Friday, February 09, 2007

It's Not Going to Be Pretty

I'm self-diagnosing but I am pretty sure that I am a sugar addict.

Admitting is the first step, right?

So after Sunday's post and some more soul searching, I've decided to bite the bullet and enter sugar detox. I've been researching and picking people's brains (smart people with varying views) about it. This week, each day, I've tried to make smart choices. Maybe for the first time in my life I am not seeking perfection, rather I just want to do better.

I know I can do better.

This got me thinking: Why is it that offices are a breeding ground for crap food? It's like we all want to bring in the candy, the cupcakes, the cookies, and homemade breads so it gives us permission to over-indulge. The other day it was a co-worker's birthday and someone brought in cupcakes though the package called them "fun cakes." It was 3:30pm and I was craving a pick me up and those stupid fun cakes were taunting me. Instead of eating one (because really, they didn't look that great and frankly, if they aren't Cupcake Royale cupcakes, forget it) I emailed my friend berating the offending cupcakes and bemoaning their hold over me.

I've had a headache since yesterday but I haven't felt as hungry. I feel full before I've eaten my entire lunch. This could very well be the first step I've been looking for. Too bad I timed it with my PMS. Awesome fun for everyone within a mile of me. I've told my co-workers I'll stick a warning label on when it gets really bad.

"Warning: Sugar Addict. Day 3 of Detox. Do Not Taunt or Unwrap Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Within 10 Steps of Her."

"Ah Sugar, oh honey, honey. . .you were my candy, girl and you've got me wanting you."

40 comments:

Bone said...

Awesome fun for everyone within a mile of me.

LOL

I think you have a great attitude, Ms. Sizzle.

I'd like to get off soft drinks. Or at least cut back to one or two per day. 150-200 calories in every 12 oz. can? Ugh.

hotpinksox said...

I was forced to give up sugar and carbs, I totally know how you are feeling. One little piece of advise, and you don't have to listen to me but try not to sub carbs for the sugar you are craving. I keep proteins with me all the time. beef jerky, peanuts, almonds, my purse is like a walking mini bar. If you have protein instead of sugar or carbs you will feel better in the long run.

Good luck and keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Ummm... what are these Cupcake Royale things you speak of?

Circe said...

I love sugar. I will eat spoonfuls of it straight from the Tupperware cannister if there is nothing sweet in the house. Yes, I have a problem! :)

LVGurl said...

OUCH! Removing that tasty substance from a diet can be painful. I love it. It's my vice.

Just this week, post Superbowl and baby baptism, we have far too much sweet stuff around. What's that I just inhaled while talkng on the phone? Oh, just an entire box of candy hearts. No wonder my stomach hurts and I can't focus.

But seriously, my parents read that book "Suger Busters" about 10 years ago. Both were sugar soda fanatics. They cut all soda and other sugar habits (like a mountain of sugar on their cheerios). My mom lost a little, my dad lost like 10 pounds! Just by cutting out sugar! It's crazy what sugar does to our metabolism.

Good luck. All offices are havens for sugar weakness. Be strong!

Rachel said...

I love sweets. Not as much as I love carbs and greasy burgers but I do love sweets.
I can't imagine giving it up forever.
If you detox off of sugar and you go to a birthday party what do you do?
Is it like heroin? Are you no longer able to imbibe at all? Can you use replacement sweetener like honey? Are natural sugars ok like the sugar in fruit?
Sorry, I just can't fathom not eating anything sweet forever.

Sizzle said...

rachel- i use splenda when i need a sweetner in my tea but for right now, no sugar. once i kick my habit, maybe on down the line i can have a treat like my birthday or whatnot but first i have to convince my body/mind that the sweets aren't tied to my emotions.

i'm cutting alcohol for right now but if the occasion calls for it, i might partake. like i said- aiming to do better, not be perfect. :)

lvgurl- that's what i hear! for the most part, i just want to see what it is like to live sugar free for awhile. i think i might actually feel more energetic. the weight loss would just be a bonus.

circe- woman after my own heart!

alissa- when you visit, you shall see.

hotpinksox- thanks for the tip. i've read about that. battling carbs is next.

bone- thanks! i try. you gotta laugh at yourself, you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't.

Anonymous said...

