I have a deep and abiding love for sugar.
As a child, I passed up all manner of candy bars in favor of sticky-sweet Pixy Stix, SweeTarts, and Lik-M-Aid. I sneaked spoonfuls of powdered sugar when my mom was baking and sucked on Sour Patch Kids until my tongue felt numb.
But lately, sugar has not loved me back.
These days, a handful of candy causes me to sweat, ever so slightly, as my blood sugar rises. And if I eat something sugary on an empty stomach, I suddenly feel like I’ve been hit on the head with a cartoon anvil and have two black X’s where my eyes used to be.
As I get older, my reaction to sugar is not unlike this one from Sam, after a slushie at the amusement part this summer:
Sugar High
Sugar Low
Sugar Coma
I don’t think sugar is toxic. I don’t think it should be regulated like tobacco, as some researchers have recently said.
But I’m convinced I’d feel better if I ate less of it. And I want to see if I can live without it.
So I’m challenging myself to a two week no-sugar smackdown. That means no desserts, no sugar in my morning tea, no sugar-sweetened cereal, no honey added to smoothies. Whole fruit doesn’t count. Neither do trace amounts of sugar in things like store-bought bread.
Want to join me? The No-Sugar Challenge begins one week from today–Wednesday February 15th (wouldn’t want all those conversation hearts to go to waste). I’ll blog about it and post updates on my Facebook page. I hope you’ll chime in too.
Anyone in?
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This is gonna be tough. But I look forward to finding out how you feel after two weeks sans sugar.
Good luck!
Thanks Dan!
Good luck! Personally I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. If this was a carb fast entirely, that would be a challenge!
Thanks Rachel. I envy the fact that you don’t have a sweet tooth. I get a bad reaction from refined-flour carbs too (like white pasta). I don’t eat them much, so when I do–especially in the absence of much fat or protein–I immediately get a headache and then want to take a long nap.
I’ve thought about doing something like this because I feel addicted to sugar. But the idea of no sugar in my coffee makes me cringe. Good luck!
What about artificial sweeteners? I assume you’re not cutting any corners, and those are gone too?
Jen–I’ve been going without sugar in my morning tea for about a week and have gotten used to it. I put some sugar in yesterday and it tasted sticky-sweet to me.
No artificial sweeteners. I rarely use them anyway, so that won’t be hard.
Your post reminded me of an the first time I seriously considered sugar might be addictive in ways similar to alcohol and drugs. It was this interview with Eric Clapton where he said his addiction started with sugar when he was 5 or 6 years old because it changed the way he felt (3:20). That was in 1999 and it’s been amazing to see the science catch up with his observation. It’s also been sad to see the rise in sugar consumption and marketing to kids during that same time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2iP_3tv05o
That’s so interesting Casey. Thanks for sharing. Especially since Clapton didn’t even have access to all the hyper-sweetened foods we do today–imagine how difficult it will be for kids coming of age now to disentangle themselves from sugar.
I’ve been off sugar since last April, when my Dr recommended an allergy elimination diet for me (no wheat, sugar, barley, rye, gluten, soy, eggs, dairy, pork, beef, citrus, shellfish, grapes, peanuts, honey, maple syrup). Not eating sugar has really awakened my taste buds. So many foods that I never would have described as ‘sweet’ before now taste that way to me – including many vegetables. It made such a huge difference that our house is now sugar-free. We eat fruit for dessert except on special occasions (my husband’s birthday cake was a whole foods-based carrot cake with only small amounts of flour and honey). I use dates and dried apricots when I need a sweetener in a recipe (soak in hot water, blend).
The first few days will likely be tough – and then the rest of the days will likely be far easier than one would expect. And you will learn a whole new way to cook, if you keep the sugar out long enough.
The payoff? My 8-year old now describes many foods as “too sweet.”
Wow Rosemary! Thanks for your input and encouragement. Very interesting how your taste buds have changed so much. I’m hoping that will happen for me as well.
