Fear of Reintroducing sugar

[IamSue]

Hi! I’m new here and just completed my first Whole30 yesterday. Since I did it over my birthday, I feared I would feel immediate deprivation. So, I bought a “clean” non-dairy, non- soy, non-gluten and low sugar mini raspberry chocolate cheesecake to have today. I ate about half, which was maybe 5 or 6 bites. It tasted “weird” and somewhat good, just not much like cheesecake. Disappointed and feeling cheated,  I tried one little square of 85% dark chocolate. Just okay. Last, I went back to 3 strawberries, which I liked best. 
 

I have several chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. After 4 back surgeries, jaw surgery, two foot surgeries and hand surgery, I am very aware of avoiding foods triggering inflammation.  I haven’t eaten gluten, soy or dairy (except eggs) for several years. Bloodwork early on proved a major reduction in inflammatory markers,  like C reactive protein. Being a sweet tooth, I have never been able to kick sugar.  One month prior to foot surgery last Feb, I eliminated sugar, but allowed stevia and honey. After, I slowly let myself have it, and soon fell back to my sugar cravings. I fear the same will happen, even though this time I eliminated ALL sugars, and seldom had the taste for it.

Now, starting Reintroduction, should I stay off sugar permanently, after my experience last year? I fear I won’t have freedom with sugar, especially chocolate, and don’t want to undo the good these 30 days have done  I never thought I could eat healthy breakfasts before this but now I wouldn’t go back to cereal (mainly unsweetened and sweetened by stevia. What do you think? 
 

*My energy level is much higher after 30 days, although I still have moderate and severe pain, unrelated to food.  I haven’t weighed myself, but I can tell I feel lighter, which my Dr confirmed, without telling me how much I lost. I also feel so much more in control of food, instead of the other way around, I now stop eating when I’m full.

 

 

 

 

 

[ShannonM816]

This is something that many of us struggle with post-Whole30. There's not necessarily one right or wrong answer, only what works for you. If you believe you should never eat sugar again, that's your decision. 

I would recommend reading more about life after your Whole30 and finding food freedom. 

Here's some articles to get started, see if any of them resonate with you: https://whole30.com/abstainer-or-moderator/ 

 https://whole30.com/one-bite/

Or here's a link to a lot of food freedom resources:   https://whole30.com/after-whole30/