A serious exercise in restraint
I'm giving up sugar. For now, to see if I can do it. Today, Sunday afternoon nap, I dreamt about chocolate cake and tootsie rolls. Tootsie rolls. I am not a huge fan of the common tootsie roll, but, admittedly, I have been eating a lot of them lately as we made the unfortunate mistake of taking our kids trick or treating at the mall.
Last week I had an unusual experience with the common tootsie roll. I grabbed one out of the bucket of candy and sat down at the computer to pass some time (read: procrastinate folding laundry). It was one of the big ones, with ridges (knobs? rolls? indentations?). It was gone before I knew it, and I needed another one. Must have another tootsie roll. So, being the slave that I am to my sugar addiction, of course I ran into the kitchen and got another large, ridged tootsie roll. This time as I ate it, I got an immediate fix. Sugar coursing through my blood. That may have been the first time I have had such an instantaneous and physical reaction to sugar. Whoa. A sugar high/low right away.
Obviously, I need to get my constant cravings in check. I planned ahead for the best day to start my sugar hiatus: Thanksgiving would be bad because of the raspberry-pretzel-jell-o-cool whip number that I love so much and which I was contributing to the dinner cause. Friday was my sister's baby shower and I knew what delectable sugary items would be served at that. Saturday was the day. So, like any good addict would do, I overdosed on my drug bigtime before I gave it up completely. Friday, at the shower--three enormously huge sugar cookies dripping with cream cheese frosting. Mmmm.
Saturday, I was a champ. I passed on cranberry punch; different, although still enticing sugar cookies; German chocolate cake; cream puffs; donut holes; fruit dip; a king-size Symphony bar with toffee; Pillsbury slice and bake cookies beckoning from my refrigerator; and of course, that ominous bowl of Halloween candy. Seriously, I rock. I still wanted something sweet after my meals, but I went to the fridge and got fruit and ate that.
It's Day 2 of no sugar, and I think I'm still on the bandwagon, although maybe I cheated just a little. After that bad dream I had (man, my body is really craving sugar-- I had no idea), I made some muffins. I was planning on using Sweet N Low for the sugar, but then the darn package said that when baking, some real granulated sugar is still necessary to create the ideal texture and browning effect. So, I used half the sugar in the recipe, and half the sugar substitute. Then, I loaded the muffin with butter and honey. It was manna from heaven. Delicious. A fix for my sugar-starved body.
I'm already planning ahead for this Friday when I will be at a chichi restaurant for Steve's work party and will be offered drinks. Can I get you a Sprite? I'll take water, please. Dessert? Creme brulee? I would like a bowl of fresh berries, please, hold the cream. If that's not available, I'll just sit and watch while everyone else indulges in my favorite drug.
Last week I had an unusual experience with the common tootsie roll. I grabbed one out of the bucket of candy and sat down at the computer to pass some time (read: procrastinate folding laundry). It was one of the big ones, with ridges (knobs? rolls? indentations?). It was gone before I knew it, and I needed another one. Must have another tootsie roll. So, being the slave that I am to my sugar addiction, of course I ran into the kitchen and got another large, ridged tootsie roll. This time as I ate it, I got an immediate fix. Sugar coursing through my blood. That may have been the first time I have had such an instantaneous and physical reaction to sugar. Whoa. A sugar high/low right away.
Obviously, I need to get my constant cravings in check. I planned ahead for the best day to start my sugar hiatus: Thanksgiving would be bad because of the raspberry-pretzel-jell-o-cool whip number that I love so much and which I was contributing to the dinner cause. Friday was my sister's baby shower and I knew what delectable sugary items would be served at that. Saturday was the day. So, like any good addict would do, I overdosed on my drug bigtime before I gave it up completely. Friday, at the shower--three enormously huge sugar cookies dripping with cream cheese frosting. Mmmm.
Saturday, I was a champ. I passed on cranberry punch; different, although still enticing sugar cookies; German chocolate cake; cream puffs; donut holes; fruit dip; a king-size Symphony bar with toffee; Pillsbury slice and bake cookies beckoning from my refrigerator; and of course, that ominous bowl of Halloween candy. Seriously, I rock. I still wanted something sweet after my meals, but I went to the fridge and got fruit and ate that.
It's Day 2 of no sugar, and I think I'm still on the bandwagon, although maybe I cheated just a little. After that bad dream I had (man, my body is really craving sugar-- I had no idea), I made some muffins. I was planning on using Sweet N Low for the sugar, but then the darn package said that when baking, some real granulated sugar is still necessary to create the ideal texture and browning effect. So, I used half the sugar in the recipe, and half the sugar substitute. Then, I loaded the muffin with butter and honey. It was manna from heaven. Delicious. A fix for my sugar-starved body.
I'm already planning ahead for this Friday when I will be at a chichi restaurant for Steve's work party and will be offered drinks. Can I get you a Sprite? I'll take water, please. Dessert? Creme brulee? I would like a bowl of fresh berries, please, hold the cream. If that's not available, I'll just sit and watch while everyone else indulges in my favorite drug.
Comments
On another note. I get sugar rushes somewhat regularly. I don't have the consistent craving like you do, but every time I do take in some sugar, it opens up a temporary sugar blackhole in my universe, sucking in all chocolate in sight. My rush factor is always affected; I get light-headed, and I always promise myself that I'm not going to do that anymore. It has caused me to relfect that, were it not for the word of wisdom, I'd be an alcoholic.
I used to drink Diet Coke like a fiend. Every morning I started out the day with a soda and I had at least two more during the day. The only time I drank any other liquid was while I was at the gym. One day it dawned on me that I was addicted. In reality, I might as well have been drinking coffee because I was dependent on the caramel-colored, aspartame-flavored, highly-caffeinated beverage to keep me awake late at night and alert early in the morning.
It was tough to give up and sometimes I'd have the dreams like you and Steve. . . but I'm proud to say that in January I will be soda-free for FIVE YEARS. Honestly, now I don't even think about soda. It's just not even an option for me. . .
I think it's cool that you are trying to give up sugar. I support you in it. Good luck! :)
MFM--I loved that talk, and I'm impressed you chose it for your home teaching message. Kind of a feminist approach. Very nice.
ahc--I would never have guessed that you were a diet Coke addict. That's because we never lived together. Why did we never live together? And, really, you haven't had ANY soda in 5 years? WOW!
amyjune--Ouch on the gestational diabetes prospects. When you were pregnant, did you ever think about Suzie and how she always pictured her newborn babies to be a conglomeration of all the food she ate when she was pregnant? Very disturbing.
d--Make it a 3 Musketeers and I'll consider it strongly. I know I should understand your secret code. Give me a hint.
Pepper--Yes! Comment away. I would love to hear from you! As a matter of fact, tonight for dinner I made pancakes for the kids and had one myself. . . with sugar free raspberry jam on top. It was excellent. And I will be popping in for Crystal Light very soon. Thanks for the invitation.
Man! I failed my word verifcation thing again. That is a rather humbling experience.
P.S. I do not support your abstinence from sugar. It is unamerican.
I can speak for my college roommate, Jen Geigle, and many others who profess to be health-food-aware. They say don't do it. The alternative med books i've read agree.
I wouldn't recommend sugar-water for infants though. Sorry mom.