A woman who was trapped in a cycle of sugar addiction and overeating has revealed how quitting refined sugar completely transformed her health and helped her shed an incredible seven stone.
From Addiction to Action
Kristy McCammon, 53, says her cravings for sugary snacks had become an uncontrollable addiction. She would routinely start her day with a bag of crisps, biscuits, or sweets, consuming up to 5,000 calories daily. At her heaviest, she wore a UK dress size 28 and felt her obsession with food was leading her to an early grave.
After trying various diets and gym memberships without success, Kristy made a drastic decision in October 2017. She decided to quit all refined sugar cold turkey, finding it easier to eliminate it entirely than to try and cut back.
A New Lifestyle of Homemade Food
Kristy overhauled her diet, ditching fast food, frozen snacks, and sugar-filled goods. She now focuses on homemade, whole foods. Her typical day includes peanut butter oatmeal cookies or eggs with an apple for breakfast. Lunch is a large salad with chicken or steak plus fruit and raw vegetables, while dinner features a protein like fish, steak, or chicken with roasted vegetables.
To manage her sweet tooth, she turns only to fruit. "I've eliminated all sugar, sweetener and artificial sweetener," Kristy explained. She uses bananas or sweet potatoes to naturally sweeten meals and even makes her own cottage cheese ice cream. For her birthday, she opts for a special fruit cake instead of a traditional one.
Seven Years 'Sugar Sober' and Thriving
Now, seven years into her sugar-free life, Kristy wears a UK dress size 16 and has maintained her weight loss naturally. The intense cravings have completely vanished, and she reports feeling better in her 50s than at any other age.
She also highlights the financial saving, having previously spent "hundreds" of pounds each week on sugary treats. While her family isn't subjected to her strict regime, she tries to limit processed foods at home.
Kristy believes sugar is highly addictive, lighting up the brain's reward centre akin to hard drugs. She offers a powerful mantra for others struggling: "None is easier than one." She advocates for learning to eat in a way that nourishes the body and brain, rather than turning to quick fixes like jabs or surgery.
"People often think this lifestyle is restrictive," Kristy said, "but I'm here to tell you that being overweight and food-obsessed is more restricting."
