(Read the updates below!)
Was one of your New Year Resolutions to cut back on sugar? Have you been meaning to cut back on desserts or wean yourself off of refined foods? Do you feel that you are too addicted to even naturally sweetened foods? Well, the Sugar Cleanse Challenge might be just the thing for you!
For the last couple of years, I’ve done a sugar-free challenge, inviting you to join in cutting on refined sugar and flour, and, for those who feel they need it, even unrefined sugar. It’s been a community project with accountability and support from those doing the challenge with you.
This year the sugar cleanse was a little late in coming because of some scheduling conflicts (that is, I was trying not to schedule it when we were on vacation). If I am honest, perhaps there was just a little hesitation on my part as well. After the holiday sweets, I remembered that I do indeed like sweets! But it’s time. Both my five year old and I need a break from sweets, even naturally sweetened ones. Maybe you are in the same boat as us. In fact, several of you mentioned to me this last week that you needed to cut back on sweets!
So what is the Sugar Cleanse Challenge? Here’s the plan. For 2 weeks (just 2, mind you), we will be all giving up all forms of refined sugar and white flour. Some can choose to give up all sweeteners, others to limit it. Here are the categories.
Category 1: No refined sugar or flour (this includes white flour, white sugar, corn syrup and agave syrup)
Category 2: 2 teaspoons at a time (no more!), up to 2 tablespoons per day. (Read about the 2 teaspoon rule here)
Category 3: No sweeteners of any kind. Cutting out fruit or stevia is not required, but can be cut, if desired.
If you have any health issues related to yeast, two weeks will not be enough to heal you. However, doing the two week challenge successfully will get you started in the right direction. For me, I find that if I strictly adhere to the no sweet rule for two weeks, my taste buds adjust and I no longer crave sweets in the same way. That means that I find doing a two week challenge helpful for long term results. I am going to be giving information, encouragement, and resources for the challenge. Meanwhile, if you’d like a little push to do the challenge, read this article, Is Sugar Toxic?
For inspiration, read how taking out refined sweets changed one woman’s life. You can read other encouraging stories here.
Stay tuned for more resources, and when you are ready to join the challenge, sign up by leaving a comment below saying what category you are committing too.
Sugar Cleanse Challenge
1. Kimi Category 3
2. Elena-Category 3
3.Michele-Category 3
4. Jenny ~ Category 3
5. Flo Makanai-Category 3
6. Jessica G.
7. fern-Category 3
8. Tonya Scarborough-Category 2
9. Keri -Category 3
10. Kim and daughters-Cat 3
11. Cait-Cat 2
12. Shiloh-Cat. 2
13. Shannon-Cat. 1
14. Sarah-Cat 1
15. Jennifer-Cat 1
16. Allison-Cat 3
17. Laura-Cat 2
18. Ki Vick-Cat 2
19. Bethany@ Grafted Vine-Cat 3
20. Aneta-Cat 2
21. Katie Ellen@ A Humble Harvest-Cat 3
22. Dani-Cat 3
23. Stephanie R.-Cat 1
24. Nancy-Cat 2
25. Amy-Cat 2
26. Brooke-Cat 2
27. Allison-Cat 1
28. Kelly Powers-Cat 2
29. Jen-Cat 2
30. Amber-Cat 3
31. Christina-Cat 2
32. Jane-Cat 3
