If you’re a regular sugar eater, whether the sweeteners are natural or refined, and you are cutting back or going cold-turkey, expect to experience some withdrawal symptoms. But you can overcome!
Our family is in the midst of a 30-day no sugar challenge (Beyond Sugar) and of us all, I believe I’m the one who was most used to a constant drip of sweeteners. It has been some years since we’ve had refined sweeteners. When we first decided to eat healthfully, we didn’t even eat many natural sweeteners (raw honey, maple syrup, etc.). But, over the years, I guess I got complacent by thinking – hey, they’re natural; God made them; we can eat them!
Sweeteners Are Not Food
Well, yes, we can eat natural sweeteners. The trouble is, concentrated sweeteners of any kind should not become a substantial part of a diet. They can’t really be called “food” in the sense that food is supposed to maintain life, support growth, and nourish our bodies. Nope. Sweeteners don’t do that stuff.
Constant Drip of Sweetening
I was at the point where I am/was used to a constant drip of sweetening all day long. For breakfast, I’d have a generous scoop of raw honey on my toast or porridge. Throughout the day, I would drink generously honey-sweetened tea. About midafternoon, I’d grab some dark chocolate. After dinner, we’d all have dark chocolate for a dessert. And if I made muffins or cookies, I’d eat some of that, too.
None of these foods were big offenders. Taken by themselves, quite innocuous. But all day, hour by hour, I feel like I was hooked up to a natural sweetener IV. Can anyone relate?
Tough and Tougher Withdrawal Symptoms
Now this week. It has been tough. Yesterday, the 5th full day of not having any sweeteners, was the first day I did not have a headache. The first two days, I felt nauseous and unwell. I’ve had cravings for sweets all week long. I can hardly keep myself from snatching some chocolate from the freezer. I feel as though the symptoms are abating, though, and I’m glad.
I haven’t seen similar symptoms in the children or my husband. I don’t think they were sweetening up like I was. 
Or maybe the kids are just better at handling it.
If you search on the internet, you’ll find others talking about withdrawal symptoms. If someone is breaking free from an addiction to refined sugars (such as high-fructose corn syrup or white sugar), I gather that the withdrawal can be quite painful, wtih symptoms mimicking the flu – chills, sweats, headaches, aches, pains, nausea, etc.
Strategy To Persevere Through The Withdrawal Period
Since now I’ve been through this, the toughest few days of breaking a sugar-addiction, I’m in a good position to share my strategy and what has worked for me to make it through the hardest period. It’s all downhill from here!
- Prayer. I asked God often to help us enjoy our unsweetened foods for their own sake, and to give me strength to persevere.
- I have kept in the front of my mind why I’m not eating sugar. (See my goals and sugar’s ill health effects.)
- Make a conscious choice every time I put something in my mouth; resist blindly reaching for chocolate without even knowing what I’ve done.
- Exercise
- Rest and relaxtion – I’ve read books, taken naps, enjoyed my children
- Drink plenty of water, Kombucha, and unsweetened tea (or with a little stevia, though I don’t like it too much)
- Make nourishing snack foods to satisfy our hunger and delight our taste buds in new ways – the kids are enjoying the new snacks very much!
Of all those strategies, the first two have been key for me and for us. I’m so happy that my husband and children are on board with this. We’ve got to believe in what we’re doing, or we won’t be able to stick with it. We have a great God who will help us in our time of need. The other strategies are ways to get through the body’s symptoms of feeling unwell from the change. They’re important, too.
Whether you’re cutting back on sweeteners altogether, or cutting back some, please share how you’ve handled such big changes in yourself or with your family members! Change is hard and we all need help and encouragement to persevere in making healthy choices!
This is one of a series of posts during the month of May, during which time the Harmon family has vowed not to consume any sweeteners, natural or refined. We call the challenge “Beyond Sugar” and would love to have you join us, in whatever way you feel led! (Get the button here for your own blog or website.) I shared this post in Fight Back Fridays! at Food Renegade and Cutting Back on Sugar Challenge at Naturally Knocked Up.
