Hey there, happy Friday!

I’ve been having some serious sugar cravings lately.  Can you relate?

Hot chocolate with biscotti, ice cream with caramel & fudge sauce….Yeah, decadent.

There’s just something about the weather getting cooler, wanting to cozy up in front of the fire, and binge watching the Great British Baking Show that makes eating sugar feel like a great idea.

And the sugary treats always feel good in the moment (hello, serotonin and dopamine)!

But then those good-mood hormones disappear, and I’m left feeling tired and heavy. 

Can you still relate?

The problem is not the sugar. 

We should all feel free to enjoy sweets and treats without guilt and shame.

The problem is really the cycle I’ve created. 

The more sugar I eat, the more I want.  And it feels out of control.

So I’m on a mission to kick my sugar habit to the curb! 

I thought it would be helpful to share how I’m doing it, in case you’re struggling with a similar habit:

1.  Cut the Sugar for 3 Days

I’ve played to my “all-or-nothing” way of thinking, and quit all added sugars, cold turkey, for 3 days. 
 
No maple syrup. No agave. No artificial sweeteners.  And definitely no fudge sauce.

What I’ve found: 3 days of quitting sugar was totally reasonable and realistic- I found it easier than I expected because it was for a short period of time. 

Don’t try to cut sugar for the next month or two- it’s too easy to put off your goal and start tomorrow.  Just try a few days and see how you feel!

1.  Fill up on Fiber and Healthy Fats

Fiber and fat slow digestion, so you won’t get those blood sugar spikes, crashes, and cravings. 

Avocado and almond butter have been my go-to’s these past 3 days, and I’ve noticed that I stay full for several hours.

1. Choose Snacks that Excite You

It sounds so cliché, but replace added sugar with natural, whole foods that just happen to be sweet. 

I sliced up a whole cantaloupe and bought the most delicious Honeycrisp apples.

Popcorn excites me, and I’ve been treating myself to local Wisconsin popcorn with nutritional yeast and pink Himalayan sea salt. Yum!

1. Here’s what I’ve been eating for 3 Days:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with almond butter and a Honeycrisp apple
Lots of water and tea (ginger, cinnamon, and apple tea from Pukka)
Lunch: Smoothie with protein powder, tons of spinach, cinnamon to manage blood sugar, frozen berries, and cocoa nibs added for crunch OR Avocado toast with arugula and sliced radishes
Dinner: Warming and anti-inflammatory cauliflower & chickpea curry with millet, drizzled with tahini
Snacks: Apples, cantaloupe, pumpkin seeds, popcorn with nutritional yeast, hummus and crackers

How am I feeling? 

AMAZING! I’m currently not craving sugar, I feel healthy and light, and I feel less stressed.

And I don’t feel out of control with constant sugar cravings.  This 3-day experiment was a win for me 😊

Your Action Step: Do you need a sugar detox? Commit to one of these sugar detox steps and tell me how it goes for you!