Wrapping Up the 21 Day Challenge
I want to thank and commend those of you brave enough to accept the 21 day No Sugar
Challenge! Your commitment to yourself is definitely commendable and life changing. For many of you, it seems it’ll be a new beginning for you, like it was for me. Your comments (and results) are so heartwarming and fantastic, I had to share! Thank you for your permission to do so. I was so happy to hear from those of you willing to share.
As promised, all comments below are anonymous.
I know that some of you accepted this challenge without telling anyone, especially those closest to you, that you were doing it. I totally understand why. Many times, those closest to us can (lovingly) sabotage our efforts. You see, humans don’t really like change, especially change in other people. But you did and your results are A-MAZ-ING!
Here is what you shared with me:
- “I start by telling you that I’m more than 100 pounds overweight. I eat what I want when I want. This challenge popped up on my feed and I dismissed it for several days and finally I couldn’t dismiss it any longer. Something inside of me pushed me to read it and try it (in retrospect, I believe I was meant to see it). This was even harder than I expected it to be. I’ll be honest, felt absolutely awful through most of the 21 days. I fought with my own thoughts and I fought with my body. I felt somewhat depressed emotionally and couldn’t stop obsessing about my “go to” boxed foods that I trashed at the beginning of the challenge. My cravings were off the chart and eating fruits did nothing to satisfy me (and I ate a LOT of fruit). I had really bad headaches and was going to the bathroom a lot. I slept a lot. Sometimes I was in bed right after I got home from work around 5:30pm as it was the only way for me to turn off my obsessive thinking and cravings. Then I started moving my body more, (walking) and somehow that helped me think more clearly. And then after a couple days of walking (about 10 days into the challenge), something shifted in my mind and my body. I seemed to find more clarity and I stopped obsessing about food. I drank more water and between the mental shift, moving my body more and the water, my headaches went away and things flowed more easily. I’m now day 25 with no sugar and I’m no longer fighting with myself. And, I’m down 20 pounds. I really feel like it is the beginning of a new me! I am going to buy the course so I can get the whole program instead of just the no sugar challenge. Thank you for the challenge, it’s just what I needed to push me to take care of myself.”
- “It’s hard to believe it’s already been 21 days. The time flew by and this was much easier than I thought. I had no idea how much added sugar I had been eating in boxed and processed foods. I’ve surprisingly become a label reader. I had a few withdrawal symptoms, but overcame them through the strategies shared in the challenge. After 21 days, I’m 14 pounds lighter and feel better than I’ve felt in a long time. What’s next in my journey? I don’t know, but I’m excited about what is ahead, whatever it may be.”
- “I thought I was making the right choices, but I learned through this 21 day challenge that wasn’t the case. I was eating so much added sugar, too much! While it was tough to eliminate it, now that it’s out of my system, I don’t even miss it. My head is more clear, I’m sleeping much better, waking up refreshed and full of energy and I lost 8 pounds. I’m done with added sugar. Thank you!”
- “When I first started the challenge, I had all the thoughts in my head that I get when I start something new. In this case, I was thinking that I wasn’t going to be able to make it the full 21 days, mostly because I had been eating so poorly (added sugar with EVERY meal and snacks EVERY day). With some help I was able to eliminate most of those limiting thoughts and got rid of those mental hurdles as well as my sugar cravings. I made it the full 21 days with no added sugar. I had withdrawals but they really weren’t as awful as I anticipated. I think I’m actually over my sugar addiction and in the process I lost 11 pounds. But most importantly, it’s the beginning of a new chapter in my life. My confidence is soaring and I’m going to keep it going to see what else I can accomplish towards better health.”
- “Walking really is a good distraction from the awful sugar cravings. I no longer crave the addictive added sugar and am walking every day! I lost 7 pounds. I don’t totally get how it works, but I don’t care, I just know it works.”
- “Day 1, I threw a few things out in my pantry but not all of the pre-made boxed foods as advised. Towards the end of the first week I experienced a lot of the expected withdrawal symptoms and they were severe. I was really tired, I had excruciating headaches and in the second week I added irritability to the list of symptoms. On day 6, I started eating more fruit every day (more than I have ever eaten) and I was pleasantly surprised how it pacified my sugar cravings (cheers to grapes, berries and bananas). On day 7, I started walking to distract myself and I’ve been walking ever since. By the end of week two, all of those withdrawal symptoms were gone and I cheerfully donated my boxed & canned sugar filled pantry foods to the local Food Cabinet. My walk once around the block became two times around and I met some neighbors I never knew. By week 3, all of my withdrawal symptoms were replaced with more movement, better sleep, a clearer mind and a weight loss of 16 pounds! I had so much energy, I started walking further and further and now at the end of the challenge I’m walking a mile each day (with the intent to make it several miles in the future). I even purchased a device to monitor my steps. It’s amazing how losing 16 pounds can really put a pep in your step! I plan to practice and perfect this challenge the rest of my life.”
