Simple Sugar(s)

January 6, 2003

Hi, Laura:

My approach to weight loss is to forget about it; turn it over to

God, fate, reality, truth, or whatever else controls my weight--

because I do not--I've got 59 years' experience behind that personal

conclusion.

I've been to Alcoholics Anonymous, where they accept the fact that

they cannot control alcohol by drinking just a moderate amount. They

accept that they are powerless over alcohol and always drink too much.

I feel the same way about sugar. Any amount is too much because it 1)

has no nutrition except calories; 2) it causes an insulin response,

leading to low blood sugar and resulting irresistable hunger

cravings; 3) it stimulates the palate to excesses and bad habits

because it tastes sweet. After I eat sweets I don't like

vegetables. After I eat sweets I have to have " good-tasting " food,

which is always fattening.

I think the first requirement for losing weight is to abstain

entirely from simple sugar(s). I believe that anyone who believes

they can eat a moderate amount of sugar without developing the

phenomenon of craving is on a merry-go-round and it is senseless to

talk with this person.

I see many such people here in the USA. They want to lose weight,

but they also want to eat sugar. They are usually fat. I am 5'9 "

tall and weigh 175 lbs. I am overweight, but most fat people tell me

I don't need to diet. I'm interested in better health and I hope to

lose weight in the course of improving my all-around health.

It strikes me that it is difficult to evaluate honesty on the

internet, but not impossible. The one area where honesty counts is

self-honesty. Am I being honest with myself? Who am I kidding, if

not myself? If I want to kid myself, why do I need to impress

someone else to do that?

Ron McClure

, " Laura

<child_of_the_80s@h...> " <child_of_the_80s@h...> wrote:

> Welcome to Pat, Susan, and Allyanne,

> thank you for joining the group.

>

> I guess i should tell you a bit about myself.

> Some of you (like Pat) might know me already from other groups.

> My name is Laura, i'm 21 and i live in Wales in the UK.

> I live with my boyfriend and work as an Occupational Therapist.

> I've been a veggie for about 5 months now and have been enjoying

> exchanging recipes in various groups to try and eat less

convenience

> foods and make sure i'm getting all my vitamins and minerals!

> Plus i absolutely love cooking!

> I've been wanting to lose weight for some time but have found lots

> of veggie recipes contain alot of cheese or are heavily based on

> carbs (which can then turn to sugar if not used as energy). So i

> tried to find a group swapping low fat or diet veggie recipes and

> couldn't find one. Thats why i started this group.

> Aside from cooking, i like reading, creative writing, watching

> movies, and creating things (sewing, painting, etc). I am

> interested in yoga, which i really should do more often, and i am

> learning reflexology.

>

> So thats me, i'll be starting to post recipes later, as i have a

few

> i have already found in magazines. Please write back and tell us a

> bit about yourselves,

>

> take care,

>

> Laura x

January 7, 2003

Thanks for your mail about simple sugars Ron. I agree with you that

there is absolutely no need to eat sugar, and that even a tiny

amount can affect the way we eat more generally. But then i also

think that it is not always harmful to eat a bit of sugar. I really

do think it depends on the person. If i have something sugary when

i'm eating healthily, it just doesn't appeal to me. Or if it does,

i can eat a little bit and leave the rest, without descending into a

binge. But then it does take will power, and i don't always have

that so i find my ability to stay healthy is largly based on my

mood! As you have said of yourself before, i eat to comfort

myself. I'm not sure i'm the right person to comment on the

american diet as i live in the uk. Over here i think most families

eat reasonably healthy food compared to the american diet you

mentioned(but this experience is only from my friends and family)

but still eat quite large portions, and i think we're a nation of

snackers (chocolate bars and the like). I also think that even when

i am not watching what i eat, i eat more healthily than most people

in the uk. I'm lucky (although i didn't know it at the time) coz my

mum would not let me have many sweets or snacks as a child. As a

result i don't eat much chocolate and i don't eat other sweets or

crisps at all - i just don't like them.

I think i've rambled quite a bit so i hope this still makes sense.

