Hi, I'm Lori and I am a sugar addict.
I have denied it for many years, and tried to attribute my expanding hips to anything and everything but my sugar addiction, but I cannot deny it any longer. Something has to give.
Ever since I was little, sugar and sweets have always been my go-to food whenever I needed a snack, a pick me up, or just a little something. I have a hard time understanding people who like salty foods better. What, no sugar??? How can you live without sugar??? Some days were all day sugar feasts for me.
But, recently, it's like the Cosmos is trying to get my attention. First I read an article in the local paper about a woman who gave up sugar, started walking every where she could and lost 132 lbs. 132 LBS!!! That's a lot of sugar weight. Then I picked up a book called the W.O.W diet written by an LDS woman who researched the dietary laws and guidelines of all the major religions and came up with her own diet and lost 38 lbs, almost effortlessly. Removing sugar from her diet was one of the main things she did. And we just got back from a trip to Seattle, and while there I picked up a magazine and read an article by a woman who gave up sugar for a month who wrote about her experience. I think Mother Nature is trying to tell me something, so I have decided to listen. As of today, Apr. 18, 2011, I am giving up all forms of refined sugars and processed foods.
Will this be easy? Not on your life, especially for me. As I was pondering this big step, I was already missing chocolate chip cookies, brownies, anything chocolate. How will I live without CHOCOLATE? This must be what an alcoholic or a smoker must feel like giving up their addictions. I LOVE chocolate! How will I live without it? I'm a little sad and a little scared about making that sacrifice. But if that's what it takes, so be it.
From all that I have read, it takes about 21 days to get past the cravings, but those 21 days are HELL. One craves sugar so bad, they would almost knock a kid down, just to get their candy bar! I know that when I have tried to ease up on the sugar, I will pace my kitchen trying to figure out what to have that doesn't have sugar. I will have fruit as my go-to sweet food, and those who have done this say that fruit begins to taste a lot sweeter. I look forward to that.
According to those who have done it, eating sugar after those 21 days is awful. Sugar tastes sickeningly sweet and not at all appealing, so if I can make it through these 21 days, it will be a lot easier. And just like an alcoholic or smoker, I can never indulge again, or the cravings and addiction come right back.
So, as of today, I am sugar-free. Wish me luck!
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I hear you Aunt Lori!!! With this whole Gestational Diabetes thing I now have had to become sugar free--I hate it! It's so hard! I love love LOVE sweets..I mean, I'm a Baker!! But here's a little secret I learned that I think will help you too: Amber Lyn Chocolate. That's right, you don't have to give up chocolate because this stuff is SUGAR FREE!! And I didn't believe it until I tried it, but it really does taste just like regular chocolate. They sell it at Costco, but it's one of those traveling kiosk things, so if they aren't at your Costco you can buy it online at amberlynchocolates.com I have a bar a day and, along with lots of fruit, it completely curbs my sugar cravings! They have milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and all the mix-ins: almonds, plain, raspberry, orange, etc etc. Buy it-you won't be sorry!!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful. But what is the fat content? And I think I will avoid it til I have been off sugar for the requisite 21 days, so I can get the whole taste for sugar and sweet out of my system. THEN I can try it. I was glad to hear that they have dark chocolate, (my fave) and all the mix ins.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I am doing okay. I am not CRAVING sweets, but I do get tempted occasionally and I am able to turn it down. Wonder what I'll be saying next week???