I believe that sugar and sugar forming foods may be the most addictive substances on this planet. Sugar consumption has increased even within the last 30 years by a significant amount. We are eating sugar like never before! And most of us find it hard to stop…..
The reason we like sugar is obvious. It’s sweet. And ever since we were newborn babies we have been attracted to sweets, like our mother’s milk. But in the end, not only is sugar empty calories, making us gain weight while remaining undernourished, do we really want to be controlled by anything, even something as pleasant as cakes and cookies?
I know so many people who can’t refuse sweets or who can’t go without them for any period of time. Sweets control them to a certain extent.
I have personally found dealing with my sugar cravings to mean greater freedom for myself. For example, I always knew I shouldn’t overdo sweets, but it was hard to resist it (especially since cakes and cookies seem to flaunt you at every turn). But once I went on an anti-yeast diet and dealt with some antibiotic related issues, I’ve found it so freeing as I can generally easily refuse sweets (not always, mind you, but usually).
Let me tell you, it feels good to be free!
For us personally, after an unfortunate month of antibiotics right after Elena was born. We have had to be ultra-careful with how much sweets we consume. Elena just had a recent flare up of a yeast related issues after spending just a few days eating “normal” food on a trip. I don’t think she will always be so sensitive, but meanwhile it serves her best if we don’t overdo it. Thankfully it was just a small flare up, and she was still able to have her birthday cake, but it’s time to have a little anti-yeast, sugar free challenge for ourselves and we invite you to join us!
Next Monday, I will be hosting and blogging about going sugar free for a week. I would love to have you join us! This is a great time to go sugar free, since it’s cold and flu season and sugar can also lower the immune system.
Here are the three levels you can join in on:
Beginner level: Take out all refined sugars including corn syrup and white sugar. Also remove all white flour from your diet, as it’s also very sugar forming.You will need to read labels carefully when buying prepackaged foods. Instead use natural, more unrefined sugars such as rapadura, coconut sugar, honey, stevia.
Moderate Level: Remove all natural sweeteners as well, and only use fruit to sweet foods. Consider removing other starchy foods that can also feed yeast, or make you crave sugar more.
Advanced Level: Take out all sugar forming foods, including most grains, starchy root vegetables like potatoes , and fruits. Buckwheat, Quinoa, Millet are non-starchy grains that are generally acceptable on yeast free diets. Please, beware, if you have a yeast issue, taking out the foods that feed it may make you detox and have a die-off effect (which can make you feel sick and miserable). If you have any illness or health issue, you should consult your health provider before trying a anti-yeast diet.
So what do you think? Are you up for the challenge? You don’t have to be perfect to join in with us. The first step is to reduce consumption. If you would like to join in starting next Monday, leave a comment and I’ll add you to the list!
Participants:
1: Kimi Harris-Aiming for moderate/advanced level
2: Elena Harris-Aiming for moderate/advanced level
3: Katie– Moderate Level to Advanced
4:Priscilla -Advanced
5:Anna- Beginner level
6: Nicole-Advanced level
7:Alexis-Beginner Level
8:Courtney-Beginner Level
9:Holly M-Beginner to Moderate Level
10:Tarena-Moderate to Advanced
11: Jessica-Moderate Level
12: Sharon-Beginner Level
13: Jennifer and Husband-Advanced
14: Elizabeth-Advanced
15: Diana-Advanced
16:Jami-Advanced
17:Melinda-Advanced
18: Margaret L-Moderate-Advanced
19:Shannon-Advanced
20: Ellie-Advanced
21:Sarah G-Advanced
22:Kristy C-Moderate
23:Cornelia-Moderate
24:Leah-Beginner
24:Heather– Beginner
25: Janice-Moderate
26:Kelly-Beginner
27:Marlise and Peter-Advanced level
28: Jessica T-Beginner
29:Angela-Moderate
30:Pampered Mom and Husband-Moderate
31:Karen Beginner/Moderate
32:Virginia-Beginner
33:Laura Green-Advanced
34:Heidi Graves-Beginner
35:Afton:Beginner-Moderate
36:Kelly the Kitchen Kop-Advanced
37: Jeanmarie-Advanced
38: SCB: Beginner
39: Susan-Moderate
40:Kate-Moderate-Advanced
41: Kylie Thomas -Moderate-Advanced
42: Karen B-Advanced
43: My Boy’s Teacher-Beginner
44: Lauren-Beginner-Moderate
45: Peggy-Moderate-Advanced
46: 3hens2Boys1Dog-Moderate
47:Michelle-Beginner
48: Robin-Beginner for Family, Moderate for self
49: Bex-Beginner
50: Jessica-Beginner
51: Tacia-Beginner to moderate
52:Sharon Moliken-Advanced
53:Henriette-Moderate-Advanced
54:Slawebb-Beginner
55:[email protected] Boys Rule My Life -Beginner Level
56:Amber-Moderate-Advanced
57:Kathy Shaner-Moderate
58:[email protected] What Feeds My Soul Moderate-Advanced
59:Anna-Moderate
60:Lisa-Moderate
61:Kara-Beginner
62:Michelle @ What Does the Body good-Moderate
63:Jessie Beginner/Moderate
64:Motherhen68-Advanced
65:Katy-Beginner
66: Elena R-Advanced
67:Melle-Moderate /Advanced
68:Jen-Beginner
69: Teresa-Beginner
70:Christina-Advanced
71:Michele-Moderate
72:Christina-Moderate
73:Beck-Beginner
74:Cameron-Advanced
75:Deborah-Beginner
76:Leila-Moderate
77:Anali-Advanced
78:Loree and Tahli (2 1/2yrs) Galpin/Schoenfeld-Moderate
79:Pauline-Beginner
80: Deborah-Beginner
81:Elisa-Beginner
82:Michele and Two kids-Moderate
83:Nancy Stall- Advanced
84:Ashley-Moderate/Advanced
85:Cindi-Advanced, Rest of the Family Moderate
86:Diane Meyer-Advanced
87: Linda-Beginner
88:Angie-Beginner
89:Kelly-Moderate
90:Caroline-Beginner-Moderate
91:Cameron-Advanced
92:Jami R-Beginner-moderate
93:Natalie- Beginner-moderate
94:Megan-Moderate
95:Ali-Advanced
96:Karen Olayo- Advanced.
