Week One of Quitting Sugar

I've just completed Week One!

It was tough and challenging, but I did not give in to the evil craving monsters that are still living inside me, and I'm very proud of that (well, not to the same extent that I used to anyway).

What I like the most about Sarah's program is that you can ease your way into it. She doesn't believe in the cold turkey approach, which meant that when I did stuff up during the week and ate half a packet of dates after dinner one day, or had some cheesecake at a restaurant with friends, I didn't feel that paralysing shame and guilt that would usually wrap itself around me after eating sugar. I just allowed myself to enjoy it. Oh, what a feeling.

I still have a very long way to go... It was scary to see how quickly I demolished those dates when I felt the sugar on my tongue. There was that element of obsessive eating that I am trying so hard to get rid of that is still very much alive inside of me. I had to throw out the rest of the packet to stop me eating all 400 grams! (That would be equivalent to nearly a whole days caloric intake not to mention the truck load of sugar). But, it's early days. And I needed to see how strong these addictive behaviors still are for me so I am better equipped to deal with them in weeks 2 and 3, when we go 100% no sugar.

As this week was all about curbing the sugar monsters, I allowed myself to eat other food (occasionally) that I wouldn't usually let myself. So, when I felt the craving hit, I might have a piece of peanut butter on toast, salty nuts or corn chips and dip. I told myself this week that as long as I was staying away from sugar, it was ok.

You see the thing is, if you took away my sugar addiction, I eat pretty well (kind of ironic, isn't it?)
I avoid grains and dairy, as they make me bloated. I will eat protein (usually fish or chicken) with tonnes of fresh veggies and some good fats like avocado, olive or coconut oil for lunch and dinner, with eggs for brekkie. (These principals are all key elements to Sarah's program too, which is probably why I loved it so much). This is why I never really understood my addiction? My whole family is obsessed with health and wellbeing and I have been well-educated about what I should and shouldn't eat - I guess sugar addiction is stronger than all of that. So while this week wasn't a totally healthy week, if I've avoided the compulsive trips to the supermarket, I'm happy. Small steps!

This is what Week One looked like:

Brekkie  
2 Egg Muffins and green tea
(like a mini omellette with some veggies and turkey that you bake in a muffin tray)

Or

Poached Egg on gluten free toast and green tea

Lunch
Chicken/Turkey and veggies with avocado/olives/oil

Or

Lentil soup with crusty gluten free bread

Dinner
Chicken/Tofu with steamed/stir fried veggies

Snacks
Swapped between servings of: Soy Latte's, Carrot & Celery with Hommus, Brazil Nuts, tuna in spring water. (And my occasional unhealthy substitute of corn chips, peanut butter on toast, salted cashews - they all have to go next week!)

My Acceptable Slip Ups
Pitted Dates (they have soooo much sugar!)
Cheese cake
Honey in tea


So where to now?

My goal for week two is to eliminate those salty fatty snacks (corn chips, salty nuts etc) and drink more herbal tea instead (without honey this week). When the sugar cravings hit, and my God did they hit hard this week, I will try and go for a walk, drink some tea, or write. I will keep updating my progress each week.

Another of my goals is to get back to my weight as of 2 years ago, 58kg. I am currently almost hitting 70 on the scales (I am 160cm). I am thinking about posting some before pictures in the hope it might spur me on to make a difference, but I am incredibly nervous about putting my flabby stomach out there for the world to see. We'll see how that one goes.

I'm also going to book in with a naturopath to get some herbal supplements to help with the cravings. They are so intense sometimes they nearly bring me to tears, and I'm really scared that I will give in to them sooner or later.

While losing weight is incredibly important to me, particularly as it wasn't that long ago I was prancing around in my bikinis in Brazil feeling happy and confident, that is secondary to ridding myself of sugar for good. Although, I'm sure they will work hand in hand over the next 8 weeks.


Thanks for sharing this journey with me. Here's to week two!