Today is my 10th day without sugar or artificial sweeteners. I've been amazed how easy it has been for this self-confessed sugar hound! It is definitely my worst trigger for eating poorly. Yet although I've given up sugar before, I never tried giving up the artificial stuff at the same time. I've been consuming diet sodas, artificially-sweetened yogurt, and the like for years. Now I realize those fake sweeteners have probably long been giving me cravings. It feels like a breakthrough!
I looked back on my goals for April and decided I want to alter them. Although years ago I lost the 60 pounds I gained after my parents died all by myself, I think right now I need more support. Being a stay-at-home mom and writer can be lonely sometimes. In February I looked into starting a new daytime chapter of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) so I could attend weekly weigh-ins and meetings in the morning, but it was an uphill battle. I found support from the local TOPS coordinator, but washed out on finding a meeting place. I realized, too, that while we are house-hunting and moving (locally) in the next few months, I would like more support but with less of a leadership role. I tried out a local evening TOPS chapter and was quite pleased. I had't had luck finding a good TOPS chapter after I married, but this one is large and vibrant. I joined last night.
As of today, I am back to tracking my food and exercise with SparkPeople online. I know from when I lost all the weight before that months' worth of healthy eating puts me in a place where I feel "take it or leave it" about sugar. Until I've been on a healthy track long enough for that to happen, I'm just going to steer clear of sugar and fake sweeteners. I'd thought that a sugary treat now and then would help me feel a diet wasn't so severe, but I think now that this strategy doesn't work when my body is getting used to changes.
I'll keep you posted...
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