Thursday, April 2, 2015

Getting Fit : Cutting back on sugar

It needs to be said that I have a major sweet tooth. If you know me, then you know this to be true, possibly even a slight understatement. Basically, until I started eating low FODMAP, I had no idea just how bad I had gotten. I started my day out with a sugary sweet coffee, followed usually by some sugar packed granola. And desert, I always have to have desert. Add in the 3 pm candy bar craving and essentially, I was eating loads and loads of sugar throughout the day, which, let's be honest, isn't really healthy for anyone.
I realized I was starting my day with sugar and ending my day with sugar. I realized that I needed to make some dire changes if I ever wanted to look, but most importantly feel, better. The coffee was hard for me. I enjoy coffee packed with every extra calorie you can throw in. The strange thing though is I used to just drink black coffee. At first, it was a shock to the taste buds, but after giving it a little more than a month, I realize I enjoy the ritual of coffee much more than some thick sweet sludge to guzzle down. Not to say I don't believe in treating myself to a coffee with the works, it's just no longer an everyday occurrence.
The other hard part for me was desert. I learned that it's okay to indulge in a piece of chocolate. Do you read me here? One piece, not an entire bar or bag. Same goes for cookies, cake or any other sweet treat you like to eat. Rewarding myself for going all day without sugar with sugar seems ridiculous, but it's the only thing that keeps me going some days. I've had to learn that moderation is key, and allowing myself a small sugary treat keeps me from going on a crazy binge. Because I know me, and if I cut myself off...well, you'd just better hide all the chocolate.

What do you do to cut back your sugar cravings?

2 comments:

  1. I'm thinking of cutting sugar completely. I've heard it's bad for anxiety and I have very bad anxiety so it's probably a good idea. I have such a sweet tooth, too, haha! But I think I'll manage, I challenged myself to quitting sugar for a month once and I did it easily! I allowed natural sugar, though, because giving up sweets is enough...I can't give up fruit, too. Fruit is my favourite food ever! I think fruit really helped my sugar cravings without having negative effects on my mood and anxiety, etc! I might quit sugar after Easter! I really enjoyed reading this post (as you can tell from my rambly comment haha!) xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the lovely comment! You are absolutely right, sugar is bad for so many things, anxiety being one of them. My husband also suffers from bad anxiety, luckily for him he doesn't have a sweet tooth. Fruit to help sugar cravings is such a great idea, don't know why I never thought of that! I think I will try having fruit for dessert, thanks for the inspiration! XO - Kim

      Delete