About Wardeh
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I so admire you for doing this! I’ve really been contemplating this too. I developed gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy and had to go off all sugars, all grains- even the natural sugars found in starchy vegetables and the fructose in fruit was off limits. I didn’t have any withdrawal symptoms, but I think it was probably because my body really needed to be off the sugar.
I did cheat and have a the first strawberry of the season on my salad one day and it tasted like HEAVEN, it was so sweet!
Kyrie – I admire what you’ve been through. You’re old hat at this-I’m sure you could do it again and maybe not have to do it so extremely this time? I’m sure that strawberry was heavenly. We are looking forward to strawberry season, coming up soon!
I love the phrase “hooked up to a natural sweetener IV.”
I’ve so BEEN THERE.
Congratulations on making it to day 5. And, thanks too, for encouraging us with your journey over at Fight Back Fridays. Maybe it will inspire those of us who are too afraid to quite cold turkey!
Cheers,
KristenM
(AKA FoodRenegade)
I gave up all sugar last January. It was dreadful. I was the biggest witch in the world. I didn’t just have “the low-carb flu” for two weeks, I had it for 3 months! I kept waiting for the “amazing energy” and the “dramatic weight loss” everyone else was talking about. All of this was happening, but it was happening in the background of my misery of giving up sugar.
At least you were on natural sugar, mine was the HFCS. Looking back now, I’m appalled by how much of this I consumed on a daily basis. Sheesh, no wonder I felt so horrible.
I read somewhere giving up sugar is harder than giving up crack. I’ve never done crack, so I can’t compare, but I pity the people getting off of drugs if my giving up sugar was .01% of what they go through.
Good luck on your continued sugar free lifestyle.
Wow, Paula! That is an amazing story. Good for you for sticking it out through that misery! And how do you feel now? I hope it has been worth it – please tell me it is!
This afternoon I have a big headache; I think I spoke too soon about being over my withdrawal. I am glad to hear your perspective. Now I know I can do this if you did!
Twitter: fritchbeetle
says:
I did a 42 starch/sugar cleanse once. No starches or sugars for 42 days! Just meat and veggies! The first week was indeed the worst (felt like the flu) and then, this magical thing happened: I started to feel AMAZING! I slept better. I had more energy. I had better mental clarity!
So currently I try to limit my sugar intake to stevia and ezekial bread and something sweet once a week. I feel so much better than when I had something sweet daily.
gilliebean – I am glad to hear the difference that made for you. Very encouraging! I have never heard of that challenge. Do you limit your starches now or just your sugars?
Hello ,
Woohhh hats of you and your family .This is simply unbelievable .Please keep us posted on what what findings that you notice with every single thing in your life for the next few days without sugar .
Keep us posted .
Regards
Sudeep
Wardeh – wow. I would like to do that but I think my family would revolt. We don’t eat much sugar compared to most but we definitely do. One nice thing about making everything from scratch is you do actually know how much you are eating and it’s on par with the amount people ate around the 30′s but still not what it should be. Maybe we’ll get to the no sugar possible point this summer when there is more fruit to eat and I can sneak it out without anyone noticing. What a great goal you’ve given me!
Sustainable Eats – I think you’re right about that. If we do all our cooking from scratch and watch the sugar, it will certainly be less. With us (mostly with me) I felt such an addiction even to natural sweets. I still want something sweet ALL THE TIME and wonder if these cravings will stop. I, too, am eager for the fruit season – the pears, plums, peaches, berries, yumm!
Wardeh,
When I was in my teens, I found that (like my mother & brothers) eating refined sugar caused me to have bad break-outs on my face. Quitting sugar cold turkey was the solution for me. And a clear complexion made it easy to keep it up with the no-sugar regimen.
In my mid-20s, I gave sugar a try again & found that I could tolerate it in strict moderation.
Now in my mid-30s, the break-out blues have surfaced again if I eat even small quantities of refined sugar. I find, though, that’s it’s easier to say no to the refined sugars if I’m also limiting “good” sweeteners too.
