From mindbodygreen
I Gave Up Gluten, Alcohol, Sugar, Coffee, Meat & More For 21 Days. Here's What I Learned
by Amy Baglan | September 22, 2015
Aside from the days when I was strict vegan, I’d never consciously given up anything. I have friends who are gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, etc. I wondered why that didn’t appeal to me. Was there something I was unaware of in my own body? Do I, too, have sensitivities that should be addressed?
To find out, I decided to do a serious cleanse. I went with Clean Program because they provide daily support from wellness coaches. It’s a lifesaver when motivation ebbs.
For 21 days in the middle of an action-packed summer, I gave up sugar, gluten, dairy, dark meats, nightshade vegetables (peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants), alcohol, and (the hardest part) coffee.
Here’s what I learned:
1. How to identify real hunger versus emotional hunger.
Real hunger comes on gradually, while emotional hunger seems to strike immediately. During the cleanse, my experience of emotional hunger all but disappeared, making it really easy to differentiate after it ended.
2. Sugar is not my friend.
Even natural sugars, like dried fruit. A few days after the cleanse I had a small bag of organic, all-natural dried mango slices. Shortly after, I went on an evening bike ride. Toward the end of the ride I experienced a sugar crash so extreme I had to ride to the nearest grocery store and ask someone to help me get some food to avoid passing out.
3. Gluten gives me brain fog.
I had a rather lavish gluten-filled dinner one night after the cleanse and experienced what I can only describe as a gluten hangover the next morning. This “brain fog” has happened a few times since and does not bode well for a CEO running morning meetings daily. I notice it more when the gluten is heavily processed — like crackers or cereal.
4. Tequila is truly the best alcohol choice for my body.
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