Better to Laugh

Things went pretty well today. I ate my usual Kashi, milk, toast, and juice breakfast. For snack, I had some almonds and a string cheese. For lunch, I was so busy I only had time for a poached egg and water. Mr. Thomas brought in his famous, yummy chocolate chip cookies. I told him I would have to pass this time, since this was my first day of no added sugar, but I would take one the next time he offered. Yea, me!

I didn’t have an afternoon snack before my run. After my run, I stopped at the grocery and picked up a few things. I was in the organic section to get some plain, Greek yogurt and saw the meal/energy bars. I saw the Larabars and remembered that I had heard some good stuff about them. I looked at the nutritional information on the Ginger Snap bar. Hmmm, 20 grams of sugar. I looked at the calories, carbs, protein, fat, and fiber, and they were pretty respectable. Then I looked at the ingredients:  dates, almonds, pecans, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. What? No added sugar! Just good, wholesome ingredients, and it tasted great!

The rest of the evening went well, with a half serving of caramel Cheerios for dessert (3 grams of sugar, not including the milk) and only a half teaspoon of honey in my hot tea. I feel great, which will help me say no to added sugar tomorrow. Day one, done.

Some studies say sugar is as addictive as cocaine; I can believe it. Today in nutrition class, we had regular Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookies and gluten-free Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookies, just to experience how those with food sensitivities live. I told myself I was not going to eat any cookies, but I finally gave in and consumed one. I didn’t need the cookie, but I sure desired it. It called to me. Eating that soft, gooey, melt in your mouth cookie totally wasn’t worth it, though; I felt icky afterward, nauseous and shaky. I have felt that way after a donut, too. I guess I need to hang up on sugary foods the next time they call. Better yet, I will unfriend them.

I pondered the no added sugar week, but I could not bring myself to simply quit added sugar. I faced saying no to all cereals (except plain shredded wheat), bread (even high fiber), honey in my tea, Kashi oatmeal, and ice cream; that was just too much to bear. So how does one set the parameters for what to allow? After the cookie episode today, I think it is safe to say cookies, donuts, cake, pie, Pop-tarts, and candy are out. I don’t drink pop, so that one is easy to avoid. Ice cream is something I don’t have every day, and it is not as accessible as the other sugary foods, so I am leaving that off of the evil sugars list, for now. Is there something I am missing? Surely, that is a good start.

I will begin eliminating those high sugar foods right away. No problems with starting, since I am ready to go to bed. I have that night before a marathon feeling, fired up anticipation coupled with anxiety over the enormity of it. I guess that is better than the feeling before a sprint, because that would be a pretty short commitment. Wish me luck, and feel free to share other high sugar foods I may have forgotten.

A friend at church said he was trying to talk his wife into doing a no sugar diet for a week- no added sugar, that is. He said this on the way to the kitchen to get Panera bread to take home (which has added sugar). He grinned and qualified this by saying they hadn’t started the no sugar week, yet.

He got me to thinking, though. Could I go a week without any added sugar? This would be similar to the Caveman Diet: nuts, meats, veggies. I made the suggestion to my husband, who quickly said that sugar is in most foods, and that it would be pretty difficult to eat no added sugar for a week. This coming from a man who used to put six teaspoons of sugar in his coffee; he is now down to three or four. He doesn’t drink or gamble, but he does love his sugar. Still, I think it would a good challenge to try. I will have to ask my friend if honey counts, or if he is talking about only granulated sugar. I do like a little honey in my tea, a half teaspoon or so. I love cereal, but even Cheerios has some added sugar. Hmmm, this could be a lot harder than I thought.