Sweet Poison

While I haven't read the Sweet Poison books, I understand the same author has put out a third book about polyunsaturated fats and how bad polyunsaturated fats (in margarine etc) are for you. There has been a lot of talk about these books.

Since the essence of Sweet Poison is around the dangers of fructose, I am interested what this means for fruit consumption. Fruit is an essential part of a healthy diet (for vitamins, minerals and fibre) and I hope that this book doesn't forbid fruit as part of it's approach (as previous diets have).

I must have a read.

I have about 60 pages to go . Find it interesting and am glad I did some biochemistry in university as a couple of chapters there are quite heavy reading ( either that or I over think them) . Should be finished it this weekend and when I have am going to discuss it with the dietician I work with. In all honesty it seems a good book and I think if you compared a fructose free diet to a paleo diet there wouldn't be much different.

Sorry Kat.

There might be 3 teaspoons of sugar per Tim Tam Kat but what about the rat poison they use? ;) I have yet to get all the details on this but apparently the chocolate they use is two colourants (as it's cheaper) and not real chocolate like they used to use.

Haven't read the book.

Hi Kat,

I started reading it on the flight home. I've purchased the Sweet Poison Quit Plan since then. It explains why I've never got the weight to stay off. I've started cleaning out the fridge and cupboard much to my husband's disgust. ChrisA you don't have to remove fruit but be more selective of which fruits you eat.

Wendy

Oh just the thought of it terrifies me!  But there is no point going on this investment for our future adventure if we're too unhealthy to enjoy it.  It is insane I know but I am going to finish my packet of Tim Tams that I have in the fridge before I read the book.  Oh the mental battle going on in my head right now is outrageous.  Eat the Tim Tams, no throw them out, eat the Tim Tams, no throw them out.  Maybe I'll eat them while I read the book, that might bring home the message.  Bikini shopping by summer, here I come!

Lol, Alison! :)

I used to have the attitude that throwing food away was a waste. Now I give it to the chickens or if it's dead food, instead of live food, I have no worries throwing it in the bin. I still do "treat" myself however I try to do it with wholefood instead of the processed food.

Exercise is my biggest weakness, got to overcome that one!     

I have not read sweet poison but a very interesting book is The China Study .. I have not read that book either but there is a couple of lectures/speaches from the author on youtube that i have watched ....
 

Discussed it with our dietician at work. She seemed to think his biochemistry was somewhat off and some of his recommendations are not 100%. HOWEVER her thoughts are the same as what I was thinking. Cutting down on anything processed is going to obviously make you healthier abd get the right things in your body.From a fundamental eating point of view once you cut out refined food you are not eating all that different to a Paleo diet ( also known as the caveman diet). I think the best advice I have ever recieved is you should be able to go into a supermarket and do you shopping on the outside of the super market ( eg not going into the middle lanes full of refined food) and that fruit is natures dessert.  
All and all I think the book is good if it opens your eyes and helps changing your views towards foods being a fuel not being dependent on it, make sure if you try this diet make sure even though you may still eat carbs you have to make sure they are good carbs.
Hopefully my comments don't come off as negative as I am a big advocate of healthy changes and once I am financially free my goal is to educate and help people in at risk communties. So this is a passion of mine.
 

A good source of dietary information is Cyndi O'Meara.  She is a dietician and someone who spend a lot of her time reading up on the science behind the claims made by the next diet break through.

She is a big proponent of eating whole foods - foods close to their natural state, reducing/cutting out highly processed and refined foods etc. And she doesn't say you should not eat meat, butter, chocolate, bread etc.  Just make sure that what you eat is of good quality!

Her website is worth a look - just good Cyndi O'Meara and she will pop up.  Also she has a lot of info posted on you tube.

Happy eating!

Cherie 

I know of the book and author, heard him on radio abc talking re fats and how oils are made. I changed back to normal butter instead of the healthiest margarine which is nut telex, and started using olive oil instead of canola for cooking. Not sure if am on right track,but seems more natural and healthy.
Regarding sugar, while I don't have weight issues, I am a sugerholic. When I went on a diet of vegetables (salads in summer, soups in winter), carbs and protein with a bit of dairy, and two pieces of fresh whole fruit per day, I have absolutely never felt better. I was more emotionally calm and more energised and my skin looked good. I went off it cos I freaked out at how skinny I got. Now I am really struggling to get off the sugar again, and at my fattest end of weight range. If I get too skinny this time round, I will eat nuts, not go back to sugar.
I would absolutely recommend the diet of vegetables, carbs, protein, dairy and two pieces fresh fruit. Also, decaf coffee and tea are better. No chocolate, however, I will proably eat the occasional treat of dessert if eating out. It is your daily routine eating you have to really get your act together on, I reckon.
it is great how people on this forum are looking to get a good life all round - thanks Steve.  Also, eating healthier is cheaper in my opinion, and you save money on health bills too!
As for exercise, didn't really get my act together till I was at my third gym, and did thei intensive program for six months. I moved through not going often enough and talking myself out of going, to stopping the internal arguing and just going no matter if I was tired, to missing it if I don't go and seeing it as a pleasure.

