Well my friends it hasn’t been easy and full disclosure I did fall of the wagon once but my month without sugar has been a real eye opener for me.
The first week was definitely the hardest. By day three, my mind and body were in readjustment mode and I felt all out of sorts. I remember I had my usual coffee that morning and it ricocheted through my body like a bullet. I think quitting the sugar evened out my highs and lows so that I was on a much more balanced path. The jolt of coffee each morning was in effect too harsh and just didn’t jive with my new, more mellow self. I found a nice cup of Earl Grey Tea with milk to be much more civilized.
I also became much more aware of all the places sugar lurks. One night we were about to sit down to a nice dinner of chickpea stew with rice when I reached for the mango chutney. My husband swiftly pulled it out of my hands and said, “none of that for you!” Of course, he was right. Ketchup and jam obviously were other ones.
In all honesty, I would hate to say goodbye to the sweet pleasures of toasted baguette with jam or the occasional square of dark chocolate.
However, I learned this month that I could easily do with what I call unnecessary sugar in so many places. Do I need it in my tea? No. Do I need to eat granola bars? No. Store bought cookies? No. Do I need to eat muffin or scone every morning for breakfast? No.
Once the month is over, I will bring a little sugar back into my diet but I hope in a much more enlightened way. In essence, it has become a treat again, something to savour – not take for granted, which I am very happy for.
And I must say focusing on one simple resolution for the month has been very easy. It was at the fore front of my mind every day. I don’t think a moment went by when I didn’t think about it. I’m hoping that February’s goal will prove the same. I’ll have more on that in the coming days.
Did any of you go without sugar (or anything else this month)? How did it go?
Image credit: Sibella Court
16 Comments
I love the idea of it being something to savour, not taken for granted. I most definitely think I have a sugar addiction sometimes. Kudos to you, darlin, for doing something about it!
I am so interested to hear how you integrate it back in.
xo
Melis
I love your approach. While I can’t say we don’t eat sugar, we have eliminated many of the products with “hidden” sugar. I try to teach my kid every days, desert is not a must, it is an occasional bonus to celebrate.
Good for you! I feel like I have been slowly eating more and more sugar, and it’s getting to the point that I HAVE to do something about it! Like you, I feel out of balance. Perhaps I will try something like this for February.
Hi! I am going out of coffee, milk and dairy products (luckily soy milk is ok) chemical yeast and other few things as I just found out I am intollerant to them. The most painful thing for me is get rid of coffee, as I love it. Also many milk based cakes are lovely and I sincerely miss them.
I suppose sugar is ok for me, in moderation. Whish you the best for your proposition and I feel what you say is right anyway, we do not need it every day, just some times.
I’m a really good eater in general (limited meat, sugar, refined flour) but I just started trying to make a much more conscious effort to cut out anything chemically processed, dairy, and hormone affecting ingredients like soy. I can’t say I’m going 100% free because it’s difficult and expensive to do but I’m seriously limiting them. It’s really hard, especially with soy. Like sugar, it’s in almost everything, even whole grain sandwich bread! Just look at the ingredient list of most things and there’s some form of soy in it, often soy lecithin. So, I’m doing things like no dairy during the week so I can do pizza on Saturday with the family. I can give up cheese in sandwiches and salads and even cheese and crackers as a snack but I’m not ready to let go of pizza! Everyone says its good to have a cheat day in order to stay on track so pizza will be my indulgence once a week with the family!
Sugar is in everything – never mind the jam! that bagel is sugar (or your body thinks it is!). I can do moderation now after quitting. I do not need to indulge…a small treat IS an indulgence!!
I have to stop rewarding the boys with sugary treats! Thats my next challenge!
Thanks for the update Emma! I want to do a full detox for a month – sugar goes, and and whole bunch of other things…I am waiting or the warmer weather to return!
Sorry for such a disjointed space cadet answer!
Good on you Emma! I keep falling off that sugar wagon by day three. Thirty days is a feat! xo
I’ve been off sugar of all kinds (even fruit, due to the sugar!), dairy, wheat, gluten, yeast, and coffee for 2 months now. (directed by a naturopath…) The thing I miss the most is my morning latte. The sugar cravings come and go. The most amazing thing is how now, things that are full of sugar and “other crap” don’t even look like food to me anymore. It’s also really opening my eyes to what I was feeding my kids. Way too much wheat and sugar. I takes a lot more time and effort but feels so good!
I was on a vegan diet for almost 4 months and the difference on my body and mood was clear… I admire people that adopt a more natural diet and I really wish I had willpower to do the same.
I have cut everyday sugar out of my life and don’t miss it at all – I don’t even accept dessert when I’m out now. I did it for my own health (and my waist) but I agree with Jenny – children get too much sugary crap!
Unfortunately there is sugar in alcohol, so only one small drink a day at max, so boring at dinner parties.
I’m sort of doing an adopt thing one month, refrain from something else the next for this 2013. January was walking everyday (I’m going to do that for all 365), it hasn’t been easy – mostly due to work/children/school/family schedules, but Jan is almost done and so far so good. February I’m giving up all TV related activities. No Netflix, movies or TV series. That sucker isn’t going to turn on for the whole month. I can’t wait (and am freaking out at the same time).
Hi, Emma! I did not cut out sugar for any specific period of time, but do try to eat less than I used to. For breakfast I couldn’t go without my bagel or muffin. Now I eat ‘cold’ oatmeal – a couple of spoonfuls of raw oatmeal covered in milk ( let sit for a minute or two ) then add some berries or bananas and almonds/walnuts and just a hint of maple syrup or honey ( still tastes good without it! ). It’s healthy and even a small bowl is very filling. Keep up the good work
Immediately after I read your original post, I decided to join you in your no-sugar-in-january attempt. It was less hard than I thought it would be. (Although I have to admit that I only skipped the pure-sugar stuff like cakes, muffins, chocolate, sweets and so on. But I allowed myself small (!) amounts of ketchup or chutney now and then and a little honey with my bread on a Sunday morning.) The hardest part was probably to do without my usual espresso after dinner. I just can’t drink it without sugar. But all in all it was a good and satisfying experience, I’m very proud of myself … and I lost 3lb!
I have been on and off sugar many times over the years, always doing better off of it, but finding it really hard to stick to . one thing that has really helped is finding some tasty and healthy substitutes. for example, dalfour jams are made only with fruit but taste delicious, like a good french jam. i guess i should really write a blog post sharing some of these finds – i keep reading more and more about people trying to go off sugar. good luck with it!
Hi Emma,
I would be really interested hear what was on your list of go-to food items that cut out sugar from your diet. Lately I have noticed how much sugar is in items I eat almost daily, even if they once seemed healthy (such as granola bars, applesauce, yogurt, etc.). I think to make a change like you did, I would really need ideas for foods that don’t contain sugar.