So you’ve decided to try a sugar addiction detox and just see what happens.
First off – congratulations!
Now the fun begins.
Can sugar detox be fun?
Well I guess it all has to do with your perspective on things.
If you’re the type that is fascinated by your body (and other bodies) and are always amazed at it’s power to heal, it’s insane complexity and how well it serves you — then
Yes!
Sugar detox can be fun.
If your idea of fun is to learn something new about your body and to go from unconscious to very aware of something that’s going on with you – then we are going to have a blast.
I think one of the easiest first lessons and long term helpers in your quest is one of awareness.
What we need to do is to change the idea of eating sugar unconsciously as diet staple to very rare event.
I could vilify sugar and tell you all the bad things about it. We could pass laws and taxes on it. But in the end, like the prohibition on alcohol, none of that is going to work.
People make their own responsible choices around alcohol (or not sometimes) and I expect that as education and information comes out about sugar the same thing will happen.
In separating WHAT you eat into separate groups you become aware of what is food and what is not.
Sugar is not food.
It does not provide any vitamins or minerals. As a matter of fact it requires them to get digested.
The sooner we separate the real food from sugar, and the food that used to be real that now has added sugar, the faster we get well.
So on to the actual detox.
I know you’ve seen this before and it seems rather dramatic but it really is necessary. It provides a starting point. A clear line that we don’t cross during our detox (and hopefully much longer). That line being – no sugar in your house.
You need to clear out all of your cupboards and your refrigerator of anything that contains sugar. It’s cathartic. It’s your starting line.
Get a list of all the names for sugar so you can refer to it during your clean out and educate yourself for when you shop. You can get it here:
Now let’s start planning your detox.
You need at least three solid days where you don’t have much responsibility and can rest, take care of yourself (not others right now) and fit in some very light, walking type, exercise.. I suggest ten days if you can swing it.
We try to start on a Thursday night so you can use the weekend to rest. The first day is usually easy. (but not for everyone) Days two and three are harder.
The one thing I want stress is that all the sugar withdrawals symptoms you’ve heard of are usually true – but – and this is a big but – they are physical symptoms. While some of them will masquerade as mental symptoms, like depression and sadness, they genuinely physical and VERY temporary. Do NOT let them derail you.
The sugar cravings will be intense in these two days and possibly as long as ten days. Just drink a big glass of water, lie down and nap and they will pass.
A quick side note about “hunger, cravings and withdrawals”. Cravings will feel like hunger – it’s not. It will feel like it’s in your stomach so you’ll think you need to eat something – you don’t. See below about writing it down and letting the feeling pass.
It’s the first week that derails everyone.
The sugar withdrawals are very real.
But once you get to the other side eating real, whole food and no sugar the feeling of well being returns and you are on your way.
Expect a little weight loss during this time but don’t make it the goal. As a matter of fact put the scale away and focus on how you feel during the process.
Get a $.99 cent notebook and write down exactly how you feel when you crave sugar. Also record how you feel when you eat a wholesome meal.
If you should happen to slip and eat sugar don’t be to hard on yourself. It’s all part of the process but definitely write down what you were feeling and thinking before you re-ingested sugar and after. This is where the magic happens!
Patterns will start to develop.
You will see very quickly that we use sugar to pick ourselves up mentally. Sadly it works so well that we never think it all the way through to the crash twenty minutes later and then the constant chase of that feeling the rest of the day or into a binge.
This one act of self awareness, journaling your thoughts and feelings about how you feel and what you eat will change your life I promise.
Detoxing from sugar, like much of life, is largely a metal game. There are serious physical feelings but if you go in aware you can spot them and continue forward.
One last tip or mental trick that has worked for millions of people.
Don’t think of a 10 day detox or a 21 day detox or quitting sugar for good. Just think of not using sugar today – one day.
Sometimes you may have to just hold on for one more hour or even one minute. Take a walk, call a friend, take a nap, have a glass of water – use anything to distract yourself for a few minutes and the feelings of “needing” a little sugar will pass.
The only way to gain control of sugar in your life is to get a little bit of time between you and having sugar in your system – that’s the key. Also to become aware of your feelings and thoughts around sugar. We’ve all used sugar largely unconsciously for most of our lives. Now it’s time to track that and see why.
We’re here for you if you need us.
Be well,
Michael
PS: If you’d like to join our group of kind and caring folks who have put sugar use and or abuse behind them and truly have control of sugar and their weight then just click here:
Super private online group of (mostly) ex-sugar users.
Also for a complete list of the exact foods to eat and safe recipes check this out.
