I’ve been doing a sugar detox for two weeks now. I was super nervous to start it because I’ve never done anything like this before. I was afraid that I had no self control but guess what… I’m doing it. I’m so proud of myself! It’s not as hard as I thought to pass up cookies, ice cream and warm toast with honey.

I’ve always tried to eat on the healthy side of things but I’m not a super-crazy-organic-no-sugar kinda girl. I certainly enjoy a treat now and then. I’ve noticed lately that my metabolism is slowing down and the baby fat isn’t coming off as easy as it use to. I need to stop snacking on the quick sugary carb type treats.

I played with the idea of a liver detox but the one I wanted to do was around 200 dollars. So when my mom said she was going to do this sugar detox I jumped at the idea of doing it with her. We both needed the support. It makes it easier to know that I’m not the only one suffering.

I thought I’d share this diet if any of you are looking for a healthier you. I’m hoping in the long run that I will gain more self control, eat more veggies and avoid the bad foods.

This sugar detox was develop by a local doctor of mine. He’s a well known integrative doctor around these parts. I really like how he uses healthy eating and natural methods to treat people instead of jumping right into medical medicine. www.hugorodier.com

This diet burns up sugar/glycogen stored in the liver. This is critical to adjust your metabolism.  When the liver is full of sugar, it keeps your blood sugar at a level that maintains addictions and metabolic problems. You will emerge with your sugar cravings gone.

Here it is.

BEGINNING DETOX DIET

First two weeks

Meats:  chicken, turkey, fish, canned tuna/sardines, eggs. No red meat, pork or dairy.

Vegetables:  all but potatoes.  Wild yams, sweet potatoes are fine.  Tomatoes are OK.  Salad dressing:  make your own with lemon, garlic, olive oil, tarragon, vinegar and pepper.  Do not used bottled dressings.  Add lots of avocados and cut up everything.  No corn, no rice.

Nuts:  all nuts and seed, except peanuts.  Almond milk.

Drinks:  water with lemon, V8 juice, green tea.  Dilute Bolthouse juices (1/2 water).  Make your own carrot, celery juice or any other vegetable juice.  Almond milk.

Weeks 3 and 4:  add all fruits.  Lots of grapefruits and berries of all kinds.

Weeks 5 and 6:  add legumes (beans, peanuts, soy, edamame, soy milk, lentils).

After that:  add cereals, breads, pasta. Add ONE whole grain each week.  This is the best way to pick up on  hidden grain allergies.

General principles:

DO NOT GO HUNGRY.  Eat every other hour, if necessary.  No calorie counting. If you are full, you will stay away from the foods you are trying to avoid.

DO NOT WEIGH YOURSELF.  From now on – go by waist size.

Chew your food 12-30 times.  Then, you will reach the point of satisfaction slowly, and not by-pass it.  Also, your saliva will work better on digestion.

Drink fluids before meals.  Do not dilute digestive juices.

Eat breakfast as a king, lunch as a queen, and dinner as a pauper.

Snacks:  pulse bars (forevergreen.org) nuts, fruits – dried or fresh, carrots or any other portable veggie, protein drinks, sardines, rice cakes.

Plan ahead so that you don’t get caught hungry around bad food.

Recruit family members.  This diet is very hard without support.

Avoid forever:  Dairy, red meat, pork, commercial fruit juices, pop.

I think it’s been great and I have lost a couple pounds. It’s not as hard as I thought it would be. I think having support is the key. The first few days is the worst. I had this awful sugar withdrawal that made me shaky and weak but once I got past it I’ve been feeling great. I’m rarely hungry and have had plenty of energy for biking and climbing and chasing after kids. It’s important not to get caught hungry around tempting food so I even took a gigantic bowl of salad camping this last weekend.

Crazy eh?