Lucy: 'It’s not a diet, it’s more of a shift in eating habits and approach.'

So, in to week two and it just got busier in the Boundy household, with after school activities in full swing, cooking and preparing foods for the week ahead, plus all the other jobs us Mums need to do. But I have to say, I do feel better. I’m sleeping like a baby, I have more energy and I definitely don’t have the sugar highs and lows that I used to get.

Mind you, it hasn't been easy, especially with young children. With the odd packet of sweets lurking in the back of the cupboard, I have had to change my mindset and actively stay away from the SUGAR. At least I have so far!

Before starting this challenge, one time of day I found particularly hard, and when I really needed that sugar hit, was around 4pm after the school run. It was as if my body needed something sugary to revive me and make me feel human again. Now I feel I am better armed with tools to deal with the bad days.

I've also worked out that when I was feeling moody or having a bad day, my brain would often fixate on something sweet. Right now, this is made worse as I am taking the dreaded Tamoxifen; on one hand a wonder drug that should help me stave off cancer and keep me alive, on the other, a medicine that makes me tired, put on weight and have some damned-awful moods (just ask my husband!). Due to my breast tumor feeding on my hormones, Tamoxifen essentially puts these to sleep, but the downside is that it has pushed me into early menopause, with all the joy that that brings!

I've never been great at eating fruit, so I would reach for the most sugar-rich snacks when a typical dip in the day came along. Although it’s only been two weeks, I believe the spikes are not as high or as sharp. Simon and I have also given up the booze for a while, so I may well be getting the double effect of putting less nasties into my body.

Like alcohol, I also think sugar reduces your resolve as you end up eating more and being less satisfied by what you eat. I’m learning to eat ‘consciously’ for the first time. It’s not like a diet; it’s more of a shift in eating habits and approach.

A big surprise is that I've also found myself enjoying the planning and cooking of meals through the week. My husband is normally the chef in our house, but I can honesty say that the positive comments from friends and family regarding Davina’s recipes have encouraged me to cook more.

For Simon and I, it’s about a lifestyle change – we've had a tough few years and I believe we were stuck in a kind of rut in relation to diet and health, BUT, I also know that starting the change is not the difficult bit... it’s sticking to it.

So far so good, bring on week three!!

Davina’s Five Weeks to Sugar Free: Yummy, easy recipes to help you kick sugar and feel amazing, can be ordered here:

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