Let’s be clear about something my eating is by no way perfect, but I do know where I go wrong.
I can and will often over eat – and when it comes to Sugar I can be prone to binge. The white stuff to me is addictive – the more I eat the more I want. I have found that they only way I can really control my consumption is to abstain…
Knowing that sugar is bad for my Skin really made me think about my diet – plus I was overweight a couple of years ago.
So I cleaned up my act and ate for my skin. I needed some help though and I did commit and joined Weight Watchers which really worked for me as I was determined to succeed. I lost weight – about 2 stone
My skin has improved and I now know I am doing my best for it. Like wearing sunscreen (every day) it’s all about p-r-e-v-e-n-t-i-o-n
Glycation
Sugar, sweet in taste but not so in nature.
When it comes to skin, sugar is not your friend… too much sugar is bad for your skin.
You may have been told it causes spots, I’m not so sure on that one but I do know it damages Collagen in a process called Glycation.
Sugar bonds with proteins and produces free radicals which damage collagen and elastin. In turn they will also harden your existing collagen and prevent your body from making more.
Collagen is essential to maintain soft supple beautiful skin. We all have it but it does decline with age, as we get older we produce less (women less than men (grrr)). The decline starts in your 20’s but you are unlikely to really notice for a good couple of decades.
Throughout my 20’s, 30’s and most of my 40’s I ate badly when it came to sugar – and I can’t turn back the clock, but what I can do is eat better now – cut back on refined sugar and look out for hidden sugars.
Collagen
I blog a lot about collagen, and how I take collagen supplements, drinks, chews pills etc to get more into me. It would be a bit fool hardy to sabotage my hard work with eating too much sugary food (I am talking to you Chocolate!)
But sometimes I do, I am only human and real life happens.. However, I have to keep putting myself back on track before I slide (roll) off the grid!
Tracking
Diets, some don’t like that word, but I did go on a diet that worked for me in 2016 – weight watchers. I still go to class and get weighed, as left to my own devices I can quickly go into denial.
I keep a diary of what I eat and use the points system that weight watchers did in 2016. The current weight watchers plan has changed a little, but I still stick with what works for me.
I am a somewhat fussy eater, rarely trying anything new, which is a bit of an advantage when it comes to counting points in foods.
I allow myself 30 points a day. Fruit and vegetables have zero points but a Mars bar for example has 10 – so the food maths is easy – if I want to have breakfast, lunch and tea – chocolate is out!
Food Diary
Each year I print off my own food diary which I put in my A5 size Filofax.
I have to plan what I am going to eat as this is what reins me in.
If I write it down I am allowed it – so if it ain’t on the list it ain’t going in!
This system works for me – you can download a copy of my 2019 diary by clicking the link below.
2019 Food Diary (print as booklet A5)
I am also allowed 28 extra points a week which I tend to save up for the weekend.
Once I get back to under my goal weight (about 9st 1Ib) I relax things a little and up my points to about 34 a day – but I keep on tracking and keep on getting weighed.
If you would like more information on my ‘diet’ please feel free to contact me.
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