Sugar: according to my ND, absolutely destroys our immune system.
I've been weening myself off of sugars for 2 years, little by little. My last bit of sugar was that I was addicted to dark chocolate and would have entire large bar daily. 8 days ago, I finally let it go! Wow!!! I am shocked and amazed at how rapidly my symptoms are decreasing even more.
I think that for me, the combo of sugar and caffeine was an addiction, still trying to cope with remaining lyme symptoms. Lo and behold, after giving it up, and after horrible detox and withdrawal, day 8, I feel great!
I no longer have cravings for sugar/chocolate and instead, have been craving healthy foods. My remaining brain fog is lifting even more.
I am a happy girl tonight! If you are playing around with getting off sugar, do it! It will be hard but just do it. It's necessary and worth it )
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
Any tips on how you weened yourself off.
I am having a really difficult time with this and I know it is one of the keys to getting well.
I also eat dark chocolate thinking that somehow its not as bad as other sweets, but I feel so guilty after eating it. I know it is hindering me in my path to wellness.
Did you also quit caffeine? I have been trying to do that for years.
Have you been on abx a long time?
Posted by supergirl (Member # 26936) on :
let's see if I can help For me, even though so many folks on the board gave up sugar cold turkey, that wasn't the right choice for me - too much at one time.
I also have eaten dark chocolate for the past year. I gave up all the food allergens - so eating dark chocolate was the lesser of 2 evils.
But, I finally came out of denial about the fact that sugar destroys the immune system and feeds the infections.
I just kept trying and trying and trying until one day, I did it! It's a real mental game. I had to mentally resign myself to the fact that I would go through withdrawals and feel awful, but I made my mind up to stick it out. So, I guess for me, a lot of it was mental.
I also chewed gum with a little sugar in it from time to time to take the edge off. Wow! I really sound like a junkie
Let go of the guilt when you do eat it! That's probably worse for your healing than the chocolate. If you do eat it...enjoy it!
And, try again the next day. Start cutting back - allow yourself only a certain amount and that's it...then slowly make that amount smaller and smaller. Chew gum. I also got myself a massage as a reinforcer for quiting. Now, I feel so much better that this is now my reinforcer.
good luck! you can do it
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
Buckling down with my diet has been the hardest thing for me and I suspect it is the remaining piece of the puzzle.
Posted by supergirl (Member # 26936) on :
for me, too! it's a process and let me tell you it's amazing how much better I feel only 8 days off sugar!
Posted by tickled1 (Member # 14257) on :
Wow supergirl. Thanks for motivating me. PLEASE keep me posted on how you do! Now you have to stay off sugar to tell me if the results stick. No pressure!!! Posted by cocowyo (Member # 36286) on :
Congratulations!
I definitely feel much better when I don't eat sugar, which I haven't done for 90 days...in a row!
The thing that helps me the most is Overeaters Anonymous (OA). Most people there would tell you they are sugar addicts and a lot of us have given up caffeine.
I've been going to OA off and on for 10 years and the only times I've been able to stay away from sugar is when I attend at least two meetings a week.
FYI - I have never been overweight or underweight, but I do have a history of bulimia and an extremely unhealthy relationship with food. OA welcomes everyone, whatever your problem with food.
You can also try Spry gum... with xlylitol to ease the transition.
You may also want to up your probiotics. One of the reasons you feel better may be due to the yeast/candida dying down a bit since you quit the sugar.
It brings symptoms which are almost identical to Lyme symptoms.
Congratulations!! Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
cocowyo - that's a great suggestion. I have thought of this before but I am not overweight so thought I would not fit in.
No question I have had an unhealthy relationship with food in the past.
congratulations on 90 days no sugar. Wow that's great. I am going to check out that link.
Posted by canadianmama (Member # 36298) on :
Our house is sugar free now too. Did it for my son, but it has been great for me too.
We were able to really see the difference when he "cheated" a bit at his grandad's house and had a sore stomach for a whole week.
I've been making stevia sweetened desserts. A fav is warm coconut milk with stevia drops and cinnamon.
So glad to hear you are feeling better!
Posted by BuffyFan (Member # 34679) on :
can anyone recommend books/websites to help cut out sugar? recipes? thanks!
Posted by Haley (Member # 22008) on :
I would be interested in books also.
There was a book written years ago called "Sugar Blues" and there is also a book called "Potatoes not Prozac" It gives you a way to ween yourself off - seven steps. In fact I think I am going to get my book out from years ago - way before Lyme.
Posted by Love my kids (Member # 32876) on :
My LLMD doesn't even want us using much Stevia. Sigh. Sugar is the hardest. We avoid wheat/gluten, dairy, soy, and caffeine. It is super hard on the kids whose lives are bombarded by sugar opps at every bend in the road. Have recently been turned on to almond meal, organic extracts (vanilla, almond, lemon) and cinnamon. Makes great muffins, pancakes, and cookies and all sugar/carb free. I find recipies online just googling around for sugar free.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)