Notes about this video:

- the Vivobarefoot code has changed to LAURATRY15

a few people in the comments getting caught up with the fruit I ate, and the potatoes and rice, saying it’s like eating sugar.
I can see what they are saying, but some on, let’s not be silly now. An orange and some berries is ok. Some potatoes after an intense interval session and during follicular phase is more than ok! And these foods do not lead me to yearn for more.
I get it! But please be mindful, this is my experiment, my journey - making better choices for improvements. A transition towards a healthier life.

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1. ADHD & MEDICATION
It's important for me to mention, I have ADHD and I take medication for it.
I tell you this because it's common for ADHD medication to reduce appetite and help reduce cravings (it's to do with regulating the dopamine system, anyway...)

I've been taking ADHD medication for 8 months. I take a child's dose which is enough for me. It takes the edge off my ADHD ways, but not enough to reduce my appetite.
I easily eat 3 big meals a day (as you'll see in this video: https://youtu.be/Iodsyc3M6r4?si=J2e4TaGECLRc43kB)
For the last few months I've actually been taking half the child's dose, which is working well for me. Ideally, I don't want to rely on the medication for the rest of my life.
And I don't take my medication at the weekend.

The ADHD medication has certainly helped me wean myself off the sugary snacks, but it hasn't made me immune to them. I still had the cravings and I was still eating quite a lot of sugary snacks at the weekend.
The medication did help me stop the sugary binge sessions though, (which I explain in this video: https://youtu.be/uJtigACqj_s?si=GlgoSPrLKRdnh0pf).

It's why I wanted to do this challenge - since feeling better in the last few months, I felt as though I was in a position to finally tackle this sugar-free thing.
I genuinely don't think I would have been able to do it before because I was unwell, sad and upset (depression for 18 years which thankfully has now finally passed).

It’s important for me to share this information, because it’s all part of the puzzle pieces of my life.
 And even though the medication helps reduce the need for the sugary food, it’s still not been easy.
The way it's been described to me is, my medication brings my dopamine levels  up to a 'normal' or healthy level. A bit like someone who has an under-active thyroid and they take medication to bring their thyroid up to a healthy level. It's not exactly the same, but you know what I mean.

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2. MY RELATI0ONSHIP WITH SUGAR
I've said in some of my recent videos that I don't snack very much. This kind of goes against what I've talked about in this video.
My issue with eating sugary foods is I'd eat healthy in the week, then buy lots of sugary foods (chocolate, biscuits, crisps) at the weekend as a 'treat' and eat the lot.
Then I'd spend the rest of the week yearning and resisting more sugary foods.

I explain this as I don't want my regular viewers who watch my videos to feel I'm conflicted with what I say in certain videos.
It can be hard to explain everything in all the videos, all of the time, whilst keeping the videos concise.

I didn't eat sugar a lot, at least I didn't think I did, but I ate enough to keep wanting it.

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3. SUGAR ISN'T BAD?
I did say in the video that this isn't me saying sugar is bad. Although..... my issue with sugar is that it's hidden in so many foods, and foods that are considered to be healthy.
It annoys me that the food manufactures do this.
Pre-cooked salmon for example. I nearly bought some a few weeks ago, I checked the label and not only did it have sugar in, but it also had glucose syrup.
Personally I think it's sneaky of the manufacturers to add sugar into savoury and 'healthy' foods - doing it just to sell more, rather than looking after our health.

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4. MY PROGRESS
I hope to continue to do this sugar-free thing going forwards.
Apart from the 2 Maltesers I ate at the party a few weeks ago, I haven't had a single biscuit, cookie, or chocolate (only 100% chocolate) - which I think is the longest time ever in my life, probably since I was a baby!
I'll keep you updated in this pinned comment on my progress over the coming months/years 🤞

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5. MY MUM & DAD
I'm proud of my mum and dad for joining me in certain challenges. I rarely ask them to do them with me.
This sugar-free challenge for example, I didn't ask either of them, but when they found out I was doing it, they just decided to join in.
And I'm pleased they did because they both lost a significant amount of body fat and both feel better!

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6. ALCOHOL
I've started viewing sugary foods like I do alcohol (this isn't me being preachy by the way)
Alcohol makes me feel really bad. Even just one or 2 drinks make me feel rotten for days after that it's just not worth it.
When I first stopped drinking alcohol, it was hard to resist that first urge.
What stopped me from having that first alcoholic drink was thinking of how I'd feel the next day, and the following few days. I knew I'd have a fuzzy head, brain fog, feel tired and wouldn't have productive days. That was enough for me to say no to the first drink, which then made saying no to alcohol altogether much easier. As time passed, I stopped drinking alcohol completely and now it's not even on my radar. I do not miss it at all.

I've started to feel the same about sugary foods. They feel great in the moment, the equivalent to that first drink - pleasure, relaxation, feel-good chemicals.
But then sugary foods makes me feel groggy - similar to alcohol with the fuzzy head and brain fog. And it's really addictive for me.
So now, in the same way, I think about how I'm going to feel after, knowing one biscuit, or one bit of chocolate will lead to me wanting more, and wanting more will give me that 'sugar hangover.' And again, that's enough for me to say no.
I wonder if I will ever view sugary foods the way I view alcohol, in the sense that they won't be on my radar?

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7. "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE"
I know they'll be some people who say "you only live once," "oh go on, treat yourself" and all that similar stuff.
I appreciate where they are coming from. However, what these people may not realise is, it's not just about eating that one thing - one thing starts an addictive process inside me which then ultimately leaves me feeling like s**t.
Why would I do that to myself?
I do only live once, so why do I want to feel like s**t?

