The first step to getting better is to admit you have a problem. I have become a sugar-aholic. There, I said it. I’m not really sure when this took place I just know that it has taken over my life. Back in the day I used to not eat cookies, cakes or candy during the week and I was happy to have just a small candy bar on the weekend. Perhaps it was a recent cruise we went on where food was everywhere and it’s ok to make a pig of yourself every meal and eat three to four days worth of calories in a single day. I’m not sure that’s the culprit, I just know the madness has to stop.
Working out has been saving my waistline but it’s frustrating to work out so hard just so that I can come out even and not to have made a dent in my goals. So I’ve decided to do something about it. Much like smoking, snacking has similar drives. You eat when you get sad, you eat something after a meal, you eat because you deserve it. It’s my hopes that also like smoking, once you get past the physical addiction then it’s all about the mental habits. For instance what do you do after sex, while driving, when you’re angry? If you smoke you know what I’m talking about. I was successful at quitting smoking; I went cold turkey, so my goal is to see if the same mentality works.
I call it the Sugar Detox Challenge. The idea is to not eat any candy, cakes, pies, cookies (my worst enemy) or anything else over 7 grams of sugar. I was horrified to find that my favorite Greek yogurt which I thought was healthy, I won’t name any names, was over 15 grams of sugar! Bye bye unnamed yogurt. Then if I’m successful for five days at a time I can have whatever sugary treat I want, but only for one day, and then it’s back to detox. Great idea, but not so easy.
The first attempt failed after just three days. Someone at work, a person who could be on food network, made a scrumptious cake. I couldn’t resist it and ate some which followed by continued eating of candies of which there was no shortage of. I felt so guilty and defeated. But I held my head high and tried again. This time I’m happy to say I went five days, even with sweets all over the place. On Saturday I had the best cupcake in the world and then proceeded to act like an alcoholic on a binge, eating everything sweet I could get my hands on. Whirling with a headache and frantic heartbeat from all the sugar I decided next time it should only be ONE treat.
Having made it five days I feel good about myself and it increased my confidence that I can do this thing. I don’t desire it as much when I walk by the evil treats and have resisted all temptations so far this week. So I’m off to another week challenge and this time on Saturday, I will only eat one thing. Let’s see how I do.