Sugarfree Day #2

I decided to give up my addiction to sugar as my resolution for 2012. I had read Sarah Wilson’s ebook “I Quit Sugar” and decided that it was something I really wanted to try. So in my usual fashion I got obsessed (yes, I’ll accept I tend to obsess about the things I am into) and I bought David Gillespies book “Sweet Poison Quit Plan” of which I am still only half way through reading and so many alarms bells are ringing in my ears! I must say though telling my friends and family what I am doing has proven to be a much bigger hurdle than I had anticipated. I am thinking I should have tricked them all and said I am “fructose-intolerant” – maybe then it wouldn’t seem like I am launching a mission into space. I’m thankful for the resistance and the confused looks I am getting because its my nature to want to prove a point, so in turn it will make me more accountable than I could have ever made myself.

I think a lot of the reaction I am receiving comes purely down to the fact that I have already lost my weight. I am happy with my size – so whats the big idea about trying a new “fad”? The thing is that I have always been curious about the hold sugar has on me. I have a “sweet tooth” and even when I lost weight I was substituting the chocolate and cake hits with fruit hits (yes – I did have a number of fruit binges)! So while I was looking pretty fit and healthy I was still waging a war against the hold sugar had on me. Then I read a few things and it was all clicking into place. I wasn’t to blame, society was. We live in a society driven by the message of low fat is good – without being told to reduce our sugar intake. Not only is the message not really out there – but sugar is added stealthily to lots and lots of food! And not all sugars are created equally and as it turns out by becoming “healthy” I was increasing my intake of fructose and strengthening the hold sugar has on me. Even when I was counting calories I was reducing my sugar unknowingly – but I was still eating fruit (and way too much) and as a result I still crave sweetness in everything! Now fruit isn’t a bad guy, once I have beaten the hold sugar has on me I will have the opportunity to return him into my life – because fruit in its “original packaging” does contain water and fibre which reduces the impact of that nasty fructose. But because I was such a sugar binger, switching it out for fruit meant that it still had a hold on my moods and my appetite.

Now given that I am only two days into my life without sugar (okay, I must admit I am not resigned to never having it again, I have committed to an 8 week trial without sugar and will see how it makes me feel) I must say it hasn’t been as difficult as I was anticipating. Sure, I may have a different view once I am a few weeks in – but I must admit I am loving the hell out of not counting calories and only counting sugar – and only checking fat content to make sure it hasn’t been removed. If this plan works and I ditch the sugar and get to eat my beloved potato, bread and full fat milk again then I think I will be one happy lady! I should add today has been a bit of a haze for me, I’ve had a nagging headache and feel like I’m walking around in a bit of a fog – but this is only making me believe that I am headed in the right direction with my quest to no longer be addicted to sugar. Breaking an addiction like mine wasn’t going to be easy! Stay tuned to see how I feel about it all in a few days…

xx