sugar.

I used to eat a lot of yoghurt, but have now given it up, and am eating handfuls of nuts instead.

[onewheeldave]

You say you have lost 2 stone in weight (well done) But,how much of this is muscle mass?

 

 

Some of it was muscle mass- no doubt about it. But most of it was fat, I know this cos there was a lot of fat round my belly and now there isn't.

 

Like I said, I did weights (and took protein supplements) for decades, but I noticed that the muscle growth was always accompanied by fat.

 

Now I realise that weight training actually encourages fat- if you're pursuing bigger weights, you'll do better if you put on fat (hence why powerlifters tend to be overweight), plus, you're pushing your body by breaking down muscle with the training, so you get a big appetite cos your body wants fuel to rebuild and recover.

 

I decided I'd much rather be slim, have way less bodyfat and a bit less muscle. I also dumped weight training and switched to callisthenics (body weight exercises), which, in contrast to weights, encourages weight loss, as the lighter you are, the better you'll be able to perform chins, push-ups and all the other body weight moves.

 

And the muscle I've got now is way more functional- callisthenics build tendons at least as much as muscle, and I'm no longer suffering from the tendon issues I had when using weights- I'm way better at pushups/chins etc and just generally feel much stronger.

 

I also didn't want to be on a calorie restrictive diet and having to go hungry (as you'll know, dieting is a big part of bodybuilding/weight training) hence why I chose this route, because I can eat as much (fruit & unprocessed carbs) as I like and it won't lead to fat gain.

 

 

The ultra-slim cyclists you mention has a "somewhat" strange diet regime.He may suffer "big time" in his latter years,if he takes in no proteins.

 

I can assure you he's done way more research on his diet than you: also that he's not the only person successfully living off primarily fruit and unprocessed carbs &, he's not the only professional athelete to do so.

 

Just out of interest, why are people having difficulties with the concept of- if you try a fruit/plant/unprocessed carbs based diet, and it doesn't work and you start to feel ill, that you can simply cease to eat that way and go back to your current way of eating?

 

---------- Post added 05-02-2014 at 12:16 ----------

 

I have read this thread through, and no one has mentioned yoghurts I was amazed at the sugar content of low/no fat yoghurts, in a single pot there are at least 14 gms sugar.

I used to eat a lot of yoghurt, but have now given it up, and am eating handfuls of nuts instead.

 

If you get natural full-fat yoghurt there'll be no added sugar.

 

Personally, I'd limit the amount of natural full fat yoghurt you eat, cos it's high in fat.

 

I'm going to experiment with lowering my fat consumption further as spring arrives, but, for now, I have 3-4 tablespoons of full fat natural yoghurt with my breakfast cereal.

 

I wouldn't touch 'low-fat' yoghurt or any other product with a barge pole- they take the fat out and replace it with dodgy sugars.

 

Also, you may have noticed, over the past decade as the supermarkets and filled their shelves with this low-fat rubbish, obesity levels have rocketed (along with diabetes, heart disease and cancer). That suggests to me that maybe eating doctored low-fat processed foods is not a good idea.

[salsafan]

Some of it was muscle mass- no doubt about it. But most of it was fat, I know this cos there was a lot of fat round my belly and now there isn't.

 

Like I said, I did weights (and took protein supplements) for decades, but I noticed that the muscle growth was always accompanied by fat....

Do you know about body types ?

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/body-types-ectomorph-mesomorph-endomorph.html

 

At the end of the day, what you eat and how you feel afterwards should be a responsibility for each person. It really is quite intricate. A lot of medics may say very bog standard things to you. Or any health personnel may also say the same too, but our bodies differ from person to person, and it is down to yourself to figure out what work and doesn't work. I have actually stopped listening to friends now, and really focused and honed in on my own routines. It really is more important.

