Why the Sugar Craving Wasn’t About Sugar

And how I finally broke the cycle — without relying on willpower.

The Detox That Cracked Everything Open 

I didn’t sign up for a sugar detox.

At the time, I was enrolled in a 90-day training program — something meant to reset my habits, build consistency, and help me feel stronger in my body. As part of the first week, we were instructed to do a full-body detox. No processed foods. No dairy. And definitely no sugar.

Not just “cut back on sweets” — I’m talking read every label and if there was even one gram of sugar, it was a no. No honey. No sauces. No granola. No dressings. No shortcuts.

By day three?

I was fantasizing about cake and cupcakes.
And here’s the thing — I don’t even like cake like that.
I’m the person who scrapes off the icing and only eats the corner piece at a party because it’s polite. Cake is not my go-to. But during that detox, it was all I could think about.

Driving down the road, it felt like my cravings had taken over my brain.
I was dreaming about foods I never craved before. And in that moment, something hit me:

“If I’m only three days into this detox and I’m craving sugar this badly — what has it really been doing to me?”

This was more than just a snack — it felt like survival.

That was the beginning of not one, but two powerful revelations.

The first: that my cravings weren’t just physical — they were emotional.
The second: that sugar had a deeper hold on my body and energy than I ever realized.

This post is about the first revelation — the one that taught me how often I was using food to escape, avoid, or fill in the gaps of what I truly needed.

We’ll come back to the second one in another post. Because trust me, it deserves its own space.

Out With the Old: “I Just Need More Willpower”

For the longest time, I thought I had a discipline problem.
I’d make it through a long day at work — back-to-back meetings, solving problems, answering emails, being “on” — and before I even made it to my car, my brain was already mapping the drive to my favorite French fry spot.

Not because I was hungry.
But because I was done.
Mentally drained. Emotionally spent. Tired of giving, tired of fixing, tired of performing.

And those fries?
They were the only happy moment I could count on at the end of the day.

What I know now is that I wasn’t reaching for food because I lacked willpower.
I was reaching because I was depleted.
Because I felt stuck.
Because I needed joy — and didn’t know where else to find it.

The drive-thru doesn’t ask questions.

In With the New: “Cravings Are Communication”

The turning point wasn’t just learning that sugar impacts the brain. (That’s another post for another day.)

The real shift came when I started asking myself a different question:

“What am I really craving right now?”

Because it wasn’t always food.
It was comfort.
Relief.
Control.
A moment of peace.
A feeling of something that I couldn’t give myself through rest, reflection, or honesty — so I gave it to myself through food.

That awareness didn’t shame me — it freed me.
It allowed me to see that the craving was a signal, not a sin.
And instead of judging myself for the craving, I started listening to it.

That changed everything.

Awareness opens the door to a different choice.

The Emotional Routine That Became a Habit

Let me tell you how it played out.

I’d finish a 10-hour day at work, completely spent. It wasn’t necessarily a “bad” day — no drama, no conflict. But it was the kind of day that took everything out of me. Mentally, emotionally, energetically.

I’d leave the office already plotting the detour that would take me past the French fry place that made them just the way I liked.
Next stop: milkshake.
Sometimes nachos (queso from Chipotle IYKYK).
Eventually, it became pizza night — once a week, without fail.

It wasn’t about hunger. It was about happiness on demand.

That salty, crispy bite was the one guaranteed moment of joy I could count on.

“This will make me feel better.”
“This is what I deserve after the day I’ve had.”

And it did feel better — for about 15 minutes.

But when the fries were gone, so was the joy.
And what was left… was me. Tired. Stuck. Still unfulfilled.

That’s when I realized:
It wasn’t about the food.
It was about the feeling I didn’t know how to reach any other way.

The Turning Point: From Autopilot to Awareness

You can always reset, not restart.

The turning point wasn’t dramatic. It didn’t happen all at once.
It was a slow unraveling — a series of honest moments stacked on top of each other.