Also, we were vegans for a couple of years, and you wouldn’t believe the amount of honey we consumed! Adding back good sources of meat & dairy *drastically* decreased the sugar cravings.
Bethany, I think you are definitely right about the protein! My midwife told me that if I was craving starch/sugars, to eat a big serving of protein, and the sugar craving would go away. Worked every time. Sugars are just a really concentrated source of energy, so it makes sense.
Thanks for your post, I just gave up sugar on Thursday ( today is Tuesday) and I had a cold when I started so I didn’t notice the change.
Also I was giving up wheat at the same time and this helped clear up my indigestion so that also was a factor.
Today I feel nauseous, have a huge headache and feel VERY fatigued.
My snack ideas are fruit of course, boiled eggs, hoummous, “natural” corn chips without added sugar, veggies cut up like crudites, and rice crackers.
Also, caffeine free caro with artificial sweeteners are helping me through the day!
Hi, Amy! I’m so glad that you’re taking the step of consuming less (no) sugar! I would caution you against using artificial sweeteners. There are many reasons, but the most compelling to me is that they are artificial. I know just how you feel, those symptoms are what I experienced and they’re not fun. Your snack ideas are wonderful – thanks for sharing those! Please keep in touch and let me know how you do down the road.
ya…ZERO artificial sweeteners yuck. except maybe stevia…
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just wanted to add …. i am wheat/sugar free too …. recently got sick from rice crackers because they were made in the same factory as wheat products … so just a reminder to check the ingredients.
Recently I have been attempting just to limited my sugar intake. Then Iast week I started feeling sick. At one point I was so dizzy for a moment I almost had to lie down. I guess that means although I havnt totally removed all traces of sugar from my diet I am doing something right. I still want to eat sugar sometimes but I certainly dont want to eat it every single day like I did in the past.
My advice for those trying to do the same is to remove things from your home you dont want to eat, and dont buy or make large amounts of things you will feel guilty about eating. Anyone else have any tips that might help?
thanks!
I just started the Neanderthin diet, basically no sugar, flour, wheat or dairy. You can have meat, vegies, fruit and nuts. I’ve cut out the fruit as well for now because of the high sugar content in fruit. I’m sooooooooooo tired and listless and crabby on this diet. I’m not sure if I’m detoxing from the sugar and dairy or what, but I have headaches and foggy thinking and I’m just so sleepy all the time. when I search the internet, everyone seems to be so happy joyous and free on this diet, which really sucks cuz I’m ready to stick a needle in someone’s eye I’m so irritable. I want to stay on it though, because I struggle with binging, food has been such a struggle, I don’t get how people can exercise restraint with portion control, i simply can’t control my intake of sugar and wheat and salty things like potato chips, which I have to eat the whole bag of. meat vegies and fruit on the other hand are never on my binge list so I feel I possibly have a shot at beating this overeating monster. Has anyone had any experiences with withdrawal of this type? I would love have some feedback. will this crappy headachey feeling go away? I feel stuck.
sleepy girl, it really sounds to me like you are detoxing from sugar still. i have a friend who felt that way for 3 months before he finally felt clear headed. it is so so worth it if you can stick it out. i would really recommend finding something to help the detoxing process along. maybe a yoga class in your area (you could even look for a holy yoga class http://www.holyyoga.net)? even just the breathing techniques can further the detoxing.
find what fits for you. your own individual body will respond in it’s own way and it’s own time. don’t feel discouraged because other people are responding quickly. your body will do it’s thing! it may just need more time to flush out all the yuckies!
Wardeh – great site!
Sleepy girl – you are still detox’ing from the sugar and you NEED TO REMEMBER TO EAT! Sometimes when people give up grains and sugars they forget to fill in all those calories with something else. So just eat all the proteins, veggies and fruits you can handle with some nuts and oils mixed in. Eggs and jerky work great for constant snacking. In about 2-3 weeks, your body will adjust to the fewer carbohydrates going in, and you will be less hungry and more energized. Good luck! It’s been an amazing lifestyle change for me.
