A Life Less Sweet

It’s high time for the no sugar blues challenge update.  First off, if you’d like to learn more about sugar AND you’d like to be able to say ‘I read in the New York Times” (as well you should…), read this article. It does a great job of explaining why all sugar is not created equal (fruit really is much better for you) and why it is so, so bad. Like that guy on the motorcycle you "dated" for a summer. Or wanted to date. Whatever. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/magazine/mag-17Sugar-t.html

The surprising:  My healthy cereal, which I stir into my daily bowl of yogurt, had organic cane sugar listed as its third THIRD!! ingredient.  My organic and natural peanut butter also had organic cane sugar. Damn. Woe is me. Out went the cereal and the peanut butter. There was also sugar in my cottage cheese “double” which comes with a small amount of sweetened pineapple. Other than those  items, I didn’t find any hidden sugar. I did find PLENTY of unhidden, standing there in full sight, come to momma, sugar in the form of dark chocolate, scones, cookies, etc. 

Was it hard? Honestly, it was a little harder than I thought it would be. I missed dried fruit (my candy stand in). I missed sparkling water mixed with juice. I hated not being to marinate my chicken or beef and not being able to put on any sauces (teriyaki sauce was out., obviously). I missed mindlessly popping a little morsel of goodness into my mouth…

I heart gummies.

Was there any pay off at all? Surprisingly, there was. I no longer put two teaspoons of raw sugar into my morning coffee. YAY me!! Turns out this is a nice to have, not a need to have, and it was easy to give up altogether.  I also found that I do in fact tend to like a little sweet after I eat and I have continued to cut down on those.  I also started eating plain cottage cheese with cut up veggies in it and I love that. The coffee and the cottage cheese are both great daily changes I’ve made with little pain and suffering. 

How did you end your no sugar fast? Turned out, the day after my two days were over was crazy hot. I picked up my son and we went to Cold Stone Creamery where I enjoyed a kid size lemon sorbet.  Sitting, there enjoying my treat, I suddenly realized that I had broken my fast. I also realized that being able to sit and enjoy the heat and the company while we enjoyed our treats was exactly why I wouldn’t cut out all sugar all the time. 

How about you, did you make it the whole two days? Miss anything? Not miss anything? Do tell...

It's been a long week.. .I gotta slow leak....

A no sugar update tomorrow (sneak preview: I've survived). Today I join hands with Tina Fey and pray.

A Mother's Prayer for her Daughter


“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
Amen.” 

Spun, Refined, or Raw

There is good research out there showing what we already know: Americans eat too much sugar and it is ruining our already comprised health. Pause and consider some of the major sugar-related diseases and conditions: obesity, hypoglycemia, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, dementia, cancer and even epilepsy. Now reread that list and consider how many people you know who suffer from any of those diseases. Scary.

Someone who clearly understands the good and evil of cupcakes.

How something that tastes so delicious be so bad? 

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls bwahahahahaha

I am a big believer in changes I can live with. I am simply not going to give up sugar forever. Could I live with having it less often? Yes I could. Can I live with no sugar for two days? Absolutely.  And so....

I decided to dive in and invite you, my loyal and enthusiastic readers to join me <ummm..helllo? is this thing on? Can you hear me now?>. The challenge is very doable: pick a measly two days this week to give up sugar and sugar substitute.  So, no sugar in your coffee, no dried fruit in your oatmeal, no ketchup on your burger (damn, I hate this last one) no sugarless gum.  The goal is to increase your awareness of how much sugar, or sugar substitute is in your diet; especially sugar you don’t realize is there (hellooooo spaghetti sauce).  I’ll spell it out for you:

 

Who: You. Yes you right there, don't be a pussy, just do it.

What’s out: Sugar, honey, agave, corn syrup and these sugar substutes: stevia, aspartame, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame potassium, saccharin, xylitol, sorbitol. No jam, no juice, no cereal that has sugar in it either. 

The loophole: There’s always a loophole and here is yours: if you are going on a long athletic endeavor be it biking, running, hiking, whatevering, and you usually have a goo or a sports drink then you may continue to do so.  However, when said workout is over you may not reach for the chocolate milk and start chugging, instead have a piece of fruit with natural peanut or almond butter. You may not suddenly introduce this sugar into your workout if you don’t usually have it. Come on. It’s two days. You can do it, oh yes you can.

Why: the goal here is to increase your awareness of what you put into your body, and what is in even the healthy food that we eat. Go ahead and practice a healthier eating pattern, just for a short amount of time. Feel the thrill of victory and success after your two days is over. I was telling a friend about this and she immediately jumped on the why only two days bandwagon.  Frankly, two days is short enough for me to take it on, that’s why. I would not sign up for a month of no sugar or no gluten or no meat or whatever insane hair shirt pain in the ass eating program you think is so wonderful. But I would try a day. Or two. You want to sign up for longer, please do. 

How: THINK before you pop something in that gaping maw of yours. Check the labels before you whip up dinner. If your salsa has sugar in it (and, sadly, it just might) then don’t eat it.   On the plus side, you can make things pretty easily with no sugar. Chop up tomatoes, a pepper some avocado and walla, you’ve got sugar free salsa. 

Food ideas: “slow cooked” oatmeal. The packaged stuff is full of sugar. Did you know you can make slow cooked oatmeal in your microwave in less than 5 minutes? It cooks up in 10 on your stovetop. Add fresh fruit and nuts. Cottage cheese with chopped up red peppers, celery and carrots. No sugar added peanut butter on a banana.  Grilled veggies and meat, but watch your marinades as these are typically loaded with sugar. For salad dressing, try olive oil and vinegar with a dash of mustard and salt. Fresh fruit and veggies of all kinds are welcome.