Ever since I can remember I’ve been addicted to sugar, everything from sweets to cakes which eventually lead on to energy drinks, which seem to cause me to have bipolar episodes..
So I cut out all artificial forms of sugar this month here’s what happened..
During the first few days, it was difficult, mornings were fine, no sugar in my coffee or porridge, but by mid day I was feeling it. I’d get irritable and even more inpatient (I’m very impatient)
My mood would be either flat for most of the day or irritable, seemed like my Dopamine receptors were not letting me feel pleasure at all, caffeine was my only stimulant but even that had no bearing on my flat mood. I’m the eternal optimist so I’d smile and train myself to smile & laugh at things externally even though I felt indifferent to all environments.
Evenings were harder, I’m a bad sleeper anyway, but for some reason now I was finding it even harder to sleep, I’d toss and turn and my legs would feel as though I’d had a couple of triple espressos just before bed, my brain would be in overdrive thinking about waking up the next morning or the next hour for work…
Cravings were hard work, when I’d feel them, I’d either sip on cold water, or put an ice cube in my mouth, both worked but mentally I was exhausted from fighting it..
During the first couple of weeks I suffered from the longest man flu I’ve ever had, maybe around 7 days, bad back, headaches, dry mouth, itchy skin, all the things you’d expect someone that is coming off an illicit substance to feel, it was really that bad..
After a week the pangs and cravings disappeared and I was left with an immense thirst, I’d constantly drink water, always feeling dehydrated, even though I was drinking more I’d visit the toilet a lot less, while on sugar I’d constantly be running to the toilet but now I feel like a normal person.
While on sugar my energy levels would drop around 11am (I’m a 5am riser) and 4pm. At night I’d have a huge low just before bed, which would cause me to have very little rem sleep..
Off sugar for 27 days now, my energy levels are a lot more fluid throughout the day, I’m getting a lot less lows. My concentration levels are a lot higher and I’ve found I can concentrate on things longer, I’m still only sleeping for 4-5 hours a night, but the quality of my sleep is a lot better. I used to suffer from leg & foot cramps at night which now have completely disappeared, not sure if it’s to do with the sugar or the amount of water I’m drinking, maybe a mixture of both..
I’ve found my highs aren’t as amplified as they were when I was on sugar but the fact that my "frequent lows" are less frequent is a blessing…
So nearly 4 weeks in I’m feeling healthier, physically and mentally more agile, less stressed and overall happier… I’d certainly recommend giving sugar the boot to anyone…
Hopefully I'll keep this up for another month and start consuming small amounts of sugar like a regular person
Adios …
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