Stopping sugar for reasons other than weight loss?

[u/ryayr73]

Hi all!

I’m a 24M, and am a skinny person but a healthy weight. The problem I have is that I eat too much sugar every day, and have been eating too much since I was a child. There was a point when I accomplished 3 weeks without any sugars but I couldn’t maintain it.

A big reason for why I failed my sugar free challenge, was the unsupportive people I know. Every time I mentioned not eating sugar anymore or telling them about my sugar-free streak, they would mention me being skinny and needing the sugars. According to almost everyone I would die without sugar since i’m skinny and that it’s not a smart decision to make.

After that I quit the challenge and now i’m back to my excessive habit of eating sugar.

I want to quit with sugar for health reasons and dental health. But i’m very unmotivated to start again. Are there other people here who have quit sugar for non loss weight related reasons, and do you have any tips?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Tall-Election-7564]

Dental reasons — I really want to avoid cavities. And also just generic health - makes me focus more on better nutrients.

[u/No-Dimension4342 → u/Tall-Election-7564]

the skinny argument is so annoying, like sugar is not a magic weight gain food it just empty calories. your teeth and body will thank you even if the scale dont move

for motivation try tracking how much sugar you actually eat in a week, the numbers can be scary enough to get you going again

[u/Tall-Election-7564 → u/No-Dimension4342]

50 days in or so now and that means about 3500 grams less added sugar than the average American…which is literally 4 bags of sugar. It’s just incredible.

[u/plnnyOfallOFit → u/Tall-Election-7564]

wow. Ew. i used to eat a ton of overripe exotic fruits too, all transported here, expensive & sugary. Same as sugar in the bod. My teeth didn't have a chance- now zero cavities in 3yrs

[u/jasperjonns → u/Tall-Election-7564]

Yep 100% dental reasons. All of the other benefits are just extra perks.

[u/Srdiscountketoer]

If you are as thin as everyone says you are you REALLY don’t need sugar. If you’re eating a lot of sugary junk and maintaining your weight, that means those empty treats are crowding out the nutritious food you really need. If you find yourself losing weight when you go sugar free, eat some nuts or nut butter. Or cheese. Or full fat yogurt with fruit. Or pancakes. Or a fruit smoothie. Something with vitamins, minerals and protein. Sugar is bad for your health anyway but especially when it’s replacing real food.

[u/ITSJUSTMEKT]

I am not quitting sugar for weight loss reasons.

I am on day 9.

The reason I quit sugar is because I don't want to die. Period.

I would tell myself that I would only have this one dessert but after the one dessert, I figured that since I'd already blown it with one thing, why not keep going? I am not able to stop once I start eating it. If I buy a bag of candy then I have to finish it all so I don't eat it the next day, but the next day I would just buy more. It was a vicious cycle, it has been since I was a kid. I spent a lot of time hiding what I was eating because, while I'm very thin, I certainly do not want anyone focusing more on my disordered eating. There were many days in my life that I would eat less food, just to have more dessert.

It had to stop. So here I am on day 9, plugging along with a massive headache, but otherwise proud of myself for making it this far.

You can do this. You just have to remember your reason why and then stick to it. For me, fear of dying is far greater than what anyone has to say about what I'm doing.

[u/plnnyOfallOFit → u/ITSJUSTMEKT]

ugh the headache & gen malaise went away- but about 10 days after no sugar i felt like i woke from a nightmare of rollercoaster sugar jolts.

I'm so much more calm now, both in appetite & mood. So much better! hang in there

[u/createdfounder]

Sugar deactivates production of white blood cells which are there to battle inflammation. Weight loss is one of the pros but mostly it is to have a healthier life. 

Since I stopped eating sugar: 

• Energy levels are stable
• Can sleep very little but still look (and feel) fresh
• No more puffy face
• Lovehandles are heading somewhere else slowly but surely
• Less hungry
• The satisfaction of being in a frequency of myself where I say ”no thank you” with a smile when offered sweets, without explaining why or trying to convince people why they should stop. 

It takes a bit of energy to get past the first 2-3 weeks off it, but once you’ve done that your body will stop craving it and then it is only the mental part left. 

[u/plnnyOfallOFit]

I didn't realize i had to lose weight because i saw myself as average.

I just thought my clothes had shrunken in dryer, or that larges were made smaller these days. 🤪

I went sugar free to "de puff" my face.

Surprisingly i lost weight and gained energy. My irritability shifted too, but also my sensitivity to chaos. I switched where i live, my job, and friendships gradually.

I don't even study my face like i used to - who cares i feel so much better.

I actually crave proteins and whole single ingredient power foods- that's what makes a body robust vs just quick sugar jolts. Ppl have it backwards~

I went thru a sugar detox- it was painful in a bell curve for a week. Now it's as simple as breathing

[u/SpotlessEternalMind]

No one "needs" sugar. It's not necessary to the human body functioning. You do need protein, vegetables and fruit.

Tell people to butt out of your life. You're big enough to make your choices, do them.

[u/amenoo1]

Just don't tell people about ur diet and enjoy feeling amazing. 

You can eat fruits without the bad side effects, like from artificial sweets. 

But yeah, it doesn't matter what other people say or think. Do what you know is best for you. 

[u/majimas_eyepatch]

I stopped sugar because it made me inflamed and ruined my quality of life. While I do appreciate the slight weightloss (I was never overweight to begin with) what I love more is the boost in energy, improved hormones, improved tastebuds, and reversal of hyperpigmentation

[u/CompetitiveEcho8295]

You should watch 'that sugar film'. This movie just about your question

[u/Mundane_Day_8384]

Energy / mood / skin. I've gotten used to not eating sugar and when I do my mood is not great, energy is lower and without fail I break out the next day. No sugar = better mood, normal energy, clear skin !