Alessia Cara Let me start with this: I have a sweet tooth. A big one. Chocolate, cookies, that afternoon latte with a drizzle of caramel—these were staples in my daily life. But after feeling increasingly sluggish, craving sugar every few hours, and noticing mood swings that came out of nowhere, I decided to challenge myself.
40 days. No added sugar. That meant cutting out not just the obvious culprits like candy and soda, but also sneaky sugar bombs like flavored yogurts, sauces, energy bars, and even certain breads.
Here’s what happened.
Giving up sugar was quite challenging
Giving up sugar wasn’t easy; it pushed me way out of my comfort zone. But 40 days ago, I decided to face my sugar addiction head-on and quit cold turkey. The result? A full-on detox that took my body (and mind) on a wild ride.
Now, I can’t say with absolute certainty that every change I’ve felt is only because I gave up sugar, but the transformation has been undeniable. Over the past 40 days, I’ve noticed some serious shifts, and today, I want to share exactly what happened.
What Happened When I Quit Sugar for 40 Days
Before diving into this sugar-free experiment, I considered myself a pretty healthy person. I drank close to 80 ounces of water daily, leaned toward whole foods at mealtimes, exercised six days a week, and barely touched alcohol. Physically and mentally, I felt strong and balanced.
So I was surprised, even by myself,f with how excited I was to take on the challenge of quitting sugar completely. I wasn’t dreading it, I was genuinely eager. I even mapped out a blog post in advance, outlining the strategies I planned to use to stick it out for the full 40 days. These weren’t random ideas, either. I’d put serious thought into each one and felt confident they’d carry me through the ups and downs of a full-on sugar detox.
I kicked things off with a plan—structured, intentional, and sugar-free.
Day one started surprisingly normally. I had my usual breakfast, followed by my go-to snack and lunch. Honestly, I barely noticed that anything had changed… until mid-afternoon hit. That’s usually when I wander into the kitchen, spot the candy dish, and sneak a few pieces to keep me going. Then, just to balance things out (or so I told myself), I’d grab an apple and feel smug about making a “healthy” choice. But this time? No candy. Just the apple. And while it was fine, I missed that sweet little pick-me-up.
Later that evening, I swapped my usual scoop of ice cream for a bowl of popcorn. It did the job, I guess, but let’s be real, it didn’t spark joy. I went to bed feeling proud, but also low-key salty about the lack of dessert.
Looking back, I may have chosen the most challenging time of year to quit sugar.
I started this journey during Lent—a 46-day season of reflection and sacrifice. Traditionally, Sundays are considered a break from the fast, a day of rest when you’re allowed to indulge in whatever you’ve given up. So, I decided to follow that tradition: sugar-free six days a week, with Sundays as a modest reset. I didn’t go overboard, but I allowed myself a normal amount of sugar on those days.
What Happened When I Quit Sugar for 40 Days
The changes I experienced during this sugar detox were, honestly, incredible. After years of living with constant cravings and daily sugar fixes, I finally broke free—and it all started when I decided to give up sugar for Lent. This was more than just a short-term experiment. It became the turning point that helped me finally kick sugar for good. By the end of that first week, I was counting down the hours until Sunday. My husband’s birthday cake had been sitting in the fridge all week, taunting me every time I opened the door. I told myself I’d have just a small slice.
Yeah… that didn’t happen.
I wolfed down my lunch, grabbed the cake, and inhaled it in way fewer bites than I should’ve. It was gone in seconds. And within minutes? My stomach revolted. I felt nauseous and gross, like my body was saying, “What is this? We don’t do this anymore
However, I was determined to stop eating sugar.
Still, I was committed to seeing this through. Sugar was no longer going to have control over me. When Sunday rolled around again, I was genuinely excited for my little treat. I scooped myself a generous bowl of ice cream that night and sat down, ready to enjoy it like old times.
But something strange happened—I couldn’t finish it.
The ice cream tasted way sweeter than I remembered. It was almost overpowering, like my taste buds had been reset and suddenly couldn’t handle that level of sweetness. I took a few more bites, but honestly? I didn’t even want the rest. That was the moment I realized: my relationship with sugar was truly starting to change.
Week 3: The Turning Point
By the time I hit week three, something shifted.
The initial cravings had started to fade, and I finally felt like I was hitting my stride. I found a handful of healthy, satisfying snacks that kept me full throughout the day and made it so much easier to steer clear of temptation. My energy was more stable, my mood more even—and for the first time, I wasn’t thinking about sugar constantly.
I felt genuinely proud of making it this far without slipping, and that motivation pushed me to keep going strong through the rest of the 40 days. The before-and-after results of this sugar detox? Nothing short of incredible. After years of riding the rollercoaster of sugar highs and crashes, I was finally free from the grip of constant cravings—and it all began with this simple decision to give up sugar for Lent.
Even everyday habits like grocery shopping started to feel like small victories. I noticed that my cart was full of fresh produce, whole foods, and clean ingredients—all from the outer aisles of the store. Gone were the processed snacks and sugary convenience foods. And with each smart choice, I felt stronger, more in control, and genuinely satisfied.
Quitting Sugar Finally Felt Doable
By this point, the sugar-free lifestyle no longer felt impossible—it felt manageable. When Sunday came around again, I hesitated. I was doing so well… did I even want a sugary treat? I eventually gave in and had a small bowl of ice cream, but once again, it tasted way sweeter than I remembered and left me feeling sluggish and heavy. Not exactly the reward I’d been looking forward to.
Things Kept Getting Easier
As the days passed, skipping sugar became second nature. By week four, it felt completely normal not to reach for sweets. I could sit with my family while they ate birthday cake and not feel the slightest urge to join in. I munched on popcorn while my husband enjoyed cookies, and I didn’t feel deprived. I felt empowered.
Oddly enough, Sundays started to feel harder than the regular days. They disrupted the rhythm I had worked so hard to create. But that challenge only made me more motivated to keep going.
For the first time, quitting sugar didn’t just feel like a good idea—it felt like something I could do.
Day 40
And here we are—day 40.
Tomorrow is Easter, the end of Lent, and the official close of my sugar detox. Looking back, I’m honestly shocked at how much has changed. I’ve heard people talk about the benefits of giving up sugar, but I never expected to experience them so clearly myself.
Energy, mood, sleep, even taste, they’ve all improved. This journey has been eye-opening, challenging, and completely worth it.
The Results I’ve Experienced Since I Quit Sugar
My face stopped breaking out, Running has started to feel easier.
I have been able to make significant improvements in my speed. Whether or not this is a result of my decision to quit sugar, I don’t know for sure yet. But I can say that for the past month, my runs have all felt significantly easier. The miles have gone by with ease, and I am hitting paces that I never have been able to during my tempo and interval runs.
I genuinely feel so much better about myself.
Maybe it’s the pride that comes from knowing I stuck with quitting sugar for a full 40 days. Or maybe it’s because my emotions have become steadier and less chaotic. Whatever the reason, the past month has brought me a newfound sense of confidence, happiness, and calm that I hadn’t expected.
This journey wasn’t just about giving up sugar—it was about reclaiming my well-being in ways I’m still discovering every day.
