I was working on the raw footage of a brand new YouTube video last night before going to bed for my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube” series and had high hopes of getting it posted early this morning. No such luck! Being gone since last Wednesday with Christine’s family in Virginia backed my work up BIG TIME and I’ve been playing catch-up all day long. But quite coincidentally, I received an e-mail this afternoon from a reader today inquiring about my recent “sweet”-free challenge–the very subject of my latest YouTube video!
Here’s what she wrote:
Hi Jimmy,
Somehow I missed the results of your “sweet”-free challenge. What happened when you stayed off anything “sweet” for 30-days beginning October 27th through Thanksgiving?
THANKS for that question and you’re right–I never let you know about it here at my main blog. The readers at my menus blog know that I made it for 18 days on my original “sweet”-free challenge where I attempted to go without ANYTHING sweet-tasting on my tongue for a period of 30 days just to see how I would do. You can read my journal entry for November 13, 2008 to see that the circumstances of my transmission blowing up along with Christine’s continuing chelation therapy treatments in Hilton Head, SC drove me to drink a 20-ounce Coke Zero and my first attempt at going “sweet”-free was officially over.
But there was some good news with that first challenge despite the fact I didn’t make it for the full 30 days. I lost 10 pounds in just over two weeks to get down to 255 (the lowest weight I’ve been since January) after struggling with a pesky 30-pound weight gain since the beginning of the year when I started lifting weights. Just removing the “sweet” taste from my mouth along with the proper dosage of Metformin (500mg in the morning and at night) produced the weight loss success for me. Additionally, I have significantly reduced the amount of diet sodas I was drinking from the upwards of 8-10 cans daily. In fact, I went an entire week after “ending” the challenge without wanting a Diet Rite at all. And I haven’t had a ChocoPerfection or even my own chocolate bar at all in well over a month! Now THAT is PROGRESS!!!
In Episode 56 of “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube,” I’m back with a new challenge to go “sweet”-free yet again starting out at 253.5 pounds…and this time I’m gonna do it all the way. It officially started for me today, December 1, 2008 and I am committing to go through with it in what is arguably the hardest time of the year to go without something sweet–December! With Christmas parties, Christmas Day, and even my birthday all coming up this month, the challenge is that much harder for me. But I WILL do it this time around and I encourage you to follow my progress at my “Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Menus” blog. I’m currently tracking my daily food intake, exercise, and calories (to make sure I’m eating ENOUGH of them) and I hope it is an encouragement to you as you contemplate joining me on this journey, too! You know your low-carb lifestyle has become a little complacent and this could be just the thing you need to get it back going again for you heading into 2009. My goal is to lose at least 10 more pounds during this challenge to get started off right for the upcoming new year!
Check out my direct challenge for YOU to go “sweet”-free with me in today’s video:
The videos keep piling up the more we do them and I encourage you to go back and watch any of the previous YouTube videos you might have missed. While you’re there, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and be the first on your block to see the new episodes within moments of being uploaded to YouTube. Christine and I appreciate hearing from you and as always welcome your feedback about what we share in our videos anytime at livinlowcarbman@charter.net. THANK YOU for watching and feel free to spread the word about our videos to your online friends!
I’m going to try this too!
You’ll be glad you did, Martha! Don’t forget to find support at my forum.
–Jimmy
Metformin was the key as well. Glad you can tolerate that drug. Wonderful news on the weight loss front!
Reposted from the video, but the more accountability the better, right?
“Ok, I am in this challenge, BUT (always a but) I am going to slightly modify it. This week I will be sweetz-free minus 2 cans per day. Next week, 1 can. 2 weeks – no soda at all. I am also going to toss in “no nuts over 2oz” and “menus post” every day challenge on top of it.
I’m still working on what my own punishment will be. {if I fail the challenge or don’t have enough accountability} I am thinking some sort of public humiliation — tell your most embarrassing moment video — will be forthcoming. I have to weigh that pop can against something.
I’m glad to see you are taking another shot at this. — I think it will be an eye opening experience!
I’m in!
Also, I keep this little article handy to remind me why I should go “sweet” free.
http://www.emaxhealth.com/11/586.html
Here’s an excerpt:
The sweet flavor elicits the release of insulin from the pancreas to enhance the uptake of sugar by the cells so that it doesn’t linger in the bloodstream. Once insulin is released it inhibits your fat burning hormone called HSL (hormone sensitive lipase). This hormone is responsible for releasing fat into the bloodstream to be utilized as fuel. If inhibited, your body is unable to burn fat and will then begin utilizing amino acids (from muscle) and carbohydrates as fuel. This will leave you feeling tired, grumpy, and sloth-like toward the end of the day. Not to mention, you will become abnormally hungry. Those with large amounts of HSL burn fat all day and look thin and slim. Those who inhibit it by eating or drinking the wrong substances grow fat throughout their adult years.
_____________________________________
As you can see, looking good on the inside will make us look better on the outside!
Ciao!
Wow Jimmy!! Good luck to you. That is a great challenge and perfect for this time of the year. I feel so much better with no sugar in my system. I have more energy, I don’t have as many cravings, and I just feel better overall.
Good luck!! Can’t wait to read about it.
Joy
THANKS Joy! And it’s so much more than just sugar, but that “sweet” taste during this time of year sets people off on a binge. This could ward off disaster for a lot of people.
–Jimmy
Good for you Jimmy! You can do it. I hadn’t realized how ’sweet’ was affecting my eating habits, but now I see that it really, really does.
Go for it
You’re tough enough.
Hey Jimmy,
Good luck on the challenge! And Christine, you look beautiful without make-up on!!!
I really liked the point you made about starting to taste the real “sweetness” in foods. For me, almond butter is actually TOO sweet for me now, hahaha.
All the Best,
Andrew R
Good job on the sweet-free challenge so far! I’m not officially in, but am trying to stick with just one diet soda per day. But, what’s with the no-veggies?
Good luck at getting back down to the 240’s.
Money. I’m really struggling financially right now and vegetables cost too much money at this time.
–Jimmy