My friend Amy wrote this amazing(ly convicting) post over on Must Love God on Wednesday. It got my circle of friends buzzing. Three of them fasted from social media over the weekend. (Much to my own dismay. It was a long weekend with my normal ways of communicating with them!) But me? I gave up sugar.
stevia plant
photo credit: hardworkinghippy
Things that you need to know about what my weekend sugar fast looked like:
- I didn’t worry about sugars that naturally occurred in food, like carbs or fruit.
- I didn’t worry COMPLETELY about the sugars that were added to some of the snacks that we already had in the house — peanut butter crackers, stuff like that — we are going to try to move away from processed food soon, but one step at a time.
- I haven’t eaten ice cream since Tuesday? Maybe even Monday.
- I literally cried when I realized that the added sugar in my husband’s granola bar made it “off limits” for me.
- I had a headache ALL weekend.
- I was sad and grumpy all day Saturday.
- I don’t dream about cupcakes, but I sure do daydream about them.
So.
The weekend is over, and I have no idea what I have learned or gained. I do know that it is too soon to give up but I really, really, really with all my heart don’t know if I can do this. I started researching baking with stevia and I am optimistic. There are some great websites that help with conversion of stevia to use in baking recipes. This is very encouraging. Because stevia is so much sweeter than sugar, something else would need to be mixed into replace some of the bulk for the recipe, and unsweetened applesauce might be a good option!
Have you given up sugar? What tips do you have for me? Were you able to keep it up long term? Are you completely, forever off sugar, or do you make exceptions for holidays? What can I expect? Is the worst over, or has it not even started yet???
Be encouraged! I know you will succeed in your endeavor if you give it to God. I am completely off of sugar {only sour fruit like black currants and cranberries, lemons and lines} and grains {but still eat grain-like seeds}, and mentally, I feel so much better! Pretty much all of the brain fog has lifted, praise God! Physically, I’m feeling better, too, but I am still cleansing in periods so I can’t attest to overall energy increase as so much of it has been going to cleansing and rebuilding.
Tips:
Body Ecology Stevia is hands down the best tasting, no licorice taste Stevia I’ve tried. Good stuff.
Also, I haven’t used it, but when I start baking again {GF}, I’m going to check into using Lankato or applesauce for sweetening. My plan is to NEVER go back to adding sugar to anything — only using fruit as sweetener.
Go you!!!
Sugar is so hard to give up. I had it mostly eliminated for a while, but it crept back in. I try to stick to raw honey and foods with as little sugar as possible and make things from scratch so I have more control over the amount of sugar. I have PCOD which has an insulin resistance component to it. Even though my blood work shows normal, sugar has always proven to be an enemy for me. Praying for you as you fight this battle.
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I’m actually starting the 30 Day Shred workout tomorrow with a friend in Nebraska and another in Pennsylvania. We are long distance accountability partners. I plan to start South Beach (again) in a few days to try and destroy the sugar monster once and for all.
That’s the plan.
Prayers for endurance, strength, self-control and trusting God are coveted.
I am SO proud of you for kicking this addiction, or desire for sugar! It is VERY hard, but it can be done… remember ALL things are possible WITH God!!! You can do it! You have the desire to do it, thus you will! Our mind is very powerful and because you have set your mind to doing it, you will accomplish it. Yes, you will have set backs or days when you just eat bad, but your daily lifestyle habits will have changed and that is what is most important. You have a headache now because your body is detoxing/going through withdrawals basically. Soon, your body will GET a headache when you eat a bunch of sugar!!! That is wild when the table turns and you feel sick when you eat junk. You will be able to track your body and also KNOW what God desires for you to eat! It is such a great feeling “FEEDING YOUR TEMPLE” the way God intended!
I bless you in your journey! We are here for you, cheering you on.
Here is a sugar article for your readers, to help them know how sugar can harm their health. http://younglivingoillady.com/home/sugar-and-your-health/
Big hugs!
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Thank you so much for your comment, and the email.
I am always thinking of more questions.
Your support means SO much to me!!
I’ve never thought about giving up sugar, so I can’t help you with that – but I’ll pray for you while you make this decision!!