33. Vanessa-Cat 3
34. hillary-Cat 3
35. Betsy- Cat 2
36. Nicola-Cat 2
37. Liz-Cat 1
38. jacqui-Cat 3
39. Leigh-Cat 2
40. Wendy-Cat 2
41: Meghan-Cat 1
42: Sarah Jess-Cat 2
43: Karen B.-Cat 1
44: Pat-Cat 3
45: Jean-Cat 3
46: Amy M-Cat 3
47: Janina-Cat 1
48: stephanie-Cat 3
49: Shanna: Cat 2
50: Amy Carter-Cat 3
51: Lisa-Cat 2
52: sammiejo-Cat 2
53: Kathy Thierry-Cat 3
54: Daisy-Cat 1
55: Christina-Cat 3
56: Jenny Odegard-Cat 3
57: Meghann Milton-Cat 2
58: Beverly-Cat 3
59: Elisabeth-Cat 3
60: Kristi Cooke-2 1/2
61: Kelly R.-Cat 3
62: Ann Q.-Cat 3
63: Jenn Best-Cat 1
64: Jen B-Cat 3
65: Emi-Cat 1
66: Kei- Cat 2
67: xtina-Cat 2.5
68: Elena-Cat 3
69: Ruth Avery-Cat 2
70: Mellow-Cat 2
71: Sharon-Cat 2
72: Esther-Cat 2
73: Rebecca-Cat 3
74: Nance-Cat 3
75: Vikki Kay-Cat 3
76: Jennie-Cat 3
77:Kellie-Cat 2
78: andreab-Cat 2
79: Emily-Category 3
80: Renee-Cat 2
81: Celena-Cat 2
82: Tania Berg-Cat 3
83: Jamie-Cat 2
84: Katie @ Mexican Wildflower-Cat 2
85: jani-Cat 1
86: Emily-Cat 3
87: Jen C-Cat 3
88: Kathy-Cat 3
89: Sharon-Cat 2
90: Amanda-Cat 1
91: Becky-Cat 2
92: Sarah Laughlin-Cat 1
93: Stephanie-Cat 3
94: Naomi – category 2
95: Stephanie Marchbanks-Cat 2 1/2
96: Tonya Daniels-Cat 2
97: Sheila-Cat 2
98: Stephanie-Cat 1
99: Judee @ Gluten Free A-Z-Cat 1
100: Sara- Cat 3
101: Lauren-2 1/2
102: Colleen -Category 1
103: Giselle-Cat 3
104: Sharon-Cat 2
105: Jess-Cat 3
106: Andrea-Cat 2
107: Teresa-Cat 1
108: Kimberly-Cat 1
109: Ami-Cat 3
110: Jaime-Cat 1
111: Anne-Cat 2
112: cindy-Cat 2
113: Jessie-Cat 1
114: Rachel-Cat 2
115: Leala-Cat 2
116: Sarah-Cat 2
117: Meredith-Cat 1
118: Sarah C-Cat 2
119:Marliss Bombardier-Cat 1
120:Nicole Blackmon-Cat 3
121:lisa-Cat 1
122:Angela Kuhn-Cat 3
123:Hilary-Cat 2
124:Jacquie Olsen-Cat 3
125:Melody-Cat 2
126:Olga-Cat 2
127: Lechau-Cat 3
128:Melissa-Cat 1
129:april-Cat 3
130:Maria-Cat 2
131:Alicia-Cat 2
132:Holly-Cat 3
133:Shawnee Scott-Cat 1
134:Julie-Cat 2
135: Kristy-Cat 1
136: kris-cat 2
137: Rebecca-Cat 1
138: Amber-Cat 3
139: AndreaKJ-Cat 3
140: Raquel-Cat 1
141: Kristen-Cat 2
142:Carrie-Cat 2
143: Beth P-Cat 2
144: Martie – Cat 2
145: Denise-Cat 3
146: Juliet- Combo of Cat 1-2
147: Cat-Cat 2
148: Ashley Knight-Cat 1
149: Khandhi-Cat 2
150: Rhonda-Cat 1
151: Laura-Cat 3
152: Kate S-cat 2
153: Carol Harris-Cat 3
154: Gail-Cat 3
155: Rebecca Marchbanks: Cat 2
156: Anne-Cat 3
157: Gretta: Cat 1
158: Valentia-Cat 3
159: Amy-Cat 1
160: Natalia-Cat 1
161: BetsyB-Cat 1
162: Jessica langley-Cat 2
163: managersam-cat 2
164: Susan-cat1
165: Laurie R.- cat 1
166: Karen- Cat 3
167: Tanis- cat 2
168: Aubrey-cat 2
169: Shelly-cat 2
170: Barb- cat 2
171: Ash Bak- cat 2
172: Carolyn-cat 1
173: Karrie- cat 1
174: Jennifer- cat 1
175: Sherrie- cat 3
176: Kelli- cat 3
177: Jill Ward- cat 3
178: Kelly- cat 1
179: Jennifer Burns- cat 1
180: Theresa- cat 3
181: birgitte- cat 3
182: Karen Kwiatkowski- cat 2
183: Mara Lightwood- cat 2
184: Lea H @ Nourishing Treasures- cat 2
185: Natalie – cat 3
186: Celeste- cat 2
187: Amy M.- cat 1
188: Cindy- cat 3
189: Oly- cat 2
190: Anna- cat 1
191: Karen Ferris- cat 3
192: Dawn- cat 2
193: taylor kelch- cat 1
194: Laur- cat 1
195: Monique- cat 3
196: Teresa- cat 2
197: Valerie- cat 1
198: Sarah W- cat 2
Your turn now! Who wants to join us?
