1. The first few days were the worst. Man, I really craved sweets and treats. I even got irrationally angry after a few days, and I couldn't handle the idea of not having my treats. But that passed, and it got much better.
2. I have to keep things interesting. I loooooove food. So the thought of only eating chicken breasts and veggies in an attempt to be healthy is a special kind of torture. Great flavors, quality ingredients, and switching things up are absolutely necessary so I don't get bored out of my mind and switch back to eating delicious (but fattening) treats.
3. Meal prep is a must. I'm just too busy to go grocery shopping, cook full meals, and then do clean up every day. So, once or twice a week, it really works for me to make some sort of protein (chicken, fish, eggs, etc.), cook up some sort of carb (quinoa, sweet potatoes, brown rice, etc.), and portion out fruits and veggies (switching it up often to avoid boredom). I liked to prep breakfasts and lunches, then switch it up for dinners.
4. Veggies are the key. I like to eat, and I like to eat a lot. The whole, eat tiny portions and then be hungry the rest of the day thing just doesn't work for me. If I can't eat my fill and be satisfied, then I get so hungry that I just give up and snack like crazy later. So, if I can fill a meal with lots of veggies, I can still stay in the delicious-and-low-in-calorie zone without feeling starving afterwards.
5. Exercise has to go along with it. Not only is it so important for physical health and fitness, exercising kept me motivated to keep eating healthfully. Once I'd worked out, I didn't want to undo all my hard work by eating crap. Plus, the combination of healthy eating and working out helped me sleep better and feel better overall.
Overall, it was a great learning experience for me, to go without sugar. I'm not going to keep up the extreme rules forever, but it definitely taught me good lessons about moderation!
Is there anything you could give up for a while? :)
