![[BLOG POST]*How People Treated Me After I Quit Carbs & Sugar*I found out 9 years ago that carbs and sugar were making me...](https://img3.grocery10.com/542/946/1068973635429466.jpg)
22/08/2025
[BLOG POST]
*How People Treated Me After I Quit Carbs & Sugar*
I found out 9 years ago that carbs and sugar were making me consistently sick.
I went into a depression because I didn't know how I was supposed to move on with my life when the staples in the Asian culture I live in are rice and noodles.
I wondered if this was some kind of sick joke. Yes, I was sick. But it wasn't a joke.
I was alright not taking sugar as I didn't have that much of a sweet tooth to begin with. But not consuming any carbohydrates was the most miserable thing I had to do.
My metabolism is still pretty high. So when I don't consume carbs, I'll get hungry again within about 3 hours.
I had to eat out everyday. My job also required me to move around town meeting clients.
So can you imagine how frustrating it was to be hungry half of my waking hours? Don't even get me started on how my growling stomach was louder than my husband's snoring when I was trying to sleep!
I felt a little more encouraged when my condition improved after about 2 months. But I lost 2 kg.
I’m aware that many might hate me for this, but I’ve been under-weight all my life. So losing 2 kg is quite substantial.
That’s when I learnt that there are 2 types of carbs. Simple carbs are fast-burning carbs that gives us an adrenaline rush soon after consumption. Complex carbs, on the other hand, are slow-burning carbs that releases the sugar throughout the day and keeps us full longer. These include sweet potatoes, quinoa, brown rice and more.
With the goal of gaining back the 2 kg I lost, I decided to re-introduce complex carbs into my diet in small portions. That way I’ll be able to ascertain how much my body can take this without feeling sick again.
If I go to a food court, I’d usually order my meal from a stall that offered white rice with a choice of meat and 2 choices of vegetables. Since I can’t take white rice, I’d tell the stall holder first I don’t want the rice. 9 years ago, these stall holders would usually stare at me for about 2 seconds like I’m an alien before responding. Then I’d proceed to let them know my meat and vegetable choices.
After I brought my plate to my table, I’d try to discreetly bring out my humble and sometimes ugly-looking boiled Japanese sweet potato from my bag and place it in my plate. I’d then slice it into small pieces for easy consumption. When I’d look up at this point, I’d notice some people at the other tables looking weirdly at me.
I do not enjoy this kind of attention every other day.
Nevertheless, getting these weird looks from strangers was bearable. What I didn't anticipate that would be more challenging than changing my diet was the social aspect of it.
Even though I eventually gained back the 2 kg I lost and was rocking my diet, I seemed to be inconveniencing the people around me.
My mother-in-law for one, has the habit of brewing Chinese desserts. It's her way of sharing her love with her children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, I'm the only one in the family who had to politely turn down her offer of her desserts since I couldn't take sugar.
Although my husband had briefly told her that I couldn't take carbs and sugar due to a condition, I think she couldn't fully grasp the gravity of it all.
At first, she thought she could negotiate with me by telling me to simply add more water into my bowl of her dessert so that it won't taste too sweet.
After I persisted to gently turn down her offers for about a month, she low-key exclaimed, "then when can you start taking sugar again?!"
"For the rest of my life, mother. I have an illness." I replied sadly.
I think that finally hit her, because she turned silent after that exchange.
There was a period of time when I had to have dinner with this small group of girlfriends every week before going for a class together. There would be a handful of restaurants and cafes nearby we could go to where I'd be able to have a decent meal at. After several weeks, I could sense their reluctance to eat with me. I don't blame them because we'd have to rotate these venues every now and then, even though they were still able to eat their carbs there.
I also understand that many of us like the freedom to eat whatever we want, whenever we want. Gradually, I stopped having dinner with them and made up an excuse about having to work.
During the initial years of my new lifestyle, I'd find myself getting easily angered.
Like when I asked a waiter if he could omit the fries on my order and he'd very quickly and curtly replied 'no'. I'd tell him I can't eat the fries, and he'd sternly reply that I could just leave it there. So I guess the restaurant would rather waste food?
Have you gone to a potluck gathering where all the food there are carbs except your own vegetable dish? I have.
Have you received a birthday cake that you couldn't eat? I have.
After the anger, I'd find myself feeling hurt. I'd wonder why my friends couldn't be sensitive to my restrictions despite knowing about my health challenges. Don't they care about me?
Finally, I decided that it’s exhausting to be grumpy most of the time. I resolved within myself that if people didn’t care whether I’d go hungry because I had nothing to eat, I’d just have to care for myself first.
And if for whatever reason I really couldn’t find enough compliant food to eat, I’d tell myself that it’s just 1 meal. I won’t suddenly lose weight if I were hungry for 1 meal.
With that change in my mindset, I regained my peace-loving self again.
“Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” —John F. Kennedy
