Spring 2009 12-week "No Sugar" challenge

Ok, since I didn't see Dream Chaser's no sugar challenge until after it had started, and since there is interest in doing something similar again, I'm heading up the challenge. 

Because it looks like we'll have some participants from the last challenge (and because I can't really think of any way to improve on the challenge), we'll be using pretty much the same rules that Dream Chaser established. 

The only thing I'm changing is that I will put up $50.00 and it will go towards supporting an athlete who's participating in a charity event (Team in Training, Tour de Cure, etc).  If the winner chooses to pick out the recipient of the $50.00 they can do so, otherwise it will be my choice.   

Here's Dream Chaser's original rules (plagarized completely, with DC's permission):

Only participants with a sweet tooth are allowed to enter.  If you don't have a problem with sweets, please do not enter. 

Please at some point, and only once, post your starting weight.  You must post your weight before the official start date.  There is a chance this contest may end in a tie, and the tie breaker will be the biggest weight loss percentage.

The official Start Date is Sunday March 1st Midnight.  No Exceptions.  Sorry, but if you have not posted your desire to join by midnight, Sunday March 1st you cannot join.  Sorry   The contest will end on May 24th at 12 midnight.  Tie-breaker weights must be posted before midnight that night. 

I had a friend who was enormous.  6' 7" tall, and an unbelievably huge belly.  He moved out of state, than 6 months later visited and his gut was completely gone!  We all asked him what diet he was on.  He simply said he cut out added sugars.

The Rules: 

a.) No added sugars: fructose, corn-syrup, high-fructose, maltose, evaporated cane juice etc...  If you read the ingredients on an item, and one of the first three ingredients is sugar (or any form of sugar) it's banned.  No Junk Food.  Junk food defined as any processed snack.  There are exceptions and I will list them below, along with examples of what can be eaten and what can't. 

b.) If you relapse/ cheat/ screw-up ... it's okay.  Not the end of the world.  But you must report it.  Every time you cheat - you must post it in this thread and an "X" will be marked next to your name on an excel spreadsheet   The person with the least amount of "X's" on May 24th midnight is the winner.  If there is a tie, then weight loss percentage will be the tie-breaker.

c.) We are going on the Honor System here people.  Us triathlete's are very honest people so I don't see this as being a problem.  Like the famous phrase goes: "You can quit and no one will care if you do.  But you'll know."  Just the same, if you cheat - it will be on you and you will know.  And I'm a firm believer in Karma

Please read these rules again.

What you Cannot eat: 

1.) No junk food - NO SODA.  Junk food defined as: dorito's, potato chips, pretzels, ring dings, candy, cookies, lifesavers,licorice, lifesavers, buttered popcorn,  ... use common sense.  Also no muffins, no cakes, pastries, etc...  We all know what junk food is  

2.) No added or refined sugars.  No sugar in your coffee.  If an item has ingredients, and sugar is in the top three ingredients - it's banned.  If sugar or a form of sugar is ingredient number four ...it is allowed.

3.) No Chocolate!!  Yes, NO CHOCOLATE.  Sure this will be a deal-breaker or often slip-up item for many ... but no chocolate of any kind is allowed.  This will be so damn hard for me especially!

4.) Artificial Sweetners - splenda, sucralose, sacchrin, etc.. they are NOT allowed.  No you cannot have diet soda or sugar-free snacks.  They are unhealthy and they are a crutch and they will lead you back to the real thing - studies have proven it.  If you want to get healthy and lose weight, let's get honest.  Let's get really honest.  Artificial Sugar is just as bad, if not worse for our bodies.  Every packet of sweet and low is a slip!! 

What you Can eat:

1.) Don't fret, there is lots you can eat, like:  Natural Sugar.  Any natural fruit - apples, strawberries (no whipped cream on them though!) raisins, raw nuts (no honey-roasted), bananas, cherries, etc...   You also can eat popcorn, but without the artifical butter.  If you want to melt your own natural butter, that's fine and allowed.  But the artifical butter is not allowed.    

2.) Exceptions List: Training Aids are allowed.  An hour before training - During Training - and Up to an Hour after training you are allowed to use any training-specific foods, meaning YES you CAN drink gatorade, infinit, gels, any powerbar, hammer nutrition products etc...  You can have a chocolate powerbar, you can have a chocolate protein shake - but only one hour before - during - or one hour after training.  That's the window, and it has to be a training specific nutrition food.  And Please Use your Discretion.  Example: If you normally eat a snickers on your long ride, than you eat one.  If you normally don't, and now want to start - you're fooling yourself. 

Another exception is in case of illness - like a sore throat, Yes you can have lozenges.  Again, use your discretion. 

3.) We all get one Holiday Free Pass (mulligan).  That's right, we all get ONE FREE SLIP.  And by one free pass I mean one slice of cherry pie, or one piece of cake, one bite of a chocolate rabbit.  Not an entire night of eating.  One snack. 

4.)  Birthday Cake Exception.  I'm superstitious. I admit it.  If you go to a birthday party, or it is your birthday - Yes, you can have one regular-sized piece of cake, regardless of what kind of cake it is.  You will not be dinged.  This is allowed.  If you'd like you can include Weddings and Anniversary parties, so long as the person is close to you.  Use your discretion.