I had mentioned at the beginning of last month that I was going to try Sarah Wilson’s “I Quit Sugar” 8-week program but she also advocates against fresh fruit. I really want to reset my diet by eating more fresh food than processed food but I know that being too restrictive with my diet will have me constantly craving and feeling miserable.
I can’t go on a strict diet. I can’t blatantly cut out sugar. My goal is to learn to listen to my body for its fullness cues. I don’t want to cut sugar out for a month or more and then at the end of it be craving all the sugary goodness I can lay my hands on.
So what’s the deal with sugar?
My dad has a skin reaction to eating most processed sugars. He can tolerate minimal amounts before it starts to make him feel sick and break out. Since he’s also lactose intolerant, we grew up eating a lot of whole healthy foods that my mom made. I wasn’t prohibited from eating sugar and dairy but we rarely had it at home. It was a treat whenever I got to have it and I really took advantage when I was at a party or a church potluck. Even now I’ll keep eating treats past the point of enjoyment.
I don’t blame my parents for my current sugar addiction because I lived a really healthy life up until I went off to college. I had rarely ever gotten sick, I was within a perfectly healthy weight, and most of the time I felt good about myself. When I left for college, I lost sight of portion control and how much I was consuming. I gained weight quickly and I’ve stayed in the 170-190 lb range ever since. I dipped into the low 160s during an active summer but otherwise, I’ve been overweight for the last 6.5 years.
So I have three main issues:
- I love sugar. I get actual sugar cravings and it’s hard to control when I really, really want something sweet.
- I love good food. I don’t know where this came from, but when I taste something good, I tend to eat like a squirrel hoarding nuts for the winter. Weird analogy but it fits. It’s almost as if I feel like I’m never going to get to taste it again.
- I eat absent-mindedly when there’s food just sitting in front of me, particularly when I’m in social settings.
The sugar industry rules our diet more than I think anyone realizes (including myself). I’m trying to educate myself and take a personal stand for my health. Here are some resources, including research articles, that shed light on the subject of sugar, addiction, and how it relates to our health. You don’t have to be a sugar addict for it to be negatively impacting your health because studies show we’re all eating too much of it anyways.
This post contains affiliate links through which I may receive compensation but opinions are always 100% my own. This compensation helps to maintain the costs of keeping this blog running – thank you for supporting My Life as Mrs!
Resources on the Effects of Sugar
Books
- The Obesity Code, Dr. Jason Fung – The way this book explains how our bodies handle sugar is mind-blowing.
- The Case Against Sugar, Gary Taubes
- Sugar Crush: How to Reduce Inflammation, Reverse Nerve Damage, and Reclaim Good Health, Dr. Richard Jacoby and Raquel Baldelomar
- Sugar Nation, Jeff O’Connell
Sugar-Cancer link Research
- “We found that sucrose intake in mice comparable with levels of Western diets led to increased tumor growth and metastasis, when compared with a nonsugar starch diet. Overall, our data suggested that dietary sugar induces 12-LOX signaling to increase risks of breast cancer development and metastasis.” –A Sucrose-Enriched Diet Promotes Tumorigenesis in Mammary Gland in Part through the 12-Lipoxygenase Pathway, The Journal of Cancer Research
- 4 Cancer Myths Busted, Environmental Nutrition, Dec 2016
Others’ Personal Experiences on giving up sugar
- I Gave Up Sugar For an Entire Month, and Here’s What Happened, Popsugar
- 10 things you should know before giving up sugar, BBC goodfood
- I Gave Up Sugar for 2 Months and Here’s What Happened, Buzzfeed
- I Quit Sugar for a Month, Here’s What Happened, Huffington Post
So instead of completely cutting it out, I will be mindful of the number of processed sugars I consume including honey, agave, stevia, and other artificial sweeteners.
The 8-week plan is a diet and from my experience and understanding, diets never really work. I think it’s better to form a habit of eating healthier foods and mentally being aware than it is to deprive myself and feel miserable.
For example, when I was training for my first Iron Girl one of the “side effects” around the month that I did the race was that I wasn’t even craving sweet. My body was feeling good and I literally had no cravings or even any desire to seek out the sweet stuff. Even if it was right in front of me!
February Goals
- Keep a food/health diary. Not a calories diary, just a food log. Be mindful of sugar intake, really focus on getting in servings of fruits and veggies. Enjoy grains but don’t overdo it.
- Do yoga every day. Time passes quickly when I do yoga with my app and I know it’s really good for my back.
- Run 3 days a week. Last month I never got above 2 runs in one week and I really want to be more consistent with it.
- Be in bed with everything put away before 11. I’ve settled into a really bad habit with sleep and I need to make this a priority because I’ve been feeling exhausted all the time no matter how much sleep I get.
I only have health-specific goals this month simply because all the other areas of my life are going to run more smoothly and be happier if I can really accomplish these things.
Have you ever tried to give up sugar?
What’s the most important thing you do every day that keeps you feeling healthy?
8 Comments
Giving up sugar is tough, but I do know that the more you have it the more you crave it. I think that’s why the cold turkey method works for a lot of people. It’s tough at first, but after a few weeks you don’t crave it anymore.
I think you have some great goals. You got this!
It’s a pretty mean cycle, isn’t it? If I’m still struggling in a few months and I’m not feeling in control, I will more seriously consider giving it up for a while and doing the full cleanse. Thanks for sharing!
I have given up sugar twice so far in my life. I do/did still have artificial sweetener. I am not THAT strong. LOL I am actually currently on my second one. I find that once I cut out sugar I do not have cravings. I also find that it helps me level out my moods. It is like a fog lifts and I feel like a new person.
I’m sure that if I was to give it up, eventually the cravings would subside, it would just be hell for the week or two it would take to get there. Part of why I’m deciding not to do it right now is because I’m not planning on giving it up permanently, I’m just trying to reduce intake and overindulging. Since that’s the goal I kind of feel like torturing myself might not be worth it right now. If I’m still struggling in a few months, I would give it up and try to do a cleanse.
I started a war on sugar too but I lost every battle so far 🙂 it’s really hard to avoid sugar but just keep trying, don’t lose focus of your goals and don’t be hard on yourself.
It is really hard especially when your body is hardwired against giving it up! I’m trying to make good choices and not bash myself when I slip up. It’s a daily fight.
Wow. I did half of the Whole 30 (a little bit of disordered eating tendencies prevented from doing the full 30 days) and even on that you’re allowed fruit. I can’t even imagine a life without fruit! I get cutting out sugar but natural sugars found in fruits and veggies shouldn’t be eliminated, too! (my opinion) I mean, there’s actual good, important nutrients in fruit. What do you eat if you don’t eat ANY sugar at all? Oy! And, I think your goals are good. It’s definitely to be mindful of sugar and eating real food. Also, the more you do something (i.e. – skip the processed foods and/or sugary treats and add-ins), the more likely it is to become a habit. You got this!
I definately am there with you! I love sugar and soda is my worst offender! Good luck with your February goals! I’m right there with you and will be rooting for you girl!