In Search of Bliss

“I feel like food cravings are controlling my life. And it’s exhausting”

It was May 19, 2016. I was in Sanur, Bali, sitting in a beautiful yoga studio made entirely of bamboo. And, in the middle of a spiritual discussion with my teachers, I’d just voiced the stress that had been plaguing me for my entire adult life.

Like most women I’ve always had a sweet tooth. And, like most women, my physical appearance is intricately linked to my identity and sense of self-worth. As a result I’ve battled food cravings for as long as I can remember.

It took me until this past year to come to terms with it due to a significant lifestyle change.

While living Down Under on sabbatical I had endless free time to concentrate on a healthy lifestyle. I worked out six days a week and was the fittest I’d ever been. I also spent most days writing in cafes, surrounded by cakes, squares and the most genius of Aussie inventions, the Nutella donut. So I wrestled with temptation daily.

Everything changed on that yoga retreat. After a week of clean eating I left feeling refreshed and totally amazing. I decided to quit sugar cold turkey – refined and added sugar, that is. Naturally occurring sugars were ok (I’m not a masochist). Six months on I can wholeheartedly say that it was the best thing I’ve ever done and here’s why:

Benefits of Eliminating Added Sugar

1. More consistent energy. I used to find that my mental and physical energy flowed unevenly throughout the day. After cutting sugar I realized there was a direct link between my energy level and caffeine consumption. After waking up I would drink my morning tea – with two large spoons of sugar – and feel more tired than before I had it. In the afternoon I’d have coffee with lots of sugar and often something sweet to accompany it and then experience a massive crash. Since eliminating sugar I’ve found that my energy level stays strong throughout the day and I often don’t need caffeine to give me a boost
2. Mentally in control. When I took the step to cut added sugar from my diet, I made a stand to control food rather than have food control me. This was the most empowering, exhilarating, and freeing feeling. For the first several weeks I was on a fantastic high. Seeing the treats at my local cafe didn’t even bother me, I had overcome their temptation. I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted that I didn’t even know had been there.
3. Become healthier. When you make the choice to cut added sugars, you make the choice

   

   to eat fewer processed foods and cook from scratch. It’s impossible to avoid as most pre-prepared sauces and meals have added sugar. As a result I found myself eating more ‘real’ food – actual fruits, veggies and nuts rather than processed bars. Homemade dinners from scratch rather than store-bought sauces. It’s more work and money, but it will make you significantly healthier as you avoid not only added sugar but salt, fat and chemicals. Added bonus – your skin will look amazing too!

4. More aware of your health. When I quit cold turkey I was really worried about the cravings. I mentally steeled myself for a tough first week. But I discovered something amazing: once you flush your body of processed sugars and all the baddies that come with it, you won’t crave it. You’ll learn that your body truly doesn’t need or want processed food. Your brain is to blame for the cravings, and your brain quickly forgets the high once it’s gone. When you eat completely clean you’ll reach a heightened level of awareness of your body’s natural rhythm and health. Then, once you do indulge in something bad for you, you will realize that it makes you feel like shit and you’ll be less likely to over-indulge. This means you will stay healthy in the long run.

So what are you waiting for?? I know, I know – it’s the holidays and delicious treats are all around. But there will always be a reason not to start. Right now is always the right time to take steps towards better health. Read this post on where sugar is hiding in your food and these 17 must-read articles if you want to cut back on sugar and take the plunge, I promise you won’t regret it!

A Word on Fat and Carbs

I am not recommending a low-fat, low-carb diet by any means. I eat plenty of natural fat and whole grains and find that this is extremely important to keep cravings at bay. It’s important when you limit sugar that the food you do eat is fully satisfying, otherwise your brain will search for what’s missing and send you down the candy aisle. Nutrition experts are starting to discover that sugar is worse for us than originally thought and possibly even worse than fat, you can read more about that here and here.

A Word on Moderation

Since my first two months of following a non-sugar diet to the extreme I have started exploring sugar in moderation, and this is where things get tricky. When we first got home it was summer and so I decided to allow myself ‘cheat weekends’. No one wants to be that girl who goes away with friends for the weekend and imposes her uber-restrictive diet on others. I found that once I allowed myself junk food I just wanted more, and staying clean during the week was much harder. Since then I’ve also explored having a small treat every couple of days and I’m not sure that’s any better as you start to lose the benefit of the ‘clean’ feeling that keeps you on track. I do believe moderation is important and it’s different for everyone. I’ve been reading Jill Coleman’s thoughts on the subject and she’s inspired me to keep going and find the right balance for me.

Have you recently taken a big step towards better health? How is it going? Let me know in the comments!