NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: I'M QUITTING SUGAR

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Here's the deal. I'm quitting sugar. 

I stumbled across Sarah's blog when I was searching for recipes to experiment with and I connected with about EVERYTHING she wrote about sugar.

I get mood altering cravings after meals for something sweet. I often consume more sweet treats and fruit in a day than foods that don't contain sugar. I find myself experiencing emotional highs and lows that I use treats to cope with. All too often I find myself thinking: I deserve this doughnut. I deserve these skittles. I deserve this ice cream. I will start my day of trying to eat right, but end up just eating less. Then evening rolls around and I'm starving. I binge on anything in sight-- feeling guilty. I spend so much time obsessing over what I eat and I'm done.

Basically, I am a sugar addict.

If that's not enough to motivate me to change, than my inspiring mother certainly is. Last year, my mother was diagnosed with diabetes and she wasn't okay with that. She got RIGHT into motion. Literally. She changed her diet and cut sugar. She started exercising. She lost weight. She brought her blood sugar down. She made a change because she deserves it.

I deserve to respect my body and take care of it.

Last week I started my 8-week journey to quitting sugar. I didn't go cold-turkey because I knew I needed to ease into the process, plus Wilson's guide suggested doing just that. I have been paying attention to my cravings and my "food feelings." I've been collecting recipes to try and grocery list ideas for my sugar-free eating and I'm pretty excited. By adding fat (the good kind-- found in avocados and eggs and nuts), I will be able to curb cravings. Read more about that here.

"You know that fruit is good sugar, right? Fruit is healthy." 

Yes. Fruit does contain vitamins and minerals and good stuff for you. But, it also has sugar. Sure, fruit contains "complex" sugars and none of that refined stuff found in candy.  Fructose is fructose-- no matter HOW you disguise it. During my 8-week detox, 6 weeks are completely sugar-free. That includes fruit. But, guess what? After I can detox and get a hold of my cravings, I will be able to have a couple pieces of fruit a day and even have some dessert every once in a while. After I detox, I'll be able to have dessert every once in a while and not want to go back for seconds (or thirds. or midnight fourths).

I'm not saying everyone needs to quit sugar-- but I am choosing to quit.

This has not been an easy decision, just so you know. I LOVE treats. I love anything whipped and sweet and rich. I love how sweets make me feel. I love the flavors in gummy candies. I love the way chocolate melts in my mouth. I love everything about sweets. But, isn't it scary about you could replace the topic of sugar with smoking or cocaine and most of the content in this post would apply?

I just want to experiment and see how I feel in 8 weeks. Sarah Wilson tells me my cravings will be gone. She tells me my emotions and moods will make more sense. She tells me that I'll have more energy. She even says I will feel lest bloated and that I may even lose a few pounds.

I deserve all of that. 

Well, I've talked the talk. Let's see if I can walk the walk.

If you have questions, please feel free to comment or shoot me an e-mail. I'd love to tell you more about Wilson's 8-week guide.