Finally without pain: I live sugar-free

Diet shapes our lives. What you eat and whether you enjoy it is determined in early childhood - yes, even in the womb you are shaped by what the expectant mothers eat. You associate food with certain emotions and so the memory of mom's stew can put a smile on your face when you feel bad because you are lonely. Or not. There are also those eaters who consider food intake purely functional and only eat because they have to.

Be that as it may, and whatever type you consider yourself to be, these habits are so deeply anchored that changing them takes an incredible amount of strength. There are enough behavioral psychologists out there who say that eating habits can never be anchored permanently. Temporarily and under controlled conditions, yes, but not forever or only with a lot of willpower.

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Therefore everyone has to find their own way. Just as it fits into your lifestyle. Something that you can do permanently without being a slave to your discipline. And what is good for you, even if it (still) contradicts common conventions.

I am reporting here from my path. This can only be an example and of course does not claim to be general. It took me a long time to decide that for myself and to anchor it in my everyday life. I live sugar-free and you can say in the truest sense of the word. I not only avoid refined granulated sugar, but also all sweeteners and sugar substitutes, such as stevia or xylitol or whatever they are called. In the meantime I have severely restricted my fruit consumption myself.

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But why only? Isn't that too much of a good thing?

To many, my diet will seem radical. And of course you don't have to do it in this form, there are different options: The most common is to forego added sugar and still allow natural sugar sources. Then there is the so-called 5% rule, which says that no more than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams of food (2,5 grams for drinks) may be contained. This usually applies to foods to which no additional sugar has been added.

With these "rules" you can start to deal with the topic and then gradually get to your own way. Just how it best suits you and your own everyday life.

I live so radically sugar-free in everyday life because I no longer miss sweets and I have more advantages for myself not to eat cake or chocolate or even fruit.

First and foremost, freedom from pain: my edema no longer hurts.

Then of course weight loss, including legs and arms, although in fact I am consuming a lot more calories than I ever did. So I'm not hungry and certainly not hungry. In addition, my skin is more beautiful, firmer and yes, even less wrinkle-free.

That's all well and good, but really now? Run out of sugar?

Yes, at least in everyday life. In the meantime I have found a way to deviate with pleasure every now and then with a clear conscience. To consume sugar like alcohol, less often and then consciously and with pleasure. To study without a guilty conscience and without lists of ingredients. For example, when I go out to dinner with my husband, I don't want to miss out on dessert. Why also?

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Sugar-free in everyday life - how does it work?

Since I have always cooked myself and take a very critical view of processed foods and only use them in exceptional cases, it was not difficult to do without sugar. I make and cook everything myself - sometimes yogurt made from coconut milk. But you have to prepare a lot and spend more time in the kitchen and planning meals. That must be fun. Routines helped me with this.

It may also be because I never have one Sugarholic was and the cold turkey So the cold withdrawal from sugar was not so severe. But I have always eaten a lot of carbohydrates (including simple ... white flour and so on) and I enjoyed eating. I have often said “Without a pretzel, without me!” The occasional beer garden pretzel is all the more pleasing to the heart.

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What about the family?

Of course, she can still eat sugar. I am not the dictator who will now read all ingredient lists meticulously or refuse my children muffins. Or even denouncing sugar consumption at parents' evenings in kindergarten. No, everyone can and should find their way.

I was able to establish this new diet for myself, and living sugar-free works very well for me. I am no longer hungry because I can eat enough and also consume significantly more calories than in sugar times. That gives energy for everyday life and my weight is slowly but steadily reducing.

... and I'm no longer afraid of fat.

Author: Kristin

My name is Kristin, I am the mother of two daughters and I live in Upper Bavaria. I am 39 years old and have gone through all phases of this disease: diagnosis shock - successful weight loss - surgery and relapse after pregnancy. Everyday life with my family is colorful and fun and the best time of my life. However, with two small children, household and job, there is often little time for yourself and the lipedema. I would like to encourage that it is worth fighting in every phase - even if you think you have lost the fight in the meantime.

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  • Dear Kristin,

    I couldn't believe it when I read your report in a positive way.
    I was diagnosed with lipedema in 2011 after the birth of my son. I struggled with the diagnosis for a long time and only started the therapy in 2013 and until then I ignored it until it was no longer possible! From then on I did everything possible and dealt with the disease.
    Since summer 2016 I have been eating mostly sugar-free! Only as a 10 week self-experiment and now out of conviction. I lost an incredible 10 kg in the first 6 weeks and was able to keep reducing my weight afterwards! My lipedema symptoms have improved a lot and I am almost pain-free. I think it's great that it's not just me and gives me the strength to carry on and to go my own way, no matter what others say about my diet.
    Greetings Stefanie

    • Dear Stefanie, thank you very much for your lovely comment. I find it strange that more often than you think you get the "oh-you-my-goodness-look" or the "what-else-look" and somehow the accusation resonates, one would not eat a full diet because one is giving up so much. Yes, we have to stick together and perhaps there is more to the diet in terms of treating lipedema than previously thought.

  • Thank you dear Kristin! I have been trying similarly for about 1 1/2 years. I still have wheat and pasta, as well as rice. It is often difficult, but when I read your report here, I know what for! You gave me new courage

    • Thank you for your kind words! Yes, perseverance is definitely worth it. I no longer eat grains at all, the only carbohydrates I eat are from vegetables. Fruit is my chocolate 🙂 It's definitely not easy ... I recently deviated (didn't want to attract attention as somehow strange - as it is sometimes in company) and ate “normally”. And was rewarded with the finest pain. Targeted deviation works (sometimes an ice cream or something), but not absolute deviation.

  • That's exactly how I feel. Without sugar and other carbohydrates, the pain and water retention are as good as gone. And the pounds are falling too.
    I hardly eat any sausage products or pork any more. Hardly any more dairy products. If then sheep cheese and now and then a quark with fresh berries. Which already represents my entire fruit consumption. Lots of vegetables and salads with healthy oils.

    • In time, I got exactly where you are. Basically on vegetables with fat. Slightly more meat than before, reluctant to milk and then cheese. Right now I prefer to eat various herbs as pesto (parsley, basil, coriander) with asparagus or zucchini. My weight on the scales is currently falling quite slowly, but visually it is almost unbelievable - although I don't really understand it, but good 🙂
      Thanks for your comment!

  • Dear Kristin,
    Thank you for the report! He gives me a lot of courage and hope! I only recently received the diagnosis and am still at the very beginning of what I can do and am looking for my way... Thank you very much!
    Best regards,
    Susi