The 21 Day Sugar Detox, Part III: Change is Inevitable

I don't always have a plan about what I'll write in these posts. Usually an article inspires me or something eventful happens and I can relate it directly back to what I am eating (or not eating) at the time. And sometimes, like most recently, I'll have a random breakthrough about what the meaning of life is. This time it came to me in yoga when I was desperately trying to get deeper in my crescent lunge.

Randomly this thought came into my head: This life is not about feeling comfortable or constant. Perplexed, I thought how most of the personal efforts in my life have been to make myself feel more comfortable: stay at the same university for graduate school because I know the area and it just makes sense, or in this case eliminate sugar to reduce uncomfortable cravings. I'm not saying my efforts aren't valid or smart, or make sense, I'm just realizing that these efforts have been mainly practiced to keep a homeostasis. And though science may argue that the body wants to be in a state of constant homeostasis, the heart craves change and periods of instability. That's how we grow.  What is life if we constantly deal with the same challenges over and over? It's boring. At least I think so.

So in my effort to stabilize my mood, sugar, cravings, weight, I had to change something to stabilize something else. That means, change is inevitable. And I need to welcome it instead of resist it.

So yes, my 21 day sugar detox is over... it ended on January 21st. But it still sticks even now as the middle of February approaches. Maybe thats because changing back into old habits takes more effort than sticking with new changes. And instead of being overwhelmed, I've welcomed even more changes into my life. I am starting a Crossfit foundations course on March 2nd and I have welcomed a new relationship into my life that I truly believe will lead to the betterment of myself.

The 21 Day Sugar Detox wasn't just a way to change physically and mentally, it was a catalyst for other changes that my heart wanted but was scared to make. Like they say, "your journey starts with one step".

21 Days Without Sugar, Part 2: I Met a Man For Coffee and Had a Revelation

Yesterday, I met a man for a coffee date and since the conversation was boring and the coffee was lackluster, I was staring at this man's mouth move while simultaneously listening to every other persons conversation in the cafe. 

The lady behind the counter, who I'm guessing was the owner of this establishment, was talking to the other barista about how she no longer takes any sugar in her coffee. She went on to say that she was dismissing the sugar in her then sugary coffee like it didn't really count. And that she'd rather have sugar "where she could really see it, like in a pastry". And right then and there, she cut sugar out of her coffee. 

And then I realized, not less then a month ago, I couldn't imagine my coffee without sugar. 

And then I thought about that time over Christmas break where I tried Stevia at a friends house and even though it is supposedly a million and fifty times sweeter than sugar, I found myself adding like 3 more packets to make it taste the way I wanted. And it still didn't work. 

And just now I thought about how many coffee and sugar references I've made in these last two posts. And I'm sorry about that. And I'm also sorry for all the run on sentences. 

But back to this lady and her sugar revelation. What she was doing while referencing sugar, was referring to those little things that creep up on you. Those things that happen when something becomes so second nature to you that you don't even notice it. 

I realized this was me. With sugar. And with so many other things, I'm sure. So here I am again, realizing that food can lead me to the center of so many bigger issues. Like feelings. Like things you brush off your shoulder because you are just so used to feeling a certain way. 

I am on day 14 of my sugar detox. 7 days left. But I won't go back to sugar. I will go back to wine... and vodka. But not the white stuff. 

And since I know you are dying to know, I will not be going on another date with the man mentioned above. Even if his doppelganger was Tom Cruise. 

21 Days Without Sugar: Part I

We all do it. Even if you don't think you do, you probably do. Numb yourself, I mean. Try to desensitize your body's deepest feelings and desires- with alcohol, drugs, sex, sugar. And, ok, I'm not saying its a big deal if you have a teaspoon of sugar in your coffee everyday or a cookie before bed time. I'm all about moderation. In fact, I think moderation in all aspects of life is key. 

That was dramatic. 

Anyway, by eliminating sugar my hope was to dispel a feeling that I have always dealt with.
Only time will tell. 

It's day 5. I've felt... okay. My head hurts in the morning and I feel like I need a little something after meals. But I breathe through it and the craving subsides.
I will be posting my progress. 


But this post isn't about moderation it's about elimination. Because every now and then we need to completely ELIMINATE some things from our lives. For a time or forever.  I certainly feel like something's are not worth keeping around. 

This is why I decided to do Diane Sanfilippo's 21 Day Sugar Detox. Admittedly, I can think of other things I should probably eliminate. My Facebook. My inordinate amount of shoes. You get the point. But sugar is a good starting place, right? I mean studies show it's linked to diabetes... And death. 

It's called being "HANGRY" 

Hungry and Angry. 

My mother can attest to this. When I get hungry you know it. My face tightens, my brow furrows, and I become very quiet. I get HANGRY!!! 

In my quest for perfect health (impossible, I know) I wanted to completely eliminate all forms of sugar and see what would happen. Would my blood sugar normalize? Could I skip a meal and those around me wouldn't fear for their lives? Could I end my obsessive Orbit habit?