Sleepy Girl how’s it going? You are so brave. I’ve thought of doing what you are doing countless times, but I’m terrified of exactly what you’re going through. I’m trying to find the wherewithall just to start. I’m a single mom with two kids and I’m afraid of the symptoms and being in a terrible mood, but I feel bad now! I think it will help me to know how you are doing.
i understand completely i eat sweets al day long from the moment i get up until i go to bed off and on all day. iamtrying to go through a 28 day sugar addiction its been 4 days since sugar and i am getting headaches but Iam goingto stickwith it before i die
I am aware of how I eat sugar every day tho I say to myself each morn this will be a sugar free day. I quit drinking last Sept. very easily to benefit my health but quitting sugar is harder. A lot of my friends bake and get pushy and take it personally if I don’t eat what they so lovingly made. They only recently accepted I no longer enjoy alcohol, tho one of my friends was pushing me to have a glass of wine the other day.
Makes me wonder. Any one else experiencing torpedoing friends??
HI All,
I just stumbled right on this site after I typed in 42 days without sugar. YES! I have been 42 days with no sugar or white flour. I would eat sweets everyday at times all day. I still to this day have craved sweets but by the Grace of God He has helped me to overcome. It is a day by day process. I have been blessed with losing 15lbs and inches since I started this. The first week 24 hours was horrendous because of the pounding and I mean pounding headache I had. I have also 1quit caffiene because without my sweet creamer it tasted blah to me. The Lord has blessed me with a Tea called Good Earth Sweet & Spicy caffiene free tea. It is delicious. Never was a tea drinker but now I am. To God the Father, Son & Spirit be all the glory. I am doing this for weight loss and health. I hope to be 150lbs in 6 months. God bless you all in Jesus name, amen:o)
This was a great article for me to read tonight. I’ve finally had it with lugging my “sugar IV” around. I recognize that each time I grab for a sugary substance, I’m feeding my brain’s appetite for dopamine. Enough. I can and will stop this.
Thanks for your inspiration and your ideas for coping mechanisms. For me sugar is just something I’m going to have to do without. I just can’t seem to handle trying to manage my intake… so sugar free is the way for me.
Thank you, again. And keep up the great work!
I agree with you Sass. I gave up alcohol a year ago and I feel great because of it, but unfortunately found chocolate and sweet things became a substitute, so now I am addicted to them. I agree that giving up chocolate is a lot harder than ever giving up alcohol (although I admit I was bordering on being an alcoholic at the time ). I try to tell myself if I did that, I can give up chocolate, but have realised it is not that easy. I have accepted now it is a real addiction which comes with withdrawl symptoms, which I can deal with if I know they are coming, but how long do they last , anyone know please ???
i’m 17 and reading this really helped because i’ve been seriously debating whether i should continue on my journey to not eatin or drinking juice/soda’s or junkfood, but im encouraged to continue
I just stumbled upon your article as I am having a huge craving and needed some inspiration to get through it. This article did the trick! I am 3 weeks out from tryouts so Im going through a bit of a cleanse before they start. I am on day 5 of a 3 week no meat/animal products, no caffeine, no alcohol, no gluten and no refined sugar. Most weren’t hard as I was a vegetarian before (just had to cut out milk and eggs), I quit drinking at the beginnig of may and I dont drink coffee or tea. The only part I am struggling with is the sugar. I love sugar, I dont think Im addicted in the sense that I havnt had any real withdrawl symptoms, I think I just have a habit to eat things like jujubes and baked goods. Apparently cravings can last for a month or more…I really hope not, its unbearable. My only sugar is coming from natural food (fruit, yams etc…) Although I havnt had any withdrawl symptoms, the cravings are unbelievable. What I would do for a sugary snack right now. Although this is only a 3 week thing, Im hoping to extend the no sugar part indefinetly. Thanks for the inspiration.