I am actually just coming to the same realization, myself. I've dipped my toe in the waters of giving up sugar before (you may remember those few months that I went without chocolate last year), but I never really wanted to believe that I can't handle my sweets. Unfortunately, it's true--if I have even a little bit of sugar, all I want is MORE. It makes the weight loss efforts even more difficult than they were already.
Hopefully we'll both be able to kick the habit without too much trouble...

Anonymous said...

Sizz, I gave up sugar for...I think it was four months once (with very few exceptions -- one of which, though, was an entire pint of Ben & Jerrys) and after the initial "I want this so badly I'd kill for it" feeling wore off, I felt amazing. And also, lost about 15 pounds without doing anything else.

MamaMaven said...

Good luck, my inner food ho is definitely named Sugar Mama. I have been seriously wrestling it for weeks with varying levels of success. Congrats on not giving into the cupcake, the office is definitely a landmine field.

sue said...

Good luck, hun... been there, done that...

kapgar said...

Well, I guess it's a good thing I'm way more than ten feet away from you as I slowly, delicately unwrap the paper from this luscious, rich, creamy Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Oh how delectible! God, how good it makes me feel to slowly bite down on it. My teeth cracking through the outer chocolaty shell and then plunging through the creamy, peanut buttery insides.

Okay, I'm stopping now...

And good luck with that.

g-man said...

I lost over 5 pounds just by eliminating sugar from my coffee (now putting in the yellow stuff). I have also heard that eating sugar makes you hungrier, so it is not surprising that you feel fuller sooner. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Try munching on carrots or red bell peppers when you get a sugar craving; they're sweet but GREAT for you! Congrats on facing your demons!!

Lefty said...

Thanks for the warning. I'll stay far away from your desk for a few days.

Claire said...

"Sugar Blues" by William Duffy is an interesting book linking sugar to depressed moods.

I quit sugar for a few weeks once, as much as that's possible in our sugar-saturated society. It was hard, but it clarified a number of things that triggered my desire for it, like stress. What was hardest was my tendency to use sweets as a reward which made quitting seem even worse.

Now, my sugar intake fluctuates, it was horrible over the holidays... but overall, I just try to make better choices. Go for the natural sugars in fruit over the candy bars and cookies...

Good luck with it!

Anonymous said...

Be strong! And being in a similar hormonal place myself, I can tell you that it's VERY brave to start now! These are the days when everything sounds good but nothing does the trick. Gah!

Anonymous said...

Good for you! I always teeter on the edge of doing something drastic like that, but I doubt my own will-power... any tips?

Malnurtured Snay said...

Good luck with that, and did you see where I left the skittles ... ?

LSL said...

Wow, I'm impressed. Good for you, and I hope those folks around the office support you and stop bringing that shit to work!!!

For me? Life wouldn't be worth living without sugar, so I'm keeping at least a little.

Unknown said...

when i first got sick this fall, the dr said i needed to watch my carbs, salt, caffenne (sp?), AND sugar intake - ON TOP of all the foods i am alreay allergic to!

add to that the things i don't LIKE... there isnt that much left for me to eat...

so basically i am stuck eating veggies, meat & fish......

but you know what - i have lost almost 50 pounds in the last 6 months.... i DO feel better, i AM healthier (though i am still not healthy)... AND when i DO eat the stuff i am not supposed to eat, i regret it - i have found that it's not worth eating sugar because i feel like crap afterward

once your body is detoxed.... you will feel different about putting crap into it

Balou said...

You have the power to resist! (Think Mighty Isis!) I've been thinking about doing this too since the holidays. I'll start right now. *tosses out honey laden cup of tea*

Anonymous said...

Give it up for lent...maybe after 40 days, it's hold will be lighter.

Sizzle said...

dawn- good idea!

balou- that's the spirit- join the sugar free movement. :)

question girl- that's good news for me though it sounds like it's been rough for you. i'm sorry to hear it. :(

lsl- i'm with you on that. i don't think i will NEVER eat sugar again but i've got to learn new habits.

malnurtured snay- good thing i don't like skittles! rrrrr! ;)

bre- it's like breaking up with a bad boyfriend, you gotta do it for yourself and something has to click internally for it to really stick.

justrun- it was an accident to start during PMS but why not just bite the proverbial bullet, right?

claire- i'll check that book out-thanks!

lefty- if you approach, do so gently and bring nuts, preferably almonds.

girl and dog- thanks for the suggestion. i just ate some carrots!

g-man- well that's inspirational. i'm all about the yellow packets too.

kapgar- it's a good thing i like you so much or else...

sue- thanks sistah.

heather- "inner food ho"- ha ha. i wonder what mine's name is?

snackie- i knew that cupcake royale reference would bring back sweet memories. ;)

sandra- these are the kinds of stories that i like!

meagan- we should email more so we can support each other. i do remember when you during the chocolate free months. i think i thought you were crazy! :)

Claire said...

