Well, kids, we’ve made it! Today marks 30 days of absolutely NO SUGAR. If you don’t know what I’m talking about check out my previous post on why/how I gave up sugar. This is the longest I have successfully gone without the sweet stuff. I usually cave for one reason or another, but this time I made it!
I know some of you were doing this with me- I’d love to hear how you’re feeling in the comments below or on my Instagram.
I’ve been SO careful these 30 days to make sure everything I ate didn’t have even an ounce of sugar. I tried to avoid eating out for this reason, because you never know what they’re doing back there. In cfull disclosure, I went to see “Beauty and The Beast” last week and had dinner with some girlfriend’s beforehand. I ordered THE FREAKING BRUSSELS SPROUTS. However, I’m pretty sure there was sugar in the sauce they were sautéed in. *Insert eye roll emoji here* Just goes to show how much sugar permeates our lives. I may not have noticed if I wasn’t off sugar, but it tasted SO sweet to me. If my biggest 30 day indulgence is Brussels Sprouts I think we can still call this venture successful.
So without further ado, here are my results from 30 days with no sugar, plus my plans for sugar moving forward.
Results of 30 Days with No Sugar
+ I’ve lost about 4 pounds
As I mentioned in my first post I was also eating clean + doing Kayla Itsine’s Better Body Guide – so this weightloss is not only sugar. But I found that not eating sugar made it MUCH easier for me to keep the rest of my diet on track as well. Seeing these results gave me motivations to stick with my workouts too.
+ Less Inflammation
This is by far the biggest change I’ve noticed- I’m less swollen! Inflammation is a chronic condition for many these days due to all the additives in our foods. It’s been linked to heart disease, higher risk of cancer, depression, skin conditions and early onset aging. Not to mention, swelling is just not a good look. As I get older I notice if I eat a really rich or sugary meal I wake up next day with chipmunk cheeks + my eyes swollen shut. EW. None of that these 30 days.
+ Clearer Skin and Less Insanity
My skin is pretty clear these days in general, with one noticeable time of exception: right before my period. #realtalk
If I can’t already tell it’s on the way from my insane irritability {anyone else FLIP THE EFF OUT at their hair brushing against their cheek/ someone speaking at an inopportune volume/ANYTHING AT ALL pre-period?!} I can always tell that time is near when I get mini breakouts around my chin. Not only did they not pop up this round, but my skin seemed clearer and brighter overall. PLUS, I didn’t get as irritable/emotional as usual. Since this was only a 30 day thing this may have been coincidence but, regardless, Mark and I were both pleased.
+ More Energy
I had more energy overall. There were definitely still days where I was WIPED, especially during week two when I think the detox hit me hardest. Overall I had more days with higher energy levels. Plus waking up with a food coma after a super rich meal and dessert was a thing of the past.
+Learned about Sugar Cravings
You guys know I’m never going to BS you- I STILL had sugar cravings on and off the entire time. Everyone says once it’s out of your system it is just so much easier and you don’t even want it… that was not the case for me. As recent as last night I was like… well…. it’s ALMOST all the way to 30 days, right?! And had to stop myself from mauling the Girl Scout cookies my evil/very nice neighbor gave us.
HOWEVER, a key takeaway for me was that even when I was craving sugar soooooo badly, resistance felt better. Not in the moment, but afterwards. No matter how badly I thought or felt I needed sugar in those moments, it always felt SO good once the craving had passed that I didn’t give in.
Will I Keep doing No Sugar?
I have loved the results from eating no sugar, but I’m not one to cut things out completely. I have decided that for the next month I’ll keep sugar to a minimum to help with my willpower. I’m allowing myself 2 sugar indulgences this month and will reevaluate after that.
Usually I turn to sugar for comfort when I’m tired or stressed, which only exacerbates those issues. I think this limitation will help me stick to only really “worth it” treats rather than eating it needlessly. {I have my eye on the butter cake from Nick’s on 2nd in Long Beach. OH MY GOD}. I am also going to loosen my daily sugar restrictions a bit for reasonable things like eating fruit, or a really trace amount of sugar as long as it’s unprocessed. But I will definitely still be keeping an eye on ingredients and keeping everything clean.
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Have you ever tried eating no sugar? How long did you do it for and how did you maintain it afterwards? Give me all your tips!
Xx,
C
