OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

[Sherri]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Me too Adena. The problem is that we only get one key and this time I'm in jail again and can't get out.

I'm sorry Sherri. Not only did I disappinted myself but I disappointed you and my friends.

Elsey, and Challengers,
I'm going to change the rules of this challenge, Because I can! I'm going to allow "three strikes, you're out rule" You will have three DAYS of cheats allowed to get your Sweet Cravings under control. If I were you, I would hold those days close and don't use them. YOU CAN DO THIS ELSEY. Here's your chance to brush yourself off and get control. We're all rooting you on sweetie.
Sherri

[Sherri]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Challengers,
I realize that this is the toughest challenge that one could endure. Therefore, I have changed the rules to "3 strikes and your out". Three days of cheats and you're out of the challenge. The first week of No Sweets is the hardest. You're dealing with addiction. Please buy some L-Glutamine and take it. Eat fat snacks when you get the urge for sweets. It will help curb your cravings. Hang in there challengers, YOU CAN DO THIS!
Sherri

[Sherri]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

------GOOD LUCK TO ALL -12- OF OUR CHALLENGERS------


OPERATION "SWEET CRAVINGS"

CHALLENGERS

Adena------------------------x
Alexa
asoprano1432
Elsey-------------------------x
guekjian
Hopejoy
Julirama
Mothercooter
Porcelain
Seasands
Sherri
ValidRouge

[Sherri]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Is Splenda Addictive?

Yes, and for many reasons. All artificial sweetners create an artificial need for more sweetness. People forget that originally, sweetness was actually a by-product of food: Nature's way to encourage living creatures to consume nutricious foods. Forced sweetness, revved-up sweetness and artificial sweetness- all altered foods- are a trap that addict people to sweeter tastes.
Emotionally, we are witnessing an epidemic of eating disorders in the countries that focus on artificial sugar substitutes, particularly among the younger generation. People are convinced through advertisements that they can eat all the sugar-free foods they want without penalty. The flipside to this is a fear that eating REAL foods will cause weight gain or illness. So, many people now fear their food and believe if they do not eat sugar-free, they'll "gain weight". People are grossly overeating due to the misconception that sugar-free is responsibility-free, especially children.
We need to re-educate the youth about the basics of good nutrition and stop "super sizing" the diet products.

[Porcelain]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Checking in this morning, sweet free. I watched my daughter finish off that tri-tip last night. Yep, it's the one I love. The one that has dextrose in the marinade. That's fine. I ate two boiled eggs and some chicken. I haven't had anything with splenda in it since February and the tastes of foods are definitely changing for me. I now appreciate the actual taste of the food. I have been eating a lot of my veggies raw so that means I haven't been putting salt on them either. I think I am going to be much healthier due to this challenge. I used to crave coca-cola all the time so I would drink coke zero, but it was like what Joy was saying. It was like getting a mini hit of a drug and I always craved for the real thing. I got off them in early January and I haven't really wanted one in a long while. Every now and then, I see that red can and I salivate a bit but I know if I were to drink it, it more than likely would make me physically sick.

[Mothercooter]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

still sweetfree here...AND DOWN 2 LBS!!

Of coure this is probably a fluke but I'll take it either way. I also wont weigh anymore this week. Couldnt bear it if it fluctuated back up.

Who knows though, maybe those sweeteners were stalling me out.

[guekjian]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Good for you Mothercooter! They were probably stalling you out, but best stay off the scale until next week anyways!

I am finding coffee hard without my sugar twin ( No havent been able to quit the coffee, but I just have one in the morning and that's all)

Keep up the good work all!

[hopejoy]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Hey friends and buddies,
I'm back from vacation and just spent the last hour sitting here catching up on this thread... while preparing lentil soup in the crock pot... then I looked on the ingredient list on the cube of chicken broth I was using... dangit! SUGAR! I won't get to eat any! I'll take it over to grampa and gramma and send some home with daves mom... (rolling eyes at myself...) if I had looked at it 1 minute earlier... (sigh) oh well... learning process... I am so glad to be back in computerland... it was hard doing this without you guys... on vacation where I associate good times with a diet coke and other diet treats... (stupid) I did fine though with my water... also associate bonding with my husband with our morning coffee ritual... which is now me having herb tea plain... I'm okay with it too. It just gets pointed out more on vacation when you associate good times with certain food rituals... (stopping for gas... getting a soda or a coffee... Laying on the boat... diet coke. ) well, I'm a much cheaper date now. I think I should be rewarded! New clothes. What do you think? ha! I'm also much more motivated after a few days in a bathing suit. I may be thinner... but I feel kinda flabby... need some serious tone up work. Get back on my bike and start pushing myself again.

