Well, I've finally done it: I have admitted, to myself and everyone else, that I am ridiculously addicted to sugar. For months and months I've been saying, "As soon as we finish this leftover youth group snack/open bag of holiday M&Ms/carton of ice cream/etc., I'm not making or buying any more." But there's always, always another reason to bake a dessert, open a bag of chocolate chips, buy another carton of ice cream!
Last Sunday I silently put my foot down and determined not to eat anything explicitly sugary until Friday -- and if I succeeded, I could have a treat on Friday. Then Monday I found out that I'd be attending a birthday party on Tuesday, so I shortened my goal to just Monday. Then the boys completely refused to nap, and by 3:45pm I was in the Starbucks drive-thru, ordering a half-price double chocolate chip frappuccino. Fail. Might as well finish off the ice cream, then . . .
So, Tuesday I had cake and ice cream (yes, more ice cream), and then Wednesday at lunch I was handed a bottle of root beer -- how could I refuse? -- and then I put my game face on again. With a bridal shower looming on Saturday, I had a relatively short goal ahead, and I had some success. [Note that I was only looking to avoid anything explicitly sugary, like the open box of Captain Crunch, or the packages of cookies Isaac brought home from a conference. I'll worry about hidden sugars later!]
With the shower (and its positively divine chocolate-dipped strawberries and creamy cheesecake and melt-in-your-mouth pound cake) past, I set a new goal: no sweet snacking until Tuesday night (when my mom will be here to watch the boys and maybe Isaac and I could sneak out for some ice cream. Yes, I love ice cream). Then Monday afternoon I found myself falling asleep in the car, so I stopped for a Coke . . . and with the first taste of sweetness, I couldn't hold out any longer against the Rice Krispy treat . . . and then I'd already ruined the day, so why not finish those Oreos after dinner . . . Epic fail.
But, I'm learning. If I eat a whole grapefruit, the craving subsides. If I keep the carrots cut up and ready to eat, I'll choose them (though they do NOT satisfy). If I don't wander past the donut table at church, I can survive the morning without it. If I eat a decent-sized lunch full of protein, nap time isn't so dangerous. If I succeed for long enough, I start to feel good enough about the endeavor that I stop being grumpy. (And oh, I have been grumpy.)
So, feel free to hold me accountable, now that I've told the world. Anybody else out there trying to cut back? Got any suggestions?
Last Sunday I silently put my foot down and determined not to eat anything explicitly sugary until Friday -- and if I succeeded, I could have a treat on Friday. Then Monday I found out that I'd be attending a birthday party on Tuesday, so I shortened my goal to just Monday. Then the boys completely refused to nap, and by 3:45pm I was in the Starbucks drive-thru, ordering a half-price double chocolate chip frappuccino. Fail. Might as well finish off the ice cream, then . . .
So, Tuesday I had cake and ice cream (yes, more ice cream), and then Wednesday at lunch I was handed a bottle of root beer -- how could I refuse? -- and then I put my game face on again. With a bridal shower looming on Saturday, I had a relatively short goal ahead, and I had some success. [Note that I was only looking to avoid anything explicitly sugary, like the open box of Captain Crunch, or the packages of cookies Isaac brought home from a conference. I'll worry about hidden sugars later!]
With the shower (and its positively divine chocolate-dipped strawberries and creamy cheesecake and melt-in-your-mouth pound cake) past, I set a new goal: no sweet snacking until Tuesday night (when my mom will be here to watch the boys and maybe Isaac and I could sneak out for some ice cream. Yes, I love ice cream). Then Monday afternoon I found myself falling asleep in the car, so I stopped for a Coke . . . and with the first taste of sweetness, I couldn't hold out any longer against the Rice Krispy treat . . . and then I'd already ruined the day, so why not finish those Oreos after dinner . . . Epic fail.
But, I'm learning. If I eat a whole grapefruit, the craving subsides. If I keep the carrots cut up and ready to eat, I'll choose them (though they do NOT satisfy). If I don't wander past the donut table at church, I can survive the morning without it. If I eat a decent-sized lunch full of protein, nap time isn't so dangerous. If I succeed for long enough, I start to feel good enough about the endeavor that I stop being grumpy. (And oh, I have been grumpy.)
So, feel free to hold me accountable, now that I've told the world. Anybody else out there trying to cut back? Got any suggestions?
This totally has me wanting to go get something sweet to eat...thanks ;) And tell me about the 1/2 price starbucks!
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