Why No Sugar? {Break the Sugar Habit Challenge}

by Mandi on May 28, 2012

break the sugar habit

source: Mandi Ehman

Last week I announced that we’ll be doing a Break the Sugar Habit Challenge in June.

I’d love for you all to join me, and some of you have already said that you’re in (either enthusiastically or somewhat reluctantly, both of which I’ve experienced myself since deciding to do this challenge!), but I’m sure some of you are wondering why I would even want to give up sugar.

I mean, one look at my Yummy Desserts board on Pinterest is enough to convince any person not to give up sugar.

But there’s really no denying the fact that refined sugar isn’t good for our bodies. It’s been linked to everything from diabetes to cancer, and there are many mainstream researchers who believe it’s not just addictive but actually toxic.

Despite that research – and the way sugar makes many of us feel (bloated, fatigued and craving more) – Americans now consume, on average, more than 22.2 teaspoons of sugar a day. (source)

What This Means for Our Family

Even though our family has made some pretty significant strides in our attempts to eat healthier, eating more whole foods and less processed foods, I can clearly see this playing out within our home.

From sugar cravings in the afternoon and wild blood sugar highs and lows (for me) to requests for “treats” around the clock (for the girls), we clearly have an addiction to sugar. And to be completely transparent, I’m so addicted that it’s taken me six months to gear up for the no-sugar challenge, although the girls have – surprisingly – been on board since I first mentioned the idea back in December after reading this post at Simple Homemade.

On top of the medical risks of consuming too much refined sugar, it also has a surprising effect on energy and mood.

As someone who struggles with PMS and afternoon fatigue, I’m hopeful that eliminating sugar from my diet completely for a season, and then eating it only in extreme moderation after the challenge is over, will result in increased energy and mood stability.

To be clear, my goal is not to eliminate refined sugar completely and forever. I want to be able to enjoy Wegman’s Ultimate White Cake or the amazing desserts in my friend Shaina’s new cookbook, Dessert in Jars. But I want our sugar consumption to be intentional and not just because we can’t resist a craving or because it’s found in everything from our bread and crackers to spaghetti sauce and salad dressing.

Amy from Kingdom First Mom and I have been brainstorming together about the difficulties of this challenge and strategies for overcoming them (which we’ll share more next week!), and today she’s sharing her reasons for kicking sugar to the curb as well.

But What About Natural Sugars?

Because we want to retrain our taste buds to appreciate subtle sweetness as opposed to sugary sweets, our family will be eliminating all sweeteners, including stevia, agave, sucanat and honey. (I reserve the right to use raw honey if we catch a summer cold, though, since it’s one of our go-to remedies!)

Most natural sweeteners should still be used in moderation anyway, but they do offer a great alternative to the refined stuff, so after the sugar challenge we’ll be using these natural alternatives instead of white sugar.

However, this challenge should work for you, not against you, so if your family wants to give up refined sugar while still using natural sweeteners in various recipes, then that is absolutely a viable way to go about the challenge. Most of the tips and recipes I’ll be sharing will be 100% sugar/sweetener free, but feel free to adapt the challenge however you see fit.

break-the-sugar-challenge

More About Why

Most of this post is about my personal reasons for doing this challenge. Be sure to check back on Wednesday, when I’ll be sharing a ton of resources – including other people’s stories and some of the scientific research out there – so that you can do your own research and decide what’s right for your family.

Will you be joining the challenge? What are your reasons for wanting to give up sugar?

