The Stages of Quitting Sugar

When you quit or cut back on sugar, your body and mind will go through many changes. 
These stages are similar to when you cut anything out, though the withdrawal period 
might be worse than other lifestyle changes if you relied a lot on sugar-laden foods. 
Here are some stages you can expect when you first cut back on your sugar intake.

Cravings

This is probably one of the first things you will experience, though some people will 
have the headaches from withdrawal first. Cravings occur when your body discovers it 
is not getting the same amount of sugar as it used to. This could occur on day 2, or not 
for a week or so. It will depend a lot on how much sugar you were consuming before 
starting the sugar detox diet.

Headaches

If you have ever tried to quit something cold turkey, like smoking or drinking caffeine, 
you know what the withdrawal headaches are like. While they can affect what you are 
trying to accomplish during the day, be strong! Take some pain relievers and just try to 
get through this phase. If you cave, you will just have to keep going through these 
withdrawal symptoms over and over again.

Aches and Pains

Another stage of quitting sugar is when you get further into the sugar withdrawal period 
and you experience some aches and pains. Like other symptoms, this might not be 
something everyone deals with. However, if you start experiencing leg cramps or other 
odd physical discomforts, it may be your body’s way of reacting to lack of sugar you are 
consuming. However, if it becomes severe, it is a good thing to discuss with your doctor.

Mood Swings

Moving further into the later stages of sugar detoxing and the withdrawal is the mood 
swings. These can come from a few different sources. You are uncomfortable and might 
be having some bad headaches, so that will create some irritability. The cravings are 
definitely making it worse, and when you feel like you are being told you can’t have 
something, it can play a lot of tricks on you. This will pass just like all other stages of 
quitting sugar, you just have to be committed.

Body Shakes and Trembling

Some people will also experience more traditional withdrawal symptoms like body 
shakes, weakness, or trembling. It is important that if you feel uneasy about it, you talk 
to your doctor to rule out other possible causes. 

