Now that it is over and I am looking back on it, I find that I still have mixed feelings about it.
I hated it.
But guess what.
I also loved it.
Don't you hate that? When you feel conflicted on something?
What I hated:
- I really missed my sweets. My cravings for something sweet never really disappeared in the 30 days. I thought of sweets a lot. I would imagine exactly how they would taste. I would even dream about them, binging in my dreams and feeling guilty that I ate so much...till I realized it wasn't real.
- It didn't make me feel physically better. I guess I was just expecting something more in this area. A boost in energy? More clarity in thinking? I just assumed that I would somehow feel better and, although there were benefits, I didn't feel any different.
What I loved:
- My calorie intake went down. I wasn't wasting empty calories filling up on sugary, junky foods. This left room for more nutritive, filling foods. Also, once I taste something super sweet, my taste buds instantly crave more of it, leading me to eating more and raising my intake.
- It helped me overcome a recent weight loss plateau. This happened quickly. In my first week of cutting out sugar I suddenly dropped a few pounds that I had been working on for weeks.
- It was much easier to just say no. This may, in part, have to do with the alluring taste of sugar. But I also recently read an article by Gretchen Rubin about abstainers vs. moderators and I guess that I am an abstainer. I found that items were less tempting if I knew that they weren't even a possibility. The answer was just "no" and it was easier to say than, "maybe just a taste."
I don't even know where I will go from here. The problem lies in the fact that I am a better abstainer, but that I really, really want to be a moderator. I don't want to give up sweets completely. I want to have them as a treat on occasion. Or even a little taste each day.
But it is so much easier for me to just say no.
Maybe there is another rule that I could set for sweets. Fridays only? Holidays only? Special events only?
*sigh* I don't know what to do. It shall take some further pondering.
What do you do when it comes to sweets? Any suggestions on what I should do? Let me know!
3 comments:
Hard to say on this one. Probably because I'm a Moderator in most cases. However I have found there are things that simply can't be in the house. Chocolate candy being one of them (I try to opt for tropical fruit trail mix) If it is in the house I munch on it all day. I've stopped on the mint oreos, although it's a guilty pleasure I enjoy, the calorie intake just isn't justifiable so I have half a cup of ice cream most evenings instead. Ice cream is something I'm not going to snack on all day after all. I also don't like the idea of going to a party or church activity and NOT have the treats the idea makes me depressed just thinking about it. So Perhaps it's just a matter of keeping your most addictive treats out of the house. Don't know. Proud of you though! Way ta go, I'd never make it 30 days.
30 days is impressive! I am better at abstaining too instead of moderating. However, I agree with Rachel, it is too hard to not have a treat at a party or special occasion.
I tried having one sweet day a week. That ended up being bad for me because I would try to get in a week's worth of sweets in one day and then I would feel sorry for myself throughout the week when little things would come up...the neighbors bringing over treats, cookies at cub scouts, etc.
I seem to do better when I wait until evening to have a treat. That way I am not snacking on sweets all day.
I really need to figure out a way to reduce my sweet intake...especially now that I won't have pregnancy for an excuse. :) I looking forward to reading more responses!!
I am good at moderating sweets....other things, not so much. Open a package of ritz crackers and forget about it. They're GONE! I think it might be best to curve your sweet tooth another way. Maybe put a little bit of cinnamon on an apple or in some cottage cheese (if you like cottage cheese...)Or maybe a dab of honey with some cashews or peanuts, home roasted. From what I've read, there are good, natural sweets that our body doesn't turn directly into fat, and then there are the highly processed, refined sugar-filled treats that are no bueno. Check out some clean eating blogs and I bet you can find some sweets that might be a little better for you that you can feel less guilt about moderating.
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