 

Going back to the thread's beginning post. It is indeed easy to cut out "refined sugar". Which means you cannot and shouldn't really buy manufactured food items. Start to cook from fresh. Even if you want juices, then squeeze an actual orange for its nutrients. Most manufactured items may possibly have small amounts of hidden sugar in them to preserve the food, or to make it more palatable. I was quite surprised to find sugar in some bread too, but it does happen. Once you eat clean, you will feel that your tongue feel so much "cleaner" and not thick and weighted by a heavy sugar diet. There will be a difference between the two.

[onewheeldave]

Do you know about body types ?

http://www.muscleandstrength.com/articles/body-types-ectomorph-mesomorph-endomorph.html

 

At the end of the day, what you eat and how you feel afterwards should be a responsibility for each person. It really is quite intricate. A lot of medics may say very bog standard things to you. Or any health personnel may also say the same too, but our bodies differ from person to person, and it is down to yourself to figure out what work and doesn't work. I have actually stopped listening to friends now, and really focused and honed in on my own routines. It really is more important.

 

Again, I'm really not sure what point you're making?

 

Are you under the impression that I don't take responsibility for deciding what I eat?

 

When it comes to diet/health advice, I agree with you 100% that the medical profession generally aren't good sources of advice.

 

But advice is very usefull, as is the experiences of the other people who've been eating primarily fruit, unprocessed carbs/vegetation long-term.

 

Just as each person must choose for themselves how to eat and live- equally they must use their own judgement in choosing which advice they give credence to.

[salsafan]

Again, I'm really not sure what point you're making?

 

Are you under the impression that I don't take responsibility for deciding what I eat?

 

When it comes to diet/health advice, I agree with you 100% that the medical profession generally aren't good sources of advice.

 

But advice is very usefull, as is the experiences of the other people who've been eating primarily fruit, unprocessed carbs/vegetation long-term.

 

Just as each person must choose for themselves how to eat and live- equally they must use their own judgement in choosing which advice they give credence to.

No specific point to be honest. I was reading what you wrote and I wanted to comment on it, that was all. To me, I wondered if you knew about the different body types before you found this winning formula which worked for yourself. Saying that, I doubt that it will work for everyone. Which is the point I made previously. I just see a lot of confusion overall when people talk about diets and so forth. Most talk about their own experiences and sell this onwards, rather than to listen to what others say and then give a more direct and useful response. Which is what I normally prefer to read online.

 

I made that comment about the medical profession because it is something I already know. So the way you stated as if they don't know what they are doing is not true. They do know what they are doing. That is, a job. But what they do not provide is personalised healthcare in the sense that they monitor your own health, rather than to pitch you against a set of statistical models and predefined models. I get the impression that you do not know this or that you do not seem to think wider to accept this. I don't know. That is the impression I get when I read what you wrote.

 

Because of the above, that is why I would advocate anybody to take control and truly get a good handle of their own health. Not to rely on these fads or misinformation which comes and goes.

 

Advice is only useful if your body type, is exactly like the other person, but if it is not, and that your lifestyle is not like theirs, then the chances of something working for you also will be greater. That is why you still need to assess your own body and to see what works for you over a period of time. Once you find an understanding, then stick with it. There is always a reason why something does not work on your own body compared to that of someone else's.

 

Maybe it is also because I am more cynical too as I get older. I realised that I don't care all too much now of the advice of others, and start to listen to myself so much more. It is so important to monitor yourself, than to compare with others and use their methods. Which may not work anyway and it just sets you back so much more.

 

(By the way, I don't normally give out advice which I think will confuse the person. It is hardly useful to them and hardly going to help them. If I cannot help someone, then why say it ? I would just confuse them so much more. )

[tzijlstra]

I am largely of anything sweet, bar the occasional bag of sweets in the car. As a teen I used to put sugar in my coffee, on my toast (delicious!), on corn flakes and whatever else I thought would need sweetening.

 

The way I came of it was by learning to drink my coffee black and slowly changing my taste to prefer savoury, if I want something sweet I now eat fruit, which does well for me.