I totally shouldn't have read your post before heading to the grocery store*. So much sugary goodness that I just wanted but remembered to feel guilty for wanting. Sigh.

It really starts there though... if you don't buy it, it's not there to eat.

*or conversely, my health is a little better off because of it. :)

Esmerelda said...

SUGAR is like Crack. the more you have them more you want...the more it hurts your body...

try cutting back and you'll see a HUGE difference.

Lisa said...

Yay you for the self diagnosis!!

My name is Lisa and I'm a carb addict. And what do carbs turn into? SUGAR! So, I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. Stay tough on this one, Sizzle! I'm not gonna lie... it'll be a bitch. But once you get past the mountain, it's smooth sailing (except for the monthly hiccup of PMS).

Anonymous said...

Oh, good luck with this. It gets easier.

Kerry said...

BTW... after a certain point, eating the sugar again will make you sick and you will find it somewhat repulsive. I've done chocolate detox before and diet coke detox. Its painful and after about a week of headaches and feeling like shiznit... you then get used to it and eating/drinking it again makes your stomach churn.

good luck!!!

Anonymous said...

Heh! I was going to say, it's been awhile since you have mentioned...Grandma Cake! I was thinking about that, and how you and your sis making and sharing that might make you feel good. :-D

Oooo, I'm a wicked thing.

Sizzle said...

for the record, i'm taking this sugar thing day by day and i don't believe i will NEVER eat sugar again. that isn't living! but i do need to take a break from it to explore my health and set new habits.

oh there will be grandma cake, bullyse. i just won't eat half the cake by myself in a 24 hour period. ;)

Anonymous said...

Good for you! I felt so much better after giving up sugar. I'll echo everyone here when I say that it is hard at first, but so worth the effort. Just hang in there until avoiding it becomes a habit (for me, this took about 2 weeks)

Aside from feeling better, it is so amazing how different food tastes. Suddenly plain sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, and carrots start tasting like candy. When I have sugar now, it's amazing to taste just how much more intense the sugar tastes than all the other things I think of as sweet (even natural sweeteners like agave syrup). No wonder it's addictive! But by giving it up most of the time, I've found I'm actually able to enjoy it in small quantities once every month or two and not feel bad afterwards (or have cravings for it). So there is hope, even for an addict!

One odd suggestion: When you crave something sweet, try eating or drinking something sour. I usually drink a glass of lemon water, and that really works for me. A grapefruit would work, too. (Though this not be so effective for pms type cravings, it does work most of the time.)

Good luck!

Anthony S. said...

OMG Deathcake Royale, that looks incredible!!!! Where did you find this site? It's like porn!

Anonymous said...

Oh, you know the other thing I do that totally works? When you go to the supermarket, stay away from the middle aisles, where they stock all the sugary stuff. If you don't buy it and don't keep it at home, you'll be less likely to indulge...Of course, the office is another problem...hmmm...

Sturdy Girl said...

I'm always suspicious of products that promise fun

Anonymous said...

If I could quit coffee, anybody can do anything. Seriously.
My friend and I were just talking about sweet treat alternatives yesterday. Lame as it sounds, chocolate chip or chocolate/peanut butter chip or s'mores granola bars are a great alternative. Still a sweet treat, but incredibly healthy and low in calories/fat.
Good luck dearest, this is the one dietary change I've never been able to stick to (nor has my father, I am simply doomed!).

TC said...

I'm soooooooooooooooo late to the ball game on this one, but good luck! :)

ZenDenizen said...

Congratulations on making the switch! I kicked the habit a few years ago and honestly don't crave it much anymore. Just think of how much better your skin will look in a few years compared to everyone else :)

Michelle said...

I stumbled on this post looking for info about sugar. I'm totally onboard with getting off the stuff. A great substitute is Agave Nectar--try it!

Mrs4444 said...

I hear you on the workplace fat-fest! Every day or so, I get an email that says, "Treats in the office." My reply? "Thanks for the warning!" You won't be sorry to kick the habit.