Welcome to another edition of the Fit Five Friday link-up hosted by Darlene, Renee, Jenn, Zenaida, and me!

As many of you know I finished my first ever sugar detox on Halloween (of all days!). While I definitely found it to be a little challenging over the first couple of days, overall it was a really good experience. Today I want to share a few things I learned along the way.

Five Lessons from My Sugar Detox

Sugar, sugar everywhere! — When I shared my reasons for wanting to try a sugar detox, this was at the top of my list. While I consider myself to follow a fairly healthy diet, it was truly eye-opening to discover just how much added sugar was in a lot of my favorite foods. I have now become a ruthless label reader.

Importance of protein — Focusing on my protein intake especially at breakfast and lunch really helped me to keep my energy level steady throughout the day. I struggled the first couple of days with this, but as I focused more on protein-packed meals and snacks, my energy level improved significantly.

Meal planning is a must — I cannot stress enough how incredibly important meal planning is when taking on a sugar detox. When you can’t default to your usual standbys, you must learn to get creative. It was helpful to not only plan meals, but snacks as well. The added bonus was I discovered a number of new recipes that I will continue to make.

Focus on the “cans”, not the “cannots” — Going into a detox like this, mindset is everything! If you spend the whole time focusing on what you can’t eat, getting through a detox like this will be a long haul.

Tastebuds will adjust — When I started my 2-week break, one of my concerns was getting through my morning coffee. I’m not gonna lie, that first cup (or 3) definitely took some getting used to. But fast-forward to the last day of the detox, we were facing the long drive home from visiting our college boy and after having a cup of less than stellar coffee at the diner where we had breakfast, I wanted a “good coffee” before we got on the road. We swung through Dunkin and I grabbed my usual “regular” coffee and I was so surprised at just how sweet it tasted! I ended up drinking only half of it.

I’m really glad I gave this break from sugar a try! I finished the 2 weeks feeling really good and with a lot more insight into how my body responds to certain foods.

And, while I haven’t been as strict in what I consume since the detox ended (hello wine!), I am much more mindful of my daily consumption. My husband J, who was a great sport and joined me on this 14-day venture, and I have talked about doing another detox following the holidays.

Have you done a sugar detox? What did you learn? And, if not, what do you think you’d miss eating the most?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Please be sure to link back to your hosts, and share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers!

I recently shared that one of my goals for this month is to participate in a 14-day sugar detox. After receiving some messages/questions about the detox, I thought I’d share some reasons why I’ll be giving this break from sugar a go.

Reasons to Try a Sugar Detox

Let me start with a general disclaimer that I am not a medical professional or certified nutritionist. I have done my homework, and these are a few reasons I’m interested in trying a sugar detox.

Added Sugars Everywhere

Did you know that sugar is the most popular food additive in the US? Sugar can be found in 3 out of every 4 products on grocery store shelves. And, we’re not just talking about baked treats and candy. Refined sugar shows up in a range of foods from sugary drinks (including energy drinks, flavored waters, and sweetened coffees and teas) to sauces and condiments; from bread and pasta to protein powders and bars. While I don’t consider myself a “sugar junkie” by any means, it’s easy to see how added sugar can easily creep into your daily consumption. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), added sugars account for approximately 17% of the U.S. adult diet.

A Range of Health Impacts

A high intake of added sugars is linked to a whole host of negative health outcomes, from heart disease to weight gain to depression. A 2014 NIH study found people who consumed between 17% to 21% of their total daily calories from added sugar had a 38% greater risk of dying from heart disease than people who ate less added sugar – about 8% of their total calories. Added sugars come with a lot of empty calories and zero nutritional benefits.

Some Benefits of Hitting the Reset Button

Reducing your added sugar intake can result in:

• re-balanced hormonal production
• reduced inflamation
• decreased viseral fat
• improved gut microbiome, strengthening your immune system
• improved energy level and mental clarity

The sugar detox program I’m doing kicks off on Monday – I’m looking forward to seeing how I feel in a couple of weeks.

Have you ever done a sugar detox?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday!

Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Share your fitness-related link (exercise, wellness, mental health, nutrition… the possibilities are endless!), link back to your hosts, and share the link love by visiting and commenting on your hosts and at least two other Fit Five Friday bloggers! Please don’t just drop a link.