21-Day Sugar Detox

So, yesterday was the last day of my level 3 for athletes 21-Day Sugar Detox. I have to say that this went by really fast, and it was pretty easy! Maybe this was because I was used to eating by the Whole30 rules and only having sugar from fruit. That was the thing though-I initially began this detox because I thought I might have been curbing sugar cravings with fresh and dried fruits (as well as some honey or maple syrup sweetened baked goods). I am guessing that if I was using these sources just to push sugar into my body, it must not have been that much. This detox never gave me a sugar "craving". Sure, I made a few things for my family that I would have liked to have tried, but I did not crave it because it was sweet.
I was also expecting that the couple of weeks before I started this, when I had too many nights out, would catch up to me, but apparently that was not the case.

During the detox, I saw the same results as the Whole30 promises-more energy, better sleep, etc. Something else ended up happening though. After about a week in, I noticed a difference in the way my body looked. It was as if without any weight loss, it shifted and became leaner. I even took before, during, and after swimsuit photos (not sure if those will ever be shared, but at least I can see the changes). I was amazed at the differences. I also noticed a difference in my skin. I saw that my skin began to detox after a week in, and now it is so much clearer than before. These results cause me to understand the importance of just giving your body a break from sugar every now and then (whether natural or not). It all makes a difference.
I really feel that plans like this one and the Whole30 do something besides change the food you are eating. I feel like they challenge your self-control. I love this! I think everyone could use more self-control. I love the challenge of this as well. If I know that I am doing something for a certain amount of time (21 days or 30 days, etc.), I make sure I am 100% committed, and that I follow through. This is a trait I try to instill in my children daily. I think after they went through the Whole30, they noticed how they could control themselves and what they put into their bodies. Now that they have seen me do this in an even more stringent way, it has to make some sort of an impact on them. They understood what it was I was doing and why. They would even comment about different dinners that would have to wait until my detox was over because those dinners were made with fruit. Last night, they even saw me turn down mint chocolate chip coconut milk ice cream, that I made for them, without complaint. So, I think they get it. They understand that self-control is important, whether that be with food or other aspects of our lives.
So, what now? I'm not sure. I haven't strayed from the plan today. I was supposed to try some of the leftover ice cream from last night, but I just don't feel ready yet. Pretty soon I will have a piece of fruit or a glass of wine or some sort of homemade treat, but I don't feel like that time is right now. I guess I'll just take it a day at a time and know that if I really want something it's okay to have it.