Why Cutting Out Sugar Feels Terrible

There's a reason I tell all my new clients that the first couple of weeks on my dietary plan are rough. You're basically coming off a sugar addiction! There is a significant amount of evidence that shows the same changes in the brain with dependency to sugar as when someone is experiencing drug addiction. In fact, many people who are coming off one addictive substance, they tend to reach for another. Sugar is a super common, legal, and not often considered dangerous replacement. While a 30 pound weight gain is not uncommon after someone quits smoking, less than ten pounds can actually be attributed to the changes in metabolism without nicotine. The rest may be due to switching addictions! 

How do you set yourself up for success and make your life much easier when switching to a low sugar diet?

• Get plenty of magnesium, vitamin D, and healthy fats.
• Keep your stress down, and get plenty of sleep.
• Don't have sweets around the house. Convenience can be a big part of the problem. Out of sight; out of mind!
• Stabilize your blood sugar. Don't let yourself get hungry, because you will reach to the food that will fix it the fastest. 
• Stick to it! No cheat days for the first two weeks. No little slips. Make it through the first two weeks without sugar, and the cravings will go down significantly.

Remember that cutting back on the sugar is rough at first, but absolutely worth it! You'll be more awake and vibrant, lose a little weight, get better sleep, be less stressed, and be put on the right track to make healthier choices all around!