As someone who doesn’t add sugar to my coffee, he rarely drinks soda, and his breakfast hasn’t come out of a cartoon box since. I was a child, And don’t fill their cart with cookies and cakeAnd the and chocolate – I don’t seem like the type who needs a challenge to quit sugar.
However, I do have a sweet tooth I often find myself indulging in sugary treats when they are served at someone’s home or shared with employees at the office.
My weaknesses for sugar are:
- I never say no to a slice of birthday cake.
- I always come back to the box of chocolates in the staff room.
- I don’t have just one cookie when someone shares a dish at an event.
Basically, when I start, it’s very hard to stop. So I decided to isolate myself and see what happens.
So am I decided to challenge myself and Quit sugar for 30 days See what Will be is happening. By giving up sugar, I learned a lot about my eating habits, how to stop sugar cravings, and the benefits of not having sugar in my diet.
Start the no sugar challenge
Quitting sugar cold turkey has its challenges. In the early hours of the 30 Day No Sugar Challenge, I made the mistake of slurping down some chocolate before even noticing what I had just eaten.
This made me aware of my unconscious sugar habits and prompted me to be more aware of what I was eating. It also made me realize that I needed to learn how to stop sugar cravings, especially in the afternoon.
I made the mistake of not planning ahead for meal prep, but luckily I had some Healthy options on hand for breakfast And dinner at home:
- sFried eggs with Healthy fats from avocados, bacon, and tomatoes
- sOatmeal free porridge, berries and flaxseed
- Grilled salmon, green beans, sweet potatoes and turmeric
What I found particularly challenging were the impromptu lunches, especially on the working day. I realized that some of the quick and easy options I usually counted on were still there Have sugar in the ingredientsforced me to change my order – like having sashimi instead of sushi because of the sugar in the rice.
I was also missing out on the sugar free options for Prepackaged snacksrealizing that I often had a sweet treat to boost my energy levels before my run. How to stop eating sugar
The first couple of days were full of mistakes in my commitment to the No Sugar Challenge, and I quickly learned that:
-
- Meal prep is key. My impromptu lunch frustrations prompted me to prep and plan my meals for the rest of the 30 Day No Sugar Challenge. Meal preparation is important To avoid sugar and quit it successfully.
- You have Healthy snacks On your hand: I learn ki keep your a bag of nuts nearby And the/or Healthy snacks With me as my face Sugar free Snack during my challenge.
- Plan ahead and eat ahead: social situation Maybe a challengea job when trying to quit sugar. I own have found that eating advance, Universe surrounded by supportive people, and even Acceptancea job that Sick You must refuse Some calls are how can i successfully commit to quitting sugar.
- Check food labels for hidden sugars: Apparently, sugar is added to almost all packaged foods, Including some canned vegetables, it appears in many sauces, seasonings, added flavorings, and more.
Quitting sugar is not easy and willpower he is Required if you choose to do so. Knowing more about sugar, how it affects your body, and how to stop sugar cravings will help you succeed in the No Sugar Challenge.
Why you should stop eating sugar
I needed to learn more about why it is so hard to quit sugar and what benefits it can have for my health. So, I taught myself about it By watching some movies and documentaries about sugar consumption, which were really interesting.
Why is sugar so bad?
Sugar consumption is associated with a wide range of chronic diseases such as diabetes and is a contributing factor to obesity and high blood pressure, which can lead to death.(1) Therefore, there is a need to reduce sugar consumption, but it is common to find sOgar in many foods. IIn fact, it is in 80% of packaged foods.
Some of the harmful effects of sugar are:
- Sugar is highly addictive: The more sugar you consume, the more your body craves it. Consuming sugar can trigger the brain to feel rewarded and lead to overeating.(2) This is why knowing how to stop sugar cravings is essential to breaking the cycle of sugar overconsumption.
- Sugar affects your brain: High sugar consumption has been found to impair cognition and memory.(3) It has also been found to increase the effects of depression and other mental disorders.(4)
- Sugar is linked to chronic diseases: A high-sugar diet has been linked to health problems like chronic inflammation, high blood pressure, heart disease, fatty liver disease, gout, and even cancer.(5)
- Sugar affects your hormones: It not only sends your energy levels up and down, but It can also do the same for your hormones. Over time, the constant fluctuations will leave them unbalanced and unbalanced Employment as it should.(6)
- Eating too much sugar can lead to diabetes: When we eat sugar, the pancreas secretes insulin to remove glucose from the blood. Ultimately, this constant demand, mixed with high levels of insulin and glucose, causes the pancreas to produce less insulin over time, leading to insulin resistance — a precursor to diabetes.(7)
- Sugar is stored as fat in the body: IIf the energy from the sugar is not being burned off soon after consumption, it is converted into fat It is stored in the body. High levels of sugar consumption can actually accelerate obesity.(8)
Obviously, sugar is not a healthy food source to consume regularly, and because it is highly addictive, it can be difficult to consume. Quit sugar and stop sugar cravings. But it is important for your health and well-being that you make an effort.
