Excellent post. I am trying very hard to give up sugar as well. I used to use 6 heaping teaspoons per day in my coffee. I calculated that every 22 days or so that was equivalent to 1 pound weight gain. Previously no matter how much exercise I got I could not lose any weight.

After losing 9 pounds in 6 months I am again looking at ways to cut sugar usage. I just started the process of changing my breakfast cereal that is loaded with sweets.

I am also going to try to switch from having ice cream for desert to having fruit with milk.

I am starting to feel more mentally alert now that I am cutting down on the stuff as well.

I wish everyone good luck in kicking the sugar habit!

Although I don’t buy artificial sweeteners (or bags of sugar for that matter), I find it very hard to completely avoid it. I don’t like to refuse eating something someone has baked specially for me… I do think if you generally avoid it as a rule your body has no problem handling that little bit every now and then.

As for stevia, it is something I’ve only just recently discovered so I’m very interested in checking it out more. Do you grow it or buy it?

E

I dont buy sugar substitutes (aspartame, sucralose, nutrasweet), nor do I even touch the stuff. I was at a conference one time in 2001 when it was shown through a blind test, that simply HOLDING artificial sweeteners lowered your energy levels.

I use stevia – a plant, and that’s it.

I avoid all sugar, and it seems that for the past 20 years, it’s been the norm for me.