97: Jennifer Sikora-Beginner
98:Christy and Family-Beginner
99:Rachel-Moderate to Advanced
100:Atlanta-Moderate
101:Melodie-Beginner Level
102:Tamara-Beginner Level
103:Ashley-Advanced
104:Elizabeth G-Moderate-Advanced
105:Kim-Advanced
106:Vermont Mommy-Moderate
107: Stephanie and Family- Seven-beginner-moderate 1-moderate-advanced
108:Marie R.-Moderate-Advanced
109:Jan-Beginner
110:Tara-Advanced
111:Cook 4 Seasons-Moderate/advanced
112:Rosy-Beginner
113:Michelle Y and Kids – Moderate
114:Symphony-Beginner
115:Jennybear
116:Rayelle-Beginner
117:Megan-Moderate
118:Micki-Moderate
119:Grandma Len plus husband and mother
120:Tammie Thomas-Beginner Moderate
121: Lisa z-Beginner-moderate
122:Megan-beginner
123:Sarah Nissen and Son-moderate
124:Angela and house-beginner
125: Shelly-Moderate to Advanced
126:Trina-Advanced
127: Moderate
128: Jana -Moderate
129: Brook and Three Family Members-Moderate-Advanced
130: Evie and Michael-Beginner
131:Allisha
132:Linda-Moderate
133:Jodi-Moderate
134:June-Beginner-Moderate
135:Alisa-Frugal Foodie-Moderate
136:Dawn, Small Footprint-Advanced
137:Anna-Moderate/advanced
138:Teena-Beginner
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Okay, I’ve been mulling it over and I will be participating at the advance level with the exception of the fact that I may be asked to taste things at school.
I’m curious if we are including lactose as our sugar at the advanced level?
Thanks Kimi!
Moderate Level
Wow, if it’s not too late, I’d love to try! (Try being the operative word). Beginner please!
I would love to do the advanced sugar challenge. I love this blog as I am always looking for awesome recipes that are low in sugar as it is so bad for you especially during the flu season. Thank you for doing this.
Beginner/moderate
I’m going to do the beginner-moderate level. Question: To help us all get started, could you post some recipes ahead of time? Meal planning, for those of us not used to doing this, may be tough (aside from Kombucha, I already cut out refined sugar). I’ll have to avoid potatoes and starchy foods at the farmer’s market on Saturday and would love some advance planning tips!
PS: Does this include not brewing Kombucha? The refined sugar I use gets eaten up, as we all know – but, still wonder if Kombucha is out too.
I’ll be doing moderate. Thanks, Kimi!
I’d love to join in! I’ll try the advanced level.
This comes at just the perfect time for me as i am currently on a grain, sugar free diet for 2 weeks working to get rid of fungus! How wonderful as i started this past monday the 28th and will continue through to the end of next week. It is great to know i will have company! Yeah!! Add me as Karen Olayo Advanced.
Beginner Level
I haven’t eaten sugar in 9 years! AND I AM NOT KIDDING.
I would love to try beginner for myself and family.
Moderate to advanced. I’m still going to eat some fruit (I live in Florida!).
I will do the moderate level
I was thinking about doing this before anyway so I’ll join at the Beginner level.
I’m in. I NEED to do this and I NEED the community support. I did this years ago and felt so good. I suffered headaches for a few days but when they were over I didn’t crave sugar anymore at all. Then weeks later, even though I didn’t want one, I had a piece of chocolate cake and it was game over!
I’d like to give this a try. Beginner level. Count me in.
Hi. I’ve been on a sugar free/starch free diet for almost 4 years and it has reversed my Crohn’s disease. Anyone looking for sugar free/grainfree recipes just has to google any of the wonderful recipe sites or blogs for SCDiet.
you won’t believe how good the food is – check out Kendall Conrads book – Eat well, Feel well for the Macadamia nut/date bread and a variety of other yummies.
