Trying to break sugar addiction but have been dealing with extreme fatigue for 3 weeks. Need help!
I (29F, no medications, no known health conditions) have always eaten way too much sugar. I’m about to turn 30 and decided I can’t live like this anymore. I would eat between 200-300 grams of straight sugar a day. I would eat balanced meals but I always ended up eating bags of candy, pints of ice cream, large milkshakes, etc. sometimes multiple’s times a day. 3 weeks ago I made the pledge to cut all added sugars and sweets. The withdrawals were ridiculous. I had a headache for a week and a half straight, brain fog, the shakes, and even vomited a few times (addiction runs in my family so I do attribute my genetics to how bad my withdrawals were. I accept I had a full blown addiction to sugar). All side effects have lifted except for how LOW my energy is. I sleep 10+ hours a night. I used to workout regularly but I have no energy. I feel gased walking up a staircase and walk super slow. When I do workout, I feel like I’m moving through syrup and feel lightheaded and shakey. I feel completely flat.
I actually don’t crave sugar that much anymore and I feel in control of my eating for the first time in forever. My mood feels much more even and my skin looks fantastic. But, I need some relief from the fatigue. It’s been 3 weeks and isn’t getting any better. How much longer is this going to last? Is there anything I can add to my diet to help? I want to stick to this plan for at least 6 months until I completely break the habit. But, I feel like a SLUG. Appreciate the help everyone!
Typical day of eating:
Breakfast: 2-3 scrambled eggs, pumpernickel toast w/ butter, side of fruit
Lunch: Sheet-pan sausage, gnocchi, and broccoli meal (literally eat this everyday)
Dinner: Split pea soup, lentil soup, or some other hearty soup/stew
Snacks: Cheese, fruit, raw veggies, nuts (1-3x a day depending)
Drinks: Daily coffee w/ unsweetened almond milk. Will drink sugar-free electrolyte powder when working out. Otherwise, water/seltzer only
Posted Feb 21, 2026, 5:27 PM UTC