Sugar free shortbread - yum!

All it takes is 200g plain flour, four tablespoons of Stevia granules and 150g butter.  It melts in the mouth!  Closest thing to a biscuit that I've had in four weeks (because jaffa cakes are officially cakes, so they don't count!)

I'm trying to get back in the running groove.  I think my body has adapted to my new dietary regime now.  I had been running 3-4 times a week and it had slipped to 1 or 2.  Last night I did 5k and ran at an average pace of 10.7km/h, so I'm pleased with that.   I need to get up to about 11.3km/h to set a new PB but I am heading in the right direction.

End of week 7 - not quite sugar-free but still on the programme

This has been one of the most stressful, emotionally-draining weeks of my life (which is saying something, it's rarely been easy!) so I gave myself carte blanche to forget about eating in any particular way and just deal with the big stuff.  This meant I have eaten chocolate on three days this week, and actually, that's enough - I don't want any more!  I'm still at my ideal weight, in fact I could be a little heavier if there wasn't a fortnight of wearing a bikini for a large part of every day looming.

As far as the eight week I Quit Sugar programme goes, well, I've always done my own thing anyway.  I am pleased with my achievements in retraining my appetite, changing my eating habits and improving my health.  It's not a case of never eating sugar again...even Zoe Harcombe, who I have enormous respect for, eats chocolate when she feels like it!  At least now I am in control, not the sugar.

Six weeks without sugar (almost)...but today I really fancied chocolate!

It even crossed my mind to sit down with the box of chocolates that is lurking in the fridge and just eat the whole lot.  Instead, I had three.  I think part of the problem was that when I weighed myself this morning, I had gone up by 600g in two days.  That's more than a pound, and quite demoralising when you've been eating sensibly and have only just reached your goal! I know it will probably disappear as quickly as it appeared, but even so, how annoying!

I also had a bit or a carb fest this afternoon, with LOTS of crackers and soft cheese.  I started off with six and it became about 16! 

Today is my six-week anniversary of my sugar-free programme and overall it has definitely been a success, and I plan to continue with 5:2 - that is, five sugar-free days per week and a little indulgence on the others.

Step away from the nuts...

I open a bag of nuts and it's like it used to be when I opened a box of chocolates or a bag of peanut M&Ms!  I keep going back for more.  At around 600 calories per 100g, they are even worse than chocolate.  I had to rein myself in, close the cupboard and get on with cooking dinner.  Now I've eaten, I'm not hungry or even peckish so the cupboard is staying firmly closed.  They did seem to trigger my appetite though so best avoided, perhaps. 

Nothing sugar-free about toffee fudge sundae!

I don't even eat ice cream normally, but I ate out with my friend to celebrate her birthday.  We had a two courses for £10 offer and I was planning a starter and main, but she wanted a main and dessert.  Since it was her birthday I couldn't really refuse!  My dessert had double the calories of my main course, and overall I was still under my TDEE for the day.  It didn't restart sugar cravings and I'm back on the wagon today so no harm done.

Back at last summer's weight

As of Sunday morning I am very firmly back where I spent most of last summer after 5:2 helped me to shift 2 stone.  I had regained about 8lbs due to my overeating of sugary, unhealthy foods.  On Saturday evening I finally opened the box of chocolates that had spent two weeks in the fridge.  I had five, which felt like more than enough, and was still under my TDEE.  Now they are back in the fridge for another week! 

I think I will 5:2 my sugar consumption and see how that works, but will only eat it if I am bothered enough to do so.  I could easily have gone without eating those chocolates, but it was more curiosity than desire that led me to eat them.  Now I know that a few chocolates doesn't push me off the wagon I feel more confident about eating them occasionally. 

The end of sugar-free week 5

I made it to the end of term!  I'm don't think I thought I could do that five weeks ago.  We've had cake coming everywhere you look this week, our pupils and parents have been very generous.  However, I've resisted it all!  I'd have eaten some (or even plenty!) normally but wasn't tempted this time.

A kind parent gave me a large box of Ferrero Rocher, which was very thoughtful and much appreciated.  Luckily I don't like them, so they are quite safe from me.   Others in the household will eat them instead.

Last night was our work end of term 'do' and a farewell to some colleagues who are leaving the school.  We paid £25 for the evening, which turned out to me a pub buffet with plates no bigger than saucers and half of it was meat or fish based anyway so no good to me.  One of our colleagues played with his band.  They are very talented and I enjoyed listening to them but the volume meant it was impossible to have a conversation at the same time.  So, when the cake came out and I'd only had a few nibbles from the buffet I thought 'sod it, I've paid £25 and hardly eaten anything, at least if I have some cake too I will feel like it's better value for money!'  It was one of those evenings where you get home hungry (unless you've stopped for a kebab en route, that is).

