Sugar Detox Challenge: Conquering My Cravings

Take Control of Your Sugar Intake

sugar intake plans — written plnas about controlling my sugar intake

Sugar: A Double-Edged Sword

Sugar is a great source of energy, ⚡ but like anything else, too much can be harmful. 🚫 As a kid, I loved sweets. ❤️ I didn't worry about sugar intake because I enjoyed it. 😋 However, as I've gotten older, 🤗 I've become more health-conscious. 😃 Even though I'm currently healthy and my body can handle a higher sugar intake, 🫠 I know that uncontrolled sugar dependence can lead to problems like diabetes down the line. 😨

The thought of diabetes is scary

so I'm taking steps to reduce my sugar intake. Eliminating all sugar is unrealistic – even healthy foods have some naturally occurring sugars. Instead, I'm focusing on avoiding processed sweets like cakes, chocolates, and cupcakes. I'll also try to control my cravings for butter scotch, donuts, and ice cream.

I've already successfully cut out candy and soda from my diet. These other treats are tempting, but I know this is for the best. While Gatorade can be helpful for rehydration during illness, it's high in sugar and sodium, which isn't ideal for my everyday consumption. Since I have a less active lifestyle, I'll focus on water for hydration.

Plans

Based on the study a safe amount of sugar to eat per day for Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons)

Focus on daily intake

When consuming processed or packaged food, I'll aim to keep added sugar intake within 35 grams per day. This goal is separate from homemade meals and unlabeled foods.

Bend the rule

I'm allowing myself a special treat occasionally. Here's the twist: I'll only indulge in pricier sweets that I buy with my own money. Minimum price should be 500 pesos.

Ice cream cravings are real! Instead of complete avoidance, I'll just reduce it and enjoy it in smaller portions. This way, I can still enjoy a refreshing treat without derailing my sugar goals. Taking control of my health feels empowering, and I'm excited to see the positive changes this brings!

Wed Apr 24 2024

Since I just treated myself to some ice cream yesterday (my cousin bought a whole tube!), I'm revisiting this challenge today. Despite encountering sweets, I'm successfully avoiding them – except for the occasional ice cream indulgence. Overall, I'm happy to report that I'm managing my cravings slightly better than before.

Thu May 02 2024

I just ate Mango Float, a famous Filipino dessert made of graham crackers, mangoes, and condensed milk. Gosh darn it, I already said no to my boardmate's boyfriend, but he still insisted on giving me a slice. So, instead of just ignoring it, I just ate it because I thought it would be a waste to leave it for auntie, since it's ultra sweet.

Sat May 04 2024

Knowing that I have a family history of diabetes on my father's side, thanks to a recent visit from a distant relative from Manila, I now have a strong reason to limit my sugar intake.

Sat Jul 13 2024

Two months after writing this article, I find myself occasionally craving and eating foods with 5-10 grams of sugar, indulging in them about 2-3 times. I feel a little more control and make conscious decisions (Now I know if I'm taking too much); I don't overdo it as I used to. Recently, whenever I overeat sugar, my teeth start to numb—seriously like something is drilling on it. So less sugar is definitely better. As I write this, we just bought food from a door-to-door seller in our community, which has a slightly sweet taste that I enjoy. For now, I'll resist the temptation and eat it later. Hahaha!

Mon Jul 22 2024

I ate less than 30 grams of sugar today. Uncle gave us a plastic full of chocolates. My sister asked me to open the chocolate and I read the wrapper. I see there is coconut inside, so we ate half each. Then, I craved more and ate a small KitKat. But just thinking, I didn't eat too much of it. Letting my sister and mom eat everything will be my plan. That would be my first and last chocolate intake from Uncle for this set of "pasalubong".