Halfway there

You should be really proud of yourself.

You’ve kicked the obvious sugar bombs, like cookies, candy, and ice cream. You’ve given up “white foods” like white potatoes, white rice, and other refined, processed carbs—and even “healthy” whole grains, which are all just sugar in disguise. And you’ve called it quits on fruit and other foods packed with sugar hiding in plain sight.

Now, you’ve just got to keep going. One day at a time.

Just do me a favor and go easy on yourself. Giving up sugar might be a breeze for you. But it might also be more than you bargained for. Especially in the beginning—and depending on how dependent on sugar you were before—your body could stage a rebellion.

You might be tired and achy. You might be cranky and anxious. Your brain might feel foggy. (All of this is commonly known as the “carb flu.”) But you might already feel better than ever. Everyone is different.

In any case, make sure you’re extra gentle with yourself. Plan your meals ahead of time so you don’t wind up hungry with nothing ready to eat. And make plenty of time for sleep, exercise, and meditation.

I should also be clear that I want you to avoid all sugar substitutes during the Sugar Challenge—even the natural, calorie-free ones. The point is to kick sugar—not find a new sweet crutch to lean on. So if you haven’t cut them out yet, make that your priority this weekend.

But again, this isn’t necessarily permanent. Once you’ve shown your body that it doesn’t need sugar, you can start incorporating sweet stuff back into your life in moderation. And next week, I’ll show you how to do just that.

Until then, be kind to your body this weekend. Because once you’re over this hump, it’s going to be a whole new ballgame for you… and your health.