Weight-Loss Fitness.com 31 Day Sugarless Challenge

[nikegirl24]

CALLING ALL SUGAR LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!

With the ongoing challenges that have been happening around here, I want to promote the Fitness.com 31 Day Sugarless Challenge. This is not really a competition between forum members, but a personal challenge for YOU.


So, why do the Fitness.com 31 Day Sugarless Challenge?

First off, it's the perfect time to do this, since Halloween is just around the corner, and all those sweets are swarming the grocery aisles to peek our temptations!

Second, I figured it may also help you with your weight loss goals for the other challenges that are happening on the forum.

And, finally, it involves cutting out something in our diets that most people overindulge in: SUGAR!



So, here is what the Fitness.com 31 Day Sugarless Challenge involves!

In this challenge you will detox, get rid of those hidden sugars, and learn about such healthy alternatives as sweeteners.

Each week starting on each Thursday in October, you will be given a simple "no-sugar" plan to follow for the week that will be posted in the Fitness.com 31 Day Sugarless Challenge thread.

You will try to implement each new plan into your daily diet as best you can, keeping in mind this is your own personal challenge.


Here are the titles for each given week:

Thursday October 1st - 7th: Swing into Detox Action
Thursday October 8th - 14th: Get Rid of that Sugar!
Thursday October 15th - 21st: Alternative Sweetness
Thursday October 22nd - 31st: Trick or Treat tastebuds



The Facts: Sugar sets off certain receptors in your brain - the same receptors that both heroine, and morphine do, making sugar a highly addictive substance. Surprise surprise It takes approximately one month to detox from the majority of addictive substances - sugar being one of them, and often hidden in foods we eat every day (fast-food, condiments, and many others).


Don't forget to check each Thursday this month for the new "Sugarless" plan for the week!

From all of us at fitness.com, good luck!!!!!!!

 

[nikegirl24]

WEEK 1 of Fitness.com's Sugarless Challenge

Thursday October 1st - Wednesday October 7th - Swing Into Detox Action

OK! So here is your first week's challenge of minimizing your sugar intake!!! This week, try buying foods that you eat on a regular basis in the "sugarless" form. For example instead of buying that box of Coco Puffs, try buying a whole wheat cereal as a healthy sugarless alternative. If you can't handle it without sugar, add a teaspoon of sugar. When you add sugar to whole wheat cereals that is still WAY less sugar you are consuming than from your Coco Puffs and other sugar driven cereals. It also puts you in control of the amount of sugar you are consuming. Try to eliminate purchasing processed foods for the week that include sugar. Monitor how much sugar you add to all your food items for the week! I guarantee if you do this, it will be much less than you ever imagined!!!!! Good luck!!!!!

 

[nikegirl24]

Fitness.com's Sugarless Challenge Week 2

Thursday October 8 - Wednesday October 14th: Get Rid of That Sugar!

Ok, onto our second week of the sugarless challenge! If it was easy enough to change your cereal, and monitor your sugar last week, this week should be a breeze! Here is what you need to do!

Do a kitchen clean-out of all the hidden sugars in your cabinets, cupboards, and pantries. Get rid of any foods containing high amounts of sugars including ketchup, tomato sauces, and peanut butter. Note that a lot of foods that are low in fat may still in fact be high in sugar.

Key ingredients to look for: Sugars ending in "ol" or "ose", syrups, maltose, fructose, sorbitol, and xylotol. These are some unfamiliar names that are a signal meaning "high in sugar." So get rid of them!!!!!!!

Good Luck this week!!!!!!!

 

[nikegirl24]

Week 3 - Sugarless Challenge - Replace the Sweetness!

Ok this week is submitted late, so you are off the hook a little bit Starting today Sunday October 18th - Wednesday October 15th try using alternative sweeteners to replace your sweet tooth. Here are some suggestions:

Stevia: Has a sweet but slight licorice type taste to it, and is a non-caloric herb that comes from Paraguay. You can find this sweetener in the dietary supplements section of grocery stores, and at specialty health food stores.

Agave Nectar: High in calories but you only need a pinch it is that sweet. It comes from a blue agave cactus found in Mexico, and can be found at Vitamin stores.

Try one of these as an alternative to sugar for the remainder of the week! Good Luck!

 

[nikegirl24]

WEEK 4 - Your last sugarless challenge week!!!!!!

Thursday October 22nd - Saturday October 31st - Trick or Treat taste buds!

Ok, this is your final week of your personal sugarless challenge. This week is sweet-less and easy so don't fret! All you have to do is try adding herbs and spices to all your food items that you can't possible live without being sweet! Surprisingly some spices and herbs are sinfully sweet, but are also good for you too!

Try adding ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, or allspice to your coffee, cereals and baked goods. You'll be happy you did!!!!!!!

From all of us at fitness.com, congrats on a sugarless month