Week Six: Lapses

Week Six: 

Current Weight - 61.8kg
Goal Weight - 58kgs (size 10)
Weight Loss to Date - 4kg


What I am finding difficult: 

Because we're getting closer to the end I am finding that I justify and lapse a lot more than I did in the beginning. Today, for example, we celebrated the wonderful resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ with a fabulous roast dinner. Succulent lamb, creamy potatoes and juicy roasted capsicum. The mint sauce, had sugar. I ate chips. I had second helpings of the potato bake. I took a slice of pecan pie (I might just add here, it was incredibly delicious. I've never enjoyed a pie so much). I even ate a piece of peanut butter fudge. To say "I lapsed" is an understatement. On top of that, I came home and devoured some raspberry ripple and cheese and crackers. 

How do I feel? 

My stomach is cramping, bloated and I can feel the cheese sitting at the top giving me that "urghhhh" feeling. 

Would I do it again?

I would definitely take on that pecan pie again. I've never tasted a pie so scrummy. It would be a shame to let that pass by. The cheese, ripple and fudge? I could probably leave them. The feeling I have now isn't worth it. The tricky thing is remembering that when it's sitting in front of me. They just cry out to be eaten. The "sugar-free" options are the hardest to resist because they're the easiest to justify. 

It's time to get back on the horse.   

What I enjoyed:

Definitely enjoyed the pecan pie. But in a different way. I took every bite and savoured each mouthful. I didn't just shove it down my throat but really enjoyed the flavour sensations. I know it's not sugar free but I have definitely turned a corner. I enjoy food more than I did before and don't take it for granted. 

Week Six: My Raspberry Ripple

Week Six brings sweetness back! YAY!

Fruit. Rice malt syrup. Cacao. Stevia. I made the raspberry ripple from the book. It was really good. Absolutely scrummy with coffee. 

This weekend Markus' family came to visit. We went out for a family lunch today and I had a haloumi burger and creme brûlée. The first sugar for 6 weeks. I must admit that it was really yummy but what happened later, it was so not worth it. Since having that lunch I have felt heavy, lethargic, bloated and have a 'sick' feeling sitting at the top of my stomach. I feel awful and really wish I hadn't had it. I totally learnt my lesson, I don't need sugar and my body really doesn't enjoy it anymore. 

I will take the sugar free raspberry ripple over a sugar filled creme brûlée any day. 

Week Five: More than half way

Week Five: 

Current Weight - 62kg
Goal Weight - 58kgs (size 10)
Weight Loss to Date - 3kg


What I am finding difficult: 

My weight is not changing. I'm feeling flat.

What I enjoyed:

It's starting to feel more "normal". Eating and cooking this way has become habit. I don't have to think it through like I used to. I really enjoy the food we eat and it leaves me feeling full and satisfied. 

Week Four: Slightly better

Week Four: 

Current Weight - 61.2kg
Goal Weight - 58kgs (size 10)
Weight Loss to Date - 4.3kg


What I am finding difficult: 

The thing I hate the most is that I have to keep explaining that I've quit sugar. Everywhere I go people keep shoving sugary treats in my face. I'm not tempted by them, that's not my problem. The difficulty is having to explain without making a fuss. Then, their face! It's almost a face of disgust. A look of "what? Why?"  I don't know if it's because you expose how badly they eat? People have done all things from putting sugar in my tea (feel really bad when they've just made me a cuppa!), offering me fruit as a "healthy" option and just blatantly tempting me with my favourite chocolates (twirls). 

What I enjoyed:

I feel a lot better in myself. Clearer. Fresher. 

Week Three: Flat

Week Three: 

Current Weight - 61.5kg
Goal Weight - 58kgs (size 10)
Weight Loss to Date - 4kg


What I am finding difficult: This week hasn't been amazing. The thing is, I'm not craving what I thought I would. I don't feel like "Wow, I need chocolate" or "Pleeeeeeease give me some ice-cream!" The weirdest thing is that I'd really like some fruit! What? Who would've thought my first sugar craving would be for fruit! I really miss it.

Markus nearly chucked it all in. He wasn't losing weight like he wanted to, he was irritable, grouchy and feeling rubbish. Seems like I have joined him now. I don't feel like I want to quit quitting sugar, actually I'm really passionate about staying this way for life now! I just don't feel right. To be honest, that could be down to a severe lack of sleep or the fact that I haven't been to the gym this week. I guess when you throw all those things together you get a fairly ordinary feeling.

What I enjoyed:Hmmm...

Week Two: Who needs sugar?

Week Two: 

Current Weight - 62.2kg
Goal Weight - 58kgs (size 10)
Weight Loss to Date - 3kg


What I am finding difficult:
It's still the little things that I find tricky. I've noticed that I'm a "picker", I used to pick! A little something here, a little bite there. Going out for coffee is my weak point. Costa gingerbread men, brownies at Baby Cafe, biscuits and wafers at Tea By The Sea. It's the little extras. Today we went to have a Flat White at The Two Magpies Bakery in Southwold. They make the best coffee in all of England! I LOVE their sweet things: salted caramel brownies, snickerdoodles, chocolate eclairs, custard tarts...mmm. Today, just coffee. I made it a large so I felt better! 

What I enjoyed:
My cooking has improved so much! Prosciutto wrapped asparagus, Dukkah crusted chicken, Caramelised cream, Pork sausage rolls, Grilled haloumi and apple. It's just so tasty!

Week Two: Just so yummy!

Who would've thought that getting rid of sugar would make my cooking better? But it has!

Before starting IQS8WP my cooking was pretty average. Not unhealthy either, just a bit boring. I really couldn't think of more than 5 things to make and I used to rotate them week by week. Spaghetti bolognese, salmon and potatoes, lamb burgers, chicken stir-fry...blah. Now thinking about it, we were eating so much potato, white bread, white rice and then pile chocolate, ice-cream and lollies on top of that! Wow, no wonder I wasn't losing weight!

Now my cooking has rocketed into another dimension. My husband is pretty impressed with the variety of my cooking and the incredible tastes I create. He keeps asking "Are you sure we can eat this? It tastes so good!" Because the food is so yummy we really haven't noticed that sugar is gone. We're actually enjoying its absence. Although, week 1-3 you can still have fruit, I think we will miss that. 

Today's lunch: 

Dukkah Crusted Chicken with Proccuitto wrapped asparagus and a fried egg

Tonight's dinner:

Main: Pork and Fennel Sausage Rolls with Rocket and Avocado Salad

Dessert: Berries with Caramelised Cream

All I can say is, OH MY GOODNESS, YUM!