A Year Without Sugar
Nicole MacDonald
I am thinking about all you sugar addicts out there when I say this: I never thought it would be possible to go without sugar.
The initial goal was to test my willpower. On the cusp of the 2008 New Year, I proclaimed to my husband that I would go without sugar for a year. I secretly doubted I could get ahead of the addiction that made me eat goodies until my belly ached.
The Obsession
I was born into a family of sugar-lovers and from a young age I gravitated towards all things sweet. I ate excessive amounts of sugary goodies and paid the consequences. I ate until I felt like I would burst and then hated myself for it. After the lovely sugar high, I fell asleep or felt unmotivated and grumpy. I felt miserable for overeating in an effort to get a sugar fix. I could not eat sugar in moderation. I tried. Things got worse when I began using sugar like a drug. When I needed a pick-me-up I kept hard candy in my mouth. When I felt blue, a hot fudge sundae or plate of snickerdoodles filled the need to be comforted. To reward myself meant a pint of ice cream or bag of donut holes. I recognized an unhealthy pattern but it felt out of my control.
The funny thing is, with the exception of sugar, I ate healthy. After college I overhauled my diet to vegetarian and organic. My friends and family referred to me as a health nut. I liked the nickname but I still had a terrible habit of eating too much sugar. For several years I did most of my sugar binging alone, careful to guard my health nut image.
Free At Last
The first few weeks of 2008 went surprisingly well because I stocked my kitchen beforehand with natural sweeteners like dried fruit, dates, maple syrup, honey, molasses, date sugar and brown rice syrup. I discovered that sugar substitutes were not boring after all. (Artificial sweeteners are not an option for me—I like to eat food, not chemicals.) Experimenting with new recipes gave me the satisfaction and comfort that baking has always been to me. Since the white stuff was out of my system, I noticed that I had more energy and didn’t experience the debilitating sleepiness that accompanied the crash I was used to feeling after getting high on sugar. I felt less moody and more motivated. For once in my life I wasn’t chained to the one object that had laid claim to my decisions, emotions and willpower. Sugar used to be in control and now I was. Every day that I didn’t eat sugar was an accomplishment. The biggest changes in my life were not just physical—they were also mental, emotional, and spiritual. I was free of my slavery to sugar, which led me to another fantastic discovery: I realized my potential to do anything I wanted. Willpower in other areas of my life skyrocketed. I faced challenges with a different attitude, because if I, the Queen of all sugar addicts, could give it up then nothing was impossible.
Sugar-Free Tips
Navigating food at stores and restaurants is…interesting. There are hidden sugars in all kinds of products: salt, spices, lip gloss, canned foods, and so-called “healthy” cereals, crackers, breads, meat/dairy alternatives and soups. Read ingredient labels, ask questions, and request healthier, sugarless products at restaurants and grocery stores. It works! Focus less on packaged foods and more on a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Support your local farmer and help the environment by joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). All the local fresh produce and herbs you get out of it will blow your mind.
In the last two years I’ve done hours of research and read books about nutrition, overeating, sugar addiction, the psychology of eating and the food industry. All have been extremely rousing. To really motivate yourself to cut out sugar, read about it. It’s much easier to stick to your sugar-free goals when you read about why it’s important. Sugar plays a role in many diseases including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Learn about the people and organizations who put sugars in our food and get passionate! Moderation is key, but for most of us the ability to determine what and how much to eat is a troubling gray area. There are many variables influencing this. Billions of dollars are spent every year on advertising junk food. Recognize when and why you have a craving. Be prepared by keeping healthy snacks with you at all times (mixed nuts, dried fruit, fruit leathers, flavored tea, an apple, etc.). When you’re invited to dinner, bring a naturally-sweetened dessert for all to try. You can have a lot of fun experimenting with recipes and surprising your host with delicious, sugar-free versions of sweetness.
Since quitting the white stuff, I’m happier, more energetic, less moody and less tired. I used to get the flu every year but I haven’t had the flu or a cold in over two years. I have a blog where I write about my experiences, research, tips, recipes and alternatives to sugar. Networking with people has been invaluable. Find like-minded people for encouragement and discussions.
During my sugar-free journey, I’ve been greatly inspired by the following books and give them credit for the motivation they’ve provided:
Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink, Ph.D.
The End of Overeating by David Kessler, M.D.
Food Politics by Marion Nestle
Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy by Walter Willett, M.D.
Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin
Sugar Blues by William Dufty
Nicole MacDonald lives in the Washington, D.C. area. She enjoys volunteering with nutrition advocacy groups and is currently working on several writing projects.
