Strenua's World

Investigating the training, treatments, diets and science behind a healthy active life

Can simply skipping sugar lead to inch loss success?

Posted on June 11th, 2009 in Diet, Strenua's Challenge, Weight Loss

tape-measure Restricting food for weight loss isn’t really my thing. Although I need to lose some weight, I think it’s more important to adopt a long term healthy diet than to starve yourself for a few weeks. I started by not having sugar in my coffee, there is around 16 calories in a teaspoon of sugar, which doesn’t sound like much but in 5 cups a day 7 days a week that is around 560 calories. I also cut down my chocolate and ice cream intake. Cutting them out completely wouldn’t have worked for me, I enjoy my daily sugar rush but I cut it down to only one bar or ice cream a day. Two weeks after my first weigh in and measure and I have lost 4lbs and my BMI is now 24.1.

I have lost ¼ inch on each bicep and half an inch across my chest, 1/2 inch at my waist and 3/4 inch across my navel. There were no changes around my hips, bum and lower legs although each thigh lost almost 1.5inches.

My knee still gives me some pain and I’m still doing exercise to strengthen the muscles in my legs with the high reps obviously helping to tone my thighs. I’ve started running a few times a week, so far only 3-4 miles and at marathon pace, so not too fast. My physio says that it is important I don’t tire my legs while they are weak as I may develop poor technique running over longer distances leading to more problems later on.

I’m quite satisfied with my results I have achieved with little effort and I haven’t noticed the missing sugar from my coffee, nor do I really need a second chocolate bar in the evening. Over the next few weeks I’m looking to increase my running and other cardiovascular exercise and hope fully lose some inches from my hips. I’ll let you know how I get on.