One Sugar-Free Month: Almost-Check

So May has been the month of no sugar (well, almost. There was the cupcake incident, but we try not to talk about that). We had our designated sugar-days, and let me tell you something, I did not feel empowered at all by this experience.

Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be—Jake would disagree because he was the one who listened to a non-stop stream of “I want cookies!” “I want chocolate.” “Just one m&m?”—but it wasn’t easy. I guess it’s sad really that I have so little self-control that I have major trouble saying no to chocolate. There were days where from the moment I woke up to the minute I went to bed, I was thinking about chocolate and sugar. I don’t crave hard candies, or lollypops. We have some lollypops sitting on our dresser from a while ago, and those were never a temptation for me during this experience (an experience which will be officially over at 12:01 tonight. I have marshmallows, and mini-m&ms just for the occasion—I’m making rice crispy treats with mini-m&ms: my ultimate weakness). My main cravings were cake, chocolate, rice crispy treats, chocolate, donuts, chocolate, ice cream, and chocolate. :) Did I mention chocolate? Seriously, some days I thought I was going to lose what little self-control I had and run out to Walmart and buy and entire box of the $0.99 chocolate bars. I would have killed for a kit-kat.

That being said, this experience was definitely a good one though. You’re thinking, “Danica? Are you insane? Didn’t you just tell me about your crazy mad pregnant woman cravings?” (No, I’m not pregnant).

Yes, I did just tell you all that, and it’s all true. Both statements are. Here’s the thing: this was a good experience because I definitely learned something about myself. Remember how I mentioned that we had scheduled sugar days? Well, on these days I felt a sense of freedom. No one could tell me I couldn’t eat something. I could eat whatever I wanted! Well, a particular thing happened on these days. I didn’t crave sugar—I still ate it, don’t get me wrong—but it wasn’t on my mind constantly. As soon as the sugar day was over, I was strong for the next few days…and then the cravings would hit.

So, here’s my thinking: When I’m told I can’t have something, I obsess over it. I’m like a dog; I just get fixated on this one thing and I have trouble focusing, or redirecting my attention elsewhere. If I know that what I was previously told I can’t have (sugar, in this case) is now an option, my mind clears, and sometimes I don’t even want it any way.

Does that make sense?

Well, the countdown to my massive sugar intake starts now: 9 hours and 33 minutes to go.