I guess what i'm trying to say is that i agree with you but i think

everyone's situation is different.

Laura

January 7, 2003

> I'm lucky (although i didn't know it at the time) coz my

> mum would not let me have many sweets or snacks as a child. As a

> result i don't eat much chocolate and i don't eat other sweets or

> crisps at all - i just don't like them.

>

I find this interesting - I too dislike them because they are usually

far too sweet for my particular taste (and also, because, despite that,

I find I want more of this thing that is too sweet for me too enjoy. Go

figure. But I was interested that you said you weren't allowed to have

many as a child. Rationing in the UK was on when I was a kid, so I had

precious little of it too. Cause and effect? Maybe. Anyone else?

best,

pat

--

PAT (In London, Ontario)

Email List: townhounds-

(townhounds/)

Personal Email: SANTBROWN

Personal Webpage: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/

----------

* " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things, man

will not himself find peace. " - Albert Schweitzer

* " Don't be afraid. Just start the tape. " - Anne Rice

* " I don't do pawprints. " -- Snoopy

----------

January 7, 2003

But I was interested that you said you

> weren't allowed to have

> many as a child. Rationing in the UK was on when I

> was a kid, so I had

> precious little of it too. Cause and effect? Maybe.

> Anyone else?

My mother is addicted to sweets. We always had tons

of it around the house. I myself am very healthy and

keep my sweets down to a once a week treat. I'm 5'9 "

and weigh 145. I think that keeping children away

from junk and sweets can sometimes have the opposite

effect and will spur cravings and rebellions. I don't

have any sugar in the house (outside of honey and

syrup). My grandparents didn't eat any sweets and my

Mother grew up to crave it all the time. But, as in

your cases...Its the opposite. I guess it just boils

down to individual tastes.

Warmly,

Allison

Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.

http://mailplus.

January 8, 2003

I was given a very processed/junk food/sugar laden diet as a

child...we did't drink milk, we drank Pepsi!! I do notice that my

children do not crave sweets the way I do, they have them

occasionally and usually on a special occasion. I notice the more

often they have these things, the more often they want them....any

women have advice for " that time of the month " I really have food

cravings at this time.

BB. Laura H. , Sant & Brown

<santbrown@l...> wrote:

> > I'm lucky (although i didn't know it at the time) coz my

> > mum would not let me have many sweets or snacks as a child. As a

> > result i don't eat much chocolate and i don't eat other sweets or

> > crisps at all - i just don't like them.

> >

> I find this interesting - I too dislike them because they are

usually

> far too sweet for my particular taste (and also, because, despite

that,

> I find I want more of this thing that is too sweet for me too

enjoy. Go

> figure. But I was interested that you said you weren't allowed to

have

> many as a child. Rationing in the UK was on when I was a kid, so I

had

> precious little of it too. Cause and effect? Maybe. Anyone else?

>

> best,

> pat

>

> --

> PAT (In London, Ontario)

> Email List: townhounds-

> (townhounds/)

> Personal Email: SANTBROWN@L...

> Personal Webpage: http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/

> ----------

> * " Until he extends the circle of compassion to all living things,

man

> will not himself find peace. " - Albert Schweitzer

> * " Don't be afraid. Just start the tape. " - Anne Rice

> * " I don't do pawprints. " -- Snoopy

> ----------

January 8, 2003

, " whisperwind5

<whisperwind5> " <whisperwind5> wrote:

> I was given a very processed/junk food/sugar laden diet as a

> child...we did't drink milk, we drank Pepsi!! I do notice that my

> children do not crave sweets the way I do, they have them

> occasionally and usually on a special occasion. I notice the more

> often they have these things, the more often they want them....any

> women have advice for " that time of the month " I really have food

> cravings at this time.

>

> BB. Laura H

My advice if you really need something sweet is to try eating dried

fruit, like dried apricots. They contain fibre and vitamins, and

although they're still sweet, they're not half as bad for you.

Laura x

-failing that, a disney film and a cuddle usually works for me

January 8, 2003

any

> > women have advice for " that time of the month " I

> really have food

> > cravings at this time.

