Originally posted in 2011.  Maybe you need some sugar free inspiration as much as I do.

On Sept 19, 2009 I gave up eating sugar.  Actually, that’s not entirely accurate.  I gave up sugar on Sept 10th, and Sept 16th, and twice on the 17th.  It wasn’t until Sept 19th that it stuck!  Over the next nine months as I explored savory foods (and fruit), my energy level skyrocketed, my glycemic response stabilized and I lost over 20 pounds, mostly belly fat. 

I’d been thinking about limiting my sugar intake for two years.  A number of things helped me finally tackle it.  One was a yoga retreat where I realized that none of the delicious dishes prepared for us contained sugar.  Another was Daniel Amen’s book “Change Your Brain: Change Your Body.”  He writes about the ways specific brain deficiencies can derail our plans for greater health.  For many, reducing sugar intake is only possible with advance planning.  If impulsive behavior is the obstacle, a refrigerator stocked with healthy food -- a wide variety of vegetables, washed, prepared and ready to eat, can be an important part of your healthy eating plan. Plan to shop for groceries, and schedule time to prepare your meals before you get hungry.

Perhaps your key is proper hydration, or regular sleep, or exercise.  Dr. Amen recommends all of those plus 7-10 servings of vegetables and fruit a day.  I can tell you from experience, it’s a lot of food.  The fiber cleans out your system.  The nutrients keep you strong and calm.  Planning and preparing the vegetable snacks gave me something to think about to take my mind off the sugar!

Tools and inspiration:

Check out this link to the New York Times article “Is Sugar Toxic.?”  The article is comprehensive. 

The USDA has a new site.  The food pyramid is gone, replaced by a dinner plate showing the proportions of food we should eat for better health.  Like Weight Watchers, they recommend half of each plate be vegetables and fruit.

USDA My plate.gov

I never thought I could do it, but I stayed off sugar for 18 months.  Now I’m looking for more inspiration to do it again.