I’m doing a sugar detox, this is Day 4. It only just occurred to me to write it up 
I’ve been reading David Gillespie’s Sweet Poison. I had a lazy Saturday afternoon and really just felt like putting my feet up and reading, and didn’t have much to read that was lazy-Saturday-suitable. So it seemed like a good time to read the book a girlfriend loaned me some months ago saying “you must read it!” Yeh yeh, I’ve got like eight books on sugar and the negative effects it has on our bodies and emotions. I’ve been a food label nazi for years, though of course there are times when what I really want is chocolate in some form or another. So my thinking was, “The man’s a lawyer not a nutritionist or anything else related, what is he banging on about?” (How arrogant of me, seriously! tch!)
So, feet up, glass of ginger ale beside me, I started to read, and I was more than surprised to find myself very impressed with the depth of David’s research and his plain-English translations of very complex biochemistry. Spurred on by his wife’s pregnancy with twins, he decided that once and for all he’d better lose his excess weight so he could keep up with two more babies in his family of six!
Like most of us he’d tried and failed at many many diets for many many years, and he wanted to know why. So he put his lawyer’s brain to the task of finding evidence for diets actually doing what they said they’d do. He gave himself an education in biochemistry along the way so he could do those translations I mentioned earlier, and what he found was truly scary!
As I said, I know a lot of the sugar research and what David presents in Sweet Poison is new, fresh, and well worth reading! This book gets 5 stars from me!
Getting off Sugar, Again…
It also got me reinspired to get off the sugar, again. I’ve noticed my productivity has really been slowing down lately, and foghead seemed more usual than not, again. I’ve previously worked hard to get off the sugar, and of course the calories had been a motivation for all those years I was dieting like a depressed demon (angry and sluggish, in case you’re wondering )
I’ve done the no-sugar route before, and with a few tweaks and references to some other sources, I’ll be following it through for 30 days until Christmas. I don’t drink tea or coffee (though I’m a fan of the pre-mixed chai lattes, sigh!) and ginger ale is my weekend softdrink. I know that the Stop Cravings tapping I’ve done periodically has been a big help in mostly keeping me off sugar.
So how am I going?
Well… I’ve been a bit tired, wanting to head to bed by 8.30 the last couple of nights.
I’ve started filling a 1 litre bottle with filtered water and keeping it on my desk so I can keep closer track of my water intake, being careful to get the 2000ml a day.
I’ve had no detox symptoms, because my diet is pretty clean and I’m not opting out of wheat because I only have it maybe once a day if at all, or out of dairy because I mostly only eat yoghurt and occasionally some cheese. So it’s not a full-on detox in that sense.
I’m still noticing some cloudy head, and I’m still noticing a little after-lunch sugar craving – that’s habitual, clearly.
I remember some very intense detox symptoms from past detoxes: full on joint-and-head achers that lasted for a couple of days. I didn’t really expect them this time around, though today might be the day
I’ve dropped the honey out of my breakfast Bircher muesli, which is usually pretty sweet with strawberries or banana and apple. Yes, I’m still eating fruit, two pieces per day, this is a sucrose and other hidden sugars detox.
So, that’s the story, I’ll update regularly for the next 30 days.
Oh, there’s been a big bar of Cadbury’s peppermint cream choccie in the fridge since Saturday, I had a row of it on Saturday night while watching Spooks, and haven’t had any since. That’s an achievement in itself, usually fridge chocolate has a really loud voice
More tomorrow….
Sandy
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more tomorrow… as in more chocky ??
well done! go gal!
LOL! I have this recipe for coconut choccie bickies…
Hi Sandy!
Yay! Can’t wait to hear more of your journey…
I’ve been off all refined sugar for a long time now and I love it. My health and energy has improved exponentially.
I went to see David speak in New Farm recently and got his 2 books. I must say, I’m intrigued by the approach of eliminating ALL fructose. As someone who’s coming from a natural medicine and whole food background, I’ve tried many, many dietary modifications over the years in search of “perfect health” As such, like you, I have a very clean diet – no gluten, very little meat, no processed foods, no dairy and no refined sugar in my diet at all. I do however, LOVE raw honey – to eliminate it from my diet sends cold shivers of horror up my spine!) My education tells me that whole, unprocessed food in it’s natural state HAS to be better for you than processed glucose (as in rice syrup, barley malt and the glucose syrup he says are the best sweeteners to use…)
Hence, I’m a bit conflicted and haven’t read his books yet. (I might have to stop eating honey if I do!!!)
Grin.