 

The good thing is that I now don't really like anything overly sweet, I don't have desserts any more, rarely eat a Mars-bar type thing etc.

 

My best advice is to replace the sweets for fruit, whatever you like really, I am now eating a couple of apples or tangerines or bananas a day. If I want snacks I usually eat nuts or seeds, but that might be a step too far for you

[onewheeldave]

 

I made that comment about the medical profession because it is something I already know. So the way you stated as if they don't know what they are doing is not true. They do know what they are doing. That is, a job. But what they do not provide is personalised healthcare in the sense that they monitor your own health, rather than to pitch you against a set of statistical models and predefined models. I get the impression that you do not know this or that you do not seem to think wider to accept this. I don't know. That is the impression I get when I read what you wrote.

 

 

I am familiar with body types (ecto, meso, endo-morph)- learnt about them decades ago when getting into weights. Must admit, I don't see them as particularly relevant to me now.

 

Also familiar with the medical profession and our 'health' system.

 

Fair enough- the nurses/doctors are well meaning and do their best in difficult circumstances. The NHS admin system is not fit-for-purpose, it's in a dreadfull state and does detract from the efforts of the actual medical staff- I've first hand experience of this on multiple occasions.

 

But it's a repair service orinentated system, not a preventative one- it's really not that focused on health.

 

Don't get me wrong- if I break my leg, I'll go to a hospital, but, in general, I try to avoid using our medical system as much as possible, and, the thought of trying to get usefull dietary advice from that direction is fairly ludicrious to me now, knowing what I know.

 

Indeed, a prime motivation for me where eating healthy is concerned, is to minimise the chance of me winding up in hospital with some preventable serious disease, cos hospitals are deeply unhealthy places to be, and I've seen way too many relatives end their lives in them.

[salsafan]

I am familiar with body types (ecto, meso, endo-morph)- learnt about them decades ago when getting into weights. Must admit, I don't see them as particularly relevant to me now.

Ah ok. I learnt about that in my late 20s. After I put myself through the usual gym routine and did not get anywhere at all. I realised I am also an endomorph, which means that carbs are bad for me. I do add on weight so much more easily. It has been years since I have that bloated feeling. I felt so much better too. I have also cut out bread too. And refined sugar in my diet.

 

I agree. I know that their intention and meaning is well too but they are indeed not providing a preventative measure for now. Which I also know is the direction which they wish to go into now, as the cost of "repairing" is beginning to be too high. I noticed that there is an increase in dietitian and nutritionist jobs too in the NHS. Rightly so. The question is whether this area is advanced enough and if anyone has spent money on the research aspect which allow an individual to be qualified and practise that way. That is the way the NHS goes as we know.

 

I did wish I listened to my mother more on the preventative side of things. I thought I did okay until I realised that I had a few pieces of the puzzle missing, but I am on a better track now.

 

What we are talking about is quite specialist, isn't it ? Even the top athletes are now really looking into this aspect too.

 

I am also the same too as I am aging. I am more stricter now in what I eat which will preserve my body more than it harms it. I also know that my body is in a rate of deterioration, and finding a way to eat better and to preserve what I have more is better than harming it so that I cannot function as well when I get older. I still want kids too, so this is an added motivation on my side.

 

 

(For the OP who is asking the question about refined sugar. Have you also checked your body type too ? As this also will influence how much sugar will affect your body's fat level too. For me, small doses will actually stick with me like glue. So I try to eat cleaner. I also do not drink any sugary drinks at all now and relay on the sugar from being burned from food as energy. This does indeed help a LOT.)

[onewheeldave]

Ah ok. I learnt about that in my late 20s. After I put myself through the usual gym routine and did not get anywhere at all. I realised I am also an endomorph, which means that carbs are bad for me. I do add on weight so much more easily. It has been years since I have that bloated feeling. I felt so much better too. I have also cut out bread too. And refined sugar in my diet.

 

 

You don't eat carbs, bread or sugar- what do you eat?