Meet The Member Who Quit Sugar (And Turned Her Life Around)

When I was 15, I weighed 100 kg.

I was a size 20+ and hated the way I looked. I was a serial binge eater and quite depressed. I would sit in front of the fridge, eat something, move to the cupboard, eat a packet of chips, and move back to the fridge.

It was a heartbreaking cycle of hate and food. I didn’t feel confident, pretty, or worthwhile.

Shopping made me cry, I avoided mirrors, and my social life sputtered to a halt. I actually lost friends because they told me I was antisocial. It became so bad that I wanted to abuse myself; my skin and my mind became my enemy.

But then, I turned my life around. I quit sugar.

It started with my mum. She staged an intervention that made me cry. I wanted to change - I needed to change - and she could see how unhappy I was.

She put me onto a diet that mostly aimed to schedule meals, and - to my shock horror - cut out all processed sugar. It was so hard at first. I remember the shame of sneaking chocolate and lollies when the three o’clock munchies hit.

But the weeks kept coming and it just got easier. I stopped eating sugar, and I stopped craving it; simple as that.

I substituted chips and biscuits for fruit and nuts, and had cup-of-soups after school when I was hit by cravings. I also had more energy, incorporating a 20-minute walk with my dog into my everyday routine; I began to love that personal time.

Cutting out sugar gave me so much more control over my body, and my outlook on life improved. So many people are intimidated by the words “quit sugar”, as if that means living solely off spinach and cardboard. It’s not true. Fruit, honey, et cetera are natural sugars, and believe me, they fuel you better than chocolate bars ever could.

Now I’m 17, turning 18, and I weigh 70 kg. I still struggle with my weight, but this is where I sit naturally, and I am immensely proud of myself. I never thought I would be confident enough to wear dresses or skirts, and take leadership roles to put myself out there and develop my social skills.

I could never have done it without the support of my friends and family, and I urge everyone who wants to do right by themselves and change their diet - quitting sugar or otherwise - to share their decision with people. Develop a support network, online or offline, that can offer you advice or pick you up when you’re down. And I can assure you, from my own personal experience, your body will thank you, and you will thank yourself too.

If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available right now. Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

For more information on counselling and treatment plans you can contact your school’s health services as well as the following organisations:

Beyond Blue

Headspace

Congratulations to Erinn for winning this writing challenge, answering: How I Quit Sugar. Erinn wins a $50 Westfield gift card for her submission. For your chance to win, check out our latest writing challenges in our Comps section. Also, be sure to follow this guide on how to win the writing challenge!

Photo: iStock.