Susan, I hear you, I had a big of a hummmm at the idea as well
David is saying a couple of things – one is that fructose was always difficult to get in our food supply, so a couple of pieces of fruit and the fructose in veges etc, is not only an amount ouir bodies can cope with, it’s also in a more digestible format because of the fibre, and of course the trace nutrients etc. The issue he highlights is that fruit juice and most other processed foods are loaded with fructose, and our bodies will process fructose first, and that quantity of it becomes circulating EFAs which causes a load of problems. I’m sure you’ll get the biochemistry better than I do – really worth a read 
Honey was also traditionally a rare treat. I’m with you, my favourite brekkie is honey and cinnamon on yummy toasted wholegrain bread – off the menu for the next 30 days, and then I’ll maybe have it as an occasional treat, the way the old bod likes it 
Keep it up Sandy! I too sat down and read David’s book and ticked all the boxes for sugar addiction. I wasn’t overweight by more than 10 kilos but I am an emotional eater and the sweet stuff was what I craved the most. I watched my father die from diabetes related complications and he was a healthy, active man that didn’t seem to fit the criteria for type 2 diabetes. I made a choice after reading the book and quit and I’m happy and proud to say that not only have I dropped 12 kilos in four months but I feel so much better, my energy level have amazed me and at 44 years of age I’ve taken up jogging!! I look forward to following your journey x
Jude, thanks for sharing your own journey! It’s interesting that when you read info from diabetes researchers as opposed to mass media, reserachers know that many people with Type 2 are not overweight junk food addicts, but are, like your dad, strong and fit – sadly poisoned by food we trust. How long have you feen sugar free now?
I started at the end of June. My rule is only eat it if it is under 3 grams per 100 grams with the exeption of balsamic vinegar (something I don’t crave) and no more than 2 fruits a day. Yoghurt is probably the only food that is a bit over but I have one that has no added sugar and I love it. At the moment I’m still going strong and I would like to get to a point where I can have something every now and then/special occasions without guilt or without it sending me wanting more but for now I have yet to test myself. Maybe Christmas Day!
how do you start a sugar detox? i once again started to not bring soda into my house,drinking only water.feeling pretty good about that. i used to drank a 2 liter bottle and more daily. but with thanksgiving i drank several cans of coke. i was also in charge of the deserts with several loved ones requesting their favorites. i managed to send 2 whole cheesecakes home with others. and the banana pudding was almost completely eaten.
Willie, you start just like you have
Reading a book to get up to date info is also a great idea – my most recent reads are Sweet Poison by David Gillespie (an Aussie) and Suicide by Sugar by nancy Appleton – great info in both! Then do the sugar cravings tapping (sign up for my newsletter to get it free!) and you’ll be on your way 
The books give GREAT info that really feeds your mind – I found my body saying YES YES YES to a lot of the info, so tuning in to that is making a big difference when a sneaky little thought like “I’d like a Crunchie now…” pops up! 
David’s second book, The Sweet Poison Quit Plan, has a bunch of recipes that DON’T use artificial sweeteners, like icecream and brownies, but still are no sugar sweet ones. I know, it sounds like a mystery – but seriously, if you pick it up, you’ll love it!
AND… when you’re off the sugar, you actually want it less anyway… sounds hard to believe, I know. It does take 30 days….
Just wanted to say Sandy CONGRATS on this!
I am an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD), but please dont hold that against me! LOL. I read Davids book quite some time ago and it IS really good! I love that it is NOT influenced by food or pharmaceutical industries as MUCH of the information out there about food is – especially so in my industry UNFORTUNATELY! I am all for TRUTH and keeping FOOD simple, nourishing and fun! Having had my own weight loss and weight battle, I know all too well about the WHOLE journey and the LIFESTYLE to maintain things!! Its 18years since I started mine and I continue EVERYDAY! I practice what I preach 100% and LOVE good healthy food AND moving my body- which I used to HATE! LOL. I was a book worm couch potato! Still a book worm but love getting out!
Anyway, if you need/want any help/guidance/inspiration/ideas along the way, stop by my website, see what you think and perhaps be in touch
I am SO passionate about sharing a NO DIET, DEPRIVATION, BORING, RIGID, un-fun WAY! Its all fun for me! !:)
Very curious too about tapping…so never know…a coffee/exchange session meeting may be cool!
I am on the SUnny Coast!
Anyway, LOTS OF LOVE and well done again!
Sincerely,
BridgetJane
Food Body Lifestyle Guru
Writer, Speaker, Consultant
http://www.newleafnutrition.com.au
Hi BridgetJane, you’ve given me great hope in saying that you – and presumably many dieticians – are very aware that food business influences much of the information we learn, usually from the media! I was watching a vid this morning by a guy who spent years establishing a couple of food brands by 1. using sex 2. using health claims that were true on the surface but not true when examined with just one simple question, never mind robust questioning! That’s what we see so much of: contains half your receommended daily allowance of x – but no big mention of five times your RDA of sugar, flavourings or preservatives that were used on mummies – LOL. It is really is buyer beware and buyer be educated – love that you’re part of the voices saying: wake up
I’m in the Brisbane Valley and when I’m heading over to the coast (which isn’t often) I would love to catch up for a coffee, you Sunny Coast gals have great business networking going, I’m so envious 