Since I started my virtually sugar-free lifestyle, I have lost 6.5lbs/3kg, had two menstrual cycles with no PMT, noticed clearer skin, shinier hair and I feel great!  Although I was initially aiming for a 5 week plan as I'm not following the I Quit Sugar programme at all (I just went cold turkey and then kept going) another 3 weeks will take me to the start of my summer holidays away from home.  I might have the odd indulgence, like those chocolates that have already been in the fridge for two weeks, but I'm definitely not going back to eating sugar every day like I used to.

Chocolate, cakes and temptation

When I arrived at work this morning, the first sight that greeted me was a Snickers sweet on my desk.  I had forgotten I'd left it there after someone's birthday on Friday.  Five weeks ago I would have eaten it without a second thought; instead, I put it away out of sight ready to eat when I decide to indulge.  At morning break, more cakes and chocolates were found in the staff room.  I ate my usual yogurt and coconut and ignored the lot.  They were far less tempting than that solitary Snickers I encountered first thing in the morning though.

At 6pm I remembered that I had not eaten since lunch, nor even thought about eating.   The absence of sugar from my diet has affected my appetite in a way that I could not have expected.  I imagined feeling hungry and peckish and having to look for an alternative to the biscuit or other unhealthy snack I would usually have chosen.  Instead, snacking or eating between meals rarely happens at all.

Start of week 5 - can I get back on the sugar-free wagon?

In a word, yes!  I did have a couple of mini Danish pastries with my breakfast in the hotel, but wouldn't have bothered if I'd been at home.  Lunchtime was spent at Go Ape, so just had a peppermint tea and some water as we headed back home from our weekend away.  Dinner was sugar-free, and even though I've had a couple of things to eat this weekend that I wouldn't normally have under my new regime, I still don't feel the urge to snack between meals.  I've already made my Greek yogurt (full-fat, naturally) and coconut ready for my breakfast tomorrow and I'm looking forward to getting back to what has become my 'normal'.  Hopefully my sunburned shoulders will be back to normal tomorrow too!

4 weeks without sugar - until today!

So today was the day that I intentionally fell off the wagon.   After a low carb breakfast, peppermint tea and water throughout the day, plus a 7km walk at lunchtime and a 6km run in the afternoon, it was time for pre-dinner drinks and nibbles.  My drinks didn't vary but I did get stuck into hand-cooked cheese and onion crisps.  At dinner I had bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to start, then battered halloumi with peas and sweet potato fries.  We skipped dessert as we had birthday cake instead.  The waiter didn't notice the 5 and 0 candles I'd put in the box, but kindly supplied a mini sparkler instead of a candle so I didn't mind at all.  My partner was delighted with the cake and we ate half of it between the six of us as he cut such big portions!  It was the first real sugar I'd eaten in four weeks.  I'd like to be able to say that I relished it, but I didn't actually enjoy it much at all.  I ate it, but it was a bit of a letdown.  Maybe I should have had chocolate instead!

Friday, and a break from the norm

Away on the south coast for my partner's 50th.  I had lunch at school (leftover pizza!) then nothing to eat until we went out for an Indian meal at 8.30pm.  I had my usual poppadums, paneer, rice and saag aloo.  There is probably sugar in the mango chutney but I only had a spoonful or two.  We had a great night, the host was very hospitable, giving us complimentary onoin bhajis, curry sauce and even ice lollies for the kids.  Then he brought the bill, along with a dozen After Eights (there were only six of us) and a little box of chocolates that he gave to my mum.  She's a pensioner and my dad was there too, but he must have taken a shine to her!

I usually love After Eights, but I just didn't want any.  I didn't feel deprived, and I was saving myself for birthday cake!

Thursday, day 26 without sugar

Just another day really, food-wise...went out in the evening with my partner and his work colleagues, drank water all evening and then had pizza for dinner.  Still no sugar!  Away for the weekend though, so I suspect that is about to change.

Birthday cake - it's amazing!

A mouthful of this amazing cake will be the first sugar to pass my lips in four weeks!   It's a shame to cut into it actually.  My partner hasn't seen it yet as it is keeping cool in the garage.  Thanks to Somaira at Cake Aroma, who did a brilliant job.

