Tales from the Boot Camp with Dan Sheridan

Ever tried a doing weekly food shop that contains zero sugar? Believe me, it is far more difficult than it sounds.

As part of my 10-week training regime with LIFE Personal Fitness, an abrupt change in what I eat has forced sugar out of my diet altogether.

Instructor Allister Field makes up part of the LIFE Personal Fitness team. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

But if you think it's as simple as saying goodbye to a spoonful in your coffee, think again.

The alarming truth left me studying supermarket shelves over the weekend (a tedious task at the best of times) as I searched for ingredients that didn't include the ‘S' word.

Halting my sugar intake should have been the hard part but, in truth, I encountered more difficulty finding sugar-free foods than I did wiping the slate clean. In 2015, it seems there is sugar in just about everything.

The other alarming side-effect of kicking the habit was the hangover – a nagging headache that started on Monday and didn't completely leave the building until Friday, as my system finally got the message.

A quick search on Google revealed a wealth of information on going ‘cold turkey' (which, incidentally, is one of the things I can eat), and it seems my symptoms were to be expected.

The actual training is gruelling but rewarding. The level of friendliness and encouragement from the group and our trainers has helped me take the first tentative – and at times painful – steps.

My relationship with sugar, on the other hand, is nowhere near as sweet.

For more information on LIFE Personal Fitness, visit: www.your-life.co.nz