No Sugar January….
Full disclosure, this is Amanda’s idea, her challenge, her fault….I’m just going along for the ride. Her January goal is to eat NO sugar. Starting when you ask? January 1st? Uhhhhmmmmm, nope. Starting January 2nd. When I asked her why January 2nd was the start date instead of January 1st (which seems,well, the obvious choice), she said because she knew that there was going to be New Year Eve treats still in the house and general New Year Day celebration eating—and she didn’t want to miss out on that. So she started January 2, Monday. Monday is the clean slate day.
Next question I had for her was, what qualifies as sugar? I mean, an apple is essentially sugar, does that count? She narrowed it down to NO REFINED SUGAR. So basically, her desire is to cut out the cookies, cakes, candy, sweet treats etc. None. At all. Well, actually she did leave a caveat for one day—her little sister’s birthday. She has pre-marked that day as her “one sugar day”. I like the realism in that choice, don't set yourself up for failure, good motto.
Honey? Agave? Stevia? All ok, per Amanda’s rules. I grilled her hard, I wanted to know what we were up against. Could I make cookies with Stevia? Amanda said technically yes, but she probably wouldn’t. I told her to wait a few days, a stevia cookie might look real good at some point. I've never checked, is there a stevia sweets section at the grocery store?
I did not jump on this train without a serious Q & A. I mean truthfully I have already tried to generally limit my sugar, and since I have other issues to focus on I have to really think about were to put my energy. It’s a good goal though, sugar is never healthy for you, we all know that. Plus, Amanda estimates she’ll save $60 in the month of January by foregoing her after lunch daily cookie at the bakery down the road. She even has implemented a reward system….if she meets her goal of no sugar , she is buying herself a luxurious silk pillowcase which she excitedly told me, helps with face wrinkles AND damaged hair. So really, if she cuts out sugar she not only makes her body healthier, she will have less wrinkles and damaged hair. Win, win, win.
So, the challenge is on…..I’m going to do it. I definitely ate way more sugar in December than I normally do, and did I feel worse for it? Well, December is a tough month to gauge, because I also drank more, slept less, had more stress, and so it’s hard to tell WHAT exactly (and in what percentage) contributed to my lesser self. Cutting sugar can’t hurt, plus I want to support Amanda, and now I kind of want a silk pillow too. I wonder if I bought the pillowcase NOW, if the guilt of not following thru with the challenge (for which I took an early reward) would be just as motivating?
Are you in?
Signed, ME {lv}
p.s. it’s been 5 hours of my “join the club no-sugar fiesta” and I’ve officially already blown it. UNBEKNOWNST to me (but since I know that sugar is hidden anywhere I really should have known), the veggie sticks I just munched on HAD SUGAR. Dang. I guess I let the organic, all natural, nothing artificial label and gourmet store price-tag lull me into thinking it actually was healthy and had no hidden fillers…like sugar. Bummer. So beware, this whole no-sugar thing might be harder than we (meaning me) thought!!
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