Saying Goodbye To Sugar
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Goodbye’s can be sad and often hard.
While this goodbye has been hard, it’s definitely not a sad goodbye. Honestly I feel more like punching sugar in the face as opposed to waving my hanky at it with a tear in my eye while sailing out to sea on the QE2.
I won’t bore you with all the details of my health issues or why I feel the need to give up sugar other than to give you a broad overview in case something I write about may help you with your own life.
In 2005 I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and though I am cured now I still have many issues that the Doctors don’t really see as a problem. Things like chronic fatigue, allergies, insomnia, digestive issues and others. Recently I have been diagnosed with chronic Endometriosis which is hugely painful and I am currently on hormone suppressing medication to try and cure that.
Oh the joy. 
I think most people are beginning to understand the effects of sugar on our bodies and why one might be inclined to do such a thing. In trying to feel better and be healthier I feel the best thing I can start to do is reduce the amount of sugar in my diet.
If you’d like to know more about my personal ‘why’ you can ask but I don’t want this series to be a boring one about my medical issues.
Just know that I am known for being a person who, when dining out, looks at the dessert menu first to see what main course I can fit in.
I have tried to limit my sugar intake over the years and I have tried going cold turkey but unfortunately I always lapse.
The only times I’ve been able to not eat sugar is when I’ve spent 10 days at a health retreat where they made all my meals and wouldn’t even give me fruit as I was trying to give up sugar (thank goodness for the Vitamin C tablets I had with me for when I needed a sugar hit )
But as soon as I left the retreat I was back on the sugar the first day I was released. I’ve been to this retreat twice and for me it’s just not cost effective to keep going back!
I did some research about at home programs and I have decided to give the “I Quit Sugar” program a go.
I have also joined a Facebook group of people who are doing the same program or similar so that I have some support for those times when I need a hit of sugar.
My reasons for choosing this particular book:
- It’s downloadable. There’s no waiting to receive it and I can read it on my iMac, iPhone and iPad
- It is supposed to be actionable as well as giving the theory behind the process
- It follows an 8 week timeframe for giving up sugar. Studies that people always quote regarding setting new habits always seem to say that it takes somewhere between 3 to 8 weeks to make a habit stick. So hopefully this means not eating sugar will become ingrained.
- Sarah Wilson has been successful in giving up sugar. The process she shares in this book is based on her experience and research. I know everyone is different but I’m willing to try something that has worked for someone else.
Week 1 of I Quit Sugar
Week 1 is about cutting back on your sugar intake.
For me this will take the form of:
- No adding sugar to my hot beverages
- No eating chocolate bars or candy
- Limiting my bread intake
- No drinking soda
I’m excited but nervous about how I will go.
If you’ve had any experience with this I’d love to hear about it!
Read the rest of the journey:
Barb March 11, 2012 at 11:30 am
Hey Casey, way to go on quitting sugar! I’m a lifelong sweetaholic myself
I’m currently on a yeast-free, sugar-free, gluten-free diet, which has been a bit of a challenge, to say the least…though now that I’m almost 6 weeks into it, it hasn’t been as hard as I thought it would be. But that’s only because healthy sugar substitutes like Stevia and Xylitol have saved my butt LOL! I’ve had to get back into baking to make my own cookies, but that’s ok, since I know exactly what I’m eating and it’s way healthier. Interestingly, one of the things I miss the most is mayonnaise. The healthy version I used to buy has honey in it. 
I may have to make another attempt at making my own…the first try was erm, less than successful! Hang in there and make sure you try some of the alternative sweeteners. Just don’t use aspartame – it’s a really nasty excitotoxin!
Casey Stevens March 13, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Thanks Barb
Nice work on your challenge! I eventually want to go gluten free as well but I don’t know that I could it all at the same time :p
I have Stevia for when I want coffee but I don’t like it so for me it’s easier to just not use a sweetener.
It’s amazing what has sugar in it, for me things like bbq sauce and sweet chilli sauce are big ‘have to stop eating’ foods
I love the idea of being sugar free, I’m expecting to feel ahhh mazing :p but it’s hard lol
Sarah Nicole Reyes March 11, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I love sugar but am really trying to cut back! I too started with taking it out of my drinks. I drink mostly water now, and have tea every night sans any sugar. My favorite tea right now is peppermint and chamomile combined. I feel like the the peppermint gives me the “sweet”. What is your favorite tea?
Casey Stevens March 13, 2012 at 2:06 pm
My favourite tea is Chai Sarah, thought I mostly drink peppermint and lady grey during the day.
I recently found a cinnamon ’tisane’ (I’m still not 100% sure that means) which is basically cinnamon pieces which you can brew on their own for a delicious drink or you can add to other teas! I’m loving it and also it’s good because cinnamon is supposed to help cure sugar cravings
Peppermint and chamomile combined sounds like a good night cap
Mama Eryka August 11, 2012 at 11:16 am
Quitting sugar is… very tempting in a way… but it sounds also hard, if not impossible!
for a while at least 
Every once in a while I decide to change something in my diet… maybe one day I will take up a challenge
Casey Stevens August 11, 2012 at 6:53 pm
It is tough to quit the sugar!