Giving up sugar is not one bit easier than giving up any other addictive substance. In fact, I know a couple people who through AA gave up liquor only to then really struggle to give up sugars and starches.
What to expect: like giving up coffee, if you go cold-turkey, headaches, fatigue, crankiness, and very big cravings are all such symptoms to anticipate for usually 3-5 days. However, if you systematically plan to eliminate these addictive foods, and have good discipline, you can cut down sugar more slowly with little to no pain.
Keep a food diary of what you do eat/drink during this time. Each week builds, so you keep what you do in the first week when you start week two, and so on.
Week 1) No added sugar in any form (in beverages, desserts, any food)–certainly no junk food. If you feel headachy, that would be a good time for a small apple, a few berries, or a cheese stick.
Week 2) Stop any flours, regardless of how they are promoted as healthy, for carbohydrate sensitive people they are addictive, and indeed are broken down to the very same blood glucose as any other overt sugar. Increase your green and red veggies.
Week 3) Examine the foods you have been eating and determine if they are foods with high starch and added sugars. Cut back the obvious kinds of sugars-starches, especially packaged foods that nearly always have added sugars &/or starch.
Week 4) Now is the time to really get serious, and eliminate artificial sweeteners, save for modest amounts of natural sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit, and a small amount of xylitol or erythritol (these can create intestinal issues like excess bloating/gas).
One month and you should have an at least 80% or better clean eating plan. You can refine from that point to get your perfect balance, and you will no longer be a sugaraholic. Most people following this plan will drop weight, sometimes a lot of weight. All will be healthier, and on the road to all around excellent health.
Yours in good health,
Nan aka Sugarbaby
Sugaraholics 