No Sugar for a Month

I wrote this story almost a year ago because one of my New Year's resolutions was to go for a month without added sugar. In this story I explained why I did it, what it did for me, and if I would do it again. I also wanted to do a little research before I started the challenge to dig deeper. 

Sugar. What is sugar? The Sugar Association states, “[Sugar is basically] carbohydrates, along with fat and protein that are macronutrients providing the body with energy. Carbohydrates are found in all plant and dairy foods and beverages that provide your body with calories.” 

Sugar is not always bad for you but having too much of anything is never a good thing. NH.gov says, “Today, the average American consumes almost 152 pounds of sugar in one year.” Yes, 152 POUNDS OF SUGAR!!! That is 3 pounds of sugar a week.  

I am typically very cautious with how much sugar I consume. I think people need to be moderate with the sugar they eat. When I did this challenge, we had just gone through the holiday months, and I had been eating an insane amount of sugar. This is ok though because everyone needs to enjoy the holidays and have some cookies! After I indulged for a bit, it was time to get back on track. I decided it would be an interesting challenge to see if I can go a full month, 31 days, without added sugar.  

I did make one exception. I was allowed to have bread which has two grams of added sugar. I did this because I needed it for some of my meals, I don’t really eat bread that often, and it’s just bread. 

Why did I decide to go without added sugar for a whole month? 

One of the reasons I decided to go without added sugar for a month is because I thought it would be a fun challenge!! I also know that sugar has many negative side effects, such as making you more sluggish, tired, and stressed. I wanted to see if I could do it, I personally believe that sometimes we get too comfortable with our everyday schedules and we need to add a little spice. 

I definitely battle with stress because I take my schoolwork extremely seriously. So, I was looking for anything that could possibly decrease my stress levels. I wanted to test this theory for myself. Does sugar actually make me more sluggish, tired, and stressed? Will I even feel a difference in my mood? Can I do it? These are just a few of the questions I wanted answers to. 

Does sugar actually make me more sluggish, tired, and stressed? 

Through this experiment, I found that more sugar meant less energy. When I eliminated sugar, I felt less bloated, more energized, less tired, and so much more. Also, since sugar is addictive, the more sugar you eat, the more sugar you crave. This meant that after a few days of no sugar, I didn’t even miss it. I don’t really feel like I noticed a change in my stress, but that may just be me. 

Will I even feel a difference in my mood? 

I felt a difference in my mood immediately. I felt more alive and motivated. 

Can I do it? 

Yes, I can! And... you can too. I know it sounds hard, but that is why you have to break it down. Start with a day or two without added sugar and work your way up. I’m not saying to completely eliminate sugar all the time because trust me, I love sugar and dessert, but I also loved this challenge because it reset my body.  

Overall: 

The main takeaway is not that you should take a month off of sugar, but instead to be aware of your consumption and know what you are putting into your body. We need sugar to survive, but we don’t need as much sugar as most Americans are consuming.  

I loved this challenge and I ended up doing it again for 60 days just a few months later.  

On the other hand, I don’t see myself doing this challenge for a third time because I’ve experienced what I wanted to experience, and if I ever did this again it would probably only be for a few days. I wanted to stretch myself beyond what I knew I could do. I knew I could go a few days without sugar, but could I go a month? 

This is your sign to stretch yourself, take yourself out of your comfort zone, and find something that challenges you and helps you grow. Just remember, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!