SO! I began The Great Sugar Detox yesterday (Monday), and so far, so good. I’m a desserts on the weekend kinda gal, and even then I try to choose gluten and/or dairy free sweets, sticking only to my dark chocolate during the weeks. Yesterday wasn’t that big a deviation for me, so no cravings so far. I did have to make a few adjustments: no seasoned rice vinegar to finish off my kale (it has sugar), no honey in my afternoon tea, and no grapefruit in the morning (my mother sent me a dozen grapefruits for christmas). I am breakfast-deep into day 2 now, but I thought I’d share with you what I ate yesterday:
I started off the day with green tea (matcha)
green apple w hazelnut-almond butter
chicken sausage (from meat counter @ WF–no sugar added)
lunch: vegetable soup
chicken w brussels sprouts
green tea
snack: marys gone crackers w hummus
dinner: leftover roast chicken (I made it on Saturday night using my recipe adapted from Martha Stewart–see the recipe section for my fool-proof recipe) with root veggies (carrots, red potatoes, celery root, onion, garlic) and dino kale (almost put some seasoned rice vinegar on it til i realized it had some sugar in it.)
few handfuls of boyfriend’s popped corn (I made it for him for a snack and used coconut oil & sea salt)
exercise: 45 minute dog walk + various wii fit games
Yogi Tea Bedtime formula. This herbal blend really promotes a restful night’s sleep.
Today I will crank it up a notch and do my 50 minute power yoga routine along with a dog walk. Tonight is class one of our first holistic weight loss workshop of the season, so I need some calm energy to keep me going!
I’d love to hear from you if you are interested in doing The Great Sugar Detox or if you are doing it, too!
Mary Vance is a Certified Nutrition Consultant and author specializing in digestive health. She combines a science-based approach with natural therapies to rebalance the body. In addition to her 1:1 coaching, she offers courses to help you heal your gut and improve your health. Mary lives in San Francisco and Lake Tahoe in Northern California. Read more about her coaching practice here and her background here.
I will join you on the sugar detox. I have always had a sugar addiction, so why not start the new year by taming my sweet tooth.
YAY! Awesome, Tara. Feel free to write in and let us know how you’re feeling and what you’re eating, and let me know if you need suggestions or tips!
Hi Mary! Really glad I stumbled upon your site, it’s such a great resource. I *desperately* want to detox from sugar but have never been able to do it. You’re inspiring me to try again.
Unfortunately, the changes I have to make are more numerous than than yours. I eat a lot of things that are bad for me almost every day.
Any advice on what to do when you hit a wicked sugar craving? 🙂
Hi Emily,
great to hear from you, and I am thrilled to hear you are in for The Great Sugar Detox! This is a great question: what to do when cravings hit! If you are a sugar addict and you consume a lot of refined foods made with white flour, corn syrup, and refined sugar, you may experience some withdrawals or cravings. First off, make sure you are keeping your blood sugar balanced with enough protein at each meal, that you’re eating every 3-4 hours, and that you are not starting your day off with coffee, which sets you up for later cravings.
Secondly, Understand that it doesn’t have to be a question of willpower; in fact, you may have lower levels of the feel-good chemicals (neurotransmitters) in your brain–there is a physiological reason for your cravings. I have several good products that we stock to help cravings and help replenish missing nutrients that stop cravings for a more holistic approach. One product in particular contains the amino acid 5HTP that helps sugar cravings tremendously. Also, chromium and other minerals can help balance blood sugar. Contact me (info@maryvancenc.com) if you’d like to set up a free intro consult for more info on these products to help you through the detox!
Thanks, Mary! I’ll send you an email.