Hi all I'm Shay,

Thankfully, a colleague put me onto the "Sweet Poison" books a few weeks ago.  I've a fairly addictive personality and suspected that I was addicted to food on the whole rather than just sugar. Throughout life I've been the chubby kid, plump teen and overweight adult.  Like David and many others I'd done every diet going with short term success on occasion.

The thinnest I'd ever been was for about 2 years when I smoked 2 packs of cigs a day (and some) worked 2 jobs, ate what I wanted, drank beer and wasn't menopausal - not very healthy, I know. Maybe my actual fructose intake was low during this period. Hmmm???

That all went south - literally when I gave up smoking 4 years ago. I have steadily gained weight and am now more than 20kg overweight for my height of only 1.5m.  Again, I've been on the diet merry-go-round for much of this time. More confused than ever with even more "healthy" diet and lifestyle options being bandied about, it has all been just too hard.

These books, and other material I've been researching, are my salvation. Today is beginning of week 3.  Withdrawal symptoms of weeks 1 & 2 were a real tester.  3 days in, I felt awful and thought "is this worth it?".  Well, yes it is!  I'm still suffering some vague symptoms which, I suppose, isn't too bad after 50yrs + of sugar overload. I think what has got me through so far, is being able to enjoy - guilt free - many of the things that were taboo on diets. Also, finding out that many so called healthy options (snack on fresh or dried fruit & low fat bars/yogurt when you're half starved) had been my undoing for years.

Only early days but I'm determined this time to make a permanent change. Being informed is being armed.

Cheers