Thanks to my friend and 21 Day Sugar Detox challenge. Not sure if it’s an official “challenge” but it does sound challenging. Right?
For some reason I like the idea of doing something for 21 days versus 30 days. Much more attainable. It may seem extreme to eliminate ALL sugar from my diet for this long, but to be honest it’s not that different from the way I currently eat which is Paleo.
The problem is I’m not 100% Paleo and the occasional cheat is most likely more often than not. I come from the philosophy that eating (and drinking – hello wine) certain things in moderation is a reasonable guideline. Unfortunately this doesn’t always work for some people (like me) and each person has their own version of moderation.
For example, the past few weeks I’ve been back on track with meal planning and preparing and eating healthy food. But every night this little voice in my head says -feed me chocolate!!
Just a little piece can’t hurt – right? Before you know it, the two hidden “emergency” Vosages chocolate bars had vanished. Yes I hide my fancy chocolate. No sharing around here.While consuming small squares of gourmet chocolate daily may be perfectly acceptable for many, my body doesn’t appreciate the extra calories and sugar.
How can I tell? My food intolerance notoriously appears in my butt, hips, legs and arms in the form of fat. I’ve been feeling majorly bloated as in>>> I can’t button or fit into most of the clothes currently hanging in my closet. All while I’m hitting the gym 4-5 days per week and sustaining from drinking my beloved glass of red wine during the week. This has been scaled back to 1-2 glasses over the weekend. Talk about control and deprivation!
Don’t even get me started on all the supplements my naturopathic doctor has me taking – probiotic, digestive enzyme, adrenal support, biotin, iron, omegas, DHEA and more. There has to be a deeper rooted issue why my body isn’t responding. And PS – I’ve had every test known to mankind on my thyroid, hormones, adrenals, candida, nutrients. I’ve lost count and have a file folder 2 inches thick of paperwork. Trust me – I’ve done everything I can think of to crack the case of mysterious weight gain.
Except eliminate certain foods from my diet….
After reading JoLynne’s success (she lost 10 pounds), I took a closer look to see what was different about the 21 Day Sugar Detox. Am I missing something? That’s when I realized that my version of moderation was probably getting the best of me and my metabolism. Obviously eating Paleo 80% of the time is not working and something I’m eating must be a trigger.
Since starting this thyroid and hormone journey, the only thing I haven’t really gone hard core with is my diet. It’s time to get serious and figure what could be causing the weight gain I’ve experienced even in the past year. Plus, I’m really tired of thinking and obsessing about why my clothes don’t fit.
There are 3 different levels of the 21 Day Sugar Detox including modifications for Athletes, New Moms, Pescetarian and Autoimmune. I decided to follow the Autoimmune plan.
Last year another friend recommended I try the Autoimmune Paleo (AIP). I’ve never been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease but the main foods that can be triggers are items that are a BIG part of my Paleo diet (with exception to alcohol of course) – eggs, nuts, seeds, nightshades and alcohol.
Detoxing from sugar I can do, but take away eggs and nuts is going to be a challenge. At this point I’m willing to view this as an experiment and see what happens. The downside will be if these are triggers I’ll have to remove all together.
How will I survive without my beloved eggs? And nuts? Paleos practically live off of nuts.
After reviewing the entire 21DSD program (and per JoLynne’s review), I decided to go all the way and purchase the Premium level for $97. From what I can tell so far that’s the best plan because you get two printed books – 21 Day Sugar Detox Guidebook and 21 Day Sugar Detox Cookbook – in addition to all the online benefits.
I’ll be detailing my experience so check back for more info, tips and to be sure I am surviving. I’ll also be sharing what I’m eating. Have a feeling this is going to be a little tricky.
I’ve registered as an affiliate for the 21DSD and these posts contain links. If you decide to learn more and click on these links and potentially order the program, I will receive a small commission. This nominal fund will go toward purchasing organic vegetables for the next 21 days. So thanks for your support!
