I Tried Giving Up Sugar for a Week—Here's What Happened

SELFCares Newsletter, September 20th, 2017 SELFCares About... Trying anything once [14 Beginner Kettlebell Moves That Work Your Entire Body]( [SELF]( [hiking on a mountainside] This week, we're talking about... Trying anything once I'm a firm believer in trying new things, so earlier this month, I decided to run my first relay race. The Hood to Coast Relay course covers almost 200 miles in Oregon, from Mount Hood to the beach. I joined a team, full of incredibly motivating people and coached by two awesome Nike Running coaches, very last minute—as in, one week before. I hadn't trained and had no idea what to expect, but for some crazy reason, I said yes. In the end, I pushed through a total of 17 miles—5.6 of those happened in pitch black while wearing a headlamp at 4:30 a.m. And you know what? I'm already itching to sign up for my next one. That's why this week we're talking about trying something—anything—new. If you've never walked into a boxing class because just wrapping your hands seemed confusing, now's the time to do it. Check an exotic cuisine off your bucket list, spend the day exploring a new town—just get outside your comfort zone. It doesn't matter what you're doing—think of something that might make you feel like a bad ass—and just go for it. Here at SELF, we're all about trying new things and finding what works for each of us. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error—or in my case, running at an ungodly hour—to find a new activity you never knew you'd love. [Amy Marturana, Senior Fitness Editor]( [woman popping zit]( [I Tried Popular DIY Blackhead Removal Hacks to See If They're Better Than Pore Strips]( I don't know about you, but I'm always game to try new ways to clear up my skin. In this piece, our go-to beauty writer details which DIY blackhead removal hacks you should try—and which ones you should avoid. [CHECK IT OUT]( Advertisement [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [AdChoices]( [two women having brunch]( [Anne Roderique-Jones] [I Challenged Myself to Make—and Not Break—Plans for a Full Month]( For any self-proclaimed introvert or homebody, one of the hardest things to do is make plans—and actually stick to them. I love this super relatable story from a columnist who tried to do just that. [READ MORE]( [kettlebell workout]( [14 Beginner Kettlebell Moves That Work Your Entire Body]( If you've ever walked into a gym and seen those iron bells and wondered, WTF am I supposed to do with those?!, we feel you. Trying kettlebell exercises for the first time can feel intimidating, so we asked a trainer who uses them everyday to show us the best beginner moves. [GET THE MOVES]( [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [AdChoices]( [author and text message chain]( [I Forced Myself to Become a Morning Person and It Was a Shambolic Disaster]( Sometimes, you try something new and realize it's not for you. I love this story because it's a good reminder of that—and the value in giving it a shot anyway. [READ MORE]( [ketchup and donuts]( [I Gave Up Added Sugar for a Week and I Am Effing Starving]( After reading so much about how sugar impacts our bodies, I decided to try to eat less of it. So I cut all added sugar out of my diet. Spoiler: This is one experiment I'm definitely only trying once—but I did learn some important things in the process. [LEARN MORE]( [advertisement]( [Powered by LiveIntent]( [AdChoices]( [Sign Up for Our Ready Set Sweat Fitness Challenge!]( And finally, in the spirit of trying something new—there's never been a better time to try a fitness challenge! Our FREE Challenge includes 20 different workouts, 40 healthy recipes, five warm-ups, and an option for an active rest day—so you'll never get bored. Start with us on October 1! [Join Team SELF]( [two women]( Sharing Is Caring! Forward this newsletter to your friends! Got this from a friend? [Sign Up Here]( [instagram]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( Sent from Condé Nast, 1 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10001, attn: Email Coordinator Copyright © 2017 Condé Nast.