So, How's Day 25/30 Without Sugar?

As we approach the finish line, I'm finally—FINALLY—kicking cravings to the curb. Last we left off, on Day 19, I was feeling better in terms of my mood and overall energy, but fending off outrageous cravings for bread. On approximately Day 21, that finally gave out. Ever since, I haven't been having doughnut dreams or longing for the flavors of pizza or beer at random. Days 21-25 have felt the most "normal" of any thus far. Thank the lawdy. I think my body has finally adjusted. And it feels good. A few things I've notived over the past week:+ clearer thoughts: one of the major reasons I started this challenge was because I'd been experiencing some pretty intense brain fog prior. I was having a hard time focusing and felt easily distracted. This week in particular, I've been laser-focused on the tasks I undertake. I don't burn out as fast. And my thoughts feel clear, not hazy or half-assed. + more energy: listen, I'm not the kind of person who's ever going to be bouncing off walls, but after an INTENSE phase of lethargy when first starting this whole thing, I'm now feeling really "charged." That's kind of the only way to explain it. My energy doesn't dip as dramatically mid-day as it did before. I'm running on a full charge all day. + better skin: my skin on the whole has been pretty decent of late (I blame Beautycounter, which is a shameless plug but also a fact). But I always breakout a little bit the week before my period—I can tell you that this month, those "hormone" zones have been breakout free. It's worth mentioning! + better mood: I started this challenge to test a sugar-free life's effect on mood. Of course there are a million variables out there that interfere with a person's mood on any given day, but I can say that this week in particular I have noticed feeling "happier." I feel more motivated, more optimistic, and generally more grateful for where I'm at than I did one month ago. So, there's that. And then there's the lack of cravings, which is a freeing feeling in and of itself. Of course, that was challenged when a friend and I popped into a candy store last week for a solid 15 minutes. While she searched for Halloween goodies for her nephews, I stood by the GIANT SOUR GUMMY STATION and took a lot of deep breaths. (because gummies are my absolute weakness and maybe breathing in the scent of sour watermelon would make me feel like they were in my belly???). I will say the scent of sugar absolutely triggered a response in my brain that was, how do I say... kind of terrifying. I'm pretty sure my pupils dilated and my pulse sped up. I swear I got a contact high next to that gummy cart. Moral of the story: our brains LOVE sugar. MOVING ON. One more takeaway: I've always been told it takes two weeks to break a habit or to kick cravings from your system when you cold-turkey. It took me three weeks before my brain had the upper hand over my appetite. This is important, I think, because it hammers home the notion that we're all different—we all progress at a different pace. It really doesn't matter how fast we move so long as we're moving forward. So many of us get so caught up feeling like things are supposed to happen a certain way. If they don't happen exactly as they're "supposed" to, something must be wrong with us. We must be "broken." That simply isn't true. I get particularly discouraged by timing because I'm the world's most impatient person. It is a cruel trick that the universe has played on me to make me as impatient as I am and simultaneously give me a body that adapts much slower than average to change. I'm not trying to turn this into a commentary on dieting (because the sugar-free challenge was NOT done with an intention to lose weight) but just to make a point... every 'fad' diet I've tried has ended in heartbreak. My body is just like, "I'mma do what I want in my own time, lady." So I've learned that I just need to work on patience and have faith that if I'm behaving in a healthy way and coming from a good place, everything else will EVENTUALLY follow... slowly. I would have loved if my cravings had turned off at 14 days. But I'll take 21 days, too. If you're moving in the right direction—if you're coming from a place of self-love, not loathing—it does not matter how fast you go. You'll get there. Looking forward to that 30-day update! Will I binge on ice cream for no reason other than I can?! Will I become an extremist who denounces sugar forever?! I guess we'll have to wait to find out! 😜