I’m a type 1 diabetic and have been for about 7 years. My whole life I have always been called the chocoholic of the family. Well it was recently brought to my attention that I have an addiction to sweets. I just rolled my eyes and said whatever, I just like them alot. Well I was given the challenge of going a week without ANY sugar, natural or otherwise. I’m in day 4 of that challenge, the first few days were ok, craved the sweet stuff but it didn’t bother me that much. Day 3 was the worst, I was irritable and I would have knocked over anyone for a small piece of chocolate. I’ve had 3 migraines and a headache every single day since this started, today I don’t have one, but they usually come in the evening. I now realize that I did/do have a problem. I still don’t care because I really like the stuff but I know I have to change that if I ever want to be truly healthy. Some of what you said makes sense, I am one of the people who LOVES to be hooked up to that sweetner IV all day long. I was never overweight until the last two years, I blamed it on the pregnancy weight but it’s really me and my “sweet tooth”. The pregnancy just pushed it over the edge. So here I go on my little “detox” and hopefully I can conquer myself and not depend so much on sugar or as I call it my “happy”.
I went off sugar (and grain) today after getting the news from the dentist yesterday that I’m in the early stages of periodontal disease and I have 8 cavities affecting 7 teeth. I’m 28. I also just had a baby, and I know that has something to do with it. I wasn’t prepared to get pregnant when I did.
But really, it’s been a long time in coming- I have multiple hormonal imbalances, stemming from adrenal fatigue (PCOS, thyroid imbalance, etc) and I’m sure it all stems from sugar, and a bad bout of not taking care of myself in college. Anyway, I’m making sure to eat lots of fat and protein, and to have some sweet tasting things on hand when I get the inevitable craving. And to try to not think about it so much. I think when you’re going through the whole day going, “I’m not eating sugar, I’m not eating sugar,” that your mind just goes “sugarsugarsugarsugar”. Not helpful. 
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I cannot believe how much I think about sugary food!! I’ve been off refined sugar and all sweeteners except a 1/4tsp of maple syrup in some of my salad dressings. It’s been about a week and I feel like I am in a constant battle with my body wanting sugar and my mind saying, “No way you crazy @#$%!”. I’ve been irritable, tired, had headaches, short-fused and snippy for days. I hope the worst of it is over. I’ve been doing an alkaline diet with tons of veggies but I think I need to add in more meat because I’m feeling very low energy. However, my dandruff (gross!) which was my main reason for going on the diet was completely gone in 3 days after I started but it has resurfaced slightly and I’m just wondering if anyone supports my theory that it is the yeast or fungus desperate for sugar trying to survive. Any thoughts?
I noticed someone mentioned Ezekiel bread as something sweet. Is that off the list? Oiy. I’ve been eating Ezekiel bread regularly but if it’s sugary I’ll have to kick that too! I keep learning and keep loving my veggies. I really do love veggies thank goodness!
Thanks so much! Sherri
Yep. 2 days in and I have flu like symptoms. Sore throat has gone though. I am in the process of eliminating all refined sugars and all dairy from my diet. I don’t eat red meat. Still drinking 1 cup of black coffee a day. Caffeine is next.
I will report back in 3 days.
Useful site! Thank you.
OK so coming up to the end of day 5 now and I am starting to get feelings of greatness! Still feeling slightly faint sometimes and having bouts of deep coughing and mucus but my stomach feels like it is healing.
Sleeping really improved last night and I feel like I have more energy today!
I will report back at the weekend.
Twitter: twittersustainableeat
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Dominic good for you! I’m loving reading your reports. I wish I was so strong…
Sustainable Eats recently posted… Simple Lives Thursday – September 30
Right so day 9-10 and I feel AMAZING! (in a really deep way). I have never had this much energy and I am sleeping so solid. My minor skin complaints have almost healed and the bags under my eyes are becoming less dark already!
My digestive system feels so calm and relaxed. Wow.
Still coughing up light mucus but this has become much less frequent within the last 36 hours.
The things that I have done daily (and really helped) are:-
1-drinking the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon (in hot water) one hour before breakfast. I am going to continue with this (google the health benefits!!!)
