Hi, my name is Amy and I am a sugar addict ...

It's been one week.  ONE week. You would think it's been months, maybe years. But I'm only seven days into my Lenten commitment to not eat sugary snacks.

I have never wanted a cookie so badly in my entire life.
This week has taught me that I clearly have a sugar addiction. I don't know what else it could be. I think about sugar multiple times a day. I seriously think about ways to get around the promise I made. Would a muffin be cheating if I eat it for breakfast? If it's breakfast then it's not a sugary snack, right?

I even looked up sugar addiction quizzes to see how well I fit. Dr. Mark Hyman says there are five clues to look for if you think you're addicted to sugar, flour and processed food:
  1. You consume certain foods even if you are not hungry because of cravings.
  2. You worry about cutting down on certain foods.
  3. You feel sluggish or fatigued from overeating.
  4. You have health or social problems (affecting school or work) because of food issues and yet keep eating the way you do despite negative consequences.
  5. You need more and more of the foods you crave to experience any pleasure or reduce negative emotions.
I'm definitely an addict, so I've decided to treat Lent like detox. I will snack on fruit and sugar free pudding. I'll stay out of the teacher's lounge at school to avoid temptation. I will not watch the Food Network, especially when Cupcake Wars is on. 

If I can make it through the next 33 days, maybe I'll feel better and be less sluggish. Perhaps those jeans I've been avoiding won't be so snug the next time I try them on. If nothing else, I can enjoy the satisfaction of knowing I accomplished something I thought was going to kill me. (Please tell me it won't kill me!) 

I'm going to try to switch my focus to the things I have to gain from this sacrifice rather than what I'm losing out on. It won't be easy (why do those Girl Scouts have to be everywhere with those temptatious cookies?) But I'm hopefully up for the challenge. 

What's your addiction? Anyone suffering through the rest of Lent with me? 

Comments

  1. Amy, I don't think I overeat on sugar, but salt is my weakness. Now I wonder if it changes to sugar in my system. I just had my bi-yearly check up with my doctor. My A1C in bloodwork is up markedly from my last test---this is the one for blood sugar. I'm sitting on the border of diabetes and not happy about that. So obviously I have to make some changes and not just for a month or so. I bought a book yesterday called Grain Brain, by a doctor who says we're all eating wrong and causing health problems. From the little I've read processed foods, carbs and sugars are culprits. Sigh! What's left.
    I wish you good luck on stamping out thoughts of sweets.

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    1. I'm fortunate sugar hasn't caused me more problems. My grandfather was Type 1 diabetic and my father is a Type 2. I picked sugar because I know I need to be more cognizant! It's so hard when the bad stuff is always the most convenient! I hope you get those numbers down :)

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  2. at
    It was my husband's company picnic just two weeks ago. Picture me, sitting at a picnic table surrounded by other people playing, yup, you guessed it. Bingo. And, I won. A whole sheet of brownies. They were soft, they had frosting, the frosting had chocolate chips it. They were the best brownies ever. And, now, they're gone
    Ack, I have all the signs, too.

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    1. You couldn't have sent me ONE brownie?

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    2. Thanks so much for that extremely descriptive comment on your brownies, Pam. *scowls* I love brownies. Why do they have to taste so good? Why can't celery taste that good? My life would be so much easier. ;)

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  3. Caffeine. Can't work without it. Can't make it through the day without it. Don't make me look at myself too closely. :)

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    1. Sorry! I know no one likes to look at their weakness! I don't drink coffee, so caffeine has never been a big thing for me. I have a diet soda every day but I wouldn't say I need it for the caffeine. I do know other people who seriously cannot function until coffee is in their system, you are not alone!

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  4. Oooh, Amy. I so get this and totally agree. I've recently given up wheat and the first two weeks were agonizing...sugar is in progress. The good news is once it's out of your system, things get too sweet, but man, there are days I just want a Hershey's chocolate bar. :) Great post!

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    1. No wheat, that would be tough. I know a lot of people who have to be gluten free. Although it is A LOT easier to get things gluten free now than it was ten years ago. My sister in law swears it is the best thing she ever did - giving up gluten and dairy. I don't know that I could survive!

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  5. Amy - I can't give up anything because I have no character. So I just try to be happy with little bits of everything. I love nuts and found that a few can kill a sugar craving. I also am in the midst of Lent, but am trying to give up criticizing, being crabby or negative or a hundred other things I do when I'm on deadline. I'm pulling for you, though. As hard as this sounds like it is for you, this may be the time you beat it for good.

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    1. LOL - I love what you gave up, although looking at your sweet smiling picture, I can't imagine you ever being crabby or negative! I think the deadline thing is what's got me wanting sugar as well. Stress goes up, desire for sugary snacks follows suit. I find myself wanting some Twizzlers or some M&Ms when I write. Now I have to settle for Special K cracker chips. It's just not the same. Maybe I'll try the nuts!

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  6. I'm with you, sister. I've been reading labels and there's sugar in everything! Even peanut butter! Sigh.

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    1. I'm chewing sugar-free gum, trying to convince myself this is enough sweetness. It's not working. It's hard to find alternatives to the bad stuff for sure!

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    2. Sugar-free Jell-o isn't bad when you're desperate.

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  7. OMG good luck woman. This is why I don't even bother trying to give anything up. LOL I love you and YOU CAN DO IT! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

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    1. Thanks, Jo! I once managed to give up candy the whole 40 days, but that still allowed me to eat yummy stuff. This is definitely a tougher challenge. We'll see how I'm doing in a couple weeks, especially when I'm on vacation!! xoxo

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  8. Oh wow. I'm amazed you've lasted a week. You have a lot more willpower than I do! Keep us updated on your progress.

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  9. I feel for you, Amy! I'm currently gluten free, plus I'm allergic to onion and garlic so that wipes out a lot of things. BUT, in recent history, I was caffeine, sugar (including carbs other than beans and quinoa), gluten and dairy free for 2 years. Yep, I lost a lot of weight, although it was done bc of health necessity, not weight loss. Now, I'm back on caffeine and sugar. I'm a sugar addict and need to wean off again. L-glutamine is supposed to help with cravings....

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