Luisa McGrath shed the weight she gained after her first pregnancy and transformed her relationship with food after signing up for the I Quit Sugar 8-Week Program. This is how she made it happen.

Luisa’s Journey.

Struggling with unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary office job, 37-year-old Luisa was keen to make some changes in her life. After hearing about Sarah Wilson’s book, I Quit Sugar,from a family member, the Victorian decided to dig a little deeper into the low-sugar lifestyle.

Just a few days later, she decided to take the plunge and join the 8-Week Program.  

Freeing ourselves from the grip of sugar addiction is no easy feat. With sugar-laden foods lining the supermarket shelves, from so-called health foods to staples like bread and yoghurt, this sweet substance can feel almost unavoidable. Luisa noticed this too.

“It really becomes a little worrying what mainstream ideas are being advertised out there when they are in fact so unhealthy or rather giving you a huge amount of sugar when you think you’re making a good choice.”

With I Quit Sugar, Luisa obtained the tools to navigate our sugar-coated world and forge a healthy lifestyle – which she has maintained to this day. She says it’s all about the tools and materials provided in the program which set us up for success.

One of the major challenges Luisa faced in her health journey centred around the withdrawal symptoms from sugar.

“I did not enjoy the slight headaches earlier on in week 1, but if anything, that just shows you how addictive sugar really is,” she says.

She’s not wrong – sugar is known to be more addictive than cocaine. Yikes.

But, after persevering and working her way through these withdrawal symptoms, Luisa emerged a new person.

“Once you get past the first few weeks of detox you realise your mood is affected by what you eat.”

How Luisa benefited from the 8-Week Program.

Luisa not only achieved her weight loss goals, but also experienced an unexpected bonus – she got her mojo back.

“I felt really good,” she says. “Not just in the achievement but the energy levels, feeling good in my body and the knowledge I now have. Once you get past the first few weeks of detox you realise your mood is affected by what you eat.”

Luisa came to realise the detrimental effect sugar was having on her physical and mental health – and with research finding sugar is associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression – it’s no surprise.

“I feel so much better when I’m not having much sugar. I know I’m putting the right things in my body, and helping my immunity too.”

But her sugar habit is not the only thing Luisa took back control of, she shared that she now also takes portion size and food groups into account.

She reveals, “I’ve also adapted other healthy eating habits like ensuring I’m not eating large amounts of carbohydrates.”

Another knock-on effect of signing up to the program was the resounding impact it had on the people in Luisa’s life. She now enjoys helping others learn how to manage their sugar cravings and maintain a balanced diet.

“My partner enjoyed some weight loss also,” she says. “He was happy to try new meals and also found it really tasty. When people ask, we happily share some of the key tips we learned.”

Luisa’s advice for you.

Luisa advises that “not being hard on yourself if you go off the rails” is one of the keys to success – and we couldn’t agree more. Here at I Quit Sugar, we believe every day is a new day, and it’s never too late to jump back on the wagon. We have a range of tools and techniques to help you deal with these inevitable relapses, without the shame.

“I had temptations,” Luisa says. “However, the reading material that came with the program gave me some great tips and tools to keep going.”

She also found that moderation is possible and it doesn’t have to be all or nothing – you too can learn how to safely incorporate some sugars into your diet, without losing control.

“It doesn’t mean you can never indulge again. You have the knowledge once you do it and whether it’s for yourself or your family it’s really beneficial.”

Her final piece of advice for anyone considering starting the program, is to take the plunge.

“Give it a go!” She says, “It can be life changing, which sounds like a bold claim, but for me it has been.”

Take a peek into the structure of our program.

Week 1: Cutting back: We don’t believe in going cold turkey as it can cause unnecessary stress and lead to relapses. So, we’ll be easing you into some healthier choices to start off.

Week 2: Operation quit and replace sugar with fat: Next up, we’ll be unravelling myths around fat consumption and show you how it can actually help you on your health journey.

Week 3: How much sugar are we eating? Know your labels: This week is all about preparing you to navigate the misleading content of labelling and product marketing.

Week 4: Clean week: This week will be focused on learning how to manage inevitable cravings that will come up.

Week 5: Dealing with doubts from others and eating out: We’ll show you some simple tips to deal the social pressures that come with sugar-free and low sugar lifestyles.

Week 6: Add some sweetness back in: We’re not just about cutting all sugar out forever – despite our name – so we’ll be sharing the secret to safely incorporating some sweetness in your diet.

Week 7: Coping with lapses: It’s normal to relapse occasionally, so this week we’ll show you how to get back on track.

Week 8: Refining and moving forward: The final week of the program is dedicated to setting you up for success when you step out on your own.

Join Us.

If Luisa’s story has given you some inspiration, we challenge you to join us in the 8-Week Program.

Take a look at what’s on offer:

1. 8 weeks of meal plans and shopping lists.
2. 90+ member-only recipes.
3. Community forums for support and care.
4. Support from us on the I Quit Sugar team.
5. Exclusive content from our panel of experts.

Get ready to transform your life and JOIN NOW!