Summer is just around the corner, and despite all of the promises we made to ourselves to start eating healthier and lose weight at the beginning of the year, it’s much easier said than done. If you’ve fallen off the weight loss wagon and you’re starting to feel desperate, there are a few things you can do to get back on track before the end of swimsuit season. The easiest way to eliminate unnecessary body weight is to cut out processed sugars.
This means cutting out everything that’s not a natural source of sugar. Fruit is fine to eat, in addition to natural forms of sugar such as honey, real maple syrup, and molasses. Because these sugars are natural, your body has an easier time digesting them, and they won’t be stored as unhealthy fat.
The first few days of eating sugar free will be the hardest. If you can make it through the first three days of eating sugar free, you’ll be able to make it through at least 30 days of eating sugar free. You just have to persevere through those first few days. Your body may go through some sort of a detox stage as the sugar flushes out of your body, which commonly includes a headache.
When you’re craving something sweet, try eating some fruit to satisfy your sweet tooth naturally. Summer is the perfect time to cut out sugar, because there is such a great variety of fresh fruits that are in season, so you’ll still be able to enjoy a sweet treat without the consequences that come with eating baked goods or sugary drinks. If fruit isn’t satisfying your craving, try eating some unsweetened greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, or you can make the following recipe for naturally sweetened chocolate mousse.
Honey Sweetened Chocolate Mousse
14 ounces full-fat canned coconut milk (refrigerate for at least 24 hours before making the recipe)
⅓ cup honey
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
A pinch of salt
Scoop the solid coconut cream out of the can of coconut milk, leaving the liquid behind. Combine the cream with the other ingredients in a food processor. Chill for 3 hours.