I read sweet poison and encouraged my wife who read it also, and then she also read sweet poison quit plan and has gone the full hog.
She gave away all the sugar from  our pantry and with progressively removed sugary products (bye bye chocolate and biscuits and most cereals) from the house.  
With our 4 children they basically have to stick to no sugar at home, but they can have junk at parties.  We do still have honey for sandwiches though.
She has replaced fructose/table sugar in cooking with glucose in cookies and cakes so we still have sweet items, just without the fructose content.
We have also stopped making fruit juice movies in the morning and  I've stopped thinking it was healthy getting boost juice fruit drinks and haven't purchased one since. 
Having said that we had coco pops (about 33% sugar) on holidays last week, but the other cereals like the "health" cereals also had about 25-30% sugar anyway, so I said what the heck.  They ate a whole pack in 2 days anyway!
I generally stick to  Weet-Bix or muesli < 4% sugar for breakfast, but am not as  strict on avoiding chocolate and biscuits if I'm out and about but not having it at home is a great help. 
 

Im halfway through the book. Wow what an eye opener! Recently diagnosed with diabetes I wish Id read it years ago. Isnt it sad that the truth is often missed because someone had better marketing.

Hi everyone,

I'm going to buy sweet poison this week. I have gained 30kg in the last few years by hiding my emotions in lollies, chocolate and sweet desserts.  I don't know if I can commit to changing my ways, but I will take the first step and read the book.

Good luck to everyone working on giving up.
Sharon

Hi guys,

Yeah it's been one week anddddd I'm still off the sugar. Lost 3kg during the week.
Nicky is wrapped and I'm pretty sure that one of the prezzies wrapped under the Christmas tree looks suspiciously like a copy of 'Sweet poison'.
OH JOY!!!!
The lesson learnt here is that when the Chairman asks you to zip the lip you better take heed or pay the penalty.

No Sugar Tonight!
(catchy title for a song, hey?)

LES

Good job Les! Keep it up.. Im sure you will feel much better once you get past the initial stages. I've become very interested in this subject since the last meeting and ive made it a goal to read 'Sweet Poison' before the next meeting. Im sure others will be inspired by your efforts.

Good work Les! I've been off sugar for nearly 5 months now and have never felt better.

Keep it up!

Kate

Hi Les
It is so great to hear that you are going so strong with your decision.... Stay strong and most importantly - enjoy the benefits!
Best wishes
Maree 

Well done everyone that has started or is reading through the books. It sounds like many of you are on the way to a healthly life which has balance of finances and good food for your bodies.

Keep posting your progress your an inspiration !

And what about the icecream Kat?????

Les, you're a champion.  Keep up the good work.

Ann

Guys

Very inspiring reading all the sugar free hitters.

Started last week just reducing sugare in the tea & coffees.  Its a start and not missing it.

I need to read the book and make the great leap.

Happy New Year to all.

cheers        

Hi everyone,

I have been on no sugar for the last couple of weeks. Giving up lollies and sweet treats wasn't as hard as i thought. Giving up all sugar is incredible hard, nearly every food you buy has sugar in it. I've found the only safe bet was fresh vegetables, I;m a vego so no meat here either. Sometimes it's all to hard and i just don't bother eating. No weight loss here yet, BUGGER!!!!

good luck to all

I have been on a "low" diet, mainly watching what I eat in regards to wheat, sugar and dairy. I thought my sugar intake wasn't too bad - although I do have a weakness for cake/muffins. Turns out it was slightly worse than I thought as I also have the odd saltanna bread, and cravings for fizzy drinks now and again. 

Preparing your own foods at home is the only real way to monitor what you eat. Which is time consuming and painful sometimes - heres to Financial Freedom where we can hire a chef to do it for us!! ;)  

Hi guys

Happy New Year and thanks for all of your support.
Yes, the mysterious package under the Christmas tree was my very own copy of 'Sweet Poison'.
I basted and braised it in soya sauce and ate it! Yum Yum.
Nicky got me a second copy with  the directive to read it not eat it.

It's been tough with the recent heat wave.
Nicky and the kids have been knocking over two ice creams per day.
I swear, it's like living with members of the Spanish Inquisition.

But am still off of the sugar.

Regards
LES 

I read the book over my holidays and the other day my husband and I went for a wander arounf the supermarket to check out the sugar content of everything and that was an eye opener. Trying to find things like muesli and yoghurt that didn't have more than 10gms of sugar per 100gms was really challenging. We had a lot of fun reading all the labels. I am sure people were wondering what we were doing! The sad one for me was honey, as I love honey in my tea. Even that was bypassed today. We are cookig our own meals a lot more and reading all the labels. Good luck to all of you on the sugar free journey!

I have been off sugar since our last B2BFF meeting, but only just read the book so discovered some of my ideas to minimise sugar (I.e. Tonic water and fruit juice) backfired. I havn't actually found it to difficult to give up- I don't drink tea or coffee, pretty much only drink water anyway, and I live alone so I am in charge of all the groceries) the hardest thing for me though was on the plane as the dessert is dumped straight in front of you. In all other situations I just don't buy it and therefore never see it but on the plane took a lot of will power.