21 day sugar detox

[Purple2012]

I am getting towards the end of my weight loss goals but think I need to change my diet. I am currently exercising a lot and calorie counting.

I don't have a very varied diet. I drink either diet coke, water or no added sugar squash. I love bread, pasta etc.

I am considering doing a 21 day sugar detox but worried that it will be too drastic for me.

Has anyone done this and could you tell me what it's like please?

Cutting out refined sugars from my diet made me feel great! Last year my husband was diagnosed with diabetes, which meant that he had to dramatically change his diet. The biggest change was that we had to cut out all refined sugars from his meals. Out of solidarity I decided to do the same for myself. It just didn't seem right for me to be indulging in cake and chocolate when he couldn't. The weight loss results were amazing. Within eight months we both lost close to two stones, and after just one month I had lost any craving for processed foods with lots of refined sugars added. These days I reach for the fruit bowl when I need a sweet (but nutritious) treat, and I never feel deprived. I think a refined sugar detox is an excellent idea, and if it is something that you would like to carry on with, I recommending checking out The Food Doctor 10 Principles for healthy living - they worked for me. Good luck!!

there's no such thing as detox of course, the body does it anyway.

However eating fewer cakes and biscuits, not drinking anything that doesn't come out of the tap and eating more veg and good carbs will always be good.

I would be interested in cutting out sugar, as I am a real addict and I know it's doing me no good whatsoever.

I'm impressed by your story Winnie, did you go cold turkey and cut it all out at once, or do it gradually?

My diet is similar to yours OP, I crave carbs a lot and struggle to break the cycle.

Thanks Lexie, I went cold turkey on the refined sugars straight away, but never felt bad about reaching for a nice piece of fresh fruit. Not having sweets or cake in the house made it so much easier to curb any craving, especially in the early days.

I I admire strong people like you WinnieF. For me it's so hard to start! Could you please give example of one typical day and what you eat. Thank you

Why don't you have a look at the Bootcamp threads, OP?

I am low-carbing and have been for over a year - weight loss is only ONE of the benefits. Blood sugars stable, IBS sorted, skin clear, eyes bright, energy levels high - all this from cutting down carbs. I never had a sweet tooth anyway, but I heartily endorse the theory that Sugar (and refined carbs) makes you FAT and it does nothing for you at all.

And def lose the 'diet' drinks - they provoke an insulin response in the same way sugar does, and they will leave you hungry and thirsty - and the are FULL of chemicals that are potentially harmful.

Thanks captain I know I need to lose the diet drinks. I think a sugar detox is too drastic. I think I will Google low carb and see if it is something I can do.

I'll find you the new Low-carbing thread (there's a new bootcamp starting soon) which has loads of info on it. You don't have to join, but the information is so interesting and may change your 'diet' thinking - it did mine.

(PS sugar makes you fat!)

I've just read a very interesting book called "sweet poison" about just how bad for you refined sugar is. (Had a similar conversation to the one above with a rl friend and she lent me the book) It might be a good motivator if you're thinking of cutting out sugar. I'm on day three of no sugar so it's a little early for me to give any real info.