For about a year, I've struggled with discomfort/pain/difficulty walking (and getting upstairs plus a few other bits({!}) because of 'early signs of osteo-arthritis.'
Exercises from the GP/NHS physio have not seemed to have much, if any, effect, neither have supplements I've been taking.
I found info online about sugar/inflammation/arthritis and and half heartedly tried to cut out sugar (I have a sweet tooth).
Then, at the end of April, I suddenly decided to just stop eating cakes, pastries, biscuits, puddings, chocolate. After a week or ten days I felt much better.
And yesterday, on holiday, I walked 2 miles effortlessly. It may not sound much to ramblers or hikers but it meant a lot to me.
I'm sticking with the 'hidden' sugar in a glass of fruit juice at breakfast and a glass of wine at dinner but as for the rest, I'm not even remotely tempted.
Wow thanks for this information Hazel. I have suffered for years and find it increasingly difficult to climb stairs! I am going to give this a go as it will certainly help with my diet! This might be the incentive I needed! A gorgeous portrait ! Fav!
Glad you decided to keep a glass of vino on the menu haze. Is this a "ray shot" 😀 . Little hint I've taught myself ... try and get the subject to look at a bright light source for example subject in shade but looking towards a bright wall or pointed towards the sun that way you get lovely catchlights. I always try and direct my strangers that way now . Ray did a good job and look at you striking a portrait pose... tilted head eyes on an angle...the boy did well 😀
What a great portrait Hazel - love your outfit and the hair band and I guess your daughter's earrings. How wonderful to find a 'cure' for some of your ailments - more power to you.
Congrats on the will power. There are whole sections of the grocery store I don't even visit anymore but I have to admit that some days the cravings get stronger and it is more difficult to just walk away.
My husband did this too, dropped at process sugar and grains and eats mostly meat, cheese, vegetables and nuts and eggs. He has had bad knees and cortisone shots and surgery didn't help but now he has lost sixty pounds and moves much easier.
Lovely holiday selfie Hazel you are looking very snazzy. Interesting to hear of your sugarless diet and pleased it is working for you. I really should give it a try .
Yes, keeping the vino - a little pleasure and all that! I wanted to post this on Flickr (minus the personal text) and discovered in the self-portrait group that if you set up a selfie but direct a 'friend'(Ray) to frame it and press the shutter it still counts as a selfie...... Thanks for the tip.
Cherrill, thank you, I just bought those clothes in a shop above Rhossili Bay, walked out the shop wearing them and had the idea of a photo. The earrings are one of a very few pairs that Clare didn't make! (Stall on Petersfield market!)
This is a lovely portrait with the touches of red. Yes I've heard that about cutting out sugar to help arthritis. Glad its working for you. You'll have to use this image for your thumbnail.
@quietpurplehaze she looks stunning. I have to say your family have great genes. And you ladies are getting better and better with time like some great vine. Love. (^o^)
So interesting Hazel as I have just been diagnosed with osteoporosis in my wrists. Either injection or pain killer route was offered but I was dismayed at the prognosis as it came on so suddenly without any history in our family.
I have tried to do without any treatment up to now but it's early days still. I actually don't tend to eat cakes or biscuits but love an odd pudding, yoghurts are my staple pudding every evening! I think there is sugar in things you don't even think of so it's quite a difficult thing to do. I must take a leaf out of your book & really try even it's only for the diet. So glad the sugar free is helping you so much. Love this bright colourful photo of you, perhaps I should wear more colour!
Lovely portrait/ selfie Hazel, I have been almost sugar free for about ten years now and its helped me no end, stick with it and you will be doing the 5km park runs with me every Saturday, btw I'm always tail end Charlie at the Brighouse one, lol:)
Pat I know little about osteoporosis but I found good info on the NHS choices website about osteo-arthritis. The GP gave me loads of co-codamol but when I researched them I didn't want to take them for various reasons. I hope you can find something which can really help you. It always seems best to me to work stuff out for oneself as far as possible. Good luck!
@quietpurplehaze I have never driven an automatic car but everyone says it's easy...quite hard to change the habits of a lifetime though. I always think about the old ladies who press the wrong pedal & go over the edge at multi-storey car parks!!
@quietpurplehaze Lucky for you! I don't eat sweets so would never miss them however my husband has a sweet tooth - not sure how he would go to give them all up!
You looking great. Beautiful portrait/selfie.
Wish we could do halve a halve as I horror of sweet taste. And Ina love to have desserts, but not all by herself.
Hazel...this is great news, congratulations! The New Hazel look is AbFab. Almost 4 years ago when R first had cancer and I'd just fallen over, fractured my skull, lost my memory, hearing, taste and smell we went into overhaul of our diet. With the exception of a small amount of dark chocolate every day and breakfast cereal, no processed sugar crosses the threshold. Biscuits, cakes etc. have no tenure here. Lunch is soup, salad or sandwich + fruit; supper is meat or fish with vegetables + more fruit. Water and wine at both meals. We both walk a great deal and I go to weekly Gym sessions in the village. At 67, I'm one of the youngest; Lucienne is 90!
