I Quit Sugar Two Years Ago: Reflections and Survival Tips If You Decide to Quit Too

Simple Living

Sep 27

Two years ago I went to bed feeling full. That over stuffed, can’t get comfortable, hard to fall asleep full.

And I had had enough.

In that moment I vowed to do better, and settled on quitting refined sugar, white flour, and overly processed foods completely. (I’ve never liked alcohol so that was already off the table.)

This wasn’t a completely radical move. I already included quite a few vegetables in my diet and ate really well. My downfall was after dinner when “a little treat” turned into the addiction that led me to gaining weight when I wanted to lose some and frequent feelings of fullness like I had on the night of my epiphany.

That night a switch flipped within me, and two days later I was completely off refined sugar, white flour, and overly processed foods. For the first 30 days I also committed to no honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or other alternative sweeteners.

The First 30 Days

By Day 3 I had a minor cold. To keep myself motivated, I read “Lick the Sugar Habit” by Nancy Appleton which shared some fascinating statistics, though it could definitely use an update.

I googled “sugar detox” and read the personal accounts of others who’d been on this journey before me, comparing my detox symptoms to theirs and excitedly waiting for the energy to kick in and for the weight to fall off.

Around Day 5 my cold symptoms disappeared and I started to feel spunky.

Within two weeks I lost 12 lbs.

But wow did I crave sweetness! Sugar has been proven to be an addictive substance, and paired with my habit of having a little something sweet after dinner led to a challenging thirty days.

I mainlined red grapes and paired them with cheddar cheese if I wanted a little more substance to my “dessert.”

By the end of my first thirty days I felt victorious and invincible. I did a hard thing!

Results

I continued a strict no sugar and processed foods way of life for awhile after that initial 30 days, but I soon introduced whole food sweeteners like maple syrup and honey.

My Pinterest theme became Paleo dessert recipes and they’re actually quite satisfying!

I did ease up for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I noticed sugar hit different. After not having it for so long it tasted sweet. Really sweet. Which is wonderful because I now felt satisfied with smaller amounts.

And the best part? I didn’t have cravings the following day.

Since quitting sugar I’ve lost 30 lbs and my facial lady always remarks on how clear my skin is — despite my skincare routine being a simple cleanser, toner, and moisturizer I buy in bulk from my local green store.

My monthly debilitating period cramps vanished and I become sick less often. When I am sick, like I was recently, the symptoms are milder and don’t linger as long.

My Rebound

Earlier this year I experienced a severe reaction to poison ivy, a time I now refer to as “Poison Ivy Hell” because it was- no exaggeration- one of the worst experiences of my life.

In the beginning I ate really well, but once week two rolled around I was so uncomfortable that I didn’t want to prep food, and I was so miserable that I was willing to do almost anything to feel good. (Because nothing made it “better.”)

Creams didn’t help, scrubs barely took the edge off, and I still can’t determine if the steroid I was prescribed amounted to much.

So in my despair I spied the box of chocolate and went. to. town. For days. I found my husband’s chip stash and dipped into that as well. I’d experience a glimpse of joy in the moment, but afterwards, I’d feel sick.

After two weeks my poison ivy was mostly healed but I had a new problem: sugar cravings.

My Recovery

It’s taken two months for me to kick those cravings. In that time my period cramps came back, I’d wake up to acne on my chin, and I just felt heavy.

But I’m grateful to have had that rebound. It reconfirmed why I’m so committed to avoiding sugar, white flour, and processed foods. I feel undeniably better without them.

But I’m not giving them up completely.

My husband and I share a love of food. We have our favorite bakeries, sandwich shops, and ice cream parlors. I genuinely enjoy eating at these places. Two years ago I would have staunchly avoided them. But now I feel like I have a good balance. See below.

Tips For Going Sugar Free — While Still Enjoying Life

You can enjoy sweet things without limiting yourself to grapes. Turn to Pitnerest for Paleo recipe ideas, which are always refined sugar and white flour/gluten free.

There are also companies who create treats made with alternative sweeteners. If they’re Paleo, they’re usually safe. My faves:

Hu Chocolate: Their Hazelnut Butter and Vanilla Crunch bars are my favorite, and I use their chocolate chips in many of my Paleo desserts.
Honey Mama’s: My friends rave over Birthday Cake, but Oregon Mint has my heart.

Follow the 80/20, or 90/10 like I do. Life is meant to be enjoyed.

But commit to 30 days of absolutely no sugar and overly processed foods/white flour, which the body digests similarly to sugar. This detoxes your system and resets your palette so when you do enjoy your 20%, you won’t have to battle cravings afterward.

And be selective about your 20%. Under no circumstances will I eat a grocery store cake, but a quality slice from a locally owned bakery? Absolutely.

Limit your 20% to eating out and try not to have leftovers, or feed them to your husband/other family member. Hey, it works.

If you enjoy your 20% away from home, it keeps the exception habit from developing at home and limits the amount of exceptions you make.

At certain restaurants I enjoy the “Millennial Special” of ordering just an appetizer and dessert. The small portions are satisfying and not having leftovers keeps me from extending the exception at home.

Have food on hand. Yes, eating well requires a lot of cooking. And I’m not going to lie and say it’s quick and easy, which is why it’s essential to have food ready to go. Cooking when you’re hungry and tired is miserable! A few tips:

Cook once, eat multiple times. I’m a huge believer in batch cooking/meal prep. Multiply your recipe and store extras in your refrigerator or freezer. Souper Cubes are amazing for that.
Have recipes that are quick to assemble and that you enjoy eating. For me that’s Chickapea pasta with steamed vegetables and pesto or overnight oats (which don’t take overnight).
For recipe inspiration, search “Paleo” on Pinterest. Make sure to follow the accounts of your favorite pinners! I refer to Kalejunkie and Unbound Wellness often for dinner and dessert ideas. Both have super visual Instagram profiles as well.
Find no sugar pantry staples. I like Primal Kitchen’s selection of condiments.

Building on the Habit

Two years ago I quit sugar, which was a big move. A year ago I started exercising more regularly, which isn’t quite as radical but I’ve really become committed to it- to a level I never thought possible.

I’m walking outside with a friend 2–3 times a week and taking a daily fitness class during the weekdays. Pilates is my favorite, but I can also be found lifting weights in Sculpt, at the barre, and pumping through TRX.

Over the past year while building my strength and endurance, I refined my eating habits.

I paid more attention to protein and fiber, and recently discovered a super sensitivity to histamines (hence Poison Ivy Hell).

While focusing on movement, I was still mindful of the great eating habits that were the theme of the previous year, and I improved upon them.

Now that I’ve been exercising regularly for a year, I’ve decided to spend this next year focusing on spirituality: presence, meditation, connecting with the other side. But more on that later…

For now I’m proud of the commitment I made to eat better and move more. It’s affected my energy, skin, wellbeing, and so much more. And I’m sure it will continue bringing benefits.

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