Kitchen

[chick b]

I've always loved sweets but for years I was content to have a box of cookies in the house (at all times). Since I've had a lot of health problems for the past few years the sugar thing has gotten out of control. I used to be a pretty serious foodie, but lately I rarely crave savory foods. I could make a meal out of cheesecake, m&m's and ice pops. I think part of it is due to my medications as well as a seemingly never-ending minor sinus problem. Subtle flavors don't really cut it anymore.

Plaid Pants - It sounds like you're making changes that are making a difference. I'm going to look into the chromium that Snowbunny recommended.

[Lacey1]

Just an FYI for more motivation. Every time you ingest sugar, (any type) your digestive system will process it to glucose, and send it into your bloodstream. Glucose is energy, but in order for the body to use it-it has to go into your cells. Insulin is a hormone, (from your pancreas) that pushes the glucose into the cells. It's a normal process.

If, however, you are putting too much sugar into your body-your body had to use more and more insulin. Many people can become, 'insulin resistant'. IOW, the insulin becomes ineffective. This can lead to pre-diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or Type 2 Diabetes.

The affects are having glucose in the bloodstream, instead of the cells is dangerous. Blindness, Peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, renal failure, impaired wound healing, etc.

These things are insidious, and can take years to do a lot of damage. You may not feel anything different. It is diagnosed via blood tests. If you can break the sugar habit-the sooner, the better.

[Group 5 minus 1]

Years ago and I mean YEARS Phil Donahue said sugar was the most addictive substance on the planet.

[Harpa]

Plaid Pants, et. al., it is wonderful that you are cutting down on processed sugar! I found ways to cut down, too, and now some things are way too "sickening" sweet for me.

Whenever I bake, I cut out at least a half-cup of sugar. Also, I never sweeten tea or coffee and certainly not with artificial sweeteners.

That's a real accomplishment about the soda! (I never have that.)

I do drink OJ, but only get the Trop50.

I think that 10 pounds you lost deserves congratulations!

[Vamp]

Keep up the good work!

[151949]

I too am a sugar addict. Last year I took a class at the Y and all we did was count fat grams so we really could not eat candy - except hard candy and baked goods. Except -- ahh this is a good thing - we could have angel food cake. I would love to have it with fruit in it's own juice on top or thawed frozen strawberries that were not sweetened. Now I see at Publix they have sugar free angel food cakes and I buy them - can't tel the difference. Great dessert with no guilt.

[dex]

Sugar substitutes are so bad for you that you are better off to just use real sugar treats sparingly.I get really bad intestinal problems from the artificial sugars almost immediately after consuming.i used to use them but when my stomach problems became intense I was told to stop all of them.

[gulf coast girl]

Plaid Pants I also smell the marshmallows in the store...every time. I want a pillow to sleep on made out of a bag of marshmallows. I thought I was the only one.

[Plaid Pants]

In addition to reducing my sugar, last year I cut way down on my carbs.

I used to buy a loaf of bread a week, and eat pasta on a semi-weekly basis.

Now, I don't crave bread or pasta.

The only time that I have bread, is if I go to Subway.

I still like to have fiber, though, but there are other ways to get that.

Like broccoli, for example.

[beckyb1012]

Good for you giving up the sugared cola. I gave it up myself back in Nov. 1997 along with smoking. I figured if I was going to be in pain over the cigarettes I might as well be in pain over the soft drinks too.

It was hard but I stayed away from all until this summer at my daughter-in-law's baby shower and saw her Mother filling the punch bowl with 7/Up. I had already had three glasses because it was so good! I thought oh well I did not deliberately go looking for soda, so I went and got glass number 4.

Good Luck and congrats on the weight loss.