But the first real shift came when I could finally say, out loud:

“I’m an emotional eater.”

(I actually laughed a little bit…while eating a french fry) 

*Insert funny image of a person sneaking fries

Not in a self-deprecating way. Not with guilt.
But with truth.

I had to admit that I wasn’t just “treating myself” or having a little comfort food.
I was relying on food to fill emotional gaps.
To create a sense of joy when my life felt empty.
To give me relief when I was overwhelmed.
To distract me from the deeper question I didn’t want to answer:

“What do I really need right now — and why don’t I believe I can have it?”

That kind of honesty changed everything.
Because once I could name it, I could start to work with it.

Instead of fighting my cravings, I started listening to them.
Instead of judging myself, I started supporting myself.

And I made one small decision that changed the game:
I chose to create space for my emotions — before I reached for food.

That looked like:

• Pausing for five minutes before grabbing a snack
  

• Asking myself what I was feeling in that moment
  

• Journaling, praying, or texting a friend instead of eating on autopilot
  

• Letting myself feel the thing — without trying to numb it away

Not every time. Not perfectly.
But consistently enough to build new awareness. New strength. New patterns.

And those patterns are what eventually led to freedom.

What I Do Instead (and Why It’s Not About Perfection)

Let me be clear:
I still eat fries.
I still enjoy pizza.
And I still have moments when I say, “You know what? I want that milkshake.”

This isn’t about demonizing food or pretending like I never crave comfort anymore.
It’s about being aware of why I’m reaching for something — and choosing it with clarity, not compulsion.

Because what I’ve learned is this:
When life gets hard (and it will), your cravings will come calling.
And if you don’t have a foundation of awareness, support, and self-compassion in place, those cravings will take the wheel — and drive your health off course.

So what do I do now?

I pause.
I check in with myself.
I ask:

“Am I really hungry, or am I feeling something else?”
“Do I need food — or do I need care?”

And when I do choose to indulge, I do it from a place of intention — not avoidance.

That’s the heart of Sweet Freedom.

It’s not about never falling off track.
It’s about knowing that even when you do… you can always find your way back.

Because you’ve built something solid.
You’ve created a rhythm.

You’ve laid a foundation that isn’t rooted in guilt or grind — but in grace.

Your Turn: A Craving Check-In

If anything in this post resonated with you — if you’ve ever reached for food not out of hunger, but out of exhaustion, sadness, or the need to feel something good again — I want you to know this:

You’re not broken.
You’re not weak.
You’re just human.

And the next time a craving hits, I want to invite you to try something different.

✨ Just pause.

Before you reach for the snack, the treat, the takeout order — take a breath.
Ask yourself:

• What am I really feeling right now?
  

• What do I truly need?
  

• Am I seeking comfort… connection… a break?
  

Write it down. Say it out loud. Text it to yourself.
Whatever you do — just notice.

That moment of awareness is where the shift begins.

...And if after all that, you decide you still need a large Cajun French fry?
I’m not judging.
I’ll just pass you the ketchup. 😄

This Is What Sweet Freedom Is All About

Sweet Freedom isn’t about never craving sugar again.
It’s about creating a life that’s so grounded, so honest, and so joy-filled…
that cravings don’t control you anymore.

It’s about building a foundation of support — one that you can come back to, no matter how far you feel like you’ve drifted.

I created the Sweet Freedom Toolkit because I know how real this struggle is.
And I also know that you don’t have to stay stuck in it.

Inside, you’ll find tools that helped me heal:
📝 A craving journal template
💭 Guided prompts to check in with your emotions
🎧 Audio reflections to walk you through hard moments
🌿 And encouragement for when you need it most

👉 [Click here to explore the Sweet Freedom Toolkit]

You Were Made for More

You don’t need to be perfect.
You just need to be honest.
And you don’t have to figure this out alone.

You were made for joy.
You were made for peace.
You were made for freedom.

And that freedom? It starts right here — with one honest craving check-in at a time.