The Sweet Life

Sugar is EVERYWHERE. It hides in various forms and we oftentimes consume sugar without even knowing it. Cookies, soda, and candy are obvious culprits, but what about yogurt, energy bars, and bread? It is all around us—and for some of us—it is delicious and addicting.

Perhaps like me, you’ve just finished a couple of weeks in which you have eaten a whole lot of tasty sugar. Don’t feel too guilty about it. But if you feel a little guilty (or bloated, uncomfortable, restless) about it, I’d like to make a suggestion.

Choose a dedicated amount of time—let’s say 21 days—and commit to eliminating added sweeteners from your daily diet.

But why?

“Research increasingly indicates that an overabundance of simple carbohydrates, and sugar in particular, is the No. 1 problem in modern diets. An aggressive, well-financed campaign by the sugar industry masked this reality for years. Big Sugar instead placed the blame on fats—which seem, after all, as if they should cause obesity.

But fats tend to have more nutritional value than sugar, and sugar is far easier to overeat. Put it this way: Would you find it easier to eat two steaks or two pieces of cake?”

Excess sugar can also cause cravings and binge eating, heart disease, insulin resistance, and more. A reduction in sugar is essential to losing weight and/or preventing weight gain.

How to make a change.

It can be difficult to reduce your sugar consumption. Wonder why you can usually find an excuse to say yes to the plate of cookies at a friend’s house or the candy jar during a meeting or the margarita or glass of wine at happy hour? Let’s face it. Sugar is addicting.

Plus, you may not even be aware of how much added sugar is in your breakfast of choice or afternoon pick-me-up latte or smoothie.

My breakfasts, for example, have completely changed. Over the past few decades, typical breakfasts in this country have become “lower-fat versions of dessert,” as Gary Taubes, the author of a new book, The Case Against Sugar, puts it.

Mine used to revolve around cereal, yogurt, and granola, which are almost always sweetened. Now I eat a combination of eggs, fruit, and some well-spiced vegetables. It feels decadent, yet it’s actually healthier than a big bowl of granola.

Eliminating added sugar will give you a new baseline—and new habits—for healthy eating and living. What will your body feel like without all the added sugar? I’m curious to find out! Are you?

Our 21-day challenge.

Most of you know my personal nutrition philosophy (and Thrive’s nutrition program) is not an all-or-nothing approach. That's why our 21-day summer sugar slash challenge is going to work for those who like to enjoy everything in moderation. While our challenge will eliminate all added sweeteners by the end of 21 days, it’s how we get to the 21st day that makes ALL the difference. Think gradual and gentle, not sudden and harsh.

Over the 21-day challenge we will learn about the top 6 sugar foes and gradually eliminate those foes over the course of 3 weeks. Our 6 sugar foes are: Liquid, Dessert, Alcohol, Grain, Fake & Natural Sugar. You will get to choose two sugar foes each week to eliminate from your diet. Some sugar foes will take time to work up to as they are harder habits to break—but the secret to success is you get to choose which foes to forego first!

Interested in securing your spot in our 21-day challenge or learning more? Simply reach out to me at thrivechooseyou@gmail.com.

Hope you will join us!