- Posted by Guest Blogger on January 14, 2010 at 5:00 am
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Tagged as: nutrition, Spirituality, sugar
Other posts by this author:
Thanks Nicole, I was just gently sliding off my sugarfree wagon, but this (and my grumpy mood yesterday
really motivates me to climb back on. Thanks for the booklist!
thanks a lot! sounds very familiar! And i have the same with coffee. When is top using it, that all goes well for a few months and then it suddenly gets VERY hard to do
anyone else has had the same?
Wow Nicole! good for you for kicking the white stuff out the door!What an inspiration!It’s so empowering to know that we can break any habit and be free!
The reading list is great! Thank you!
wow. that’s me to a t. i’m really motivated by your article!
Great article, and bravo to you for kicking the sugar habit. I’m inspired!
Congratulations on your freedom from sugar! About ten years ago, I also cut sugar from my diet, and even eventually became an organic baker using natural sweeteners. But even natural sweeteners can be addictive–about a year ago I had to cut ALL sweeteners (except stevia, an herbal) from my diet. I’m coming up on the one-year anniversary of life w/o sweeteners (or even fruit for most of it) and find that, as you write, it’s not that hard to adapt. For some of us, even natural sweeteners can cause problems–you’re lucky you were able to get control that way (and I’m still working on it). Look forward to reading the books from your list.
I am a little confused on I have been cutting out standard white sugar but… What is sugar… molasses is okay? Isn’t that from sugar cane? What about evaporated cane sugar then? What about agave? Where do I find out “the rules?”
Great article. Ever since I went vegan I’ve also limited my sugar intake to nearly none. I’d heard it takes about six weeks for your taste to be able to readjust to the natural sweets and become able to “detect” the presence of sugar or a sugar excess in other foods that you wouldn’t notice before. For me it was about two months. After this period, the sweets I’d used to love and be addicted to, acquired an almost artificial and disgustingly sweet taste. I could barely eat a small portion of what I’d previously devour. And I completely agree with what you said about always keeping natural sweets or snacks at hand. You almost don’t miss the sugar.
Eef: I still have a hard time with coffee. I am always quitting and then getting back on the caffeine train. I’m not too addicted, but I feel like I “need” my one daily cup. My next quit is tomororw. Let’s see if it sticks this time. And I’ll keep on quitting until I quit.
Thanks for this post. I had decided to give sugar up this year and fell off the wagon yesterday. Shows you how addictive the stuff really is and it is in nearly everything. This has inspired me to just pick myself up and try again.
Sugar is my biggest challenge! Once I get started with sweets, it’s difficult to kick the craving. I managed to do it for a month once and I felt so empowered! This blog has really inspired me to give it another try. Thanks, Nicole!
Thats great,congratulations
I went sugar-free at 16 to help my psoriasis & still don’t have it, 8 years later .
I don’t miss it at all.
If I want to make a cake or anything I will use agave nectar … you realise there are so many interesting & alive foods out there you can enjoy without compromising your health!! xx
this is awesome. my husband is a sugar addict and has struggled with it for years. we’ve switched over to a gluten-free diet and made some amazing changes. your post will inspire us to continue. thanks and good for you!
Yay! I’m so glad this is here. I love Nicole’s blog, and since I started reading it, have cut my sugar to the bare minimum. Besides great weight loss and energy, I really do feel happier and calmer too.
Thanks for writing about this. I am going to try to not have sugar again starting today! The longest I went was 21 days, then I went back to sugar. I work at a bakery, it is really difficult being around all the sweets. But my life and health are too important to keep putting that poison in my body. You are an inspiration!
Thanks for the comments, everyone! Your inspiration comes right back to me!
Ricki-I have considered going without ALL sweeteners, and I think I’m heading in that direction. I’m a little hesitant to limit myself yet again, but I still think it would be that much healthier. I would love to know more and how you finally did it.
Ellen-Great questions! For me, I had to start somewhere so I cut white refined sugar and corn syrups. I’ve had naturopaths recommend molasses because of the high iron content (and you can’t really eat that much molasses!) and agave I used but have recently decided it may be too high in fructose… I have not eaten any evaporated cane juices or other “cane” products because they seem very similar to white sugar, which is nutrition-less. I think each person has to decide where to start based on individual understanding. I could do better, of course, and quit all sweeteners, but I’m not there, yet!
Eva-Yes, my palate has completely changed. Even fruit is sometimes too sweet, now and after 2 years without sugar, I use a LOT less honey in my tea!
Ha! I struggle back and forth with caffeine, as well. I figure at this point it’s my only “vice” so I enjoy a cup of coffee a day.
Tiffany, Corinne-Awesome!
Jennifer-Wow-Still off of sugar after 8 years?! Now that’s inspiring!
Can you share some of the recipes you used in the first few weeks to help the transition? I detest dried fruit, so I’d like to find some other alternatives. Thanks!