How to stop sugar cravings
Sugar cravings can be violent, especially when you first quit sugar. So how can you Stop sugar cravings Who seduced you into controlling eating something sweet?
Replace traditional sweets with something healthier
If you’re craving something like gelato, opt for frozen grapes. Or if you’re after chocolate, choose dark chocolate with 80% cocoa.
Add a little cinnamon or stevia
If you’re used to sweetened coffee or aren’t a fan of savory yogurt, consider adding a little cinnamon or stevia for some sweetness but avoid the sugar.
Distract yourself with movement
Go for a walk or run, go to the gym or yoga classOr blast your favorite music Dance around the house. Movement can inspire healthier behavior and redirect your sugar craving to a healthier option.
Stick to your sugar-free diet
Like any other goal we make for ourselves, abstaining from sugar requires dedication, planning, and willpower. Overcoming sugar cravings takes some determination, but if you’re prepared with alternatives to sweet treats, you can succeed.
number sOgar and weight TheOs
Even though I started the 30 Day No Sugar Challenge right after the Christmas holiday season, I still… I lost about 3 kg (6.6 lbs). Other than cutting out sugar entirely, nothing else has changed – I continued running Regularly And I ate like me usually do.
aRound 2 weeks of my challengeAnd the I noticed that She looked more specific – And I didn’t even go to the gym.
I was on High fatmoderate carbohydrates, and protein diet Nuts, cheese, avocado and peanut butter have become my regular snacks. The main meals consisted of carbohydrates or vegetablesjessTogether with fish or meat. Knowing how to stop sugar cravings and properly preparing meals helped me quit sugar more easily.
My most popular food choices, being active, are the sugar-free diet likely to It made me more fat adapted – The person who Burns fat for energy Instead of readily available sugar or glucose. It made me wonder how much fat it could be when lost refrain from Sugar for more than 30 days.
5 benefits of getting rid of sugar
I learned a lot during these 30 days. But the best part is that the biggest lessons I learned came with some really cool and unexpected benefits…
1. It makes you more aware of what you’re eating
Before doing the no sugar challenge i was eating sugar frequently and Not even realizing it. The challenge helped me become aware of the foods i was choosing to eat because of my sOgar lies everywhere.
Be sure to Read labels On all packaged foods Because Many of them contain “hidden” sugars. Sugar comes in many forms. label may not read “sugar”, but if the word ends in “ose” – Such as glucose – This means that it is still sugar source.
You may need to forget what you thought was there healthy meals Before Breakfast is cereal, yoghurt and fruit along with it A glass of orange juice It can contain up to 14 teaspoons of sugar And it’s double Recommended daily amount From 7 teaspoons daily.
2. Increase focus and mental clarity
I was a a little mentally hazy for tis first two weeks From the no sugar challenge. despite of I’ve had a few bad nights of sleep and some long days at work during this time, I just felt different From The usual feeling of tiredness.
after about two weeksAnd the I stepped out of my fog and suddenly felt more focused with more mental clarity than I had in a long time, Which makes me think I passed a little bit Sugar detox.
3. More energy and no energy slump
Since quitting sugar, my energy levels have gone up, and I am no longer looking for a diabetic treat to give me a boost. I wake up feeling more refreshed and have higher energy levels. The The afternoon slump is over, and I’m no longer looking for a sugary fix to cure it.
4. Skin improvement
Another benefit of the no sugar challenge I noticed he is that I own Less greasy T-Zone (forehead, nose). Excess sugar intake can lead to oily skin, blemishes, and even wrinkles. ss instead of Focus on treating your skin products application, a look on what is happening inside Your body to find The answer to skin problems.
5. I got ready Love to cook
I own always enjoy cooking, Selection Relatively healthy mealsHowever, I resorted to using a lot of ready-made sauces and ready-made ingredients to facilitate the meal preparation process.
Because most of the sauces were out From Question and a full range of products they were No longer allowed to put it in my plate, I needed to cook almost everything from scratch. This made me make old recipes I had had He hasn’t been groomed in a while, as well as researching and cooking new meals.
Altogether, this sparked my enthusiasm and love for cooking. And the best part was knowing exactly what was in each a meal I made, which was really The key to detoxing of sugar.
Will sugar remain forever?
I’m sure you’re wondering if that is the case or not I will Eat products that contain sugar again. The short answer is ys. If someone brings a birthday cake to the office – sure. If there is tiramisu on the dessert menu at a restaurant – yor bet.
but me will Be more aware of products that contain sugar and aim to limit my intake. The benefits of cutting out sugar have been so good that it’s definitely worth continuing healthy habits in moderation. Probably Sugar–Free diet is not for me permanent goal – But education and create awareness About the no sugar challenge and how to stop sugar cravings for sure We are!
About Jonathan Meadows:
Jonathan is an avid marathon runner with a personal record of 2:54. He loves to read about new fitness trends and ways to constantly improve himself and is always up for a challenge.
***
Discussion about this post