2-drinking 3 cups of (quality) green tea.
3-when I got a sugar/chocolate craving I ate a tiny piece of (healthy) bread with a blob of honey.
My advice to anyone would be to DO IT! 7 days of pure grim (the amount of mucus is shocking) but I cannot describe in words the difference in wellbeing I am currently feeling!
Looking forward to a future working WITH nature.
I have been off sugar flour and wheat for the past 17 days.. As I was addicted to it. THe cravings have stopped.. I can now walk by cakes and cookies with no affect.
I’m 49 yrs. old, and I’ve been diagnosed with Adrenal Fatigue. My saliva test indicated that I had NO progesterone in my system and limited estrogen. I’m a big sugar and white flour “junkie”. I’m hoping that cutting out sugar/white flour will be a significant step in the right direction. Today is day #5 of no sugar/white flour in my diet. I’m dizzy and nauseous.
wardeh, i stumbled on this site while googleing sugar withdrawal it has been 5 days now and todays the worst my head is pounding,and im sick to my stomach on day 4 i started having muscle cramps in my calves .I wanted to stop eating sugar to help lose some weight i had no idea this would happen. im so shocked and now i know i have to do this i’ve been eating a piece of 100% whole wheat toast with double fiber and an egg and some fruit for breakfast and 3ozs of baked chicken a veggie and another fruit for lunch if i get hungry i eat more fruit or a veggie and i have been drinking water like crazy im so thirsty is this normal and do you think i need to eat different foods im desperate to get through this but am not sure im doing the right things thank you so much for this site
I just started the diet devotional FIT FOR MY KING on Monday. Cutting out sugar, white flour, potatoes, rice, corn, etc…. for 30 days. Already having horrible headaches and dont feel good which Im sure is from sugar withdrawls. I ate a ton of sugar before this, so I cant wait to see how good I feel at the end of 30 days. Plus I was just diagnosed with Fibromylagia and Im hoping cutting out all this toxic food will help me feel better with that as well.
I have considered going of most if not all sugars in their hidden and obvious sources. I have researched gluten and found that because if the geo-engineering of grains and other seeds has caused our flour products to have 4 times the amount if gluten it should naturally have. My sister in law has been doing this no sugar/wheat thing for years but I am not impressed with her focus. She has become so obessed about it that it seems to become an addiction. She has become difficult to be around and has become meaner. I understand that not everyone responds the same way but you can see why I have apprehension to the all or nothing approach. Aside from all that I have passed through some rough times that I think the timing to starting something like this needs to right. I can stand to loose 30# so I am easing into it. I believe that a once a week treat is necessary to not falling off the wagon. I did the Body fir life 12 years ago with GREAT success! So I know I can get back to “me.” All the people who drain me dry will have to water themselves from their own wells. I want “me” back so I can be a better me to those around me and to myself again.
There was a recent article in the New York Times about sugar:
Is Sugar Toxic?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html
Turns out, the fructose, though not necessarily the glucose in refined sugar can lead to obesity, diabetes, and even most cancers.
The good news, alcohol, such as beer has little to no fructose!
I googled “coping with sugar detox” and this came up! I have been interested in your online course on fermenting. BUT, my story is that I went off sugar thinking nothing about it. I’ve been off gluten now 2 years and thought whoop-de-doo on giving up sugar. I should also say I have given up all grains simultaneously in an attempt to heal my damaged gut from overuse of antibiotics.
Well, let’s just say I have never not been on sugar (or carbs), never. So, I am feeling in the dumps now for a straight month. Symptoms included nausea, persistent daily headaches, deep body & tissue aches, it hurts to breath sometimes because my lungs and throat hurt (no I’m not a smoker but my dad was growing up), chills, and in the early days night sweats and heart palpitations. I also have almost daily short-lived blurred vision. Some of these are waining now so I think I may have seen the peak but I think my body is going through a profound regeneration.
