I have always had a sweet tooth. My parents did not give us a lot of sugar and candy, but I found ways. I remember sneaking raw sugar to eat as a child, and trying to cover it up when I accidentally dropped the entire sugar container and it broke on the floor, spilling sugar everywhere. When there was nothing else, I even remember smuggling carob chips to eat in my room in the dress pockets of one of my dolls. The point is, I have always liked sugar.
I also have cut out added sugar quite a few times and know how much better I feel without it. I sleep better and wake feeling more rested when I'm not snacking on sweet things in the evening. My energy improves without having the spikes and drops between each sugar fix. My digestion is much better. There are few things that don't feel better after I decrease sugars.
The great thing about going off sugar is that after a few weeks, I realize that I don't actually need things to be that sweet. This allows me to maintain it for long periods. Generally, when it comes back into my diet it's a slow, insidious process. It starts with a dessert at a party, then maybe Nelson brings home leftover treats from work, then the holidays come and treats are everywhere. It's so slow that I don't even notice when I start craving sweet things again, it just happens. But, once I realize the amount of sugar I'm having in the day, it means it's time for me to focus on getting it out and retraining my palette to appreciate subtle sweetness again.
This is the ideal time to do that, just as the Halloween leftovers run out but before the holidays make it too difficult to avoid sweet treats. I'm not going to avoid all sugars (I'm not worried about fruit, as I'm not the type to overindulge in it), but I will avoid added sugars.
I also have cut out added sugar quite a few times and know how much better I feel without it. I sleep better and wake feeling more rested when I'm not snacking on sweet things in the evening. My energy improves without having the spikes and drops between each sugar fix. My digestion is much better. There are few things that don't feel better after I decrease sugars.
The great thing about going off sugar is that after a few weeks, I realize that I don't actually need things to be that sweet. This allows me to maintain it for long periods. Generally, when it comes back into my diet it's a slow, insidious process. It starts with a dessert at a party, then maybe Nelson brings home leftover treats from work, then the holidays come and treats are everywhere. It's so slow that I don't even notice when I start craving sweet things again, it just happens. But, once I realize the amount of sugar I'm having in the day, it means it's time for me to focus on getting it out and retraining my palette to appreciate subtle sweetness again.
This is the ideal time to do that, just as the Halloween leftovers run out but before the holidays make it too difficult to avoid sweet treats. I'm not going to avoid all sugars (I'm not worried about fruit, as I'm not the type to overindulge in it), but I will avoid added sugars.
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