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Nearly a year ago , I wrote these words:
I really think that if I could learn to live without sugar, I’d be golden. But the thought of giving up sugar sends me into a near panic. I’m serious – whenever I read literature about giving up sugar entirely I can feel the anxiety rising in my chest and my pulse quickens. Cutting out sugar and sweets and junk food is almost a foreign concept to me – I can’t quite wrap my brain around it, and I’m not sure I really want to. This sounds weird to say, but I feel like sugar is part of my identity. Being a sugar-holic is a big part of who I am. Other people may not see it, but I know it. Sweets bring me more joy than I would care to admit. Isn’t that sad?
Yes, it is sad. But I think know that I am moving forward because I am ready to cut back on the sugar. I AM READY. I’ve downloaded this ebook and I’ve been keeping a log of sugar triggers. I wrote about it over on iChange and this is what I wrote:
I’ve been keeping a log of things that trigger my sweet tooth and things that don’t. It’s interesting because I’ve discovered that regardless of how much sugar is in something, it’s the TASTE of sweetness that seems to affect me. For example, milk chocolate sends me straight into sugar orbit, but I’m totally fine with one piece of dark chocolate. Peanut M&M’s make me want to dive into the bag and live there forever, but graham crackers are pretty safe for me. The sweeter something tastes, the more I want it. This is one reason I don’t think artificial sweeteners work for me – the high level of sweet taste for me is the trigger. I’m still working on my list, but I thought it was interesting that I’ve learned this already after just a few days of tracking.
This is really helping me also with learning to live in a balance. I’m such an all-or-nothing person – either I will eat all the sugar in the world, or I will let myself have none of it EVER!! I’m such an extremist!! I think this is going to be a good exercise in moderation and learning to trust my body with what it can handle and what it can’t.
I’ve been laying the ground work for going sugarless (not sure if I need to be sugar-free yet) for awhile by doing the 10 Day Challenge last month and keeping this trigger log. I feel completely calm and really okay with letting go of the sugar, not like I felt last year at this time. I think that’s a big step forward. Trying to take things slowly, and not jumping in with both feet I hope will make this change stick. I’m ready to move forward.
I think it is great that you are doing this. I dont know if i could give up sugar completely. Thats a hard one. I also agree that going slow is probably key.
Oooo, I know what you mean. I had an extreme sweet tooth. I think that’s why I avoided finding out whether I had diabetes for so long. I thought I’d have to give up ALL sugar, forever! Sure, I did have to let go of the idea that I could eat all the sugar in the world; but like you, I’ve figured out some things and what quantity of them my body can tolerate and that will help me to feel satisfied (or at least not totally deprived). For example, milk chocolate now tastes too bland and sugary, whereas just a little bit of dark chocolate does the trick nicely.
I know, right?! I can definitely taste the sugar in milk chocolate, but I taste the CHOCOLATE in dark chocolate. Love it!
Gosh, Jill… I know exactly what you mean! Guess what? Today I went ahead and had 3 Krispy Kremes … I thought about them for almost a month now!! Sugar is constantly eating my brains out. I am in love with sugar and I can’t seem to be able to let it go… I know I get stronger with the time of abstinence, but how difficult it is to stay without it. I am going to try your 10days sugar-free challenge, after Easter… and hope for the best.
You know I was thinking of starting a group on iChange for the 10 Day Challenge. I wonder how many people I get on board for that?
Good for you Jill, and it’s not easy!
I have been striving for more and more low gi diet since before the first of the year.
too low and I get cranky..bad and if I cheat a little it’s back to the drawing board.
love that you are doing the tracking. GREAT TOOL.
good luck!
Wow this is a big step for you.
So is there more sugar in milk chocolate than in dark chocolate? Because it sure seems like that.
I don’t know if there is or not, but I can TASTE the sugar in milk chocolate. Not so much in the dark.
lordy I admire you….
You are going to do GREAT!! Slow and steady wins the race! If you were me though, I would be telling myself “You can always have a little treat once in a while”. If I tell myself “sugar never again”, I go running for the closest bakery, you know? You are so on the right path, and you ARE going to do spectacularly!
I think just striving towards that goal will serve you well. I don’t think I could give up sugar unless my doc told me I must! But I am much more mindful of how much sugar is lurking in foods than I previously was.
Great job!