As someone who doesn\u2019t add sugar to my coffee, rarely drinks fizzy drinks, whose breakfast hasn\u2019t come from a box with a cartoon on it since <\/span>I was a kid,<\/span> and doesn\u2019t load up their shopping basket with biscuits, cakes<\/span>,<\/span> and chocolate \u2013 <\/span>I don\u2019t seem like the kind of person who needs to take on the challenge of quitting sugar.<\/strong><\/p>\n However, I do have a sweet tooth<\/span> and often find myself over-indulging in sugary treats when they\u2019re presented at someone\u2019s home or shared with the staff in the office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My weaknesses for sugar are:<\/strong><\/p>\n Basically, when I start, it\u2019s very hard to stop. So I decided to cut myself off and see what happens.<\/span><\/p>\n So I <\/strong>decided to challenge myself and<\/strong> quit sugar for 30 days to <\/strong>see what <\/strong>would<\/strong> happen<\/strong>. <\/span>By quitting sugar, I learned a lot about my eating habits, how to stop sugar cravings, and the benefits of no sugar in my diet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Quitting sugar cold turkey has its challenges. In the first hours of my 30-day no-sugar challenge, I made the mistake of devouring some chocolate before even noticing what I had just eaten.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This made me aware of my unconscious sugar-eating habits and pushed me to be more mindful of what I was consuming. It also made me realize that I needed to learn how to stop sugar cravings, especially in the afternoon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I made the mistake of not planning ahead with meal prep, but luckily had some <\/span>healthy choices on hand for breakfast <\/span>and dinner at home like:<\/span><\/p>\n What I found to be especially challenging were my impromptu lunches<\/strong>, especially on a work day. I realized that some of the quick and easy options I normally rely on still <\/span>have sugar in the ingredients<\/strong>, forcing me to change up my order \u2014 like having sashimi instead of sushi due to the sugar in the rice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I was also missing sugarless choices for <\/span>pre-run snacks<\/span>, realizing that I often reached for a sweet treat to elevate my energy levels before a run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The first couple of days were riddled with mistakes in my commitment to the no-sugar challenge, and I quickly learned that: <\/span><\/p>\n Giving up sugar isn\u2019t easy, and willpower is required should you choose to do it. Knowing more about sugar, how it affects your body, and how to stop sugar cravings will set you up to succeed in your no-sugar challenge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I needed to know more about why quitting sugar was challenging and what benefits it could have for my health. So, <\/span>I educated myself about the topic<\/strong> by watching a few films and documentaries about sugar consumption, which were truly eye-opening.<\/span><\/p>\n Sugar consumption is linked to a wide range of chronic diseases like diabetes and is a catalyst for obesity and hypertension, which can lead to death.<\/span>(1)<\/sup> So, there is a need to reduce sugar consumption, but it\u2019s common to find s<\/span>ugar <\/span>in a lot of foods<\/span>. <\/span>I<\/span>n fact, it\u2019s in 80% of packaged food.<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the harmful effects of sugar are:<\/strong><\/p>\n Clearly, sugar is not a healthy food source to consume regularly, and since it is highly addictive, it can be difficult to <\/span>quit sugar and stop sugar cravings<\/span>. But it\u2019s important for your health and well-being to make an effort.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Cravings can be fierce, especially when you\u2019ve first quit sugar. So how can you <\/span>stop sugar cravings<\/span> from taking control and luring you to consume something sweet?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re craving something like gelato, opt for frozen grapes. Or if chocolate is what you\u2019re after, choose dark chocolate with 80% cocoa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re used to sweetened coffee or are not a fan of savory yogurt, consider adding a dash of cinnamon or Stevia for some sweetness but avoid sugar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Go for a walk or run, hit the gym or <\/span>yoga class<\/span>, or blast your favorite music and <\/span>dance around the house.<\/span> Movement can inspire healthier behavior and redirect your sugar craving to a healthy choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Like any other goal we make for ourselves, abstaining from sugar requires dedication, planning, and willpower. Overcoming the craving for sugar will take some grit, but if you\u2019re prepared with alternatives to eating sweets, you can succeed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even though I began my no-sugar 30-day challenge right after the Christmas holiday season, I still <\/span>lost around 3kg (6.6 lbs). <\/strong>Other than cutting out sugar completely, nothing else changed \u2014<\/span> I continued running <\/span>regularly<\/span> and ate as I <\/span>usually do.<\/span><\/p>\n A<\/span>round 2 weeks into my challenge<\/span>,<\/span> I noticed that<\/span> I looked more defined <\/strong>\u2014<\/span> and I hadn\u2019t even been to the gym.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I was on a<\/strong> high-fat<\/strong>, moderate-carb,<\/strong> and protein diet<\/strong> \u2013 nuts, cheese, avocados, and peanut butter became my regular snacks. Main meals were made up of carbs or veg<\/span>gies<\/span>, along with fish or meat. <\/span>Knowing how to stop sugar cravings and meal prep properly helped me quit sugar with more ease.<\/span><\/p>\n My food choices, activity, and no-sugar diet most<\/span> likely<\/span> made me more fat-adapted<\/strong> \u2014<\/span> someone who<\/span> burns fat for energy<\/span> instead of sugar or readily available glucose. <\/span>It made me wonder how much fat can be<\/span> lost when <\/span>you abstain from <\/span>sugar <\/span>for more than 30-days.<\/span><\/p>\n I learned a lot during these 30 days. But the best part is that the biggest lessons I learned came along with some really nice, unexpected benefits\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Before doing the no-sugar challenge, I was frequently consuming sugar and <\/span>not even realizing it<\/span><\/em>. The challenge helped me to become mindful of the foods I was choosing to eat because s<\/span>ugar is lurking everywhere.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Starting The No-Sugar Challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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How To Stop Eating Sugar<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Why You Should Stop Eating Sugar<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Why is sugar so bad?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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How To Stop Sugar Cravings<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Substitute your typical sweet treats with something healthier<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or Stevia<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Distract yourself with movement<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nCommit to your no-sugar diet\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
No<\/strong> S<\/strong>ugar and <\/strong>W<\/strong>eight <\/strong>L<\/strong>oss <\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
5 Benefits of Cutting Out Sugar<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. <\/strong>Makes you more aware of what you eat\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n