Life After Sugar

"Netta, are sweeteners better than sugar?" It's a question I often get asked. So you'll get my answer in this episode... although it might not be what you're expecting! Because I question the concept of "good" and "bad" with respect to food, especially sugar and sweeteners. In fact, instead of focusing on the value of certain types of foods, I prefer to...

Pamela is an intermittent faster. And for her, eating less sugar (or low carb) fits perfectly with her IF lifestyle. For Pam, it was a process to find what works for her. And it may not be the same for you (in fact, it probably isn't - because we're all different). In this episode, Pam shares the benefits of intermittent fasting on her hunger, her health, and her lifestyle. And how reduc...

Sharon used to LOVE chocolate. She ate it every day. She couldn't imagine life without it. And she certainly never wanted to give up chocolate. So how did Sharon go from loving and needing chocolate to not wanting it or missing it anymore? Listen to Sharon's inspiring story to find out! Find Sharon here. Need guidance and support to get rid of cravings so that you can slim down and final...

It's the new year, and there might be some tweaks you can make to your everyday habits so that gradually you get to freedom from cravings. The book Atomic Habits by James Clear is a great reference if you're struggling with cravings for sweet foods or junk foods, and if you find yourself mindlessly snacking whenever you're tired or stressed or emotional. James Clear in his book talk...

This is the last episode of 2024, so let's finish off the year in good cheer and in good health. And maybe good health for you includes less sugar. But maybe it's difficult for you to imagine actually feeling better with less sugar because you've never done it before. Or you have, but you feel you failed, or you just can't believe that taking away all your favorite sugary comfo...

One of the fears that people have (and I definitely had it myself) is that if they cut sugar from their diet, then there's nothing left to eat. I mean, sugar is everywhere. Right? Well, not quite. Sugar - added sugar I mean - is nowhere to be found in whole foods: in fruits and vegetables, for example. But it is a very common additive in industrial highly processed foods, or "ultra proce...

It's the end of 2024, and this short episode will help you start to shift a few beliefs about how you will feel with less sugar. For example: how reducing or cutting out sugar can help reduce mood swings how eating less sugar can give you more energy how you can achieve freedom from cravings Don't believe that reducing or cutting sugar can do all that? Try it and see! Need guidance and s...

Meredith grew up in the 80s and 90s eating all the "low fat" products because she was convinced that eating fat made her put on weight. It was only years later, after grad school, that she learned that those products contain a bunch of added sugars. Meredith started to educate herself about the effect that sugar and processed foods have on her body and weight. And she decided to stop eat...

Camilla has experienced a lot of health issues in her life, including bariatric surgery. In this episode, she talks about how early her sugar addiction began, and how she almost lost her life because of post-surgery complications. Malnutrition is a common side effect of bariatric surgery. Camilla discovered that her health improved when she focused on eating clean and cutting sugar, sweeteners and...

It's November, and the holiday season is upon us. So is it really possible to enjoy the holidays with less sugar? You'll find the answer (well, MY answer) in this short excerpt from a recent online workshop I gave on November 16, 2024, called "The Key to Getting Rid of Cravings so that You Can Feel in Control Around Sugar… Without Feeling Deprived or Restricted" . Need guidance...

Vanessa has traveled all over the world. And she came to the conclusion that sugar is literally everywhere! That's not good news for anyone... but especially for her, because as she freely admits, Vanessa is a sugar addict. So how did she go from being completely obsessed about food (or rather, ultra-processed foods) to feeling peace around food, especially sugar? You'll hear about Vanes...

It's the 200th episode of the Life After Sugar podcast! Woo hoo!! I started this podcast in January 2021, and it's become a passion for me, and an inspiration to thousands of people. So thank you for listening!! In this episode, I tell my own personal story of my struggles with cravings and sugar. And how I got to my "life after sugar". You'll also hear why I created this...

Carol didn't really have a problem with sugar until later in life. After each of her 4 pregnancies, she put on weight. Despite challenges like a divorce when her children were still young, Carol was a fighter. But she did overeat... especially sweet and salty foods. And it just got out of control. Her weight climbed, and eventually her nurse practitioner suggested the drug Ozempic, which cost...