A very interesting turn of events showed that following a dental appt. Sept 15, I contracted Endocarditis and didn’t know it until Nov. 27 when I was hospitalized for nearly a week. I felt the need to post this b/c I simultaneously started the diet with getting sick. So…I really don’t know what symptoms to blame on sugar as Endocarditis was raging through my body.
I just wonder how bad or how much worse my symptoms of bacterial infection would have been had I not gone off sugar at that time?!! I believe that this sugar-free, grain-free diet saved me much suffering and will help me rebuild my gut more efficiently once off antibiotics.
don’t be so sure your children are doing so well because they are abstaining. they may be hiding what they’re eating from you.
seriously. don’t underestimate the power of sugar addiction!
about 2 weeks I declared I was going to get serious about my nutrition.
I went cold turkey from sugar, not even thinking about withdrawel symtoms.
I have terrible sinus trouble ,, and when I began getting headaches I assumed allergies or sinuses ;
but, the headaches are at the sides and back of my head, after brainstorming about any changes in the last couple of weeks… as to what brought this on and what relieved the pain…duh… it finally dawned on me …that I was suffering from withdrawel…
sorry to say … I immediatly had some rice pudding…. within 10 to 15 minutes … it started to feel better….
for anyone getting headaches from sugar withdrawel could you describe the headache… I thought I was dying!
Found this via a rabbit trail although i visit often Wardeh… day 2 and i just about went insane. couldn’t do it b/c head ache was so bad and i was afraid of a migraine and then i get ‘sick’ and end up carbing up after i get ‘sick.’ I think i might have to taper back slowly. maybe i’ll make sure to eat plenty of fruit the first week…. but nix the refined sugar. I rarely do that though even!!!! I must really be hooked up to the IV.
I am going low carb so no sugar and no white flour, starch,potatoes or rice. So far I am doing OK although I do have a headache and a strong desire to eat out of the sugar bowl. I am munching on celery sticks instead. This is day 2 for me. I am hoping by next week or so I will feel better. I am determined. Good luck to you!
Twitter: debee333
says:
I’m on the first day of making my home 99 o/o free. Which means I have one small bag of sugar to last me two mo. I’m allowing myself sugar outside the home for the first ten days then ill bee cutting that back, too. Wish me luck I’m actually a lil scared of the withdrawal.
I’m on day two of no sugar or any processes food. I have the worst headache of my life. The left side of my head is throbbing so badly. The pain is just awful. I hope this doesn’t last long.
When I was single (and quite a loner), I was much more in control of sugar and wheat intake, which for many stretches of time was at zero for both. I was in superb health. Now with a family of my own and extended family staying in the house often, there is so much wheat and sugar around always, I don’t know how to deal. And I’ve caved in so much. My diet has sugar from morning to night, and when I try to cut back, cravings take over. Thanks for the blog. I see that it has inspired people for three years now! I need to get a handle on the social influences of my eating.
Twitter: debee333
says:
Its been ten days and I’ve been reaaly good about eating sugar only when I’m out. I’ve learned to really appreciate not always having to juggle a 44oz pop or a 2 ltr.
Twitter: Ollyok
says:
My husband has recently had to give up all sugar due to a still unknown illness. This has changed my family’s eating habits. We did not eat sugar in large amounts on average before. I have had to start making our own bread and all sauces. We have discovered that there are some sugar substitutes that he can eat and has make making food for him and young children easer. I have recently decided to give up refined sugar and it has been a week. I have had head aches, fatigue, depression (not knowing it was form sugar), night sweets. I was feeling so bad that I ate sugar to see if it would help. But I only felt sick to my stomach after. I am going to continue staying off refined sugar now that I know that these are only symptoms of withdraw, it has only made me want to cut it out even more. I only hope the head aches go away soon.
Hi, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’m in the midst of a no sugar, no flour fast and I’m only on day four. I’m a huge sugar addict and sweet tooth. It has been hard but not as hard as I had imagined. I’m only on day four though! It’s about self control and planning your meals out thoughtfully. I’m tempted all the time to eat nonsense!
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