30 Day Sugar Challenge...

Some of you will have watched the Biggest Loser UK and if you have you'll know of the lovely Richard Callender.

Well, he's set up a 30 day sugar free challenge as most people are unaware of just how much of the white stuff sneaks its way into our daily diets. The idea is simple, stay away from any food containing added sugar or sweeteners (they are even worse) for 30 days.

By reducing the amount of sugar in your diet, you will notice that you feel a whole lot better (by the end), perhaps you would have lost weight or have become less bloated, or just more aware of what you are putting into your body!

Look at the list of ingredients on all of the food you consume, if it contains sugar, sweeteners (aspartame, sucralose etc), or any E numbers, you want to stay well clear. Instead eat a natural diet consisting of fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, meat, fish, legumes, vegetables etc.

Some items of food may or may not shock you, such as Baked Beans, Worcester Sauce, stock cubes, Soya Sauce, and even some varieties of Ryvita containing added sugar.

You can join the challenge via the Facebook Page Richard has set up: Sugar Free Challenge

As a fitness professional, I've decided to take part and get as many of my clients involved as possible. I don't consume a lot of sugar, but it's the hidden nasties we need to be made aware of. I think this is a great idea, and even if you don't take part, at least have a look at the ingredients of the food you are eating to see if any so called healthy choices surprise you.

The Challenge is set to start this Saturday and it's FREE to take part, but you can start it whenever you want. The online community will be there to help and support each other, so why not get involved?

Below I've listed some guidelines, follow them to the best of your ability and follow the above link for the full set of rules:

Do not consume these items:

Sugar (cane, brown, granulated, powdered, etc)

High fructose corn syrup

Fructose

Honey, syrups or jams

Biscuits, cakes, chocolate (in any form)

Rice syrup & coconut sugar

Agave nectar

Sucrose

Glucose

Flavoured dairy products

Bread based items (pre-packed sandwiches, wraps, etc) & baked products unless home-made

Carbonated (fizzy) & manufactured drinks

Energy drinks

Artificial sugars or substitutes (aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, Splenda, etc.) 

Alcohol (beer, wine, liquor)

Dried fruit

Fast food

Processed foods/ready meals

Concentrated Fruit Juice, pre-packaged smoothies

In fact...if it has an 'E' number (which is assigned to all food additives) then give it miss

Read LABELS:

Any food whatsoever that contains sugar or sweetener of ANY KIND is not allowed.  Dont take the easy way out, read your own labels, use the guidelines outlined above and share communication with the group.

DO eat: 

Meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, basically everything else, etc.  Make sure you get enough food if you are used to eating a lot of sugary stuff.

Have fun and I hope you feel better for taking the 30 Day Sugar Challenge.