Sugar Detox: Why It’s Necessary

Yeah, I know.  You might not want to actually quit sugar.  You might love it.  I totally do but it is one of those things that really hurts in the long run, no matter how good it seems in the moment.

I fully intend to have Lindt Lindor truffles on a semi-regular basis.  Because they’re amazing.  Because one makes me happy and satisfied.  No, they are not the healthiest chocolate in the world. They do have some questionable ingredients, but they are some of the best I’ve ever had.  Seriously, buy my favorite flavor right //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whitneyvictor-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B002RNYDBU&asins=B002RNYDBU&linkId=c721a00dfc767e41e57020bca4c6fd57&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff“>here. The extra dark are to die for.   Well, every flavor really is, except the orange.  That one just shouldn’t exist in my opinion.

Anyway, sorry for the chocolate rant.  I just love it.  That proves my point that I will still have a Carvel ice cream cake on my birthday every year.  I just don’t want to NEED it.  I don’t want to crave sugar to the point where I feel powerless in it’s grasp.

In one sitting, I’ve eating an entire bag of those exact truffles I mentioned at on point probably a year ago.  Sugar is that thing that makes your brain think you need it to be happy and satisfied.  The first, oh maybe 3 chocolates were amazing and I loved every bite, and then my brain kept telling me “More is better.”  12 empty wrappers and one almost stomachache later, I knew that wasn’t true.

What do we do about the sugar addiction?

I go cold turkey with the hard stuff.  By this I mean the chemically engineered, fully processed versions of sugar like high fructose corn syrup and anything like Splenda or aspartame.

Then I start with replacing those sugars with naturally-derived sweeteners like raw stevia.  I will only use //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whitneyvictor-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00CQ7YSW6&asins=B00CQ7YSW6&linkId=d9b24b6dc9f8de599a82580af56164c9&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff“>Stevia in the Raw packets or this //ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=whitneyvictor-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B01B048808&asins=B01B048808&linkId=7cd9d157d83feabff1e74535624af3ba&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff“> liquid stevia (it comes in caramel and other great flavors!).  I also use limited coconut sugar and unsweetened applesauce for baking. My snacks will include some whole fruits and I’ll still allow some clean snack bars. More on this in my next post.

The next week or so, I’ll try to limit adding stevia to my oatmeal and cut back on bars.

After that, I only eat fruit once a day, preferably in the mornings, and don’t add any sweetener to my dishes.

Then I stay in that phase for at least another week to the point that I don’t crave something sweet after lunch and supper.

That’s always my goal.  I want to kill the cravings.

Is craving something bad?

Well, it is when it’s sugar.  See, sugar is in so much conventionally-made food these days that you might not even realize it unless you’re constantly reading nutrition labels like I do.

When you give up sugar, you gain a LOT.

Some benefits:

  1. Clearer, brighter skin
  2. Less noticeable cellulite (yeah, it’s true.  I’ve seen it happen)
  3. You’re less hungry for junk food
  4. Lose belly fat
    1. and overall weight loss, for that matter
  6. Drastically lower risk for diabetes
  7. Energy increases

Check out the following sources: Here, here, and here.

Now.  What does sugar actually do to you body?

Side Effects of Eating too Much Sugar:

  1. Weight gain
    1. “Additionally, excessive fructose consumption may cause resistance to leptin, an important hormone that regulates hunger and tells your body to stop eating (4). In other words, sugary beverages don’t curb your hunger, making it easy to quickly consume a high number of liquid calories. This can lead to weight gain.”  source
  3. Increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer
  4. Increases risk of depression
  5. Accelerates skin aging
    1. Yes, I’m vain enough to admit this is a factor in my detox
  7. Potential liver damage

And, those are just a some of the reasons it’s necessary to quit the habits.

Now, who’s with me?

~Whitney VictoriaIMG_1934

P.S. Bonus shot of me holding an ice cream cone called The Salty Pimp.  The shop is fun and bright and offers treats like the “Dorothy” and the “Rocky Roadhouse.” Any ice cream place that joins rainbow sprinkles with the Golden Girls is okay by me.  Just not every day…

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Sugar Detoxing: Easing into It

I’m early into it, very early, like 2 full days into my self-imposed sugar detox.  I’m always one for challenges and pushing myself but this decision seemed extra necessary this time of year.

I love ice cream and chocolate, obviously.  Who doesn’t? I’m good at making healthier desserts but the problem is that if those options aren’t there, what am I going to want?  The traditional cake, with gluten white sugar, and lord knows what else.

Those cravings were just getting out of control.  Sure, I could kid myself and act like I’d only eat some super clean blueberry muffins that I whipped up, but then slowly I’d “allow” myself candy or Halo Top or something once week, which would become twice a week.  Every savory meal left me wishing I had a sweet bit to finish it off. Sometimes I’d just have a piece of hard candy but other days that just set me off to wanting even more.

I just got tired of having a craving at all.  I believe a craving means you don’t have control over wanting something.   I don’t like feeling powerless, especially over something as small, and meaningless as sugar.  I kept pushing it off and saying I’d stop eating “next week” or after the weekend, etc.

After July 4th, I knew I had to kick the habit.  I had a “goodbye” bowl of ice cream and felt terrible after eating it.  When I go for awhile eating mostly fruits, vegetables, and overall clean food, a big serving of sugar affects me like crazy.

I swear my heard beat a little faster and I felt soooo sluggish.  I even woke up with what felt like a sugar hangover.  I had no energy!  It just reinforced exactly what I already knew.

Sugar was harming me.  It felt for about 5 minutes and then it went bad. IT really is an addiction.

So. Yesterday I decided to go cold turkey.

I made up my own challenge because I wasn’t finding any program I really cared to follow.

My  3 simple rules:

  • No added sugar
    • read this article for all the sneaky names of sugar!
  • Only 1 serving of fruit/day
    • before lunch
  • Follow for at least 30 days
    • preferably until the cravings are gone

I’ve done this type of sugar detoxing before and have pretty many tips and coping mechanisms.  It’s never easy but I know it will be worth it.

I’m going to share just how to get through those cravings this week and how to still have fun eating! Stay tuned!

~Whitney Victoria

No sugar spelled in magnetic letters

 

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