Hello! My name is Vanessa and I am addicted to sugar.
I’ve always had a sweet tooth – but in recent years, especially after thyroid cancer, I realized this was a habit that I needed to kick. Just to give you some perspective: I’ve been known to eat an entire bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups in one sitting, a chocolate croissant constituted breakfast, and I often skipped meals. My morning routine consisted of a trip to Starbucks and a tall White Chocolate Mocha to start my day. Most days I opted for a breakfast sandwich, but often a croissant or doughnut made the menu.
I realized the magnitude of the problem when I began to acknowledge that every day I was consuming junk food — lots of it – and I never felt well. I did not control my sweet tooth; it controlled me. If I saw cookies, I HAD to have them, even if I wasn’t hungry, at the expense of replacing good calories with bad. This may not sound serious, but my lack of willpower is. I could not eat just one, or two cookies — I would eat however many were available, and like the bag of Reese’s, packages of Oreo’s have suffered the same fate.
A few months ago I saw a nutritionist, but her approach was not for me. Over the years, plenty of concerned friends and family have attempted to instill good nutritional habits in me, but I brushed them off and downplayed my sugar consumption. Last fall I tried to swear off sweets, but after three weeks of feeling like I was starving and suffering a dull headache daily I caved in.
This time around I want to make the change to a healthy lifestyle and take better care of myself. I’ve tried to eliminate any temptation to cheat and have a cookie and I have been reading about others who have broken the sugar curse. I mentioned in a previous post that having a plan is instrumental for success, so here is what I’m doing to succeed:
Stock the kitchen with healthy snacks. I love Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Fiber Bars and make sure there are a couple of boxes in the house (and my office). When I feel like I want something sweet, these are my go-to snacks — and they only have six grams of sugar!
Start making green smoothies. Trader Joe’s has delicious smoothies, but sites like Greatist have a plethora of healthy smoothie recipes to choose from, which get sent right to my inbox.
Avoid sweets at all cost. I know nutritionists say that if you want a cookie, you should have one. But that model does not work for me. I am much better off avoiding it all together.
Stick to a fitness plan. The gym and an exercise routine are important when you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and they have really helped me stay motivated and watch what I eat.
Learn more about nutrition. I want to order Sarah Wilson’s book, I Quit Sugar. In it, she has an eight-week detox program along with healthy recipes that will help me create daily menus to keep me on track.
I have now gone a little more than a week (10 days to be exact) without sugar or caffeine. I have been plagued with dull headaches almost daily and haven’t noticed any increase in my energy levels yet, but I am determined to make 2015 the start of a lifestyle that does not involve sugar.
Do you have any tips for kicking sugar to the curb? How do you avoid temptation?
I’ve started my own sugar detox and it is TOUGH! Make sure to eat enough healthy fats, that has really helped me not to feel so yuck. Good luck with your journey!
Thank you so much for the tip! I always try to keep nuts in my office so I can snack on them throughout the day.
Good luck with your detox and thanks for visiting!
Vanessa
I have high triglycerides and a liver disease that is aggravated by the trigs. Sugar is a huge contributing factor in trigs. so I have to get that addiction under control. I did it cold turkey about 4 years ago and had great success but the cravings NEVER left. As time went on, I gave in a little at a time…..one cookie won’t hurt, will it? But as the numbers are creeping back up again, I once again have to face this demon. Good luck on your quest as well.
Thank you for your comment Kathy! I think quitting cold turkey is the best way to go about it for me. So far, the cravings haven’t been terrible, but the headache has! I’m still consuming small amounts of sugar that is in the fiber bars and fruit, but I hope to significantly reduce my sugar intake overall — and feel better!
I wish you much success in eliminating sugar. It’s tough, but we are stronger.
Vanessa
This was an amazing post I too love sugar and have no business consuming as many diet sodas as I do!
http://lachiquitamissi.com
Thanks Mel! This is something I’ve really struggled with for a while now, so I am very proud that I have made it ten days so far!
Vanessa
So great that you’re walking away from sugar!! It’s so so bad for our bodies. Good luck 🙂
Simplicity Relished
Best of luck with your new plan and commitment! You will surely feel a lot better over time. Remember it’s progress and not perfection, so if you make a mistake in you plan, acknowledge it and get back on the plan. I’m saying this from experience and identification with striving for better eating habits myself.
UGH! I have been thinking of doing this as well, It would be SOOO hard for me, I think I am going to have to ease myself into it, I am truly addicted, I almost bought her book, but didn’t and now I may go back and buy it! You have inspired me!
sobeanie
Thanks so much Justine for your comment! I’m glad I have inspired you to reduce your sugar intake. It’s been challenging at times, but it gets easier every day. Good luck!
Thanks for visiting!
Vanessa
I think it’s great that you are making such a big change in your diet and life to become healthier. You could try making healthier versions of your favourite cookies and treats by replacing the sugar with honey, maple syrup, or even applesauce! Good luck on your journey 👍
Thank you! It has been an adjustment, but I am learning to indulge in fruits and healthier snacks instead of sweet treats. I think making my own snacks is a great idea. Feel free to pass along any good recipes you may have!
Thanks for visiting!
Vanessa
I found out that taking 1 tsp raw honey in the morning help to reduce my sugar craving for the entire day. My body is telling me that I don’t need more sugar after that. 🙂
Thanks for the tip, Joshua! I’m going to give that a try.
– Vanessa
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before buut after browsing through soe of
thee poost I realized it’s new too me. Nonetheless, I’m
definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking
back often!
Thanks for stopping over!