Thanks guys! I've always wanted to run

30 days in and nearly 25lbs lighter I was hoping for 30 in 30 but I think adding cheese into some of my meals may have slowed me down a bit.  I'm hoping to be completely down and maintaining by 10/2011. Still doing the DOUGie! Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and advice. It really helped to keep me on track

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a person like me who just cannot seem to come around to artificial sweeteners.  I am opposed to the taste and feeling produced by the artificial sweeteners I have tried.  I'm worried about long term changes because I know I will eventually want to venture into making and having desserts and sweet drinks again (I've almost exclusively done away with all sweets except for the occasional sf jello to take my vitamins lol yes, I'm like a child). I LOVE raw honey to sweeten tea and fresh fruits juiced in my home juicer, but have had none thus far. I don't know how to substitute these things.  Has anyone dealt with this? Any suggestions?

We have tomatoes and pepper growing now We had green onions, lettuce, spinach and carrots before.  Best of luck with your new garden!

Hi Toosweet!

I'm so happy this lifestyle has given you freedom from meds! Diabetes runs heavily in my family and I have NEVER seen any of my family members change the way they eat to combat it.  They end up on meds, blind, missing limbs etc. even dead. But they don't lose weight or change their diet. I don't know one who has reversed diabetes once diagnosed.  My cousin died at 26, yes 26 from diabetes.  He simply went into a coma and never woke up.  He, like many of us, was obese.

I really wonder if people had easy access to substitutes (ie delicious sugar free/low sugar foods) like they have access to fast food or if they knew they could still eat great out of and inside the home, would they still take risks with their health for that burger, fried chicken, or macaroni and cheese?

You are a great encouragement for me to stick with this! It's great to read from everyone how well this works if done consistently

Hi Rena,

Thank you for the suggestion!  That does help and we actually always do that before going out to try a new place or if we want to cut down on decision time when going to our favorite restaurants.  I don't know if you've experienced this, but I've been running into problems with restaurants not having adequate nutritional information sometimes so I try to go by ingredients.  If I can't absolutely discern what's in it, I'll pass on it to be safe. 

That's really what this whole post was about This past week really made me acknowledge the obstacles those without many choices in their sugar free diet may face when going out.  I would love to have a place where scrutinizing menus and bringing your own food to a restaurant is unnecessary.  Just hop on down to a delicious low sugar restaurant and dine, no sweat.  Oh to dream! Until then, I'll be taking the advice of all of you guys I am now in NIKE mode. JUST DO IT!

Thanks Sherri and Katary It's not about embarrassment or being uncomfortable about toting foods to a restaurant or requesting specialized meals or a fear of over eating, it's more the inconvenience that it seems to pose and the lack of flavorful options at the restaurants I've been to.  Eating out was an exciting relief where I could relax, but since I'm still learning what's ok and what's not to eat, it's become a bit overwhelming and waaaay less enjoyable.  Once I get more used to this lifestyle change, I'm sure things will come easier.  Even with all these questions and doubts, I haven't slipped and I don't plan to.  Thanks again everyone!

Thank you for the support Sherri and Alex I guess I just need to stick it out.  Before I started this way of living, eating out at nice restaurants was a welcomed treat and retreat as I'm the cook in my home.  It was nice to eat something that I couldn't make at home. Now it feels like a chore and I dread it lol just today I asked to be taken home while others went to lunch because I just didn't feel like pouring over a menu and eventually only being able to have meat and vegetables.  I'm throwing a lunch party tomorrow at a restaurant and I was looking over the menu and the frustration just came right back.  More meat and vegetables.  I wanted to have a pot luck at my home because I could at least control what I eat and make something delicious, but everyone wanted to go out.  I have to believe this is temporary and the huge parts of my life of dining out, culinary adventurousness, and wine tastings are not completely a thing of the past.  Thanks again everyone who commented!