It’s been two months since I declared a war on my sugar intake.

Since then it’s become the in thing to give up sugar. Sarah Wilson is the highest profile convert, but more than a few friends have been interested or even tried going sugar free.

But I like to think of myself as the pioneer of the 2011 sugar free movement ;)

The reality of giving up on sugar

I gave up sugar for two weeks. I lost a kilo without changing my exercise routine.

Then I made a passionfruit spongecake. And it was divine.

But my relationship with sugar is very different to what it was two months ago.

That said, I think I’m still still addicted to sugar.

But I’m so much better than I was.

It’s hard to give up sugar; it’s everywhere. It’s in everything that your family and friends make for you. In the edible gifts they buy for you.

It was even in my favourite mayonnaise.

I didn’t see a life without sugar as a practical one. So I’ve implemented some new rules:

1. Only eat sugar foods if they’re home made by you or someone you know (i.e. not Michele’s Patisserie staff)
2. Minimise hidden sugars wherever possible (e.g. only eat Jalna yoghurt, try to minimise high fructose/low fibre fruits)
3. If you’re gonna eat something sugary… make sure it’s worth it.

But I’m not always great at keeping to the rules.

Take Tuesday, for example: After a no-sugar day on Monday, I spotted some baked treats on the kitchen table at work. I figured I could have one… because I’d earned it! But I ended up eating about 6 of those little buggers. Then I had a can of (full-strength) Coke. Then I had more treats after lunch.

I’ve realised just how addictive sugar is and how I can’t be trusted when it’s within sniffing distance.

But my biggest change is in soft drink consumption.

How I’m sending shops broke

I used to drink Coke virtually every day. I would say that in the course of a week, it would have evened out to be the equivalent of a 600ml bottle every day.

… and add a couple of bottles of V into the mix each week.

This was costing me a heap of money.

I was known for being a Coke and V girl – back in 1999 I was drinking TWO BOTTLES OF V. A DAY.

Gross.

Now I’m drinking Coke Zero, Diet Coke… even Pepsi Max. I don’t necessarily enjoy it, but it’s enough to hit the spot. And because I don’t enjoy it, I’m not drinking it as often…

There’s a shop that I drive past every day to and from work… one of those little take away joints that sell burgers and bad coffee, run by hard working people who speak broken English.

I haven’t been in there since last year.

I drove past today and the shop’s closed down.

I think my sugar revolution is impacting on the GFC!