Sugar - How Long Can You Go Without?

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
Dec 16th 2008 7:30AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

Sugar gives me a headache, which gives me a really killer reason to avoid the stuff. Now, I don't live a perfect sugar-free existence. If the stuff is buried in my generally-healthy food, I don't worry about it (a few grams per serving doesn't seem to mess with my head). But sticky-sweet anything -- I don't eat it. That means no cake, cookies, candy, brownies, donuts, holiday-inspired pie, you name it -- if it's considered a "sweet," it's dead to me.

Banning sweets keeps my noggin free from pain. And it keeps my body free from fat (well, from some of it, anyway). I like it this way. And honestly, I think I'll never, ever let a sweet treat pass through my lips. Not a taste of frosting, not a lick of the batter-covered spoon. It's like my own personal challenge now. I simply must emerge victorious. And I think I will -- because keeping headaches at bay is really great inspiration.

You may not have a medical reason to scratch sweets from your diet, which makes things a little more difficult. But I wonder if you think you can do it anyway -- can you go without sweets, for a day, a week, a month, a year (you can do it, Martha)? Tell me in the poll below and consider making this your own personal challenge. I think you'll like how you feel without that refined stuff coarsing through your veins. You'll likely feel less sluggish, more energetic and if weight loss seems attractive to you, I'm guessing you'll shed a few pounds too.

Comments (7)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kot 12-15-2008 @ 5:24AM

I've been "Sugar-Free" for probably 3 years now. It's really "No-Sugar Added" because I consume natural sugar from fruits, honey, milk, etc. The only time I probably consume refined sugar is when it has already been added to the food but it's not overly dramatic. Being fit and healthy is a lifestyle and not a temporary thing.

If you come to the point where you're craving sweets, try eating bananas. That might help. Good luck.

Niels 12-16-2008 @ 8:04AM

Does fruit count?
Because there is a lot of sugar in fruit.
So are we talking only processed sugars or not?

jacki 12-16-2008 @ 8:41AM

Mostly, I'm talking refined sugars. I eat a lot of fruit and the natural stuff doesn't bother me. It's the food I consider "sweets" that I ban.

Jacki

Niels 12-16-2008 @ 10:01AM

I've tried doing that for several times, obviously, it didn't succeed.
Now, I will try again, hopefully succeeding (better).
Thanks for motivating me.

gbygbygby 12-16-2008 @ 1:17PM

I haven't ever tried it. I'm not going to deny myself the a daily indulgence of the yummy stuff. Well, that's how I've felt in the past. But this article has inspired me to just go ahead and test it out. Too much sugar is bad for you I know, and I probably get more than a fair share of the white stuff. I'm gonna do it for my health. I have cut down before. Limiting myself to enjoying a sweet or two on the weekends but NONE at all???! And I'll admit I'm sort of an addict. I'll see how long I can go. I can be pretty disciplined too....

Drewboy 12-16-2008 @ 9:10PM

I went without sugar for a month and a half on the Atkins induction diet. I was felt sick for the first three or four days of the diet but I was pretty surprised by how nicely I felt after that. Recent news headlines have likened sugar's addictivity to cocaine or heroine and I guess I can't disagree that it is addictive like those. However, I recently consumed a huuuuge bag of jellybeans at the office in the course of three days, and made myself sick nearly to the point of vomiting from it. You know what? I think I'm going to try and cut my sugar use way back - I felt better without it.

Bev Sklar 12-20-2008 @ 11:45PM

Jacki,

I feel waaaay better without refined sugar. I've done it before for over a year, now I'm in the midst of cutting way back. Thanks for the kick in the rear.

Bev