Hi Alice,

I explain if I'm asked. Depending on the situation, I'll answer either that sugar makes me whacko, or that I just don't eat it. I'm on step 7. I find when I go to restaurants, if I say when I'm ordering that I can't eat sugar, the server will often help me out by keeping sugar out of things I didn't know of, like once at Outback she asked them to fry my onions in oil instead of their sugar-butter.

I never make a big deal of it or put energy into it and I don't get negative reactions either. It's kind of like saying, no thank you, I don't smoke, but I don't mind if you do.

When people ask me how I do so well in sports, I'll mention this program because I think it's a huge reason. But I only mention it if asked and if someone is interested.

JoEllen

: Hi all...I'm very much at the start
: of the RR journey, just reading
: the book. I was wondering whether
: you 'explain' your sugar
: sensitivity to others and what the
: reactions are?

: I know on one level it doesn't matter
: what people think but I worry
: about the reaction I will get. I
: worry that people will think I am
: making up some 'disorder' or a
: faddy diet or that I'm being
: really attention seeking by saying
: I have a 'food sensitivity'.

: I've been on a 'diet' previously (I
: know this isn't a diet) and it's
: amazing how different people's
: reactions can be. Part of me wants
: to be really up front and just say
: 'I don't have sugar'. I'm also
: wanting to stop drinking, I don't
: drink much at all so it won't be
: an issue, but instantly people
: think you're really odd if you
: don't drink.

: I really want to be able to talk to
: my parents about this (I'm 37 and
: so no longer live there or
: anything) but I know they are both
: in a lot of denial about their own
: habits and that they will be
: dismissive. They are lovely great
: parents don't get me wrong but my
: mum is just so old-school. To me
: this lifestyle change/abstinence
: is as important as if I was a
: smack addict trying to ditch the
: heroin. I guess I just don't know
: how to get people to take me
: seriously.

: Sorry, massive ramble there...hope it
: makes some sense. I'm really keen
: to know how other people have
: talked to friends and family about
: this? I can't just say 'I'm on a
: diet'...

: x