Another clean eating day :)

It's not that it's getting easier as time goes on, but it never really became difficult to eat this way.  I admit my breakfasts are unvarying (full fat Greek yogurt with coconut almost every day) although my other meals are more imaginative.  It's just that I expected to find being sugar-free a struggle either at the beginning or, more likely, as time went on.  It's now over three weeks and it's become normal to eat this way.  I wonder whether I'll even want that box of chocolates at the end of next week?

The first box of chocolates has arrived!

A deputation of parents came into my classroom this morning, with an enormous card, a box of chocolates and a very generous gift card.  Some had delayed going into work especially in order to be there!  I have never felt so valued, it was such a lovely idea. 

I haven't remembered to bring the chocolates home yet, but when I do, they'll be going in the fridge in preparation for the end of term, which is not until the 18th.

I am lucky to work in such a fantastic school with a lovely bunch of children and their parents.

Another weigh in this morning saw me 2.1kg lighter than I was when I started my sugar free journey three weeks ago.  Only 200g to go until my target!  I suspect I will be gaining more than I lose this weekend though, as we are staying in a hotel for my partner's 50th.

Start of week 4 without sugar

Today is the first day I have felt ropey, and around 2pm I felt VERY ropey!  Late start to the day saw me heading out for a run around 11am.  I attempted to run too far, given how little I'd eaten yesterday, so I ran 10.2km and walked the rest of the way home (about 3km).  I felt queasy and got stomach cramps at times.  After a shower, I came downstairs for lunch and found that I was really nauseous and light-headed.  My partner came to my rescue with tea and toast, I had a snooze on the sofa and an hour later felt much better.

It's not the giving up sugar that caused the feeling, just the lack of food yesterday.  I had lunch and dinner but the total calories were pretty low due to my healthy choices and today I paid the price.  I'm not doing that again!  It's lucky I was at home and had someone with me.

The flip side is that I have dropped a lot of weight this week, and weighed in this morning a whole 2kg (almost 4.5 lbs) lighter than I was three weeks ago when I started my sugar-free journey.  That means just 300g to go and I'll be back where I want to be, hooray!

Celebrating 3 sugarless weeks with a visit to Greggs?!

I wouldn't say I went in there for a celebration really, just for a cup of mint tea!  However, it was interesting to look at all the delights on display and feel quite blase about them.  My usual favourite was a Belgian bun, and while they did look delicious, I didn't want to eat one.  I might have had a vegetable pasty but no-one else was eating so I skipped it, eating full fat Greek yogurt for breakfast once I returned home, even though it was long after breakfast time by then. 

It was the same on the supermarket run...shelf after shelf filled with highly processed, high carb, high sugar foods.  Nothing to do with me! I sailed on by and have restocked my fridge with eggs, yogurt, salad and veggies instead.

20 days without sugar...long enough to make a new habit?

I read somewhere that it takes 17 days to break a habit and form a new one, so 20 days without sugar, is that what I have achieved?  I look dispassionately at sweets and chocolate and am no more interested in eating them than I am worms and grass.  I guess that's a yes then!

I haven't run nearly as much as I 'should' have done recently, only twice this week.  I don't have the confidence to try a long run on my present fuel intake.  The lack of recent training has also knocked my confidence.  Six weeks ago I was running 20km every other week without a second thought.  I don't think I've run more than 10km in those last six weeks though.

I've just bought 'Run Faster' by Matt Fitzgerald.  I'll see what difference that makes, and whether he gives any dietary advice.

Thursday, day 19 without sugar

Well the fast day paid off...down 600g on my new scales.  Another kg would see me firmly in my maintenance zone. 

This morning there were Celebrations on the table in the staff room when I arrived.  Three weeks ago I'd have had my first one (or three) before 8am.  Today, barely a glance.  They are nothing to do with me!  I was even offered one directly later on and was completely disinterested.  I've been conscious this week of opportunities I would previously have taken to buy and consume chocolate and sweets in secret.  For example, attending my hair appointment in a busy shopping area, going to the supermarket alone, a night in by myself.  All of these events would usually see me buying a bar or two of chocolate or a few bags of sweets.  This time, neither, and it wasn't difficult at all.  That feels like a significant achievement.

Fasting and sugar-free today

As my weight is going up by 100g each day since Sunday, I decided to give my digestive system a break and nominated today as a fast day.  I used 5:2 throughout much of last year and still fast about twice a month.  By the evening I was barely hungry at all.  I've got so used to going for several hours between meals now. 

