Over the course of the decade-plus that I’ve worked with clients, I’ve found sugar to be the hands-down most common culprit behind heathy eating intentions going south.
Perhaps this scenario feels familiar:
You’ve been sticking with your workout regimen. Most days, your nutrition starts off strong. Breakfast is solid, lunch is prepped, and your plans for dinner are grilled chicken and salad.
Then, 4 p.m. hits — along with an energy slump, unexpected work deadline, and after-school activity chaos. And your only saving grace is your favorite vanilla latte and chocolate candy.
You consider the day a miss and intend to start again tomorrow, but before you know it, you’ve started (and re-started) again more times than you’d like to admit.
Sometimes, what we need is a targeted reset of our habits to get us back to a healthier baseline — but, especially without a proper strategy, that can be easier said than done.
Discover how one Life Time member, Sharee, used our step-by-step 10-day Sugar Fix program to accelerate her long-term plan.
Samantha McKinney | What made you want to go through the 10-day Sugar Fix program — was there anything in particular you were struggling with?
Sharee | After I hurt my foot playing tennis, I wanted to get my weight in check. I had previously done the 60day and the D.TOX program, but I continued to struggle with my consumption of sugar. I have the WORST sweet tooth. I could eat sugar all day, every day — and I did when I was recovering from my foot injury.
Any little stress, I turned to sugar. Any emotional up or down, I turned to sugar. And when I say I turned to sugar, there was no “in moderation,” but rather my intake was way overdone and in excess.
So, I decided to turn to the 10-day Sugar Fix program to try to help me. I was honestly skeptical it would work because of how addicted to sugar I was.
SM | How did you prepare for the program? Do you have any advice to help someone get started confidently from day one?
Sharee | I prepared by reading all of the program materials I received from Coach Lo in the Life Time Training app after I signed up for the program. I threw away anything in my home that had any added grams of sugar in it.
Day one was hard because I had cravings for sugar, but I followed the steps outlined in the guide on what to do if I had cravings, such as drinking water and going for a walk.
Little by little, my cravings went away with no side effects.
SM | What was your biggest learning or thing that surprised you most during Sugar Fix? And did you run into any challenges?
Sharee | The biggest thing I learned was how to look at labels and read them. I was so surprised to find out about all the hidden sugar that companies add into foods that seem “healthy.”
I ran into a challenge because I had a wedding right in the middle of the 10-day Sugar Fix. When I was there, I had the tiniest piece of cake, and I HATED it. It didn’t taste good at all and as soon as I got home, I immediately got back onto the Sugar Fix plan.
SM | Can you offer any specific tips for someone to stay on track?
Sharee | It’s not about being perfect every single day, but it’s about doing the best you can. What you put into the program is what you’ll get out of it.
I used the chat feature in the Life Time Training app and constantly talked to the coaches for advice and assistance. I also joined the Life Time Weight Loss and Training Community Facebook group to get tips and support. But most importantly, I followed the recommendations in the guide for what to do when you get a sweet tooth.
To this day, if I get a sugar craving, I ask myself first if I am thirsty, and then I go for a walk if it’s not better. I also make sure I get my protein in as the catalyst to my day every day.
SM | What was your largest takeaway from the program or result you experienced?
Sharee | My addiction to sugar is gone.
I always look at the label before I purchase any food product. I choose to stay away from sugar and am not living my life around sugar.
SM | What did you continue to do after the program — and what came next for you?
Sharee | I am always looking at labels in depth to ensure I’m not taking in any unnecessary added sugars. And if I accidentally get added sugar from meals while out to eat, I just focus on the basics of the 10-day Sugar Fix, such as hitting my daily protein goal and optimizing my water intake. I feel stronger by being able to say no to sugar. Also, the coaches have made me feel so comfortable, I can still reach out to them even though I’m done with the program.
After the 10-day Sugar Fix, I did the Fit + Focused program for six weeks. After that program, I signed up to work on a customized program with a trainer and really focused on my “why.”