We’ve moved into week 2 of the Mentor Me off Sugar Program where I’m participating in a 28 day sugar detox which simply means I’m learning how to recognize the impact sugar has on me and how much I consume by limiting and then eliminating sugar from my diet.
The first day was awful as I had the shakes because I couldn’t eat my daily amount of cereal or chocolate but things got better and then they got worse and now I’m resigned to complete this only because I said I would.
The first week, I learned how to replace my cravings for sugary snacks with peanuts, cucumber slices and fruits. I replaced my craving for ice cream with frozen grapes. I replaced eating sugary cereals with oatmeal with fruit slices in them. Instead of eating cereal, which I used to eat for most of my daily meals, I also make a ham and cheese sandwhich.
I learned that I can not drink wine or alcohol because it has sugar in it.
The HORROR!
I have not found ONE good thing to eat that doesn’t have sugar in it and since I don’t cook or have a chef, I find myself hungry for most of the day eating saltine crackers and fruit. I’m very weak and tired all of the time from lack of food.
It’s not like I can’t cook, I just hate the feeling of standing in the kitchen. I won’t cook. I’m not supposed to be standing in the kitchen; it’s not who I am. But anyway, I’ve discovered a few awesome revelations about my relationship with food that I’d like to share.
Eating is NOT An Activity
What do you want to do tonight?
Let’s get some brownies and have ice cream!
Yay!
No. Eating is not an activity. It’s not something to do. I realize that since I am fairly new in Los Angeles and I have no friends or lovers, I find myself buying a big box of Breyers icecream on Saturday nights when I am alone and I want to have fun.
Chocolate Is a Crutch
I once read a quote that said: Chocolate always understands.
At the time I thought to myself, “DAMN RIGHT!” But now I see what happened. I used chocolate as my lover, my friend and my comfort. Anytime I wanted to feel good, I ran to chocolate and it made it all better.
Chocolate is not healthy and it is addictive. It does not replace real relationships, although it feels like it does.
My Economic Status Affected My Diet
Why is this diet so difficult to grasp for me? Why aren’t vegetables a staple in my diet already? Could it be that my economic status growing up somehow affected my taste for foods? Could it be that my cultural taste buds were cultivated in protest of healthy eating?
When my health coach Laura Thomas asked me, “What is your favorite cheese?” I responded, “American.”
I have only had hummus on occasion. I have never been offered cucumbers and carrot sticks as a snack. I don’t know anyone who eats these things as snacks either. Why wasn’t healthy eating introduced into my life until now?
Could it be that my health and eating habits were affected by the desire to save time and money because I am so busy trying to get to where I want to be financially?
READ NEXT- Ready to Binge On Sugar
