WILL CUTTING OUT SUGAR REALLY RESULT IN WEIGHT LOSS?
What happens when you eliminate sugar from your diet? For many of us, sugar is the primary source of empty calories in our daily diets, meaning it is pretty safe to assume that removing it from your daily diet could result in weight loss. Before you decide it’s time to forgo your daily Coke or Mountain Dew, swear off cookies and cake forever, and even stop eating your favorite tuna sandwich on white bread, here’s the truth about whether or not saying goodbye to sugar will really result in weight loss.
IN SIMPLE TERMS, THE ANSWER IS YES
Although this may not be the answer you are looking for, it is true that you will lose weight simply by cutting out sugar. On the other hand, if you continue to eat sugar, your changes of gaining weight grow higher and higher.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT
When you eat sugar, your body automatically goes into overdrive producing insulin and pulling glucose into your cells and prompting your body to hold on to fat for future use. This, of course, causes weight gain. At the same time, the fructose found in sugar can only be metabolized by your liver. Unfortunately, this is where it gets turned into fat and later secreted into the blood and distributed throughout your blood cells. These cells will become bigger and bigger, causing your body to secrete more leptin. Over time your body will develop a resistance to leptin, blocking any sensations of fullness and causing you to eat more.
It is also worth noting that when you opt to take sugar out of your diet, you are also eliminating quite a bit of carbohydrates. The carbs you do consume will come from veggies, grains, legumes, and meat. Not only will this add to the weight you are losing by eliminating sugars, but it will also target excess fat that has accumulated in your abdomen.
ALL THOSE EMPTY CALORIES
The average person consumes around 42.5 teaspoons of sugar every day. This is an additional 680 calories that offer no nutritional value and do little more than sit there and accumulate. For every 3,500 calories you consume, you gain 1 pound, which can happen quickly simply by consuming too many empty calories. Instead, replace these sugary foods with something healthy and low in calories.
SAY GOODBYE TO PROCESSED FOODS
Let’s face it. Many of the sugary sweet treats you love are highly processed, yet offer minimal nutritional value. When you eliminate sugar, you will have to incorporate more natural, unprocessed foods into your diet. Not only are these foods much healthier, but they tend to have considerably less calories and fill you up faster. Thanks to your decreased caloric consumption and less snacking due to being full, you can expect to lose even more weight.
CAN YOU REALLY STOP EATING SUGAR AND STILL ENJOY FOOD?
If you are thinking to yourself that there is no way you could possibly live without sugar, you just might be surprised. You can eliminate sugar from your diet and still be satisfied. You just have to know the best substitutes. Here are a few of your best options that are free of the chemicals you will find in manufactured sweeteners.
- Applesauce: Plain, unsweetened applesauce is the perfect substitute for sugar in some of your favorite sweet treats. It can be used to make muffins, cakes, brownies, cookies, pancakes, and more.
- Bananas: Bananas are ideal for sweetening up smoothies, baked goods, and even homemade ice cream and popsicles.
- Agave syrup: Made from the nectar in the Blue Agave plant, agave syrup is often referred to as “honey water,” though it also has a bit of a caramel taste to it. In recipes, a ¾ cup of agave syrup is equal to the sweetness you get in 1 cup of sugar.
- Stevia: A powdered extract of the South American stevia plant, stevia is an herb that is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is frequently used to sweeten oatmeal, baked goods, and sugar free protein bars.
- Molasses: Molasses is often used as a substitute for brown sugar when baking. It’s a great option when making gingerbread cookies.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve decided that it is time to quit eating sugar, you can expect to lose weight. But remember to not get complacent. It is important to always supplement with exercise. There are tons of fun workouts you can get into. Set a trampoline in your backyard and get in a workout. Visit sites like www.fitnessfinest.com for recommendations for trampolines. You can also get into Zumba, Yoga, or any other type of dance workout. It’s really up to you! Just make sure it’s something you’ll enjoy so it won’t feel too much like exercise.
