Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Sugar-free me.

I knew it was coming, this day when I'd go from scarfing down the jelly beans to turning my back on those delicious, colorful little treats -- along with their sugary relatives -- all together.

I've gone sugar free.


Not by choice. Although, yes, I've read plenty about the benefits of a sugar-free life. I just never thought I could do it so I never did. Sure, I've gone through phases when I've cut down but I never wanted to give up sugar completely. It just wasn't something I wanted to do -- I enjoy treats in moderation so why give them all up?

Well, for my health. And not for some loose "I want to be healthier" reason. Nope. My doctor has prescribed a strict no sugar diet as one part of a new treatment plan. See, about 18 months ago I was diagnosed with Lyme disease, treated, and then left with some terrible nerve damage/pain and fatigue. Last winter, was the height of it: The pain in my neck, back, left arm and left leg was almost unbearable and there were days when I couldn't even pick up my then 1 year old son.

I worked with a wonderful Lyme specialist who treated some underlying viruses, a cause of the fatigue, and who was helping me with the nerve pain.

Then she left to start her own practice, too far away for me to continue to see her.

I was crushed. She'd been great and had really helped me to start to feel better. So, I moved on and went to see a different doctor at the same practice. Not a Lyme specialist -- and it showed. We got nowhere other than to some painful tests that resulted in a lot of nothing.

It was time to bite the bullet and go to see the main doctor at the practice, who is a well-regarded Lyme specialist. The problem? He doesn't take insurance.

Ouch.

I went last week. He's awesome. And I left with a treatment plan that includes new medications, lots of supplements, and a sugar-free me.

And by sugar, I mean the obvious -- no cake, cookies, candy, ice cream, etc. -- but also the not-so-obvious. No bread. No potatoes. No rice. No pasta.

A lot of nothing.

Green salads with apple cider vinegar? I'm on it. Chicken and, well, some chicken? Sure thing!

But I don't care. I'm doing it. If it will make a difference I'll gladly say good-bye to my beloved English muffins. And peanut butter pandemonium ice cream. And those jelly beans* that I do so love.

The plan for right now is to do this for 30 days and then check in with my doctor and re-evaluate the plan. I have my fingers crossed that it works -- and my toes crossed that I can stick to the plan!

Have you ever gone sugar free (or are you now)? Got any tips?

Have a great day!

~ Felice




*In all honesty, I haven't had jelly beans in the house in months. So, really, cutting those out wasn't so tough.


8 comments:

Cecil said...

Holy cow! That's a big change, but you can do it! I wish I had some help for you, but I indulge in sugars way too much.

Darlene said...

Ouch!

GiGi Eats said...

I have been 100% sugar-free (along with gluten, nuts, dairy & wheat) for 10 years!!! I honestly have never felt better :) If you need any help, food ideas, etc, don't you dare hesitate to ask!! :)

MCM Mama said...

Do you have to cut out fruit too? I've had to do strict diets in the past because of my childrens' food allergies. Somehow it's way easier to stick to something like that when there's a medical reason than it is to cut out sugar "just because".

Hope it works and you feel better soon!

Alyssa Duhe said...

You can totally do it! As of right now I have been sugar free since November 21st. I did testing and found out I had a lot of bacteria in my gut, which sugar feeds, so my doctor said I needed to go sugar free. Hopefully I will be done in a week. The first week I hit a wall and was super drained from training and lack of food but it got better and now I feel great.

macnic said...

Good luck to you! Remember you'll have to get your carbs somewhere, so I hope you have lots of grains on hand (if you can eat them).

EvelynM said...

Good luck! Last spring I started a semi vegetarian diet by choice.. It was fairly hard, then I found out I was pregnant.. I continued the diet and cut out a lot of sugar.. Went sugar free too. See, with my other 2 kids I had gestational diabetes- and so an idea lit in my mind to see if changing my diet will help with the results.. And it did!! I passed the glucose test :) it will be hard, but you can do it :) best of luck!!

Unknown said...

i don't envy you this one bit! Good luck. Hopefully it will work. If not, I guess you can jump back on the sugar bandwagon.

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