- “Eliminating added sugar is hard, but it works! I feel much “lighter” in mood and pounds. Lost 17 of them!”
- “During the first two weeks of the challenge, I felt like crap! I was nauseated, irritated about clearing all of the convenience foods out of my pantry, had diarrhea and I just wanted to crawl under a rock. In fact, I called in sick to work three days and even missed a night out with friends. But in three short weeks, when I got on the scale and saw that I had lost 10 pounds, I thought, “Hey there may be something to this no sugar thing!” When I looked at myself in the mirror, I noticed that my skin and hair looked better too. After eating more fruits and vegetables, I noticed that I had increased energy and a happier belly, but not at first. By the end of week 3, I am feeling pretty good. I have less bloating and more regular and less runny BMs (sorry to be so graphic). While all the tips mentioned in the blog about the challenge were helpful, the tips that worked best for me were these five: reading labels, eating only fruits and veggies every day (and lots of it), brushing my teeth more (this one is brilliant really), and walking.”
- “The 21 day challenge went quickly with no withdrawal symptoms to speak of for me. The upsides were weight loss and I feel so much better. I sleep so much better as well. There was no special food to purchase, only avoid any added sugars. This could put all of the special proprietary weight loss plans out of business! Thank you!”
- “When I started the challenge, my size 10 jeans did not fit me. At the end of the challenge, I could get them on easily without sucking in my stomach – yes! I am happy to report that I feel so much better and I lost over 10 pounds just by not eating added sugar. It makes me think about what I might be capable of if I kept it going. Maybe size 6 jeans?”
- “This may be TMI, but all this fruit gave me the runs. I suppose that’s a withdrawal symptom? I guess I really needed the no sugar detox and it cleaned me out no question there. Now that it’s over, everything is back to normal (if you know what I mean) and I’m still not eating added sugar. I’ve replaced all that added sugar with natural sugars and they are so filling and delicious. I don’t remember my fruit tasting so good or sweet before. I lost a total of 9 pounds. The human body is a self healing machine! I had been cruising along not really paying attention to what my body was trying to tell me. But I think I understand now. And going forward I am going to be a better listener. Turns out my wife was right…I do have selective hearing.”
- “I know this challenge was about not eating sugar but one of the best lessons I took from this challenge was the value of drinking more water. I had no idea I was so dehydrated, and I also had no idea that drinking more water could help me get over a headache without an over the counter pain reliever. I noticed my skin improved like crazy. Maybe because of no sugar, maybe because of more water. Maybe both. I lost 6 pounds.”
- “This was really hard. I guess because I have earned through this challenge that I’m a sugar addict. I drink too much soda, too much alcohol and I don’t really cook. I struggled with the whole challenge and tried to quit several times. The hardest part was figuring out what to eat! And no soda, not even diet soda? – blasphemy! But my friend at Noble Alchemy helped me over the hump and made it really simple by reminding me to eat fruits and veggies (most of which just need washed before eating which doesn’t require any cooking skills). As for withdrawal symptoms, I threw up once, had really bad headaches and slept a ton. Those people closest to me tell that I was really grumpy, but I didn’t think I was grumpy, just sleepy. Also, I hate exercising so on day 7 when “moving the body” was introduced, I wasn’t on board. However, I pushed myself and started walking on the trails around my neighborhood. I’m so glad I did. I met a handsome and fit man and now we are walking together. I stopped drinking soda, stopped eating fast food, threw out all the yummy easy to prepare foods in my pantry and freezer and I’m walking every day. While better than nothing, I only lost 4 pounds. However, I did cheat (I know, I’m only cheating myself), so my 21 day challenge will continue given I snuck a cookie and muffin along the line.”
- “I purchased a juicer and got a dog!”
Thank you all for sharing your experiences. Thank goodness the withdrawal symptoms are only temporary while you flush the system of all the sugary sweet treats you had been eating-right?
I’m so happy to hear so many of you are moving your bodies more. I especially loved all the comments about finding mental clarity and the comments about getting a dog and drinking more water. AWESOME! In total, 125 pounds were lost during this challenge (based on those who were willing to share their weight loss numbers). The best thing is that so many of you are wanting to make this a new beginning in terms of changing your eating habits! Hats off to you!
While this is your journey, I might be able to give you some tips that can help you along the way.
The journey to a healthier, happier you is so worth it. I know—because I lived it. I stopped chasing skinny and started focusing on my health—and that single shift changed everything. I lost 140 pounds, but more importantly, I found clarity, energy, and a life that finally feels like mine. I share the whole story in my book. Click HERE to learn more.
