5 Steps to Kick Your Sugar Habit - How I lost over 30 lbs and beat my sugar addiction and how you can too.

Here's what a typical day of eating used to look like for me:

Breakfast: Cocoa Puffs and 2 slices of cinnamon toast

Mid morning snack: French vanilla coffee (from the machine) and 2 Hostess cupcakes

Lunch: Ramen noodles and a bag of sour cream and onion Lays potato chips

Afternoon snack: a Pepsi and a bag of peanut M&M's

Dinner: Hamburger Helper and chocolate pudding with Cool Whip for dessert

Yep! And then I'd wonder why my jeans wouldn't zip, why my face was always broke out, why nails and hair were so dry and brittle, why I was sick with colds all the time, why I had no energy.

I finally got sick of it! I decided to figure out a better way! Over time, through a lot of research, trial and error and lots of starting over, I figured out there were 5 basic steps I needed to following in order to beat my sugar addiction. They worked great! I lost over 30 lbs without starving or dieting and I don't struggle with the cravings like I used to. I have my life (and my body) back!

Here are the five steps I followed to beat my sugar addiction:

Step One - Go Cold Turkey. I made the 100% commitment to give up sugar. Not forever, just until I could get through the withdrawals, let my body heal and reset itself. Going cold turkey is the best way because where do you draw the line if you don't? I needed a clear cut boundary, at least for a short amount of time, for my state of mind. I wanted to set myself up for success.

Step Two - Clean out all the junk food and sugar from the pantry, fridge and secret stashes. Replace all the white processed poison with real whole foods. Things like apples, bananas, strawberries, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, beef, chicken, fish, almonds, walnuts, avocados, olive oil. My body desperately needed nutrients and it wasn't getting them from Cocoa Puffs!

Step Three - Map out a cravings management system. This might be the most important step. Steps one & two are pretty common sense. Most of us know we need to give up sugar and then eat real, whole foods. But WHY do we fail and go back to our old (unhealthy) ways?? Because we are not prepared! We need to make sure we know how to manage the terrible sugar cravings and withdrawal symptoms as our bodies heal. Just EXPECTING to feel a little sick for a few days and knowing it's a good thing is a step in the right direction.

Step Four - Get back on the wagon. Quitting sugar is incredibly challenging. Sugar, the white processed kind, is completely legal and socially acceptable. And no amount of will power will be enough to fight it's strong hold. That's why you have to just keep going. Start over again if you fall off the wagon. Don't focus on how hard it is and all you are missing out on. Instead focus on why you are giving it up and what you stand to gain in the process. Your mind is so incredibly powerful. You have the ability to think about whatever you want to think about.

Step Five - Maintain the new way of living. Here's where the magic happens. You don't just quit sugar and be done with it. You need a system in place to help you keep it up. This is where you add back in the moderation. Adapt the 80/20 rule. Eat nutrient dense foods 80% of the time and indulge a little 20% of the time. Practice what works best for you and you'll be a master in no time. Join a support group and get a fitness routine going. Working out everyday will help you feel better too!

If you want to get your body back and start to feel better, you totally can! Just decide, commit, succeed! Let me know how you are doing in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you!

Need more help and support? Sign up for my FREE Mini Course on beating sugar addiction. In this free training, you'll get all five steps in more depth and detail along with free workouts, meal planners, shopping lists and more! Get your life back...Sign up today.

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