Sarah grew up with a mother who was very intentional with feeding her family healthy food. She cooked everything from scratch. As a child, Sarah didn't have any exposure to sugar whatsoever. And because there was no option for sugar in her life, Sarah says that she was neutral around food. Until her late thirties, when she decided to do a popular elimination diet. She had no weight to lose at...

Acquanda grew up eating what she calls "semi-healthy foods", like flavoured yogurts. Then when she moved close to her sister, who's a great cook and dessert maker, Acquanda started eating sweets more often... and craving them! That's when she realized that she had a problem with sugar. She felt powerless. Acquanda was doing research on African American women in the southern sta...

Whole foods... processed foods... and ultra-processed foods (UPFs)... What's the difference? I'm not the first to ask this question. In fact, the NOVA system assigns foods to one of four groups, based on how much processing they have been through: Group 1 - Unprocessed or minimally processed foods Group 2 - Processed culinary ingredients Group 3 - Processed foods Group 4 - Ultra-processe...

Barry is 62 years old. He's a 4-time world juggling champion. He spent 34 years touring around the world doing shows, corporate events, TV shows, and being on TED stages. 2012 was a leap year. On February 29, Barry's 8-year-old son challenged him to "leap" something. So Barry decided to "leap" sugar for 24 hours. Barry went to sleep that night and couldn't believ...

Ellen was a food addict from the age of about 7, she says, with a history of obesity. Doctors and dietitians had put her on many diets as she was growing up, to the point of her doctor suggesting bariatric surgery. She spent a lot of time alone in her bedroom eating ultra processed foods like crisps and chocolate, with the radio on so that nobody would know. And thinking about how to end it all be...

Maybe you believe that a meal isn't complete without dessert. I mean, you can't have a meal without finishing it off with something sweet. Right? It's just not done. Or maybe you feel that if you don't have sweet treats, you'll feel deprived.  And you don't want to feel like you're missing out. Maybe you're wondering how you can get through the summer withou...

Judi came from a home with a lot of trauma. Growing up, there was always sugar around. Her mother baked a lot, and that was Judi's go-to whenever she felt any kind of emotional need. As she started to grow older, she felt like she didn't belong. She just didn't fit in. She felt so different - like an outcast, not connected with people and not connected with herself, but she didn&apo...

In this episode, I'll be answering a few common questions that I often get from listeners, including:  how do you know if a product has naturally occurring sugars or added sugars?  and  are natural sugars okay? and I've reduced my sugar intake. Why am I still getting cravings? Even if the questions and answers were recorded a year or two ago, they're still relevant today.   Need gui...

When Lisa was around 20 years old, she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. One of the main side effects was weight gain. And that set her down a path of obsession with food and exercise because she didn't want to gain weight. Previous to that, she had digestive issues. So to try to find a solution, Lisa did everything to the extreme. For example, massive elimination diets. She cut all starchy,...

When Lori was growing up in Los Angeles, she loved all cookies, deserts, and ice cream. Every week when she got her allowance, she spent it on candy and ice cream. Before she knew it she was getting chubby, she says. And she reached 200lbs and started suffering from depression.  Her mom tried to help her to lose weight and baked her Atkin’s low carb bread, and Lori was able to get her weight down...

Want some simple sugar free recipes? You'll find several in this episode! You'll also find my general tips to avoid refined sugar and starches.  And also ideas and recipes for: breakfast foods my yummy chia jam salad dressings alternatives to pasta condiments like ketchup and mayonnaise flour free Hollandaise sauce Eating real, whole foods that don't contain added sugar doesn't...

Dana stopped sugar - more specifically, white sugar and flour - in December of 2021.  In this episode, Dana tells how she was very addicted to sugar for 40 some years. Today, she recognizes that for her, it's better not to have any than to try to have a little. It was when she was in the hospital in 2021 after an accident that Dana remembered that her grandmother had lost both her legs to dia...