Have you ever wondered if sugar is something you should stay away from completely, or if you should just consume it in moderation? I got such a great question in my Facebook group, Remedies for Health, that touched on this idea. (If you’re not already in our group, you should come join us!)
Here is Michele’s question:
“A question for those that have been on the path to limit / remove sugar from their diet….I have been thinking for several years now that it would be better for me to eliminate sugar altogether however, I go back to that I don’t want to deprive myself completely. I have tried having a “healthier” dessert once or twice a week but slowly more sugar creeps in and I end up “living” for the days I get to have a dessert so to speak. Can anyone else relate to this? I recently did a 21 day detox and afterwards didn’t crave sugar at all. I ended up having some though and then the cravings came back. I look forward to hearing about your experiences with this. I am seriously thinking of just going for it and walking away from sugar but, just not sure about doing that!!!”
Do you relate what Michele is experiencing? I know she’s not alone here! I get this question often, especially from my 21-Day Sugar Detox participants when they’re trying to figure out what their new normal will look like for them after the detox.
I shared my thoughts in a video for the group, that you’re welcome to check out by joining us in Remedies for Health. You can also see what others in the group shared. My little community gives me all the feels when they share their thoughts and feelings with each other!
Essentially, Michele is asking if she should abstain from sugar completely. My response is… “it depends.”
We are all so different so what works for one person may not work for the next.
First, let’s think about your own personality. Do you typically do well with moderation, or do you feel like having a little bit of something can easily grow into eating a whole lot of that something?
Take a delicious chocolate bar, for example. Are you able to keep one in your desk drawer at work or in your house, and only eat one square each day? Or, do you find yourself constantly thinking about that chocolate bar, and end up downing it in one afternoon?
If you answered yes to the first question, then cool! You might be a pretty good moderator. So the occasional treat here or there, does’t derail you and send you into a sugar spiral.
If you answered yes to the second question, you may need to abstain completely from sugar. You might find that having sugary foods just keeps you coming back for more and more.
Neither one of these is wrong or right. It’s about finding and working with the best fit for you.
Michele had some great clarity around this, and realized that she moderates fairly well when the sugar just isn’t in the house. I can relate to this! If it’s in my house, I have a much harder time moderating myself. Over the years, I’ve made it a rule for myself to keep sugar out of the house as much as possible. I don’t sweat enjoying it from time to time, but I know that I can easily go down that sugar spiral easily if it’s in my daily environment.
In the group, I shared some other aspects of health to consider when deciding if abstaining or moderating is best for you. From emotional eating to our physiology, there’s a lot to consider!
Did this bring about any clarity for you? I’d love to hear from you what you discovered! If you’re open to sharing, feel free to share in the comments below. And, if you’d like to join us in Remedies for Health, simply click here and then select “Join.”
If you’ve been feeling like sugar or other junky foods are controlling your life, it may be time for a real food reset. Fueling our bodies with real food, instead of sugar, can be powerful for controlling cravings and letting you live a more vibrant life. My February 21-Day Sugar Detox group is starting February 5th and I’d love to help you create more food freedom for yourself! If you’re interested in joining me for a sugar detox, you can learn more about it here.