| So, you know we’ve cut out High Fructose Corn Syrup and white flour. We’ve really not had a problem with it. I’ve also cut out soda for myself (Barry still has one occasionally) and I’ve been soda free for a little over a month. I don’t miss it as much as I thought I would. I’m going to attempt to make my own soda when summer busyness slows down around here. J Annie has never had a soda, a fact of which I am very proud. The more I read about artificial sweeteners, the more I get freaked out. Anyway, on to week three! |
| I knew this was coming. I wanted to ignore it. Sorta like when someone comes to your front door and you don’t want to answer it. You try to ignore the knock – but then your dog goes crazy and Annie starts saying “WHO IS IT?” The gig is up…..they know you’re here……and I knew this was coming. Week three of the Sugar Detox Challenge cuts out all desserts. Yeah. You heard me. I knew this one was going to be tough. Every night after Annie goes to bed, Barry and I sit down to relax and have dessert. It has been how I unwind……and it’s usually just mindless eating. This includes cake, candy, cookies, ice cream, anything sweet – even sodas (not a problem anymore). And no, it doesn’t matter if it’s made with a “healthy” sugar. It’s still sugar….and your body still craves it. Donielle talks about how after a while your body adjusts and doesn’t have the strong sugar cravings anymore and even when you eat that high sugar thing that you used to love it just won’t taste the same. |
| Thankfully I know this isn’t a permanent change. It’s just something we’re doing right now to get control over our sugar cravings…..and let me tell you I HAVE THEM. The first few nights I sat on the couch and could only think about the kefir ice cream in the freezer. I didn’t have to worry about cookies in the basement since a certain dirty little stinking mouse ate them. Stupid mouse. HE’S not on the detox. A week into it, I’m doing much better. Note: this doesn’t include sugar added to things like bread, oatmeal, coffee, etc. – only desserts. I’m not entirely sure what Donielle will say when the challenge is over, but Barry and I have already talked about how it will be around here. Desserts will be limited to 1-2 times per week and special occasions. That I can do. |
| We get several more reasons from Donielle for why sugar is bad for you. One really hit home. I knew when Annie was in diapers that she’d have reactions to large amounts of sugar by getting a yeast infection, although it took me a long time to figure it out. That fact and Storeless is really what started us on this journey. Large amounts of sugar can contribute to chronic yeast infections, thrush, and mastitis. Sorta makes that piece of pie look a little less appealing, huh? A yeasty piece of pie. Yum. |
| We meet another natural sugar this week – maple syrup. I also covered maple syrup in my natural sweeteners post. Maple syrup is like gold around here. I use it in a variety of dishes and of course we use it on pancakes. Annie will barrel through sourdough pancakes and maple syrup with abandon. Donielle gives a great explanation of how maple syrup is made and the minerals it holds. It IS expensive…..but you really don’t use as much as you think. Unless of course you give it to Annie. I tried to put hers in a small container for dipping. I turned to the sink to do something and when I turned back around she was drinking it directly from that small cup. Oh well. She could eat her pancake and then I’d just jiggle her around a bit to make sure it got coated in her stomach.Make sure your maple syrup is organic if possible to avoid pesticides. We like Grade B best (darker). |
| I’m really looking forward to seeing how much better I feel after this is all over. I can already tell a difference in how I’m craving food now.Are you following this detox with me? If so, how is it going? Any struggles? If you’d like to sign up to be a part of the Sugar Detox Challenge, you can do so HERE. Stay tuned next week for week four……I feel like a soap opera. |
| This post is linked at Healthy2Day Wednesdays on Day2Day Joys and at Fresh Bites Friday on Real Food Whole Health. |
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Costco carries organic maple syrup (grade b) at a very reasonable price! It’s our go-to.
Great tip Sarah! 🙂 We don’t have one here, but I am sure readers will loving knowing this info.
Hi Stacy,
I love your blog. It’s so much fun to read and you have great info. I just wanted to add one more reason why sugar, any sugar is bad for you. Cancerous tumors thrive in the presence of sugars. That’s a fact. A cancer researcher was eating a donut or something with sugar on it and some fell into his petrie dish containing tumors. The next morning when he came back the tumors had almost doubled in size.
I, too, have cut out as much sugar as possible, not eating any white table sugar. I occasionally have a “treat” that I make with agave, but my desire for sweet stuff is gone. If I should taste some that my family is eating, ie. ice cream, it really doesn’t taste good like it used to. Our bodies do change and adapt, thank goodness.
Good luck with your challenge. Stick with it. You can do it. “High Fives”!
Thanks for the great comment Marty. 🙂 Donielle talked about the sugar and cancer (I’ve also read it in numerous books), but I didn’t list it on the site. Thanks for adding it to the comments to educate everyone. It’s a BIG DEAL.
Thank you for the encouragement. 🙂
Yay – you did it!! As much as we ENJOY our desserts, I think we’ll make it through this with no problem. The GREAT news is – we found some great sprouted whole wheat products. Now that I’m writing this, I hope sprouted whole wheat is healthy? Anyway, even I was a little freaked out to try the sww – BUT – my entire family LOVED what we purchased; bagels and tortillas 🙂 Probably the BEST tortillas and bagels we have EVER eaten. Who knew??
Sprouted flour is very good for you. 🙂 I can make it here, but I haven’t dried dehydrating yet. I bought a screen, but I don’t have a dehydrator yet. Good for you! I recently bought some brown rice tortillas and I am looking forward to trying them. 🙂
Way to go! I wish I could follow the detox, but it never works for me. I crave sugar like nobody’s business. It’s all I think about. I did go three days last week without any though, so maybe just start slow.
My kids don’t drink soda either. Ella is 7 and she’s only had it a couple times at birthday parties. It’s not a big deal to them. They’d rather have water or milk. We also buy the true maple syrup and love it!!
Shannon, I thought I would crave it too. You’re talking to a Tootsie Roll fanatic. 🙂 I really don’t. I’m astonished, but I don’t. I eat fruits and natural sugars instead and like I said, it’s astonishing. 🙂
Kudos on the soda!