I even went for a run, and although I thought I was taking it easy, I still averaged 10km/h.  It left me with a significant daily deficit so I hope I see the impact tomorrow.

My new scales arrived today, and I am 200g heavier on those than the old ones! 

No sugar in pizza, surely?

I know the white flour will spike my blood sugar anyway, but I'm working until 8.30 tonight and we're having pizza!  Maybe the tomato sauce, cheese and veggies will counteract it.  I'm going to decline the birthday cake that's also on offer and as usual I'll be drinking water and herbal tea, so the damage will be minimal.

Up another 100g this morning, it seems to be becoming a daily occurrence!

No longer thinking about chocolate...

...for today, anyway!  I'm not sure how long it will last. 

Weight was up another 100g this morning, what's all that about?!  Perhaps it would have helped if I'd had time for a run, but there was just too much to do at home.

Salted popcorn...bleugh!

A trip to the cinema this evening, which is usually accompanied by a Costa hot chocolate, a pack of wafer biscuits and maybe something else to nibble on too.  Instead, I took along salted popcorn from the supermarket...not as nice as my usual option, but nonetheless sugar-free.

Today I haven't been craving chocolate, but thinking about it, which is not at all the same thing!  I have lots in the house, but it's not here for me to eat, so I'm ignoring it.  Three more weeks to go, then I'll tuck into the end of term chocs with relish.

Look, I know the blog title says 8 weeks but to be honest, it's too easy to do this to make it worthwhile dragging it out for eight weeks.  Maybe I'll take a week off when the school hols start and then resume my sugarless lifestyle until we go on holiday three weeks later.

Later on I'm going to watch this video, 'Cereal Killers' which was tweeted by Dr Aseem Malhotra.

here

End of the second sugar-free week

So I've completed another week without sugar, and I end the week feeling much more positive about the effects of my abstention.  Weight-wise, I am now 1.3kg lighter than I was two weeks ago (I think last week's time of the month really skewed my figures, as that has all dropped off this week).  My skin is clear, my energy levels more stable, and I'm not having any detox symptoms.  I don't generally eat between meals, or even think about food either.

This morning I volunteered at parkrun so ran there and back, and around half of the course, walking the rest as part of my 'tailrunner' role.  Psychologically, I have convinced myself that I don't have as much energy as I normally would, although I suspect that's not the case.  I should really try a much longer run, say around 15km, to see how I get on.  I'm just worried about running out of steam and being miles away from home!

Day 13 without sugar

On a school trip today, and belated remembered that the bolognaise I'd made for lunch was completely unsuitable since I was going to be out all day!  Ended up buying a sandwich instead.  Had dinner at 8.30 and wasn't even hungry in between.

Weght stable today, and a 5k run this evening plus a fair amount of walking.

Day 12 and still finding it easy to be sugar-free

I actually had time to eat properly today, which is a big improvement on the last two days.  Another 200g loss this morning, so now lighter than I've been for a month or two, but I expect it to increase again now I've eaten properly. 

Someone's birthday at work, and she brought in samosas not chocolate or cakes, so I was able to have some.  A bit spicy, but at least I wasn't sitting there while everyone else tucked in. 

I still find that my blood sugar and hunger are stable.  I barely think about food between meals and rather than sit on the sofa in the evenings with my partner and a chocolate bar each, there's just us and HIS chocolate bar!

I've reread the I Quit Sugar book and don't find it particularly helpful.  It's not that it was a waste of money, just that having gone cold turkey on sugar and now just ignoring the stuff, I don't feel like there is anything to do.  Who needs an 8 week programme that doesn't really include any progression?

Day 11 weight loss update

I nearly forgot...I was 800g lighter this morning than yesterday, maybe in part due to the exercise and the light eating day.  This means I now weigh the same as I did a week ago, so am 800g lighter than I was when I started this period of sugar deprivation.  Wonder what tomorrow will bring...

Day 11 without lunch :(

What a mad day...had my breakfast at 10.30, ordered a school meal for lunch, ended up having a crucial phone conversation until ten minutes before lunch break ended so had to forego the school meal and there wasn't time for anything else to eat either.  Worked through pm break, had a meeting straight after school and finally got home and made an early dinner at 5.30pm.  Still only on 720 calories today!

Today was the first time I've been tempted to hit the biscuit tin, not because I was craving them but simply for convenience.  I resisted though, and remain sugar free.

Later I'd better find something else to eat.  I had planned a veggie stir fry for tonight but when I got home I wanted something more substantial.

