The Shame of Quitting Sugar

Yes, it is true that I actually felt ASHAMED that I was trying to quit sugar. You might laugh or scoff at me, but I felt like a burden and a bit of kill joy.

Going through “I don’t eat sugar” song and dance all the time was just exhausting; asking what was in the food someone was serving to me, taking time to quiz the wait staff at restaurants when I went out to eat with my husband (I never used to eat at restaurants when I first gave up sugar, it was just too hard! low and behold my sugar conviction didn’t stick), avoiding birthday parties, family celebrations, shopping in certain aisles at the grocery store.

So many people questioned me about why I would want to do this, why would I feel like I have a problem, people telling me that sugar is good for us and we need it to live.

The shame of quitting sugar was overwhelming and it was only during my second attempt at quitting sugar that I was finally able to let the shame go.

Here is my advice for people quitting sugar and how to deal with, well, LIFE!

• Be ready with your answers by reading up on why you are quitting sugar, the health benefits on quitting and have a few examples of why you personally feel you should do this.
• Never, ever be militant with your views. Don’t try and force everyone around you to quit sugar or to go through this with you. It is hard enough on your own then to try and make others do the same. Plus, you need to realize not everyone wants to or even HAS to change. That is their choice and what you are doing is your choice.
• If you have been invited to dinner at someone’s house, let them know well in advance that you are avoiding sugar, and if they need some help with the cooking or if you would be able to bring a dish, you would be happy to do so. Never turn up to a dinner and demand sugar free alternatives.
• If you eat out, and you eat sugar, never make a scene or make a big deal of it. If someone has made you food and inadvertently added a little sugar for taste, then just finish your serving (avoid having more no matter HOW delicious ) and start fresh with your next meal. Don’t make people feel bad either.
• Be open about what you are doing. Tell your loved ones and family and be okay with falling off the wagon, but let them know you would appreciate that if you slip up, they just let you refocus and continue your journey.
• Avoid places that trigger your bad food habits until you are able to say no and not feel any guilt or shame.
• Be light-hearted about what you are doing, and be okay with people not agreeing with you. Just agree to disagree, move on and live your life.
• If your loved ones don’t agree, then, no matter how hard it may seem, just simply continue with your sugar free lifestyle and work hard to achieve your own goals for your own satisfaction.
• Your health is your own, nobody else’s. So if anyone who isn’t your doctor gives your their health and medical advice; ignore them!