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Karen Kwiatkowski
I’m joining in category 2.
Mara Lightwood
I am joining category 2. Thanks! Mara
Lea H @ Nourishing Treasures
Cat 2, please!
Natalie
Natalie – 3
Celeste
I have struggled with Candida, slightly. I would say I will do Cat 2.
Amy M.
Please sign me up for Category 1.
Cindy
Cat 3 with fruit. Thanks for the needed motivation 🙂
Cindy
Cat 3 with fruit. Thanks for the needed motivation 🙂
Oly
Category 2. Got to stop those late night chocolate binges
Oly
Cat 2 please
Anna
Category 1
Karen Ferris
Category 3 but keeping fruit.
Dawn
Category 2
Dawn
Dawn: Category 2
taylor kelch
cat 1
Laur
Cat 1 with a friend as well.
Monique
Monique – Category 3
Teresa
Cat. 2
Valerie
Category 1
Sarah W
Category 2. I’ve also enlisted my sisters who are not totally TF… would you say no fruit juice in any category? And I also assume artificial sweeteners are out, right?
KimiHarris
That’s right! No artificial sweeteners!
Rachel H
I am one of those said sisters. Can I use a packet of Truvia, it is stevia mixed with Erythritol.
Bridgit Danner, LAc
#3. Thanks for the inspiration and organization!
Cori
Category 3
Muria
OK, I am in. I really need this! #1
Mary M.
Category 1
Joy
Category 3 with fruit 🙂
Marissa
Category 3 🙂
Becky G
Ima do cat. 2, thanks!
Jonathan Johnson
JJ- Cat-1
Madeline
Category two… so I can still enjoy my tea 🙂
Krisi (Shelf Reliance Consultant)
I would love to sign up – new to your blog. Category 3 with fruit.
Rachel H
Rachel H. -2
Robyn
Category 1
Amy D
Amy D – I’m doing category 3 with low-glycemic fruit.
AC
My name is AC and I am a sugar addict
cat 3 w/fruit
Pippi
Sign me up! I’m taking my husband along for the ride, too. We just moved to a new apartment, I’m pregnant, and my two kids have been NUTS during the move. There has been lots of chocolate over the past month and it’s time to get back to normal. I’ll do category 3 with fruit. Here goes nothing 🙂
Kim J.
I signed up on facebook but don’t see myself on the list 🙂 I’m doing category 3. Thanks!
Diana B
I’m joining in! I had already decided that I was going back on my no grain deal. This will give another thing to strive for!
I’m going to go for Category 2!
Kim
I’m in! Been back to sugar free/ grain free since Saturday and Yay! I’m in for level 3 with fruit occasionally.
vanessa
I’m gonna try for Category 3, but it might end up being Category 2 ;). My goal is to at least be more conscious about my sugar intake and see if it affects my digestion. It’s not overconsumption, but *habitual* consumption that bothers me. “Needing” a little something sweet after every meal is definitely more of a habit than a craving or desire at this point, and besides, it often upsets my stomach (I do better with sweets/fruit on their own). Regardless of the category, I want to wean myself off stevia (I think it contributes to my digestive problems as well). Here goes…
Good luck, everyone!
Hanni Go
Thanks so much for doing this.
Hanni- Cat 1
Barb
Since Category 2 is my every day already, its Category 3 for me! My body will thank me for it.
Bonnie
*gulp!* cat. 2 please!
Marcella F
I’m joining category 1. 🙂
Laura
Laura J- cat 3
janet
cat 3
camille
category 3
Mae
If it’s not too late, I would like to join in. A friend pointed me to your challenge after hearing me say over the weekend that I was quitting chocolate and sugar. Category 2.
Jen
Cat 3
Kate
Category 2 please, only because I’m too much of a wimp to drink my coffee black, and I’m not ready to give up my coffee.