> >

That time of the month is horrible on my diet! I

assume it's nature's way of storing fats for

conception. Most of my cravings are right after

ovulation and before menses (pms). Once the period

hits, I'm fine...My body knows I'm not pregnant and

doesn't crave for fat storage. Of course, that's just

my assumption. I like to drink herbal tea with honey

after each meal during that time, it's really sweet

and I don't crave desserts.

Oh, and supposedly celery keeps the sweet tooth at bay

(all forms: stalk, leaves and seeds).

Warmly,

Allison

--- " Laura <child_of_the_80s "

<child_of_the_80s wrote:

> ,

> " whisperwind5

> <whisperwind5> " <whisperwind5> wrote:

> > I was given a very processed/junk food/sugar laden

> diet as a

> > child...we did't drink milk, we drank Pepsi!! I

> do notice that my

> > children do not crave sweets the way I do, they

> have them

> > occasionally and usually on a special occasion. I

> notice the more

> > often they have these things, the more often they

> want them....> > BB. Laura H

>

> My advice if you really need something sweet is to

> try eating dried

> fruit, like dried apricots. They contain fibre and

> vitamins, and

> although they're still sweet, they're not half as

> bad for you.

>

> Laura x

> -failing that, a disney film and a cuddle usually

> works for me

>

Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now.

http://mailplus.

January 8, 2003

*****Laura x wrote....

>>...if you really need something sweet...try eating

dried fruit, like dried apricots. They contain fibre

and vitamins...<<

Good idea with only one caveat--the sugars are highly concentrated in dried

fruits/veggies. For example, 1/2 cup of fresh apricot has 8.6 gm of

carbo/sugar.

On the other hand, 1/4 cup of dried apricot (about 10 pieces) has 25 grams.

To get the same or less sugar, you'd have to eat no more than 3 pieces of

the dried fruit.

Dave

January 8, 2003

, " daveo " <daveo@m...>

wrote:

> *****Laura x wrote....

> >>...if you really need something sweet...try eating

> dried fruit, like dried apricots. They contain fibre

> and vitamins...<<

>

> Good idea with only one caveat--the sugars are highly concentrated

in dried

> fruits/veggies. For example, 1/2 cup of fresh apricot has 8.6 gm

of

> carbo/sugar.

>

> On the other hand, 1/4 cup of dried apricot (about 10 pieces) has

25 grams.

> To get the same or less sugar, you'd have to eat no more than 3

pieces of

> the dried fruit.

>

> Dave

Very true, i realise this, but if i have to have sugar i think this

is much better than sweets!

Laura (uk)

January 8, 2003

Definitely a much better choice IMHO.

Laura <child_of_the_80s

[child_of_the_80s]

Wednesday, January 08, 2003 11:14 AM

Re: Simple Sugar(s)

, " daveo " <daveo@m...>

wrote:

> *****Laura x wrote....

> >>...if you really need something sweet...try eating

> dried fruit, like dried apricots. They contain fibre

> and vitamins...<<

>

> Good idea with only one caveat--the sugars are highly concentrated

in dried

> fruits/veggies. For example, 1/2 cup of fresh apricot has 8.6 gm

of

> carbo/sugar.

>

> On the other hand, 1/4 cup of dried apricot (about 10 pieces) has

25 grams.

> To get the same or less sugar, you'd have to eat no more than 3

pieces of

> the dried fruit.

>

> Dave

Very true, i realise this, but if i have to have sugar i think this

is much better than sweets!

Laura (uk)

January 9, 2003

I was also! I'm still at home though, I'm 17 years old, but we eat out almost every single night. In the past two weeks I have made one meal at home. ~Sara

I was given a very processed/junk food/sugar laden diet as a child...we did't drink milk, we drank Pepsi!! I do notice that my children do not crave sweets the way I do, they have them occasionally and usually on a special occasion. I notice the more often they have these things, the more often they want them....any women have advice for "that time of the month" I really have food cravings at this time.

Entertainment-World/

TRL-artists-picsNfun/

TheWB-Chat/