No Sugar March Challenge
The No Sugar March Challenge
Did you know that sugar is in almost everything? It’s in the obvious things like cake, ice cream and cookies… but did you know that it can also be a major ingredient in things like bread, ketchup, mustard, soup… even pickles?
Sugar is being linked to more and more illnesses. It causes inflammation, which is no good for your body, is known to be the #1 culprit behind stubborn belly fat and it is incredibly addictive, with some studies comparing its addictiveness to that of cocaine (which is why so many companies are now putting it in their foods!).
So we’re saying goodbye (or see you next month) to sugar for the month of March and we want to invite you to join us.
What does it entail? A commitment to yourself that you’ll do your best to avoid as much sugar as possible in the month of March.
That’s what we’re doing and here’s how we’re going to set ourselves up for success:
Meal prep as much as possible. Make things that you know you like, with low or no sugar ingredients. Have them already set to go so when you get really hungry, there’s something healthy to eat that is readily available.
Allow for cheats. This may sound counter-intuitive but we’ve done this before and for us, success in going no/low sugar is based on knowing we’re human and knowing that we need to give ourselves a break. Trish likes to have a scheduled cheat for the same day/meal each week. It gives her something to look forward to and also keeps her on track for only expecting it then. Or, if you HAVE to have sugar in your coffee every day… do it. Make that your daily cheat. Just maybe see if you can have a little less each day. You might find you can enjoy your coffee without it after weaning slowly!
Look at those labels before you buy! You’re looking to avoid buying things with any of the following listed in the ingredients: sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup… basically avoid anything that says sugar, syrup or ends in -ose. There are usually brands that make things with no sugar or low sugar. If you can’t find an item with with no sugar, look for items that list sugar as one of the last items (that means there’s less of it). And yes… look at everything… you will be SHOCKED at how much sugar is in things you would have never thought…
BEWARE of sugar substitutes… these are not necessarily good for you either. They may not spike your blood sugar levels like sugar does, but as more data comes out, they’ve become linked to weight gain, tumors and other health problems.
Avoid bars / restaurants - this is a hard one. Being around people who are eating and drinking what you’re trying to avoid is a recipe for disaster. And that salad that you think is the healthy option? The dressing usually has an extremely high amount of sugar in it. Instead of heading out to eat, find a friend to do this with and head over to each others house for no sugar potluck. Be around people who have like-minded goals. And after a month you might even find you saved a bunch of money and a have some new no/low sugar recipes you actually love!
Be easy on yourself - we’re not aiming for perfection. We’re aiming for less sugar… and more awareness. If you fall off the wagon, that’s okay. Just get right back on it and try again. That’s what we’ll be doing.
Going no sugar is one of the ways that Trish beat cancer THREE TIMES without chemotherapy. So we know first hand how powerful limiting sugar intake can be. Other side affects of lowering sugar intake include more stable moods, more energy and better health in general. (And though this is about health… low sugar tends to drop weight more effectively, especially when combined with a consistent workout routine, and especially around the midsection).
So who’s in? If you want to join us, sign up below. We’ll share recipes, ideas and inspiration to give you the support you need to meet this challenge.
