I’m truly believe in shaking things up every once and a while and challenging your body to progress. Remember in week 1, I talk about hitting a ‘plateau’, where your aren’t seeing the gains or results as fast as in the beginning. This is because your body is becoming used to your new routine and is seeing this as the norm. So in order to keep my body guessing and making it work harder, this past week, I’ve been undertaking a 7-day no sugar, no carb challenge. I’m shooting some video promo in London this week before flying to Bangkok for a modelling job, so I want to condition my body to be as lean as possible for the shoots.
The basic idea of the ‘no sugar no carbs challenge’ is to eat mostly leafy green vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Starchy carbs like white bread and pasta are really sugar in disguise: your body breaks them down quickly into glucose. Complex carbohydrates that are fiber-rich, like leafy green vegetables, take longer to digest, so you feel full for longer. Being more conscious about trying to fill out your dinner plate in substitute for carbs is going to ensure you get all the nutrition from vegetables you need. Omitting rice or pasta, you’ll be able to add more vegetables, which increases the health nutrition of your plate.
This plan is not long-term sustainable so I only recommend doing this for 7 or 10 days before going back to a normal healthy eating routine. Effectively, this is a reset.
Foods to eat on a no sugar, no carb challenge:
- Non-starchy vegetables (including kale, spinach, celery, broccoli, lettuce, cucumbers, cauliflower, bell peppers, and zucchini)
- Unsweetened teas and seltzers
- Spices and seasonings
- Nuts and sugar-free nut butter (peanut butter, almond butter, and soy butter) and seeds
- Meat and poultry (beef, pork, chicken, and turkey)
- Eggs
- Seafood
- Avocado
- Olive oil
- Blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries
Foods to avoid while doing the challenge:
- Starchy vegetables—this includes potatoes, beets, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and winter squash
- Candy
- Baked goods—bread, crackers, cakes, cookies, etc.
- Most fruits
- Grains (such as wheat, corn, and rice), beans (such as black, kidney, and pinto), and legumes (such as chickpeas and lentils)
- Condiments with sugar, such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, and teriyaki sauce
- Sweeteners (even artificial sweeteners)
- Dairy
- Soda
- Alcohol
So why not give the 7-day no carbs, no sugar diet a go? 7 days trying to be a bit more conscious about the food you are eating. Reset your body and challenge yourself! I’d recommend consulting with your doctor if you do have any concerns or health queries.