Sugar Free! Tips and My Progress

So, been doing sugar free for about 3 days now, and it oddly hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be.  Yes, I still have cravings, but feeding them with the fruits instead of sugar has been a lot better.  I did get some Stevia to help where needed, but haven't opened it yet since I just got it yesterday. So far, I haven't been excessively picky- I'm still using the same ketchup which I know has sugar, I had some canned fruit which might have been in light syrup, not fruit juice.  I've also had some jam: I know, I know, a little fruit and a whole lot of sugar.  I'll need to invest in some sugar free stuff.

Things that have helped when I've had the cravings: fruit and water.  I think that my body has been so dehydrated that I have been misinterpreting my body's need for water for a desire for sugar instead.  Between drinking more water and eating more fruit, I've been pretty good.  Nothing out of control, no huge headaches, no super cravings for a cookie.

Some tips I've received from friends, several of whom have done sugar free successfully!

• Eat a lot a fruit and veggies- they taste better once you get off sugar!
• Exercise away the craving (but nourish the body in other ways when you do it).
• Use natural sweeteners such as honey and pure maple syrup instead. 
• Chew sugarless gum.
• Find a healthy snack to eat instead such as chips, popcorn, nuts, fruits, veggies, plain yogurt, water with lemon, etc.
• Sugar free chocolate.  I need to find this.  
• Reward yourself for progress!  I need to find something to reward myself with.
• Make achievable goals (one sweet a day instead of two) and gradually get off sugar. (This is why I haven't been super picky- I know going straight cold-turkey no sugar would be awful.)
• Fruit as a dessert was repeated by several people.  Peaches, apples, bananas- slice with a little cream or cinnamon.  Yum!
• AND...  almost everyone said that if I can do it for one to two weeks, the cravings will dissipate!  No more sugar cravings!  I hope that's true!

Anyways, making progress with the sugar cravings!  Next week, I will try doing without even more sugary stuff- cut it out of salad dressings and stuff like that.  I had ketchup this week on some fries (super healthy, I know) and the first bite I took my reaction was "the ketchup is sweet"!  It surprised me to find sweetness even there!  I'll have to find sugar free stuff next time I buy some.

So, there is hope!  I'm definitely making progress, got some great tips, now just on to less sugar!  I can do it!