My experience giving up sugar, gluten, and alcohol leaves me with mixed feelings

[Anonymous]

So I recently came off a variation of the "Wild Rose" cleanse, except the diet only, not the whole "detox cleanse" (I am wary of any trend or product hawking itself as a "detox" and consider them sketch pseudoscience). I did it for four weeks instead of 12 days, and I did just the diet and not the supplements or tinctures.

It's basically an elimination diet, where you don't have anything processed, no dairy, no simple carbs, no added sugars among other things.

The outcome: If I do say so myself... I look gorgeous. My skin is glowing, my eyes look younger and less puffy and baggy. I never needed to lose weight, but on my build, going from 125 lbs to 115 lbs is the difference between acceptably average to fitness-model stunning. I see much more definition in my ab muscles and legs. I have much more energy and generally feel lighter and springier.

BUT..... the entire experience is kind of a killjoy. Yes, the meals can be lovely and make you feel lovely and if you put in the effort, you can have perfectly nourishing and tasty meals (spices are generally fair game). However, it gets BORING. Especially the no-alcohol part. And man, I just want some ice cream. And a mojito. A Pina Colada. Anything fun.

I really don't know whether looking good is worth giving up so much fun. Not saying it isn't, but I definitely am not sure if it is. Especially the social part of it.

Of course, the logical answer is "moderation"... could I live this way (mainly give up alcohol and sugar) and have one treat a week? But this is where it gets complicated. Sugar is in many ways like alcohol and forms dependencies. Like an alcoholic, it is very easy to once fall off the wagon and have one treat turn into two, three, four, or daily. It almost takes more discipline to just treat yourself once and stop, than it is to just say no completely. But now I have a visual and physical answer of what the possibilities are if I stick to no sugar. It really is a question of how much good looks and lack of inflammation are worth being boring. Especially since looks will probably fade within a decade or two and being thin won't be such a great feature to begin with.

[Anonymous]

How old are you?

[Anonymous]

Can you be more specific about the diet? I am interested.

[Anonymous]

And how did you handle social events?

[Anonymous]

Not worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

For me, it's the socializing/events. It's just not personally worth it to me. Others may make a different choice!

[Anonymous]

I don’t care about my looks enough to try this diet, OP, but I would like to get allergies, bloat, anxiety and migraines (all exacerbated by inflammation) in check. Did you see any improvement on those fronts?

[Anonymous]

Question - will you live longer, or will it just seem like it?

[Anonymous]

I felt like this after doing Whole30 (twice). I acknowledge that I feel really good, I look better, I lost weight. But it was so much work, so much mental energy, and no fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question - will you live longer, or will it just seem like it?

someone once posted on here a link to a BMI calculator that told you if you would live longer statistically based on losing weight. I'm totally butchering the description and of course I can't find it now, sorry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question - will you live longer, or will it just seem like it?

someone once posted on here a link to a BMI calculator that told you if you would live longer statistically based on losing weight. I'm totally butchering the description and of course I can't find it now, sorry!

Eh.

[Anonymous]

So your take is eat poison (sugar) and drink poison (alcohol) because it is ‘fun’….. do you think you’ve been brainwashed at all while you exist in this matrix?

[Anonymous]

I did a strict macro diet in combination with weight lifting last year. While the actual weight loss only about 10 lbs, I looked amazing. Same as you - skin glowing, six pack abs, had veins popping in my arms and thighs, got compliments from everyone. I loved the look but it was very hard to maintain and also boring as hell. I couldn't have any social life because I couldn't handle any deviation from my plan.

I gained back the 10 and I'm much happier. I've put on more muscle (especially in my glutes and shoulders) so I still look fit. Just don't have that lean fitness model look anymore. I can also still have a social life and enjoy my prosecco while maintaining my weight.

[Anonymous]

How much can you cheat and still maintain? Would dessert or a beverage a couple times a week set you back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much can you cheat and still maintain? Would dessert or a beverage a couple times a week set you back?

NP. Reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit?