Time for a no sugar challenge to completely overhaul your eating habits! Take a step back and evaluate your diet so you can make healthier choices moving forward. It may be tough, but it'll be worth it! You can do anything for seven days!

Hello. I am a sugar addict. This is not news to anyone who knows me. It's known among friends and family that I'm a sugar addict. In fact, at church my friends all fight to sit near me because they know I have several bags of candy in my purse at any one time. They talk about it like it's a joke, but in reality, I'm worried about my ability to actually go without sugar for a full week!

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For those of you following along with Focus on Fitness Month, we are going to do this together! I won't lie. This may not be easy. In college, my roommates and I tried to do a “no sugar week” three or four times. Each time, I didn't make it past three days. It's time to challenge myself again and make it stick this time! This will really, truly, and honestly, be one of the hardest challenges for me all year long!

But I really, truly believe that going cold-turkey for one week will help get the sweet cravings out of my system, will help reset my taste-buds and mind, and will help me get in the habit of reaching for something NON-sugary when I want a snack. It's all about creating good habits, freebs!

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WHY DO A NO SUGAR CHALLENGE?

Sugar is addictive! Most of us probably eat more sugar than we need… So cutting down on sugar can have some amazing benefits. Did you know that almost everything we eat has sugars in it? Some are natural, but most are added sugars. And our body just doesn't need all that extra sugar.

Being mindful of our diet and making smarter (less sugary) choices can help us in sooo many ways. Here are just a few:

• Easier to lose weight. Say what!?!
• More brain power including ability to focus!
• Healthier cravings and healthier eating habits, which leads to overall better health! Duh.
• More energy without a sugar crash.
• Better dental health, which might just save you some money when it comes time to fill cavities!

All of those benefits sound mighty nice to me. Whaddya say? Are you with me?

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NO SUGAR CHALLENGE RULES

Let's keep it simple! Here's the number one rule:

For seven full days, go without sugar!

It's true, seven days doesn't seem like long, but when you've had sugar in one form or another every day since you were 18 (or younger I'm sure), it's definitely a hard habit to kick. We got this!!

Now let's answer the number one question on everyone's mind:

What do you mean by “No Sugar?”

Yes, there is sugar in everything, including milk and bread. It's virtually unavoidable. So you need to decide what “no sugar” means for you!

For me, “no sugar” means obvious sugar: sugary cereal, sugary drinks, candy, desserts, putting sugar in oatmeal, etc. Today, for example, I wanted a snack. I usually reach for a granola bar that has a chocolate coating on it. Instead, I opted for a Kashi granola bar that has no chocolate in it.

You can definitely be more hardcore and eliminate anything with added sugar! Or you can simplify. Whatever works for you and will help you create better, healthier habits. That is what this challenge is all about!

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TIPS FOR RESETTING YOUR SUGAR TOOTH

The number one tip is don't let an all-or-nothing attitude get you down! If you mess up, don't quit. Just do better next time!

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REPLACE SUGAR WITH HEALTHIER SNACKS

Instead of sugar, make an effort to reach for something healthy. Much of the time we are reaching for sweets because our body is craving something, including water. Dr. Phil says a bad habit can't be truly broken until you REPLACE it with something better. (I call that “The Dr Phil Theory”)

So for me, I will try to reach for fruits, veggies, or a healthier snack, or even sugar-free gum to fill the void. Have snacks on hand, prepped, and ready to go so it's easy!

High-protein snacks will help curb sugar cravings for longer! Ummm. Yes, please! Try a hard-boiled egg, yogurt, trail mix, or a cheese stick.

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FIND A FRIEND

Find an accountability partner. Someone to report to or to join you. Oh and don't forget to post about your no sugar challenge progress using the #FocusOnFitnessMonth hashtag. We want to cheer you on!

I am truly motivated to completely MASTER this challenge. When I lost 10 pounds in one month, a lot of my success was due to cutting back on sugar. It was shocking to me how much sugar I eat in a day without even realizing it! I'm excited (slash terrified beyond belief) to go cold-turkey this week and reset my sweet tooth.

Who's with me?!?!?!?!?

Want more help getting healthier?

• Use our free printable food log and fitness trackers!
• No gym membership? No problem! Do these at-home workouts and be amazed at how easy it is to workout for cheap.
• Want even more help focusing on your fitness?

XOXO,