A Sugar Detox and a Lesson in Leadership

So Late-Lee, I’ve noticed something. I haven’t been making the best food decisions.   I’ll nibble here, bake there, snack on this, or indulge on that, and somewhere along the way, it starts adding up. Nothing dramatic, but it’s just enough to make me realize I probably needed a reset. So I decided to try something I’ve never done before. I have started a 14-day sugar detox.  I had a plan. I would drink plenty of water, eat clean, and push through the cravings. It sounded simple enough when I first said it out loud. My well-planned menu hung like a first-grade piece of art proudly on the refrigerator.

The first morning actually went pretty well. I started the day the way I usually do, with sixteen ounces of water when I wake up, followed by my morning coffee with just a splash of creamer. Breakfast was eggs, and I remember thinking this might not be nearly as hard as I imagined. But by the afternoon, things started to shift. A dull headache settled in at the back of my eyes, and my stomach was grumbling more loudly than usual. My body clearly noticed that something was different. I could feel my mood shifting, too. If I’m being honest, I may have been a little cranky.

Suddenly, I became keenly aware of things I normally wouldn’t notice, like a piece of candy in my computer bag and lingering thoughts of chocolate after dinner. The idea of something sweet seemed like a dream, and I hadn’t even made it one whole day. Clearly, when you remove something your body is used to, your system finds ways to remind you of its absence.

The following day offered new awareness rather than ease. I wasn’t starving, but I noticed my thoughts revolving around food. To adjust, I paid closer attention to what I was eating and when. I added avocado to curb hunger, and included electrolytes in the afternoon. Each small adjustment helped me continue.

And then there’s my pantry. When your grandchildren visit, you tend to keep things they like on hand. Mine like Oreos, Goldfish crackers, and jelly beans sitting on the shelf. As I was preparing for this detox, I found numerous Hershey Kiss wrappers.  I’m sure my sneaky little granddaughter indulged on those delicious chocolates. She’d probably tell me she didn’t, and by the end of the conversation have me convinced I hid those wrappers there.  😊

Those snacks had been afterthoughts for months. Now, each time I open the pantry, they seem to call to me. The Diet Dr. Pepper tempts me, too. Instead, I improvise with sparkling water and citrus. It’s an imperfect substitute, but it helps.

Through this, I discovered something unexpected—what many call food noise. That constant chatter in your mind about what to eat next grows louder, even without actual hunger. That afternoon in the pantry, I recognized the noise for what it was. Noticing it gave me a moment to recall my reasons for starting.

Surprisingly, another shift took place. At first, I thought a detox meant giving up flavorful food, such as my favorite Italian dish, pizza.  I imagined two bland weeks ahead. Instead, I found meals could still be satisfying with the right seasonings. I even discovered a few recipes I’ve added to my rotation.

Somewhere along the way, my mindset shifted. I stopped viewing food as instant gratification and began seeing it as fuel for my body. That change modified my perspective and made me realize that leadership works the same way. It’s not about quick wins, but it is about choosing what sustains and empowers others.

At the beginning of the school year, leaders develop a plan. Goals are identified, strategies are selected, and teams commit to the work ahead. It is the same starting a detox. The intentions are clear, and everyone begins with a feeling of purpose. But as the weeks go by, something else starts creeping in…noise. Schools experience their own version of noise. Emails pile up, new initiatives emerge, and unexpected issues demand attention. One small distraction after another slowly competes for time and distracts leaders from what they thought they would spend most of their time on.

If we aren’t paying attention, it’s easy to drift from our plan, whether in a detox or in leadership. A small snack here, a shortcut there, and before long, we’ve stepped away from our original vision. It’s usually not intentional; it just happens. That’s why strong leaders, like someone committed to a detox, consistently check in, monitor progress, and ask questions to make sure they remain true to their purpose.

Are we still doing what we said we would do?

Is it producing the results we hoped to see?

What adjustments might be needed to stay on track?

Some leaders capture this idea with a simple phrase: inspect what you expect.  In many schools, this is where short-term action plans become powerful. Instead of waiting until the end of the year to reflect, teams look at evidence along the way. They examine student work, review assessment data, and talk honestly about what is happening in classrooms. Those times of reflection help teams stay focused on the goal rather than drifting away from it.

Because the purpose of a plan isn’t simply to write it. The purpose is to guide the daily work that helps students grow. Leadership, like a detox, requires attention. If we stop paying attention, the noise will pull us back toward what’s familiar. But when leaders pause, inspect the evidence, and make thoughtful adjustments along the way, the founding goal stays within reach. And sometimes the most important work a leader can do is learn how to stop the noise.

Coaching Questions

• What “noise” might be pulling our attention away from the work that matters most for students?

• How are we creating regular opportunities for teams to inspect what they expect?