Mandi Ehman is the blogger behind Life Your Way. She and her husband have four beautiful girls plus one baby boy on the way, and together, they live, work and homeschool on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia. She loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

  • Halliedragon

    While i admire your willpower, im afraid my family and i could never give up sugar completely! Yes its linked to a variety of health problems, but when eaten in excess so is almost any other food (i wonder if eating excessive amounts of veggies would result in toxic levels of pesticide residue lol). I know it’s addicting…but so is tea, dark chocolate, black coffee and anything else that is eaten and enjoyed habitually. My family raises all our own meat, gardens and buys local/organic food when available, but i cannot imagine telling my husband my moods will stabilize for the better while I’m grouchy ‘cuz I’m missing my teaspoon of honey or raw sugar in my tea! I would not enjoy my children’s laments at the lack of fluffy frosting on cupcakes, maple syrup on pancakes (we live in the adirondacks), or a summer without ice cream. And if you told my husband he would live forever if he gave up sugar he would say it wasnt worth it! Yes there are benefits (and i know a lady who is very happy with her sugar-free life), but it seems that for all the trouble, deprivation, and time spent researching alternative foods that in the end simple moderation and ingredient awareness will prevent or at least moderate the worst effects of sugar consumption without limiting our enjoyment of the wide variety of delicious foods available to us! :-)

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      It sounds like your family has already found a very healthy balance, Hallie, so I agree with you that there’s probably no reason you’d need such a challenge. Unfortunately, for those of us who have sugar addictions (and it is actually an addictive substance), moderation is not always effective. For us, going cold turkey and then adding back in natural sugars in moderation is a much better option!

      Thanks!

  • http://impressyourkids.com ohamanda {impress your kids}

    Excited about this, Mandi! I’m on Day 20 {no wheat, no refined sugar, no sweeteners,no root veggies & no fruit except a handful of berries every other day} and it is amazing how my desires have changed. I have to admit that altho’ my body doesn’t need sugar as much, my emotions still do. That has been the hardest part to break–the emotional “need” for sugar. Can’t wait to join this party! ;)

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      I’m enjoying hearing about your experience as we get ready to embark on it ourselves. Our your kids/Les participating or just you?

      • http://impressyourkids.com ohamanda {impress your kids}

        Les already did it (which is why I’m doing it now) and he’s still on a modified plan (no wheat, minimal fruit/root veggies) b/c he’s trying for a weight loss goal (and he doesn’t do well w/grains anyway). The kids are not on it but b/c Les and I are, their meals have been de-sugared w/o them knowing it. :) We don’t have as much fruit around and certainly no refined sugar, wheat/grain is limited to 1-2 day not b/c I’m trying to be picky, it’s just easier to cook!

        The worst part of the whole thing was about day 4-6. I could hardly walk I was so weak. And my mind felt like I was underwater. Kinda freaked me out that I was/am so addicted.

  • http://twitter.com/AmyLNorton Amy L Norton

    “But I want our sugar consumption to be intentional and not just because
    we can’t resist a craving or because it’s found in everything from our
    bread and crackers to spaghetti sauce and salad dressing.” This sums our family’s reason quite nicely.

    So thankful to be doing this with a friend! Ha!

  • Pingback: Joining the No Sugar Challenge

  • Niki211

    I gave up all cane sugar in January. I’m ver particular and avoid ALL products that have sugar. You have to be careful reading labels as it has many other names, and appears in bread, cereal, sauces, tinned goods (even tinned tomatoes) etc. In baking I have substituted sugar for organic palm sugar – which is no relation to palm oil.
    My health has completely turned around! I have much more energy, my moods have stabilished, I’m losing weight and at 40 feel like a teenager.
    Good luck! It is worth it.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Love hearing stories like yours, Niki! I am sure that the “hidden” sugars in condiments, meat, etc are going to be the toughest part for us!

  • Jonandjazz

    I’d love to completly come off sugar. I’m afraid I’d have a hard time actually following through though. I’d like to try though!

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      We’d love to have you join us!

  • Judiescreations

    I will do the no sugar challenge. I have been on a monthly diet with some of my friends. The first month I controlled all my sugar and ate better meals. I lost 5 pounds. The next month I completely went off track and gained several pounds. Last year I gace up all sweets for a month except for an occassional one at work when there was a buffet meal. I lost 10 pounds that month. So I am more then ready to go the no sugar challenge. I will give myself permission to eat something sweet a few times so I am not totally deprived of sugar but I will excercise to make up for it.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Sounds like a great plan — glad to have you on board!