I took a fast from social media this weekend – and it was really nice
Seems like I am one of the only ones in my circle of friends that DIDn’t fast from social media… Haha!!!
And thank you for praying. I know it will be a long road.
I gave up sugar several years ago to deal with blood sugar issues and was successful for months. My cravings even went away. But I slowly slipped back to my old bad habits.
I have been trying to if not give up at least cut waaay down, on sugar for several months. Unsuccessfully.
I feel your pain.
We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
And tomorrow is a new day.
Mmm. YES – need this reminder!
Where are you on your journey/ struggle right now? How can we encourage each other?
So you’re cultivating a new set of tastebuds?! superawesome.
Cold turkey = unsuccessful for me, but plenty of people do it just fine. If you are already past the headaches, HIGH FIVE! KEEP GOING!
I adore you!! *giggle* You used my WORD!!
Thank you for your support.
Still going strong – ish. Even with the sickness, which may or may not be related.
The headaches, yes, but — not pervasive anymore. Woo-hoo!!
My dad stays away from sugar as much as he can (says it makes him itchy… anyway) My mom has been baking with honey for years, and most recipes work well with honey. Usually use 1/2 the amount of honey that the recipe calls for. He doesn’t worry about sugar in things like ketchup or bread, but does bring his own maple syrup to restaurants!! (for pancakes… he’s a truck driver).
Sugar makes him itchy? Wow. That is interesting!
I am very intrigued about honey. I would have thought that it would affect the body the same way.
I definitely do NOT know enough about all of this!!
Yeah, it’s kinda weird, but he’s been that way for years. So he doesn’t exactly stay away from sugar for “health” reasons, and I’m not sure honey is *that* much better for you, although it does have lots of good things in it (same with maple syrup). It’s still a sweetner, but it doesn’t make him itchy, and for him that’s the biggest thing. He does cheat sometimes if he’s been feeling ok, and “really wants something” lol so he is maybe not the best example!! lol
YES YOU CAN DO THIS!! (I’m not yelling at you…I have both hands on your shoulders and I’m looking you dead in the eyes.) You really really really really can. Take it slow. Give yourself grace. Take it just for today. Then just for the next day. Don’t focus on what you’re NOT having… focus on the good food, find things to eat that are crazy delicious but healthy. (Like a grape tomato, basil, feta cheese salad or something else you love) Realize that it doesn’t have to be sugar-laden to be yummy. Drink lots of water. The cravings are just cravings…they’ll ease up once you get the sugar out of your system.
AND, it doesn’t mean you’ll never eat another cupcake in your life. What it means is that when you hang tight and get through it… well, cupcakes will still be delicious, but they’ll also be so overly sweet you’ll find a little goes a long way. And you’ll start to taste the sweetness in carrots, and other natural foods.
Herbal teas sweetened with honey help too. Or if you can find a tea with stevia leaf in it already you might not even need the honey.
You can do this! Jillian Michaels said, “I didn’t say it was going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it.” And it will… You can do it! Give yourself grace. You don’t have to do it all at once, or overnight. It’s a process and a journey just like everything else. Just keep trying, keep re-starting for however long you need to. You can do it!
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Um, wow. That was long. Didn’t mean to write a book! LOL.
Michelle recently posted..He Thinks I’m Funny…
Girl, you can write me a book ANY time.
I love you.
Thank you for being so inspiring and encouraging.
*hugs*
The headaches are the WORST. I’ll be going through them in the next few days. Once you get through the cravings for sugary things
Honey is another good natural sweetener. Thick enough, too that you might not need anything else to help bulk the product.
I love you friend. Thanks for the sweet words about the post on Wednesday. The eating plan I am looking to be on by April? It’s called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Super restrictive, but super healthy. I have been told that it is THE best eating plan to be on to drop some weight, plus it’s extremely helpful.
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I’m rooting for you too, Amy!!
Michelle recently posted..He Thinks I’m Funny…
Love you, lady!!
*hugs*
(This is mostly all your fault.)
Meredith recently posted..Sugar, Sugar (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh) Honey, Honey!
I’m so blessed by you in so many ways.
I’ll take the blame for this movement in our small circle. 
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