21-Day Sugar Detox

[Geila]

Hi all,
Happy New Year! Anyone interested in doing a sugar detox? I saw that the paleo bloggers I read are doing a detox and I need to do one too after indulging too much over the holidays. And I remembered how much I enjoyed doing it here with you guys.

Everyone can modify it to suit their needs. I'm going to eliminate sugar (plus wheat because my body treats it as sugar). I might keep my coffee sugar for a week or so - we're using Starbucks French Roast coffee which is just too strong for me to drink without it. I'm working on switching to Splenda but it's tough.

I'm starting today if anyone wants to join me!

[Tussiemussies]

Just to cheer you on, I gave up sugar two years ago and only broke down like 4 times since then. I feel SO much better! I decided to give it up when my mother was diagnosed with diabetes. Good luck you CAN do this. PS do some research with Dr. Mercola, he says any artificial sweetener is not good for the body...

Christine

[Square Peg]

I am doing South Beach. The diet plan uses a lot of Splenda. I try to stay away from it, although I do but hard candies with Splenda. The rest of the time I use agave nectar. I know there is some controversy around agave, but it has helped me lose 40 pounds in 6 months and helped stave off sugar cravings.

[Rosemary]

I can always use some support for staying away from sugar. I did much better this holiday than any in the past because I did not eat any wheat. It really helped. I plan to stay off wheat long-term, and mostly off sugar.

[fidgiegirl]

I want to, especially as I notice that I've been creaky in the joints and wonder if this could improve it. But as we talked about in the goals thread I will "lean into" it . . . I can only hold so many goals in my head and be successful at any of them and I'm already focused on finishing up some projects.

I have been off wheat for nearly an entire year, though, and the difference has been amazing. I think dairy needs to go, too, but I haven't brought myself to completely eliminate it yet. One thing at a time . . . . .

[pony mom]

Look at Xylitol as a sugar replacement. It's natural, safe for diabetics, and tastes just like sugar. And good for your teeth.

I could never give up sugar. I could cut down on sweets but sugar seems to be everywhere.

[Maria527]

I am doing the 21-Day Sugar Detox. I started yesterday. I was going to do level 3, but decided to do Level 2 so that I can have cream in my coffee and occasional cheese or Greek yogurt. But I am accustomed to putting liquid Stevia in my coffee and that is really hard to give up! It seems so harmless, but I am going to try to do this by the books.

I am also working out every day of the program for at least 30 min. It can be anything from swimming, biking/spinning, running, weights/strength training, or yoga.

I'm coming from a low-carb/Paleo background, so I don't think it will be too hard. But I do miss the Stevia in my coffee! I've been off track for the past 2 months, so I need to clean up.

[cdttmm]

I have been off wheat for nearly an entire year, though, and the difference has been amazing. I think dairy needs to go, too, but I haven't brought myself to completely eliminate it yet. One thing at a time . . . . .

I've been off wheat for about 6 months, and I have to agree with you, fidgiegirl, the difference has been pretty significant! I was off dairy for about 2 months and was feeling even better, but went back to it because I just missed cheese so much! I'm going to try a dairy-free stint again after I get back from Texas next week (too hard to try to start up again while traveling).

As for sugar...I know I *should* at least cut back. I would estimate that 90% of the sugar I eat is in the form of chocolate. That's gonna be hard to let go of...

Good luck to all of you on this challenge!!!

[lmerullo]

After hubby's heart troubles, the doc put him on a low glycemic diet - similar to a diabetic diet. It can be low carb but is definately low to no sugar. I have joined him in this dietary change, and have to say I feel so much more energetic!

We went off the program the other day with pasta for lunch and then a cinnabon for snack. It was good at the moment but we both suffered afterwards - me with a nauseous feeling and dh with headache and racing heart. I have to say that sugar is addicting and the removal of it will cause symptoms and then slipping up is "self -correcting ", at least in our case.

Hubby has been allowed dark chocolate as long as the cacoa content is over 70 percent. It is a small treat that is really worthwilhile, so for the poster with chocolate cravings (all of us, lol) check into the GOOD stuff.

[leslieann]

Hi, Watergoddess, glad you are back! I will "lean into" this along with Fidgiegirl. I was doing very well from August through November but fell off the wagon including messing around with wheat and dairy (and sugar) and really, really feeling the negative effects. So I know that in order to feel well I have to eat particularly well. This will be a help. I want to get back to completely off wheat and dairy, which I think will be fairly easy and completely off sugar which is extremely difficult for me. Even when I was doing a pretty "paleo" program I still kept my dark chocolate but the problem is that I have trouble keeping myself at one or two squares a day. Within a couple of weeks I was eating a bar every two days (that 100 gms, no longer a trivial amount).

So I am easing into my program because that seems to work best for me....dropped grains and dairy but slipped up with some milk chocolate which is still left over from the holidays, yesterday. Today I am clean so far....if I focus on colourful delicious vegetables, good protein and plenty of fat, I can manage just fine, and hopefully will drop the five pounds that I bloated on in the last couple of weeks.

Lmerullo, your story is a good one....love those carbs in the moment but the aftereffects are telling. And to think I used to live in that carb-induced pain and haze all of the time!