Break ups are difficult. And this one was too. But I have to say, this one has been the most rewarding.
My torrid love affair with sugar gave me great highs and crashing lows. It wasn’t long before I became aware that it is so unnecessary.
The body gets the required amount of sugar from vegetables and fruit. Added sugar in any form is just going to get converted to fat, give you bad skin, cause headaches and contribute to tooth decay. Here are 146 reasons why sugar is bad for you.
As you grow older, you realize that your metabolism is not the same any more and there are some changes you need to make. When I decided to revamp my lifestyle, I knew that the best thing I can do for myself is eliminate sugar from my daily diet. Today, I take my coffee/tea without sugar, I do not drink soda or canned juice, I do not eat sugary cereal, candy or cookies and I eat dessert only occasionally. Still a long way to go because sugar is sneaky and creeps in to the diet in many hidden ways but at least I am not consuming anything with added sugar in it. That includes ketchup, packaged soups, sports drinks, chips, wafers, cookies, crisps, juices. All gone from my diet.
Was it easy? Well, fortunately I do not have a sweet tooth really so it isn’t really a big deal. But I know it is difficult for some to part with sugar.
Here are some tips:
The key here is to understand why you crave sugar in the first place. Is it the taste? Is it the stress eating? Is it the momentary high? Sugar releases dopamine into your blood stream and that is what gives you the high.
- To combat the craving, add the following to your diet. Things that release dopamine naturally. Almonds, banana, coffee, dark chocolate, apples.
- A healthy, hearty breakfast will keep cravings away. Include fiber, protein and fat.
- Drink more water! Yup, the age old rule. You just can’t avoid this. You can flavour your water with apples, cinnamon, mint, lemon, cucumbers.
- Take a walk. Whenever you find a craving creeping up on you, take a walk around the building. Clear your head.
- Stop being harsh with yourself. The journey to breaking up with sugar is not easy, so if you fall off the wagon a few times, forget, stand and keep walking.
Here’s to being a better version of yourself and eliminating bad things, one at a time. You’re better off without sugar. It is just a toxic relationship.
Happy breakup, you all.
xoxo
Neha
The Lifestyle Stew 
I have the worst case of sweet tooth, never have been able to go off sugar, shall give your tips a try. Thanks 🙂
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Let us know how it goes 🙂
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Really nice post. I’ve given up most of sugar. You should try substituting milk chocolate to dark chocolate. Really good hormones too.
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Thanks 🙂 I never really eat milk chocolate. Always dark 🙂 Thanks for dropping by!
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Good tips..I everyone in my family has a sweet tooth..so I know how difficult it is to control it 🙂
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I have been trying to go sugar free but the teaspoonful sugar in the morning tea is like a drug.
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Reducing it gradually does help!
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Wow- amazing write up on sugar craving and so well explained. I am with you all the way on most of the point. I hit 40 and made a resolution to remove COKE/aerated stuff from my diet – dont take sugar in my tea/coffee n no sweet tooth either except during “those days”!!! Cheers
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That’s fantastic! How’s it going right now?
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very nice tips 🙂
https://forfoodiefamily.wordpress.com/
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Great tips! I don’t take sugar with my tea/coffee nor do I take any sodas. So I’m half way there but complete elimination is difficult because as you said sugar has a way to sneak into your diet!
P.S. Love the blog name 🙂
Aditi
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Thank you! Checking in: How’s your journey without sugar going?
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I totally supports you on this type of breakup.
As I too had the same thing 1 year before, however I too gone back to that sweet thing once in a while.
Being away from sugar do takes your effort initially but once you develop that you will be happy forever 🙂
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It’s really worth it! How is your journey without sugar going?
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very nice tips 🙂 beautiful article
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Oh the sweets, always hard to curb down. Like you even I don’t have sweet tooth, but somehow sugar creeps in somehow… Great tips 😀
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Sugar really does creep in, especially with so much packaged food around us!
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I have a healthy relationship with sugar – coke, canned juice, sugary cereals etc are not a part of my diet. I enjoy my dark chocolate and an ocassional desert. It’s a way of eating that feels right to me. 🙂
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I have been trying to cut down sweets from my life. But it is successful only for 2 days. Then I’m back to square one. Hmmph!
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Persistence is the key 🙂
How has the journey been?
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Lovely post! We are surrounded by sweets everywhere we go and these tips will definitely come in handy. 🙂
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Happy Breakup Neha! It’s crazy how processed sugar is injected in every other packed product, I guess it’s the only age old proven strategy to get people hooked and it works especially if you are an emotional eater! Boom! You are sucked in a sea of sugar laden products which become your fuel not just for hunger but also for emotional high ! So that’s a wonderful accomplishment there Neha! Great going! I have almost cleared up all packaged products off my diet, so 90% of my diet is homemade partly raw filled with grains veggies fruits etc. And I am almost 40% raw now after I experienced the immense benefits of it after keep one meal of the day purely raw, it works wonderfully on our body. Though it’s not always possible to not eat packed processed stuff when I have to I try to avoid the standard mainstream(big brands) packed products which only have credible looking labels and not the ingredients, so I go for the small local organic and holistic health focussed ones which mean natural and organic not just in labels but also in the ingredients!
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Going for small organic brands is such a good tip. They are always way better!
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Yup… totally agree. And it is stuff which I tell my own diabetic patients while neglecting myself so probably its time for me to start caring for my own self before I start winning ‘Santa Claus lookalike contests’
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Checking in! How has the journey been?
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Really breakups are difficult. But this one brings good result too .
I gave also minimised sugar use to very little
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We discovered my mom has diabetes when I was in class 6. I broke up with sugar when I was in class 11. So almost 7 years , so I am over it . Time heals you know .(Evil laughter)
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Neha a very well crafted post and a fluid read for me. I didn’t even realise when I reached the end and had learned a lot. Breaking up with sugar is tough.. But I guess I need to add it on my bucket list..
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Checking in! How’s the journey been?
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No matter how much I try, I always end up eating more sugar! Hope your suggestions here help me.
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I really don’t know if I can ever break up this way. I have a major major MAJOR sweet tooth and enjoy my desserts!!
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🙂 Maybe cutting down the quantity would help?
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I don’t think it’s so easy, though I won’t say I have a sweet tooth but can’t stay away from it too. But, yes, will definitely going to start with your tips. Very informative post and hats-off to you too to follow this, specially being a girl as they crave lots for candy, cookies, chocolates etc…
Thanks for this wonderful post.
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Glad you liked. It’s a difficult journey but so worth it.
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It was a sweet, oops, relishing post
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Wonderful post. You’re such an inspiration. I will too try breaking up with sugar now 🙂
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Checking in! How has the journey been?
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I’m such a dessert person, but this post is shaking me to reality. I MUST make some much-needed changes in my diet. This should indeed motivate me.
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Checking in! How is it going?
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Well written… I have a huge sweet tooth( not as much as my mother or sisters, but still comparably large) and it shows in how large I look
It’s a habit I can’t break… I love doughnuts and frappes.
Hopefully I’ll learn to break the habit.
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Glad you want to start this journey. How’s the breakup happening?
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Breaking up with sugar…
Thank you for this informative post 🙂
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great tips 🙂
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Glad they helped 🙂
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