DAY 14 - TWO WEEKS IN!
Welcome to Day 14 of Sweet Enough January!
By now, food may feel quieter, cravings may feel more understandable, choices may feel less reactive. That awareness is the real work of this challenge.
Yesterday we touched on added sugars and how easy they can pop up everywhere, today I wanted to touch on another sneaky form of sugar - artificial sweeteners.
Many people reach for artificial sweeteners as a way to avoid sugar while still getting something sweet. While they don’t raise blood sugar in the same way, and some have zero calories, they can still influence cravings. Studies have found that artificial sweeteners tend to lead to increased hunger and a desired for more sweets later on. As we consume them, our body receives something sweet and is expecting the calories from that. When it doesn't receive those calories, our brain gets confused and ultimately leads to wanting more food or wanting more sugar!
For some people, artificial sweeteners:
Keep the desire for sweetness front and center
Increase cravings for sugar later
Make naturally sweet foods feel less satisfying
This doesn’t mean they’re “bad” or need to be eliminated. It simply means they may keep the sweetness cycle active — even without added sugar!
If consuming artificial sweeteners, you may have noticed:
Diet drinks or sugar-free foods leaving you wanting more
Sweet cravings sticking around despite avoiding sugar
Natural foods tasting sweeter as sweeteners decrease
Be aware of these feelings as well!
Carrying This Forward
As you move through today, consider:
How does sweetness — in any form — affect me now?
What feels satisfying without creating more cravings?
What feels worth carrying forward?
Two weeks is a huge accomplishment, it may not feel exciting right now, but the power is in the process! Keep moving forward one day at a time!