This is about what I eat. Skip if that’s not your jam.
I’m all for moderation in my diet. Nothing is off limits. I’m doing this for the long haul and restrictions don’t work for me.
However.
I’d been feeling out of control with sweets in August and into September. My usual one piece of chocolate wasn’t cutting it. I was wanting more and more, and eating more and more, and feeling out of control. Almost bingey. It worried me.
So I did something drastic. I stopped eating sweets on September 7th. Note, I said eating them, because I still make (and drink) a chai once to twice a day that is FULL of sugar. And when I say “sweets” I don’t mean natural sugar in fruit, the brown sugar I sometimes add to my oatmeal, or the gels/chews I eat when I work out. Sweets as in chocolate, candy, cookies, etc.
I should probably cut this down to one chai in the morning because I am having a hard time falling asleep at night and wonder if the caffeine in the afternoon chai has anything to do with it
I figured I would do this until someone offered me a vegan sweet treat or I traveled and wanted to try one (like this weekend when I go to Sookies in Madison).
Surprisingly, it’s been really easy. Probably because I’m still getting so much (too much?) sugar in the other things I consume throughout the day.
And not surprisingly, I feel physically great.
Now I just need to decide how long I want to do this. And see if having a sweet treat after abstaining for a while sets me off and gets me right back to why I started this. I hope not, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if it did, sigh.
I did this over the summer and it actually felt like a relief instead of being restricted. I didn’t realize how much mental energy I was wasting thinking “should I have a cookie,” and then “okay now I want another cookie.” When it just wasn’t an option it was so much easier. But if we had friends over to celebrate something or we went for ice cream as a family, I had something yummy and enjoyed it. I hope it works as well for you!
I am so glad you shared that. It does clear your head when you aren’t thinking about it so freaking much! I had experienced that but hadn’t made the connection. And I am glad you still enjoyed special treats too!
I totally get this. I’m very much about moderation, but sometimes I get “sweet creep” and just need to take a few days off until sweets sound good again.
I will tell you that over the weekend I went on one of my trips and had a piece of vegan cheesecake and it was divine. Now that I’m back home there’s nothing in my house that’s going to be as good so I probably won’t have anything sweet until I see something that’s better or I forget about the cheesecake, whichever comes first.
Yes! It’s totally like that. Thanks for making me feel seen and realize it’s not just me!
That is a great plan! And I love that you had such a delicious piece of vegan cheesecake! Where was that?
I get this way with peanut butter, of all things. I just start eating it and eating a lot of it and then I’ll take myself off it for a month or two. You know you and I hope this helps get you back on track!
OMG I totally get that with PB. I am impressed you take that much time off from it! I eat it every day now! Gah. PB. My true love.
I’d choose a comfort drink like a chai latte > candy any day!
I have the same mug btw (different design) and it’s one of my favorites. It’s just the right size, feel and heaviness in my hand 🙂
I’m not really a candy person, but a piece of dark chocolate periodically sure does taste good. I think we all have our ‘vices’ that we recognize and eat anyway – the key is to not overdo it, and that’s what you obviously know! Good for you for doing what feels good and IS good for your body!
We definitely do! And I’ve been trying to learn not to overdo it my entire adult life. I feel like I am finally making some progress this year!
Thanks!