Collette-I have to admit that in the first few weeks I baked a lot using ingredients like honey, agave and brown rice syrup. Cookies are my favorite to make, and I have a long list of recipes on my blog to the right. I also drank a lot of flavored tea with honey added and that seemed to cure some of my cravings.
I just got the cholestrol test results back from my dr. yesterday and my numbers are GROOVY!! for the first time in a very long time. I traded sugar and sweets for fruit & veggies. Sometimes I don’t believe I will ever get over the cravings.
It feels so good!!
Wonderful! I could not agree more with Nicole’s advice about reading. Research is key to keeping myself off sugar. I’ve cut it out several times and ended up adding it back. I’m so encouraged to see so many people working to keep their diet healthy.
As for the coffee thing… try Teeccino. I’ve been drinking it for a month now and have cut my caffeine intake in half. Thanks Nicole for sharing.
I can’t say enough about starting my day with green smoothies. I believe that starting my day with carbs (even healthy ones like oatmeal and a little maple syrup) set me up to want those comfort foods all day. The green smoothies regulated my blood sugar and i found myself craving vegetables and foods that gave me energy. Over the last year I have gone vegan and rarely even want “treats” that use the natural sweeteners. It has been so liberating after all those years of cravings! If your body gets what it really needs, it won’t mislead you! Thanks for a great post Nicole.
Great information, Nicole! I just began a sugary-treat detox this week and have felt great because of it. Like you mentioned, there are lots of great recipes out there using natural sweeteners which are yummy! Thanks for sharing your story and for the list of reading suggestions!
Dear Nicole,
You are so ispiraritional and I love your blog! Hope you don’t mind but I have a diet and lifestyle company and have posted your blog on my facebook page… I would love to do an all raw and green juice everyday one. Interested?
Katherine Pennington
I have lived for at least 2 years without sugar too and so was intrigued to read your blog. It was amazing rediscovering the natural sweetness of fruits and vegetables and even teas, so I didn’t revert back to sugar. What was also interesting that the acne that had plagued me for years suddenly disappeared, only to return if I should lapse and eat junk food with friends. No more lightheadness and mood swings, I think more people should try it!
Thanks so much for this article. I found out about it fro Make up and Beauty blog. I have a very big sugar issue and it makes me gain a lot of weight…You’re inspiring!
Have a fun weekend
kiss
I gave up sugar and gluten two months ago. My afternoon cravings and subsequent tiredness have totally disappeared and I love that. I feel so much better. I want to take it a step further. I want to follow a balance diet to lose weight too. What do you recommend? I took great encouragement from your post. Thank you for much for passing on the information.
I am so in awe of the willpower of anyone who can give up sugar for a year… congrats! I am probably one of the biggest sugar-fans out there, but this article along with the comments is really making me think I ought to tone down my sugar consumption. I mean, I already knew I should just for basic health reasons (and the weight loss wouldn’t hurt for me either!), but now that I’ve heard how it helps mentally I really feel inspired to cut back. Thanks!
Sugar is my weakness; otherwise I eat pretty well. Since you can still have natural sugars, going sugar-free doesn’t sound so bad. Maybe it’s time for me to try.
I am so a slave to sugar. I come from a long line of Germans that love sweets with every meal. I need help!
Karen-Congratulations!
Michelle-Teeccino….never heard of it but I’ll keep my eyes peeled!
Michelle S. and Vicki-Thanks!
Katherine-I don’t understand your question…
Naomi-I agree that natural sweetness is the best, by far.
Diane-Thanks, and I hope you can find practical/useful tips for yourself in the realm of sugar-free.
Ros-Happy to hear about the cravings and tiredness disappearing. Unfortunately, I’m not a great source of information for diet books, except for the books I listed which are very inspirational… I recommending perusing this site. I bet you come up with what you’re looking for. I actually just started reading the “Thrive Diet”….
Rebecca-Happy to inspire!
Grace-There are some natural sweeteners that I find I am somewhat weak around, depending on what I’m craving. At least my horrendous cravings for white sugar items is completely gone.
Teresa-I hope that you outline for yourself exactly what you want–and then just go for it! It’s totally possible to be of the sugar slavery. Not every moment is a pretty sight, but I’ve come a LONG way since ingesting sugar. I highly recommend the journey!
I stopped eating sugar last year and its worked out pretty well. As long as I can have natural sugars which are found in fruits, then I’m totally satisfied.
Great diary you have here. I went off sugar as well any and all kinds. The first week was difficult and now a month and few days later. I feel so good. I almost never am tired these days and that feeling is so good. My body id different and my complexion is so noticeable clear. Again, I feel good all the time!
I dabble in sugar from time to time but, I’m also aware of it’s powerful addictive effects. When I do ingest sugar in those rare moments it reminds me of why it’s not part of my daily diet.