I did this right before Thanksgiving to get my blood glucose under control. I’ve since kicked the habit, added more fruits and veggies and green smoothies to my diet to where I am now 90% sugar free, wheat free, and meat free. Sounds kind of extreme, but I feel great, have more energy than ever, walk 5 miles 6 days a week, and lost 30 pounds so far. I’m sure you’ll feel great at the end of this 2 week sugar free project. Good Luck!
Dominick–what an amazing story! Congratulations on all of your success. I truly think different ways of eating work for different people–and if going wheat-, meat-, and sugar-free make you feel great and allows you to be active and at a healthy weight, that’s wonderful. Your walking regimen is also inspiring!
oh my gosh this would be the hardest thing in the world for me to do. I should probably do it but I have to think about it. Can I still have my chocolate milk that I have after my workouts? That would be the hardest thing to give up. I will contemplate this challenge because I know it’s probably something I need to do.
I’ve been telling people to make their own rules for this. For me, I’m avoiding anything that’s a highly-concentrated source of added sugar–or that simply tastes sweet b/c it has added sugar (like Wheat Thins or bottled raspberry salad dressing). If you think giving up added sugar except for your recovery drink would be helpful to you, then by all means go for it! (And I wouldn’t want you to mess up your recovery since you’ve obviously found something that works well for you!)
I am seriously considering joining you. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I have recently become somewhat of a Coke addict. I don’t need one every day, but when I crave it there’s no stopping me from driving somewhere to get one (it’s not kept in the house). I know it is bad for me. I’ve gone without for about four days now, so what’s two more weeks? I had to laugh out loud at the photos. VERY appropriate.
I love it, I actually did this a few weeks ago as part of a fast with my church. You are the first person who I have ever known of that prefers sugar to chocolate like me. Now that left over candy corn is completely gone conversation hearts are not quite living up to the void. I do agree I feel a whole lot better without it! Prepare for withdrawl headaches!
Great challenge! Good luck! As for me, once I deprive myself of something, I want it even more. So, I just try to keep my sugar intake below 100 cal per day. That way, I keep my sanity. I wish I felt ready to give it up completely though!!
I think I need to join you. I get addicted to sugar and want more and more. Then when I stop eating it I lose interest…until the next time.
Aviva–great! We start next Wednesday.
Tiffany, sounds like you’ve found a good balance. That’s great. This is only an experiment–I don’t know that I could ever give it up for good!
Elizabeth–yes, most people think I am crazy for loving candy corn. Most people find it sickeningly sweet! Withdrawal headaches!?
Christy–we start next Wednesday!
Good luck, Sally! I’ve done this before and don’t find it that difficult. I’m not a huge sweets person but did feel better. I think you will notice a huge difference!
In holland we always eat like that
Hi Sally! This is awesome. I did something similar last summer and I just launched a 4-month one on Leap Day http://wp.me/p1JnHj-uY. My “rules” are slightly different in that I will eat things made with natural sugars (i.e. honey, maple syrup, etc.), but the idea is similar. I would LOVE for you to join me if you want to extend your challenge. You don’t have to sign up for the whole time…just whatever feels comfortable to you!
Kristein–that’s great!! As you can see from my newest post, I’m continuing my challenge until my birthday on March 24th. I’m intrigued by your rules–perhaps I’ll follow those after my birthday because I want to continue to eat less sugar overall, especially processed foods with added sugar. So glad you let me know about this!
hello i s the no sugar challenge still going on i would really like to join in. i have had a relationship with sweets for a very long time and i am so ready to end it.
Hi Nicole–The sugar challenge is ending for me, but several people who joined me are continuing on, some totally sugar-free, others in a modified version that includes some sugar in moderation. I encourage you to try “cold turkey” for a few days or even weeks–it’s not as hard as it seems and it does really help to reduce cravings and eliminate a lot of processed, packaged foods. Please let me know if you decide to do it and if so, how it’s going! If you haven’t already, head over to my Facebook page and give me updates there! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Real-Mom-Nutrition/201880759873957
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