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If you’ve been training at CrossFit Jozi for a week, then you know that sugar is bad for you. You also know that fat doesn’t make you fat, sugar does. Yet you still find yourself succumbing to the call of those empty calories. This 21 day challenge is going to help you kick that sugar habit.

Here’s what happens when you eat a high carbohydrate meal or snack (30g or more of a high glycemic carb, especially if not after exercise):

  1. Blood sugar rises beyond a level that we can manage with a normal insulin response.
  2. A large amount of insulin is released in response to the large amount of carbs eaten.
  3. Insulin quickly moves the sugar from the blood stream in to the muscles.
  4. The quick rise in blood sugar then changes to a rapid drop in blood sugar.
  5. Blood sugar drops to less than 1 teaspoon of sugar and you become shaky, hungry and irritable.
  6. You reach for another sweet snack, and the cycle repeats.

That is just the tip of the iceberg, but it should be enough to remind you that sugar is bad. So we’re going to take 21 days to kick the sugar habit.

Below is the registration form for this challenge. It’s an individual challenge. There is no entry fee. There are no prizes. It’s just you against you. But because the bad you often presides over the good you, we’re doing this in a group, and there will be penalties.

A list of all participants will be placed on the whiteboard. You are to record your daily cheats on the board. For every cheat, big or small, you are to complete 30 burpees as quickly as possible.

An email containing the YES/NO food list for each level will have been sent to you. Please read that BEFORE completing the form. Once you have selected your level, you will not be permitted to change. It’s just 21 days.

Selecting Your Level

Level 1:

  • This is your first challenge
  • You currently eat bread, pasta, rice and other refined foods
  • You currently eat low fat or fat free dairy products
  • You currently feel that the sugar cravings and inconsistent energy levels are so strong that you are unsure of how this challenge will go for you

Level 2:

  • You have completed a challenge before
  • You currently eat bread, pasta, rice and other refined foods
  • You currently eat low fat or fat free dairy products
  • You currently feel that the sugar cravings and inconsistent energy levels are so strong that you are unsure of how this challenge will go for you

Level 3:

  • You have completed a challenge before
  • You currently eat a paleo/primal type diet 80% of the time
  • You currently eat full fat dairy products
  • You feel that you are moderately fat adapted, are able to control carb cravings and are up for the challenge of eliminating most sweet foods for 21 days

Exceptions:

  • 1/2 to 1 cup of sweet potatoe, butternut, pumpkin, squash BEFORE/AFTER training
  • For Regionals athletes, double or triple the above
  • A high quality whey protein powder (Muscle Science, Cipla, Optimum Nutrition) with no added carbs

If it’s on the NO list, avoid it completely. If you eat something on the NO list, get you name on the board and get them burpees done. If you really want to achieve the most out of the 21 days, then do your best to avoid foods on the LIMIT list.

Challenge Details

  • Starts: Sunday 5 May (that means day 1 is Sunday this week)
  • Length: 21 days
  • Cost: Burpee penalties, IF you cheat
  • Prizes: There will be spot prizes
  • Measurements: None – this is all about kicking your sugar habit
  • Our commitment: This page will be updated with useful tips, information and recipes throughout the challenge

If you are ready to commit, then sign up below:

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