Sugar-free day 10

Another day over, and more chocolate on the staff room table that I resisted easily.  I was no more interested than if someone had left a plate of cold meats or chicken legs there for me to help myself from - I've been vegetarian for 30 years!  Colleagues who know I'm doing this are interested, supportive, incredulous and not in the least tempted to join me.  One asked if I'd found my blood sugar crashing, and in fact I've found that it's the complete opposite.

My weight this morning was the same as yesterday.  I'm not a habitual daily weigher but at the moment it seems more likely to induce weight loss, which I know is nonsensical.

I ran 7.5km this evening, could have done more but it was getting late.  An average speed of 10km/h is not particularly fast for me but I hadn't eaten since lunch and didn't run til 8.30pm so perhaps that didn't help.

Fingers crossed that tomorrow brings a loss and another day of healthy, sugar-free eating, maybe even another run too.

Sugar free but exhausted

I survived another sugar-free day.  I barely even glance at the staff room biscuit barrel now.  I either have breakfast on arrival at work, then have Greek yogurt at morning break, or just wait until break time and eat then.  It seems that my blood sugar levels are really stable now, for I rarely think about food between meal times.

I wouldn't say I've been having cravings, that's too strong a word...more like temptations!  I'm going to have to move that packet of jaffa cakes in the cupboard, they aren't even in a box and the sight of them is more than I can tolerate.  There's chocolate in the fridge too, but it's on the top shelf and I can't really see up there.  Knowing it's there isn't a problem, it's out of bounds and it doesn't feel like its existence has got anything to do with me. 

I was 100g lighter this morning, which is fairly meaningless but still a step in the right direction.  I had planned to run when I got home from work, but having not slept properly since Thursday night I was overcome by exhaustion and had a 90 minute nap instead! I felt foggy when I first awoke but I'm much more with it now.

Still think I can do this for another four weeks until the end of term.  It's not the desire to do so that's the problem, or that's it's a hardship, but when I'm gaining weight by eating less sugar it seems fairly pointless!

A sugar-free week, but otherwise unsuccessful :(

I am so fed up and demoralised today....a week of clean eating, tracking all my food on My Fitness Pal and staying under my 1600 goal every day, two runs, lots of walking, absolutely no sugar, and not only have I not lost any weight, I am 100g heavier than last Sunday morning when I started this programme.

The temptation to go and demolish the packet of 12 jaffa cakes in my cupboard is strong, but I'm resisting.  I haven't come this far to give up now.  However, some success on the scales would be much appreciated!  Earlier this week I'd dropped 900g, but that's all come back on.  Pah.

End of the first sugar-free week

So I did it...a week without sugar!  I've done it before, but not recently, and I don't recall finding it so easy as quickly as I did this time.  I haven't really missed it, although the jaffa cakes lurking in the cupboard still call my name every time I open that door. 

Since my weight is still the same as it was a week ago, I wonder what tomorrow will bring.  I also plan to go for a long run, but am concerned about fuel.  It's normal for me to run first thing in the morning without eating first, but I'll have less to rely on than normal, perhaps.

Day 6 without sugar

So I survived Chocolate Friday at work...had my usual Greek yogurt with coconut instead.  Lentil soup, crispbreads and sugar-free peanut butter for lunch, and pizza fiorentina for dinner.  Still under my TDEE (probably because the other half of the pizza is in the fridge!)

However, I was 300g heavier this morning than I was yesterday!  That seems a little unfair, especially after a loss earlier in the week.  Physically, I feel great, and I'm not getting hunger pangs.  Between meals, I barely think about food at all, in fact.  I've ignored the staffroom biscuit barrel all week, whereas I'd normally have my hand in there three times a day.  Maintaining this way of eating until the end of term (four more weeks) seems perfectly manageable.

Day 5 and a sugar-free run

Having been pleased with my weight loss yesterday, I was inexplicably 300g up this morning.  In the afternoon the reason became clear, as it's that time of the month.  Interestingly, I have not had ANY cravings or increased appetite, which I normally would.  Two or three days before the start, I'd normally find myself eating anything that's not nailed down!  This time, no symptoms at all and I was taken by surprise.

I ran 6.5km this evening.  I think psychologically I was convincing myself it was difficult because I'm running on different fuel, yet my Garmin shows I still ran at 10.5km/h on average.  It's pretty windy too, so that made it a challenge at times.

So far, I'm really pleased with how this week has gone.  The question is, can I maintain my self-control at breaktime tomorrow morning - it's Chocolate Friday!