I’ve never felt better in my entire life ! I have no more cravings, PMS or any kind of mood swing. I think everyone should find out exactly WHAT sugar is doing to our body and bacteria by reading: http://www.breakingtheviciouscycle.org. You’ll see that your health is in your colon.
Michelle H.
I’ll do the beginner level.
I will do the advanced level. It’s time to get back on track and regain my health 🙂
I will join, at the moderate/advanced level. I have been on a low carb, high vegetable diet over the past 3 weeks to try to curb symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia. Together with more exercise, it really seems to help.
Advanced
I’m in. Moderate. Honestly, could have done the Advanced but the fruit is the kicker for us. We eat a lot of fruit.
Can we post recipes?
I’m not going to do the challenge per se as I’m happy where I currently am (generally between beginner and moderate) but I just wanted to say I think it is a great idea. I was brought up with very little sugar and it has definitely been a blessing.
Sign us up! We have seven doing beginner/moderate and one doing moderate/advanced. Thanks for doing this!
I’m un-lurking to say I love your blog, and this is exactly the right time for me to (once again) go no sugar at the moderate-advanced level. Thanks!
Sign me up for the beginner level. Oh, this is going to be hard…No morning coffee for me since I have to drink it with a teensy bit of flavoring. But it is a great idea and high time, too. Thanks for the challenge and encouragement to go sugar free. And thanks to michellega for the link and the book recommendation. Now if only I can get my husband to do this, too!
Advanced Sugar Free Challenge
I’m in! Moderate/advanced. Great concept – best wishes to all!
Beginner level
Can’t wait to get back into this level. I started it on new years, and fell off the wagon. This is just what I needed to get my rump back on it!
Ooooh, I need this! I’ll be at the moderate level–and the kids 🙂 We’ll see how they do. Good timing, with Halloween coming up…ugh.
I love your blog Kimi, I’ve been reading for quite some time and just. never. comment! I’m also local, so it’s nice to read the seasonal recipes.
Yay! Add me as a patcipant. I can’t wait to start the sugar-free diet with all of you I’ll be on beginner level, but I do have a question does organic agave’ syrup count as natural sweetners?
anyone?
I don’t use agave anymore. It’s not a traditional sweetener and it’s very high in fructose, like high fructose corn syrup. That’s a lot of work for your liver. 🙂
what about organic honey?
I love honey! I think it’s great-in moderation of course. 🙂
This is great – very timely for me as I have been trying to cut down on sugars for a few weeks. I am pregnant and this time around it seems like the first trimester nausea has been harder to control. I started paying closer attention to when my nausea would get worse and I quickly figured out it was always right after I ate something sweet!
Count me in at the Moderate level.
Thanks – looking forward to it!
Sign me up for Beginner Level. I’ve done advanced level in the past, for 2 years actually, but I’m breastfeeding right now, so even beginner is going to be hard. I might slip on the white flour occasionally, but it will be soaked at least when I do. (5 min. a day artisan bread.)
Hi Kimi,
Sign me up for moderate, I’m really looking forward to this challenge!
Hi, please sign me up for the advanced level. I went off all sugar and all flour at the beginning of summer, well, I do still have honey on my oatmeal and in my tea. It’s funny, I’m wondering…what am I going to eat. Actually, I am getting into the alkalin/acid foods thing so I will be eating lots more veggie salads….
Husband (71), Mother (94 – alzheimers, wheelchair, incontinent, needs feeding) and me (66) have a relatively sugar-free diet everyday – need helping going 100%
Add my name: Tammie for the beginner to moderate. Looking forward to this. Tomorrow is the day!!!! Gluten free. We use whole grain and don’t use white flours and sugars. I love sugars: dark chocolate, ice cream and muffins I know sugar is too much a factor in our lives/ my life. Looking forward to the challenge!
I’m going to do this at the beginner level! I’ve been having headaches and an irritable bowel; I hope it helps!
Sign me up for the challenge! I want to do beginner level!
I’d love to sign myself and my 2.5 year old son up for moderate level!
Sign me up beginner….my hole house is going to do it.
sorry for the spelling error…”whole”
Shelly – Moderate to advanced level
Advanced Sugar Free Challenge, My husband and I just finished round 2 cog the Pounds and Inches diet. Together we have loss 53 pounds. We had to cut out all sugars and carbs. My taste buds have change . . . a lot of things now are to sweet for me. Looking forward to this week.
moderate level
Moderate level. Thank you Kimi!
Beginner / Moderate Level
Thanks Kimi. I love your blog!
Love to! Moderate
Wow! I eat only fruit as a sweet, and have for a long while since my baby is a GAPS kid and still nursing, but I have a serious weakness for fresh dates, which I can eat like candy far too much and too often. It’s my one sweet thing in an otherwise very restricted diet. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’ll go for advanced and try to kick the dates for a week!