Three Weeks with No Sugar? Yes. You. Can. | 10 tips for ultimate 21DSD success

Hey Folks! We're excited to welcome Certified 21DSD Coach Kathy Kiger. Kathy's article is part of a series contributed by our Certified 21DSD Coaches. Enjoy! – Diane and Team

You’re thinking about doing the 21-Day Sugar Detox.  The potential benefits sound great.

• More energy
• Better sleep
• Clearer skin
• Banish the hangry monster once and for all

But three weeks with no sugar sounds like a long time.  Maybe your mind is wandering back to the times when your endeavors haven’t worked out.  Maybe you’re worried that you’ll start and not be able to finish.  Maybe you're worried you’ll fail.

Well take heart, I’ve got your back.  In fact, the whole 21-Day Sugar Detox Community does.  So check out these 10 tips and set yourself up for success.  Get ready and finish strong.

Tip #1  Set your Mind

I’m a big believer in setting intentions.  If you go into your detox thinking ‘I’ll try’ or ‘we’ll see how it goes’ you are leaving yourself an out, and you’ll probably take it.  Before you start your 21DSD, make a commitment to yourself that you are going to finish.  Spark that determination and be ready to stay the course.

Tip #2  Find Your Why

There will be times during your detox when the going gets tough.  And that’s when you need your why.  Why do you want to do the 21-Day Sugar Detox?

• Are you fed up with feeling tired all the time? 
• Are you worried about your health? 
• Are you ready to start something and finish strong? 

Whatever your why, it’s important to identify it.  And I mean be specific.  “I just want to eat healthier” isn’t going to see you through when someone at the office shows up with donuts.  Name your why and write it down so that you can remind yourself that all this effort will be worth it.

Tip #3  Decide what type of menu planning will work best for you.

Do you just want to be told what to eat and when?  Then using the meal plans might be your best bet. The 21-Day Sugar Detox Daily Guide has lots of  meal plans.  If you want to look at a list and not have to figure out what to eat or what to buy, this is the way to go. Or would you rather design your own menu?  The recipes are a great resource.  If you like to keep things free-form and recipes aren’t your thing, you can also check out the yes/no lists and plan from there.  Just make sure you have plenty of 21-Day Sugar Detox compliant foods on hand.

Tip #4  Plan Plan Plan

This is the biggest predictor of success on your 21-Day Sugar Detox.  Plan out your meals and snacks, and buy the ingredients before you start.  It’s so much easier to resist the urge to order pizza when you know you have the ingredients for a delicious and easy 21-DSD friendly meal on-hand.

Tip #5  Clean Out Your Pantry

Set yourself up for success here.  Get the tempting, sugary, processed foods out of the house.  If they aren’t there, you can’t eat them.  If you have family members who are not on board with this, there are still some things you can do.  Get rid of your personal favorites.  If your family is insistent that they need treats in the house during your 21-Day Sugar Detox, make sure they are their favorites, not yours.  And put them somewhere you won’t see them all the time.  If you come home from work starving, open your pantry and find yourself eye-level with a package of cookies, it’s going to be hard to pass them up.

Tip #6  Keep 21-DSD Friendly Snacks with You

Become one of those people who always has a package of nuts in your purse.  This simple step can save your detox.  It doesn’t have to be nuts of course. But keep 21-Day Sugar Detox friendly food with you at all times.  This will do wonders when that drive thru calls out to you, or you’re stuck in a meeting at work and miss lunch.

Tip #7  Read the Daily Guide

The 21-Day Sugar Detox Daily Guide book offers great tips and information so you can have a successful detox.  The daily readings are your 21-DSD lifeline. Diane Sanfillipo, creator of the 21DSD, provides inspiration and tips to help you stay motivated and navigate each day of your detox. If you wake wondering, “why do I feel…?”, check out the reading for that day.  Your concern is probably there.  When I did my first 21-Day Sugar Detox I relied on these pages each morning to motivate me for the day.   It only takes about 10 minutes, but it’s a very well-spent 10 minutes.

Tip #8  Find Support

If you can, enlist a friend or family member to do the detox with you.  These things are always easier when you have someone in your corner.  But if you are doing the detox on your own, there are still lots of sources of support available.  Check out the huge 21-Day Sugar Detox Facebook community.  Follow the 21-Day Sugar Detox Instagram account.  And check out the hashtags #21DSD, #21daysugardetox, and #21DSDCoach.  There are always people going through the detox.  You may even make some new friends.

Tip #9  Go Through the Program with a Coach

Certified 21-Day Sugar Detox coaches are happy to help you through the detox.  There is almost always a coach getting ready to start a 21DSD group.  Check out the Find a Coach page on the 21DSD website and pick someone that you feel drawn to.  In a coached 21DSD you’ll have classes and support from your coach through your detox and beyond.  Your coach will answer questions, give you great tips, and be there to cheer you on.

Tip #10  Enjoy the Journey

It’s so easy to rush through something, eyes on the prize.  But the 21DSD is an opportunity to learn about yourself.  It is a time of personal growth.  If you pay attention, you’ll see your strength and the amazing character traits that see you through.

You’ve got this. It won’t be long and you will be sharing your 21-Day Sugar Detox success story!

Kathy Kiger, FTNP is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, 21-Day Sugar Detox Certified Coach, and Holistic Health Copywriter.  Her mission is to bring holistic health to the forefront through both her writing and nutritional therapy practice. Kathy has earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree and has taught everything from elementary school to natural childbirth classes.  She works with clients 1:1, regularly runs 21-Day Sugar Detox Coaching groups, writes for health and wellness professionals, and authors her own blog.