Day 4 without sugar

Does browsing sugar-free recipes count as a lapse?!  I'll try some next week and report back - the shortbread sounds promising.  I haven't cooked with stevia before but will give it a go.  I'm not going to try anything with honey or agave etc.  I'm not even eating fruit at the moment so honey wouldn't make sense.

Survived the day with just my mail meals - puffed wheat cereal and coconut with yogurt, pasta bolognaise for lunch and pizza and salad for dinner.  A little short of my calorie goal but I simply wasn't hungry.  I took some salted popcorn to work for a snack but didn't get a chance to eat it in the end.  There's always tomorrow.  I suspect I'd have found time to eat chocolate though...

Weighed in today at 2lbs/900g lighter than I was on Sunday morning, the start of day 1.

Another sugar-free day completed

I'm sort of waiting for the detox feeling to start.  If it's been three days already, maybe it's not going to?  I've been absolutely fine today.  I had puffed wheat cereal and milk for breakfast and then my yogurt later, plus egg and cheese salad for lunch and Quorn bolognaise for dinner, with more cheese!  I definitely met my calorie goal today, which is good (and a change from the first two days).

I don't think this was supposed to be so easy - but I'm glad that it is!

Day 2 without sugar

It's been easier than I thought, so far...I've been hungry but not craving sugar.  In the past, I would have assuaged that hunger through the staff room biscuit tin, but not today.

I had Greek yogurt and coconut for breakfast, although I didn't eat it until 10.30, then salad for lunch with sliced Quorn fillets and a dressing made from balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  I finished the Quorn to satisfy the hunger pangs.  Dinner is the leftover veg stirfry and smoked tofu (same as yesterday, but it needs eating up.)

I have been tired and have a slight headache, but nothing to moan about really.  Roll on day 3!

First day update

Back from my run, a windier than expected 5.5km.  Didn't break my 5k PB, or aim to, but set a new kilometre record of 4:57, which is 13 seconds faster than previously :)

11am and I've had nothing to eat, I guess that is as sugar-free as it gets?!

4pm update
I've had two eggs scrambled with a little butter, some nuts and edamame.  That will keep me going until dinner, which will either be a salad or stir fry.  I'm not doing low carb, even if it sounds like it so far, just as sugar-free as I can manage.  I've bought some crispbreads, peanut butter and rice cereal (all without added sugar) as well as plenty of cheese, eggs, tofu and quorn, and of course salad and veg.

I need to plan my meals for the week, as I can't bear to throw out fresh food that I should have eaten already before it went off.

The first day

Today's the day...I've eaten 4 Muller corners (and discovered each one contains 20g of sugar!) so from now on it's real Greek yogurt for me.  Out for a run now, then shopping later for the right kind of foods.  I'm going to avoid processed foods except for Quorn mince and pieces, stevia sweetener and sugar free wholegrain bread, if I can find any. 

At the moment, I feel confident and optimistic and I'm looking forward to having more energy and less tooth decay!

The day before my sugarless future

Earlier this week I saw the book 'I Quit Sugar' by Sarah Wilson (see here) in Tesco.  At £9, I didn't buy it...but I did get it for Kindle for considerably less!  Having done the Harcombe diet in the past, I've been sugar-free before, and I know I coped and I didn't miss it.  I didn't find it sustainable though, and relapsed to 'normal' eating, finding myself 20lbs heavier two years later.  In February 2013 I embarked on 5:2 and lost that, and more, and have stayed at a healthy weight for more than a year. 

So right now I'm 46, I weigh less than I have done for many years, and I can run for two hours or more non-stop.  I've set new Personal Bests for 5k and 10k several times over in the last six months, achieving times I didn't think I was capable of.  Recently I've been running 18-21km every other weekend, and not finding it too much of a struggle at all...in fact, I've even enjoyed it! 

So why give up sugar?  Well, last year I spent around £500 on repairing the damage sugar has done to my teeth.  I said then that I would reduce my intake.  I think I did, for a while, but I've slipped back into bad habits recently.  I find it easy to fast and can even go without food for 24-36 hours, no problem, but I often eat sweets and chocolate on days when I'm not fasting.  It's become too much of a habit, it's not good for me, and I want to stop.

This weekend I have the house to myself and as well as housework, shopping and running I'm systematically clearing the fridge and cupboards of the things I don't want to eat any more.  Today, that means eating quite a lot of Muller Greek-style yogurts!  I need to re-read the book, start my shopping list (chia seeds and coconut seem to feature highly) and start my journey towards a sugarless future.