  • Esther

    My challenge will involve being even more mindful of my family’s refined sugar intake. While we already don’t drink soft drinks or juices or constantly eat candy, I want to challenge the “need” for the obligatory pre-bedtime chocolate piece(s), and to find a sugar alternative for baking and for my morning coffee. Examine the habitual aspects of it. Until I watched the 60 Minutes piece on sugar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9MH_tks_wE&feature=player_embedded) and then Dr. Lustig’s 90-minute talk on sugar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM), I never questioned how much sugar I was actually taking in over the course of the day. While I do want to retrain my/our taste buds, I would hate to have to seriously limit fruits or other more healthful sweet foods that work as chocolate/candy replacements. That said, I cannot WAIT to read everyone’s progress reports when the challenge starts. I want sweetness in my life, and I always will. Like most other things, it comes down to moderation. I predict better success for myself personally trying to achieve a healthy yet sweet nutritional life than trying to cut out all sweeteners – even those that don’t affect blood sugar and feed inflammation. Good luck, all! I can’t wait to see Mandi’s recipes, either; obviously I’m open to using as little sweetening as I can get away with while still achieving flavor in my baking/ice creams/etc.!

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Thanks, Esther — glad to have you join us!

      To be clear (and I should clarify this more!), we personally are not giving up fruit. I know that some people do approach sugar challenges that way, but it just doesn’t “feel” right to me to give up a whole food that God has created perfectly, you know?

      I’m giving up natural sweeteners (like sucanat, agave, stevia, etc) mostly because I want to learn to eat food that doesn’t require additional sweetener, although I think those are great alternatives for desserts, etc. 

  • Del Marie Riley

    Yes ma’am! You can count me in. I drink a gallon of sweet tea day sweetened with about 1 1/2 cup sugar. It’s an addiction. Last time I gave up all sugar, I lost weight, about 40lbs worth in 4 month period. I’m so excited to do it again. My husband is diabetic so he’s joining in too. Thanks for letting us in on this ride with you. Last time I did it, I did allow myself sweet tea if we were out to dinner and if there is a special occasion where sweets will be served I allow myself to have 1 small piece and nothing else. But I’m totally denying myself on those special occasions.

    • http://lifeyourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way

      Yay, glad to have you both! And I like that you’ve already decided when/how you’ll make exceptions.

  • Niki211

    Just for those people thinking it is ‘too hard’ and that they will be grouchy etc. YOU WON’T. Do the cold turkey approach.

    Within about 48 hours my cravings for sweet food had settled, interestingly I no longer had strong carb cravings either. This is due to stable blood sugars. It was not hard and it was a mental issue of thinking that this was for my health. Put it like this – if you knew a food would kill you then you would avoid it (parents of children with peanut allergies etc do)

    . Sugar does such damage to our organs that over time it does kill you. It is the evolution of such highly processed foods that has made us sugar addicts – who knew bread had sugar? What about your tinned tomatoes?

    Pure fruit is not sugar so no worries. I’m working with a registered naturopath and clinicial dietitian and she helped me with lots of recipes for sugar free baking etc.

    • Esther

      Good point, Niki! It is mind over matter. My concern would still be about sweetening coffee. I’ve even considered quitting coffee while I’m at it. Probably easier not drinking it than hating every sip. :o ) Mandi, can we share and link to recipes (on different sites/blogs) on here? If yes, I’d love to see some of Niki’s or anyone else’s they have tried and liked, and share anything I find or have already seen. 

  • Jennifer

    On board (with my 4 kiddos), mostly because we don’t eat much sugar anyway ;) !  My biggest concern?  How will I make bread?  Our favorite recipe (I grind the wheat myself) has honey in it.  I could stick with artisan breads for the month, but the kids might miss it…  What will you be doing for bread?

    • Esther

      Jennifer, a sandwich bread recipe I used to make all the time (which has lots of seeds in it) uses apple cider vinegar instead of any sugar or honey. It certainly isn’t a fluffy sort of bread, but very tasty. Don’t know if that’s up your alley?

  • Ang

    Do Sunmaid Raisins count as bad sugar?

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