Anyways, I'm glad to see you all working the process. I found sugar free mayonaise at Trader Joes btw! I first looked at Jimbos (health food store) they had none... but were kind enough to give me a recipe. I will post it for you all. It's basic and I didn't try it. (because my next stop was trader joes.) But I thought 'Wow! excellent customer service!')

liz

[hopejoy]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Here's the recipe he gave me:

Mayonaise from Jimbos kitchen
3 egg yolks
3/4 cups oil... add very very slowly while yolks are on full blend in either a blender or the food processor.... just a little bit at a time....
1Tbsp lemon juice
Salt and Pepper to taste.

I didn't try it... like I said...but this is a basic recipe and I thought it was very very very nice of the guy to give it to me. He worked in the kitchen at Jimbos a very upscale healthfood store here in so. cal. Together we looked through about 20 jars of Mayonaise and he was as surprised as I was that they didn't have a sugar free or honey free mayonaise... So he went back to the kitchen and got the recipe for me which was incredibly awesome!!! Somebody make it and let us know how it tastes!
liz

[hopejoy]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

When I think back... I was saying things like... "okay... I'll never have mayonaise again... I can handle that..... I'll grieve the mayonaise and move on..." kind of kidding around... ha! he must have taken me seriously! Well, I was kind of freaking out a little... a health food store without a sugar free mayonaise? Thank GOD for Trader Joes. I could kiss Joe. Who ever he is.... Did you know Trader Joes has a policy about not allowing anything in their store with MSG in it? Nothing in the entire store has MSG... which for me is great because I'm allergic to it. Kind of simplfies my shopping. But Jimbos is a great store too.... and I love that he gave me the recipe.... God bless his sweet little heart.
liz

[julirama723]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Well, speaking of mayo, I'm an idiot.

I've eaten broccoli slaw the past two days, and of course, it's made with mayo. Mayo that has sugar as an ingredient. Marginal amounts at best, but it's still in there.

So give me two fat X's, oy vey.

[hopejoy]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Oh bummer Julie, I would've done that too if not for somehow catching it last Thursday night... it really threw me into a tail spin... so maybe you can be the first to try that recipe and let us know how it goes.

Speaking again of Trader Joes.... I just got out my vitamins which I buy at Trader Joes... it says: "Contains no sugar, latose, gluten, wheat or allergenic yeast. Contains no artificial flavors, sweeteners, color or added preservatives." Once again... I love my Trader Joes... and they are reasonably priced.
liz

[Porcelain]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Okay, I made the mayo and here is my critique.

Consistency is wonderful, very thick and creamy. I made it with grapeseed oil which might be a little heavy for some. Canola might work better for a lighter taste. It needs salt for me but I haven't gotten any salt yet that doesn't have sugar so I didn't put any in the mayo. It was too lemony. I don't know if the salt balances this out but without the salt, it is too much lemon. My husband says maybe it was supposed to be a teaspoon. I don't know. All in all, I think it was a good go at my first try at homemade mayo. I can probably put some other spices in it until I get sugar free salt.

[hopejoy]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Oh yeah for you Porcelain!!! You could be right... I'm looking at his cat scratching writing and it could be a tsp!!! sorry! So.... everyone!!! go with the tsp and add more! I'm so glad you tried it! Now I want to. What made you try grapeseed oil? Is is good? I bet it's good for you! Sounds kind of yummy!
liz

[elsy]

Re: OPERATION "NO SWEETS" CHALLENGE

Elsey, and Challengers,
I'm going to change the rules of this challenge, Because I can! I'm going to allow "three strikes, you're out rule" You will have three DAYS of cheats allowed to get your Sweet Cravings under control. If I were you, I would hold those days close and don't use them. YOU CAN DO THIS ELSEY. Here's your chance to brush yourself off and get control. We're all rooting you on sweetie.
Sherri

Thanks sweetie. I don't deserve this chance, but thank you so much.