What happens when you eliminate sugar from your diet? For many of us, sugar is the primary source of empty calories in our daily diets, meaning it is pretty safe to assume that removing it from your daily diet could result in weight loss. Before you decide it’s time to forgo your daily Coke or Mountain Dew, swear off cookies and cake forever, and even stop eating your favorite tuna sandwich on white bread, here’s the truth about whether or not saying goodbye to sugar will really result in weight loss.
IN SIMPLE TERMS, THE ANSWER IS YES
Although this may not be the answer you are looking for, it is true that you will lose weight simply by cutting out sugar. On the other hand, if you continue to eat sugar, your changes of gaining weight grow higher and higher.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT
When you eat sugar, your body automatically goes into overdrive producing insulin and pulling glucose into your cells and prompting your body to hold on to fat for future use. This, of course, causes weight gain. At the same time, the fructose found in sugar can only be metabolized by your liver. Unfortunately, this is where it gets turned into fat and later secreted into the blood and distributed throughout your blood cells. These cells will become bigger and bigger, causing your body to secrete more leptin. Over time your body will develop a resistance to leptin, blocking any sensations of fullness and causing you to eat more.
It is also worth noting that when you opt to take sugar out of your diet, you are also eliminating quite a bit of carbohydrates. The carbs you do consume will come from veggies, grains, legumes, and meat. Not only will this add to the weight you are losing by eliminating sugars, but it will also target excess fat that has accumulated in your abdomen.
ALL THOSE EMPTY CALORIES
The average person consumes around 42.5 teaspoons of sugar every day. This is an additional 680 calories that offer no nutritional value and do little more than sit there and accumulate. For every 3,500 calories you consume, you gain 1 pound, which can happen quickly simply by consuming too many empty calories. Instead, replace these sugary foods with something healthy and low in calories.
SAY GOODBYE TO PROCESSED FOODS
Let’s face it. Many of the sugary sweet treats you love are highly processed, yet offer minimal nutritional value. When you eliminate sugar, you will have to incorporate more natural, unprocessed foods into your diet. Not only are these foods much healthier, but they tend to have considerably less calories and fill you up faster. Thanks to your decreased caloric consumption and less snacking due to being full, you can expect to lose even more weight.
CAN YOU REALLY STOP EATING SUGAR AND STILL ENJOY FOOD?
If you are thinking to yourself that there is no way you could possibly live without sugar, you just might be surprised. You can eliminate sugar from your diet and still be satisfied. You just have to know the best substitutes. Here are a few of your best options that are free of the chemicals you will find in manufactured sweeteners.
- Applesauce: Plain, unsweetened applesauce is the perfect substitute for sugar in some of your favorite sweet treats. It can be used to make muffins, cakes, brownies, cookies, pancakes, and more.
- Bananas: Bananas are ideal for sweetening up smoothies, baked goods, and even homemade ice cream and popsicles.
- Agave syrup: Made from the nectar in the Blue Agave plant, agave syrup is often referred to as “honey water,” though it also has a bit of a caramel taste to it. In recipes, a ¾ cup of agave syrup is equal to the sweetness you get in 1 cup of sugar.
- Stevia: A powdered extract of the South American stevia plant, stevia is an herb that is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. It is frequently used to sweeten oatmeal, baked goods, and sugar free protein bars.
- Molasses: Molasses is often used as a substitute for brown sugar when baking. It’s a great option when making gingerbread cookies.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve decided that it is time to quit eating sugar, you can expect to lose weight. But remember to not get complacent. It is important to always supplement with exercise. There are tons of fun workouts you can get into. Set a trampoline in your backyard and get in a workout. Visit sites like www.fitnessfinest.com for recommendations for trampolines. You can also get into Zumba, Yoga, or any other type of dance workout. It’s really up to you! Just make sure it’s something you’ll enjoy so it won’t feel too much like exercise.
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