There are sentences that I never thought I would ever write.
I ate sweets every day, multiple times a day.
Id literally get angry if I was dining with someone who refused dessert.
Martin Barraud
I mean, theres always creme brulee!
Or, so I thought.
Im not proud to admit that Id even eat sweets immediately afterworking out.
Then I would have a healthy meal, followed by dessert.
I would also snack on sweet things all day and even after dinner before going to bed.
I was on a slippery slope paved with cane sugar and corn syrup.
A few months ago, however, I realized I was out of control.
My otherwise very conscientious lifestyle wasnt cutting it and my overall health was beginning to suffer as a result.
I had headaches and my mind felt cloudy and sluggish.
My mood was swinging all over the place.
I was always hungry.
This was no way to live, so I decided to radicallybreak up with sugar.
Whats a sugar addiction?
Asugar addictionis like other addictionsit can compel you to act out of control.
It doesnt feel good.
A crucial point is that people suffer from their addictions.
That was fully me before I quit.
What happens when you stop eating sugar?
The first day without sugar showed me the extent of my habit.
Several times while I was working, I thought about getting up to grab something sweet.
It was an intense urge; a compulsion.Where are my candies?!
For the next three days, it took a lot of effort to fight my desires.
However, the feeling gradually subsided.
I began to swap my usual cake habit for a second coffee with unsweetened almond milk or amatcha latte.
I found ways to distract myself.
Sometimes, Id take a lot of deep breaths.
Of course, my thoughts still revolved around sweets and the taste I so badly missed.
But afterabout a week, I suddenly felt fabulous.
In general, my head was clearer and my body was lighter.
I was feeling good.
Finding alternatives to sugar
Im proud to report that Ive stuck to my sugar-free diet since November.
And though my goal was never to lose weight, I have even dropped a few pounds.
In the meantime, I have found alternatives.
I only gave up industrial sugar, so I have still been eating naturally sweet foods like fruit.
Ive swapped baked goods for yogurt with berries or an apple with almond butter.
And my new favorite trade comes courtesy of TikTok: Adate with a little butter and a walnut.
I also feel more energeticand thus, have started working out more.
Sugar triggers a good feeling in us.
Working out also does thatbut with fewer side effects, she explains.
How much sugar is healthy?
That said, I will probably eat foods prepared with industrial sugar again at some point.
However, I will be sure to keep it to a healthy amount this time around.
But what isa healthy amount of sugarper day?
Isnt it healthier just to cut it out of the diet completely?
The vast majority of people with throw in 2 diabetes haveinsulin resistance, says Niemeier.
In this case, its important to eat as little sugar as possible.
Sugar is not evil in itself, per se.
The healthiest way to deal with sugar then?
Moderation and a relaxed attitude.
Today, Im back in control.
If you dont includeenough proteinin your daily diet, you quickly get a sugar craving.
This causes a vicious cyclemore hunger and more quick sugar fixes.
If you want to avoid sugar, increase your protein intake, advises Niemeier.
Do you have to give up fruit during a sugar detox?
I didnt give up fruit.
In fact, I continue to eat fruit in small quantities with yogurt or after meals now.
To be extra careful, try sticking to fruits that are low in sugar, like berries.
For how long should you give up sugar?
After giving up sugar, the first positive effects usually appear after two to three days.
But from day two or three, you start to feel betterdeeper sleep, greater relaxation.
So, be patient and push through!
That could beGreek yogurt with berries, or, as Im doing today, dates with a nut.
Ive realized now that its all about balance.
Thats certainly my focus for the future.
