One month, no sugar!

I did it. One month with no sugar (well, to be accurate, one month with no cookies, ice cream, candy, goodies, or anything really that had more than 11 grams of sugar in a serving). I did have sugar-free Popsicles, some all fruit fruit roll ups, and I bought a quart of sugar free ice cream, but I never finished it because it made my stomach hurt. So in other words, I didn't cheat, at least not really. If you all consider that cheating, well that's OK. I won't hold it against you :). After one month of this, I have lost 5.5 lbs, so just over a pound a week, and the first week I didn't lose anything. I did not change my exercise habits (still running and lifting weights, but I didn't push it), or my diet at all (1800 calories was the goal, but it usually fluctuated above that) outside of the no sugar. It was definitely a character building experience for me! I had so many dreams of accidentally cheating by eating doughnuts, cookies, and ice cream and feeling terribly guilty when I woke up that my husband began to think that this might not be good for my psychological health. But the one thing I have learned is that I can do it, and I think I'm going to continue it! I've planned one time a month for at least the next three months when I will splurge and have sugar and then I'll go back to having no sugar. I feel good, and it doesn't seem hard to continue on. I don't feel like I'm depriving myself (at least not too often!) and the results are definitely worth it!