I consume sugar a lot. At least, a lot more than I thought I did. My main addiction was in drink form, from lemonade to slushies to grape juice. I read an article about a month ago talking about how a reason for weight gain in the U.S. may be due to the sheer volume of sugar we are consuming. Like any inquiring mind would do, I wanted to see if reducing my own sugar intake could help me maintain a healthier weight and a healthier lifestyle. My results turned out to be surprisingly positive, and I am now happily living life with a low sugar diet!
My “sugar detox” started with going cold turkey with any sugar, even from simple carbohydrates such as bread or high sugar fruits. I basically ate vegetables, unseasoned meat, and water for the first three days. Then I allowed carbs, fruit, and the likes back into my diet. Now, about a month later, I have reduced this to having a sugar-free breakfast every morning and trying to stay away from any extra sugar during the day. The results have been wonderful.
I have, surprisingly, had more energy throughout the day. Even with just a small breakfast of oatmeal, I can last until lunch, while sugary cereal had me yawning until noon and looking for a snack. I lost about five of those extra pounds from the freshman 15 without exercising more than I had been previously. I had less acne (praise the Lord) which was a surprise but not an uncommon consequence. Overall I not only felt better, but I was eating much healthier foods throughout the month.
Berries replaced ice cream for dessert. Veggies with lunch meat and cashews became a normal lunch. Shredded wheat or oatmeal with apples became my breakfast. I have been consuming more natural, non-synthetic, all natural sugar filled foods, and my body is thanking me for it!
My tips if you think a low-sugar diet is perfect for you:
1—Keep a journal, like this super cute lemon one, to motivate yourself and keep track of each day.
2—Keep sweets out of the reach!
3—Really read labels! They show sugar content, but don’t be fooled, sugar goes by many names so read ingredient lists to scan for artificial sugars.
4—Treat yourself also! It can be too hard to go without anything sweet, so enjoy a reward in moderation.
Are you thinking about going sugar-free? Let me know in the comments below!