I'm amazed about how many people try to persuade me to "just have a bit of cake," "come one, treat yourself, have a bit of chocolate."
It's weird - that because I'm not eating it, it affects their experience of them eating it.
Again, I suppose I can relate this to alcohol. "Come on, don't be boring, just have one drink."


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8. FUTURE HEALTH
Doing this challenge is one of the puzzle pieces of me improving my health and my life.

For those who have been watching my videos and following my journey for some time, you'll know I started weight training, eating a high protein meal plan, and taking supplements for health and performance a few years ago. And recently I started interval training.
This sugar-free challenge builds on all this stuff.
On the surface, my videos may look like a bit of a gimmick to some people, but I do them because they are the puzzle pieces that form the puzzle of my life - me taking another step in improving my health.


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9. HARD WORK & BORING
I wonder if my cravings for sugary food will ever completely go?
I wonder if it will ever be easy?

When I think about those questions, it makes me think:
- would someone who quit smoking, do they ever stop thinking about cigarettes? Does it ever become easier for them? I suppose it depends on the person and the circumstances.
- I think about my alarm going off at 4:45am each weekday for me to go to the gym - each day it's hard to get up and I never really want to do it.
I think about making my meals from scratch each day - it gets boring. Some days it gets on my nerves and I wish I didn't have to do it.
But I'm doing these things because they are good for my health and ultimately they make me feel good.

So now, if I have to read a few ingredients labels and avoid foods with added sugar, it's another thing I am willing to add to my regime.
Because taking care of myself and my health probably will never be 'easy' and it will take discipline and hardwork.
I'm willing to put in the time when it comes to the morning alarm, the morning workout and cooking my meals, so now to ingrain the habit of omitting added sugar from my diet. I;m sure it will get easier over time.

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I hope all that made sense.
I wanted to say all this in the video, but the original version was too long 😂


Much love x

“For me, sugar and moderation dont go together “. Same for me!  I cannot have a “cheat day” or “reward day” that includes sugar because for me its as addictive as hardcore drug.

Sugar should be classified as a drug.😭🤦🏾‍♀️ because so many people struggle with it.

Also, can we all just take a moment to appreciate your mum laughing at you in the kitchen with that apple 😅

good lord there is sugar in nearly all our food

is it lighting or cosmetics but YOUR SKIN IS GLOWING sans sugar??!!

I'm 2 years alcohol free and I'm thinking about now kicking sugar too. This was the first video I watched and helpful, thanks.

Forget Nicotine.  Forget Cocaine.  Forget Heroin.  The most addictive substance is SUGAR!  😮

I used to be obsessed with cakes/desserts but last year I had to have my tonsils out and I couldn't eat for 7 days. When I started eating I didn't fancy sweet things.
Now 18 months later I still cant eat sweet things (they make my mouth taste awful)
I've lost 4 stone feel livelier, better skin and happier.
It's only taken me 73 years to get here !!!

I want sugar free for a month  whenever I had the urge for sugar I would brush my teeth and it certainly worked for me!…

Hi Laura, using my wife's youtube. Just watched your 30 day sugar free video, loved it. I'm 74 male living in Australia. Recently diagnosed type 2 diabetic. I had severe muscle reactions to the metformin prescribed by my doctor. So decided to cut out sugar, that included : potatoes, all rices, pasta and bread, plus fruit except a small amount of berries as a treat. So only protein plus veggies that grow above ground. My sweet cravings and feelings of being hungry disappeared completely pretty  much after 3 weeks. I have been doing this for 5 months now, lost 12kg and my latest Hba1c blood tests show me no longer diabetic. I do the meals in our house now, but my wife has cake and biscuits when she goes out with friends and this small amount of sugar seems to keep fueling her hunger and cravings? I started my sugar free journey by watching Dr Jason Fung ( kidney specialist ) on youtube.  As a point of interest put in ( fruit over 60 ) into you tube. Hope life treats you kindly and have a g'day, Rick from Australia ( a pommy by birth )

My brothers on keto diet. I gave him some gurkins with his dinner and he immediately tasted sugar. He was right, I checked the jar and they were pickled in sugar vinegar water. It's awful how they spoil food and add so much sugar in everything. No wonder we have an epidemic of over weight people.

I was sugar-free for a year and a half.  I made the mistake of thinking I could have sugar in moderation.  Nope! Now I am having a horrible time going sugar-free again.

When I quit smoking years ago I was wondering if this craving for cigarettes will ever go away and yes it did, it took maybe a year or little bit longer but it disappeared completely. And in the process of quitting I was really negatively surprised how many people was offering me cigarettes, teasing and exposing me to the smoke. I learnt later on that that kind of behaviour is very common, people feel uncomfortable, not good enough that they can’t do it, or that they are stuck with it and to feel better they want to pull you on their side. I’m on very similar journey to yours and learning lots about myself in the process.  Keep up good work!!!

Alternative: French working-class & middle-class had a tradition to bake a pie or a cake or make crêpes on Sundays. The other days, "dessert" was a piece of fruit. Making habits or rituals of what when keeps you on tracks.

I started a 14 day challenge to stop sugar that turned into nine months of success. I felt better. I lost weight, had more energy and even a more positive disposition.  When I started eating sugar again as expected it got out of hand and I couldn’t stop craving it. I felt bad about myself; having negative internal dialogue. Like I was a sellout and realized this is definitely addiction. I’m back on the no sugar and since I now know what the outcome will be, I am looking forward to reaching those positive changes again. Thank you for sharing.

It’s such a huge problem when so many companies add sugar to so much food.

Seems like the challenge is not so much not eating sugar but rather finding food that hasn't had it added!!! Even harder to find something with no sugar thats not wrapped in plastic!

6:59 -- "Sugar and moderation do not go together."

it's fun to have your parents in the videos as well :)