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Sugar

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?
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  1. maryrudolphMay 18, 2011 at 10:55 AM

    This totally has me wanting to go get something sweet to eat...thanks ;) And tell me about the 1/2 price starbucks!

    ReplyDelete

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