I recently completed a sugar fast using The 40 Day Sugar Fast by Wendy Speake. I’ve done this once before but felt led to do it again to kick off 2025. I was excited to see if I could actually complete this challenge and if I would feel closer to Jesus over the course of these 40 days.
Here are 4 things I learned.
- I can do hard things
First of all, forty days is a long time to go without something you love. And, let me tell you – I really love sugar. Chocolate is my go-to addiction when I’m bored, when I’m hungry, when I’m upset, and when I’m happy. But, for 40 days, I stayed away from sugary treats. It was hard. But guess what? I can do hard things, and so can you.
- Withdrawal migraines are no joke
From day 10 to day 12, I had a terrible migraine. Like, really really terrible. At first, I thought I was getting sick – the flu and COVID and strep were all rampant in the school where I work – but then I realized it was a withdrawal headache. Not a good sign. This 3-day migraine showed me just how dependent my body has been on sugar. This was a wake-up call for me because we all know that sugar is terrible for our bodies and our brains.
- Fasting in America is too closely linked to diet culture
I did not grow up participating in any type of fasting ritual but I have done a few different fasts as an adult. Currently I’m fasting once a week from breakfast to dinner (sun-up to sun down) as I pray through a few different things. But this sugar fast was a little different. Frankly, I was more focused on how much weight I could lose rather than how close I could become to the Lord. I cared more about the way my clothes fit and how to regulate my diet instead of linking myself to Jesus. I think, especially for women, fasting brings out insecurities about body image and diet culture. I don’t know how to get over that hump but I’m working on it.
- I fill my time with other things instead of turning to God
Over the 40-day fast, I learned that I’m really good at filling my time with social media, books, podcasts, and all sorts of other things when my body tells me I’m hungry instead of filling my time with prayer, memorizing scripture, or reading my Bible. So yes, I can give up sugar, but that doesn’t mean I’m leaning on Jesus to help me do it. When we don’t ask Jesus to help us, we’re just dieting, not participating in a biblical fast. And that brings me back to point #3 above…
These are just four things I learned over my 40 day sugar fast. As Easter approaches, I find myself thinking through how I want to spend my time during the Lenten season. What do I want to fast from? How can I make a fast more meaningful? How can I rely more on Jesus and less on other things?
I would love to hear from you if you’ve participated in a lengthy fast or if you use fasting as a spiritual discipline on a regular basis.