@quietpurplehaze@happypat
R insisted last year that I have an automatic car. I dithered, saw it as a retrograde move...and must say that it took me a little while to put my left foot in my pocket, but once I'd mastered that, I'll admit to rather liking it. VML Bluetooth for hands free phone!
BTW Hazel, would you believe that 5km is only slightly more than 3 miles? 3.1 in fact! You could do that...
Margo - well since I posted this item about sugar-free, my hip etc is even better - so I'll probably be able to easily put my left foot in my (top) pocket and have an automatic too!
Margo, I'm sorry to hear of the difficult times you and Richard had to confront and I'm also interested in your diet. Thank you so much for congrats and encouragement. I have sugar-free breakfast cereal (shredded wheat or porridge) so I might re-instate a very small amount of dark chocolate after dinner......
@quietpurplehaze
A small quantity of dark chocolate on a daily basis is encouraged by French medics... Health wise, only mentioned so that you'd understand the words weren't 'empty vessels', rather to encourage you to look forward with optimism. Backward glances serve no good purpose.
What a great result, I would love to be able to walk even a quarter of what you have. Alas my osteo arthritis has been with me for over 55 years and coupled with a slipped disc and back problems I would wonder if this sort of cutting out would work for me, I will however check on it, thanks Hazel!
Pam, it seems a bit like a miracle to me. Good luck if you try - and do say if it works....
Yes, keeping the vino - a little pleasure and all that! I wanted to post this on Flickr (minus the personal text) and discovered in the self-portrait group that if you set up a selfie but direct a 'friend'(Ray) to frame it and press the shutter it still counts as a selfie...... Thanks for the tip.
Thank you! My aim, if I ever reach that age, is to look like my Auntie Betty, seen here just after her 90th birthday https://365project.org/quietpurplehaze/365/2015-05-14 (She died last year aged 91)
Just don't!!
That's interesting and also supportive to me, thank you.
Cherrill, thank you, I just bought those clothes in a shop above Rhossili Bay, walked out the shop wearing them and had the idea of a photo. The earrings are one of a very few pairs that Clare didn't make! (Stall on Petersfield market!)
@gillian1912 @onewing @jyokota @hermann @juliedduncan @gijsje @lynnz @pusspup @amyk @gardencat @seattlite @merrelyn @richardcreese @mittens @kwind @wendyfrost @agedrunner
Yes I could! I didn't think cutting out sugar would give such a quick or dramatic effect.
I have tried to do without any treatment up to now but it's early days still. I actually don't tend to eat cakes or biscuits but love an odd pudding, yoghurts are my staple pudding every evening! I think there is sugar in things you don't even think of so it's quite a difficult thing to do. I must take a leaf out of your book & really try even it's only for the diet. So glad the sugar free is helping you so much. Love this bright colourful photo of you, perhaps I should wear more colour!
xx !
Pat I know little about osteoporosis but I found good info on the NHS choices website about osteo-arthritis. The GP gave me loads of co-codamol but when I researched them I didn't want to take them for various reasons. I hope you can find something which can really help you. It always seems best to me to work stuff out for oneself as far as possible. Good luck!
Thank you!
What you say is interesting, Peter, but I'll never do 5km!
Peggy, thank you so much for the good wishes.
Thank you and your comment did make me smile!
I was also,thinking about an automatic but have forgotten that now. Hard to change gear witth a painful wrist I would think.
Yes, Pat those stories worried (still worry) me too!!
Mandy, thank you!
It's the strangest thing, Sam, but I don't miss them at all - unbelievable!
Wish we could do halve a halve as I horror of sweet taste. And Ina love to have desserts, but not all by herself.
Thanks - I always wonder how they will fit in that little space!
Ferry, thank you. Never thought I could do without sugar but I feel so much better.
R insisted last year that I have an automatic car. I dithered, saw it as a retrograde move...and must say that it took me a little while to put my left foot in my pocket, but once I'd mastered that, I'll admit to rather liking it. VML Bluetooth for hands free phone!
BTW Hazel, would you believe that 5km is only slightly more than 3 miles? 3.1 in fact! You could do that...
Margo - well since I posted this item about sugar-free, my hip etc is even better - so I'll probably be able to easily put my left foot in my (top) pocket and have an automatic too!
Margo, I'm sorry to hear of the difficult times you and Richard had to confront and I'm also interested in your diet. Thank you so much for congrats and encouragement. I have sugar-free breakfast cereal (shredded wheat or porridge) so I might re-instate a very small amount of dark chocolate after dinner......
A small quantity of dark chocolate on a daily basis is encouraged by French medics... Health wise, only mentioned so that you'd understand the words weren't 'empty vessels', rather to encourage you to look forward with optimism. Backward glances serve no good purpose.
Margo, give me a little time!!!!!!!!
The time is for the feet, the dark chocolate can be instigated as soon as the boys' have done the supermarket shop tomorrow!
Planned progress with reward, nothing better!
I like your philosophy!
Well it wouldn't do any harm so maybe worth a try. I've really been amazed. And I have no craving whatsoever for cakes etc etc