Saturday, August 13, 2011

One Year Sugar Free


I haven't written a post for a while now and am very happy to tell you that it is NOT because I have fallen off the wagon. (Like I did with Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig)

This is not me! (and I don't think it is really her!)


 It IS simply because my Sugar free obsession has now turned into a seemingly effortless lifestyle.


I feel like I have graduated from The University Of Wellbeing with a High Distinction in Eliminating Fructose from Your Diet.
In order to pass I had to master units of study such as Reading Food Labels in Search of Hidden Sugars and  Creative Cooking with Dextrose.

I am feeling so much better (both physically and mentally) than I did a year ago and have now lost 14kg.

 I delight in the fact that if I simply avoid sugar I will not regain the weight and will probably lose even more.

I have had my story published as part of an article on Sugar Addiction in an Australian Magazine
http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/food+diet/nutrition/beat+your+sugar+addiction,12881
and have managed to stay grounded despite my celebrity status.

Be warned the whole thing was not as glamorous as you might think. I was interviewed by phone, had to take and submit my own photo and got nothing as compensation (not even a free copy of the magazine)

That's me just right of the jelly beans!
In my post about Sugar Free Muesli one of my readers (thanks Caylow) had a great suggestion about turning my plain muesli into delicious Sweet Crunchy Toasted Muesli. My husband loves it so much that I have been making it ever since.
Making Toasted Muesli with a little help from my beautiful Grand Daughter

I start off with 10 cups of my Muesli (see recipe on previous post) and mix in 1 cup of Rice Malt Syrup (In Australia I buy it from Coles in the Health Food Section) and 1/2 cup Rice Bran Oil. Spread out the mixture on 2 baking trays and place in moderate oven. Keep a close eye on it (the edges will brown quickly) and stir the mixture around several times until it is a golden toasted colour. When it is cool store in airtight container.  It is so yummy served with natural yoghurt and berries.
Mmmmmm! Toasted Muesli to die for!
One of the biggest challenges for people trying to have a Fructose Free Life is the fact that you are forced to spend more time sourcing suitable food and ingredients and you inevitably end up spending more time in the kitchen preparing stuff that it is impossible to buy. Of course there is a definite up side to this in that you know exactly what you are eating but the down side is that a lot of people are time poor.

 I especially empathise with working Mums and wish that I could send them all a parcel of my home baked fructose free fare.

 For the time being sharing recipes on my blog will have to do.

13 comments:

  1. Hi. Just found your blog. A great resource. I am fully fired up with your muesli recipe and am heading out right now to get supplies from the supermarket. Cheers.

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    1. Great post! I wish a lot more people spoke about sugar addiction.

      All my life I have struggled with an addiction to sugar. The more sweet things I ate, the more I wanted. I couldn't eat just one piece of something without wanting more.

      Since learning about nutrition and glycemic index, my relationship with food has changed dramatically. I have learned that there are healthy alternatives to sugar, and I can still have delicious desserts and not feel deprived!

      When out to dinner with friends and colleagues and they order dessert, I an no longer bothered seeing the dessert, because I know I can go home and have something just as delicious that won't spike my blood sugar and is even good for me!

      I'm talking about having Guilt Free Desserts.

      I bought the recipe book for $34.95 USD, which does seem a little overpriced at first... but it is totally worth it when you take a look at the amount of content that is in the Book. Probably the best $34.95 I have spent in a long while!

      The recipes are so easy to do... And you don't have to feel guilty!

      Here's where I bought my copy.

      This might be what changes you & your readers relationship to sugar FOREVER.

      It did for me...

      Best regards,

      John

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  2. Hi Maree,
    I stumbled across your blog last week. First thing I did was to make the muesli - 3kg of it!! It is divine! Thank you so much! I am one of those busy part time working mums with a travelling husband also! Please keep posting more recipes. I love it!
    I'm trying to work out how to turn the muesli into a nice soft biscuit! I had one (pre my sugar free days!) at a cafe, which was topped with white ganache. They were the best things I've ever tasted so I'm on the hunt to make something as good sugar free!!
    x Renee

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  3. Thank you for all your yummy recipes. I am wondering if you are still sugar free I have just started my journey.

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  4. Buy Sugar Free Sweets in Delhi and A cashew nut based sugar free sweet set in the shape of dumpling. Sugar free and low sugar content sweets are also made.

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  5. Kanwarjis Sweet gives you the Sugar Free Sweets in Delhi/NCR with high quality products like Namkeens, Sweets, Snacks etc. For experience all these varieties please visit us on kanwarjis.com

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  6. We are gives you the Sugar Free Sweets in Delhi/NCR with high quality products like Namkeens, Sweets, Snacks etc. View and buy more varieties please visit us on kanwarjis.com

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  7. Maree, I've spent a delightful hour reading your blog posts. Your journey gives us newbies encouragement! Many blessings, Michelle x

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  9. Hey Maree, I was looking for good fructose free products and just found your blog. It's cool that you starting having fun eating more healthy. To be honest, if I could and wouldn't have malabsorption I couldn't quit on sweets. But I found a really nice replacement, but unfortunately it's a company in Germany. You have to have a look on ths website: https://tomkrissi.de/ They offer lots of delicious sweetend products, but with glucose. But I don't know whether they also deliver to Australia. :/

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