I’m Robin and I’m a sugarholic
It’s true and some of you who’ve been hanging out with me for the past year and a half can give a hardy AMEN! I baked my way right through 2009, putting on 10lbs while living on cakes, pies, cookies and my personal favorite…
Big Bodacious Blondies…(recipe HERE)Anyhoo, I’ve been contemplating … praying…talking about coming off my sweet delicious junky type food for at least 9 months. But I never got a sure-fire “word” from God in heaven that I was supposed to stop the insanity! So I kept baking. But, thanks to my SIL Jon, I just finished a book, (which I can’t wait to tell you about) called:
Just Do Something~how to make a decision without dreams, visions, fleeces,impressions, open doors, random Bible verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky, etc.
When I finished that book I had an Oprah-Light-bulb moment… maybe I don’t need a “sign” from God to give up my sweet delicious junky type food…maybe the 10 extra pounds and the ravenous compulsion to eat baked goods and chocolate every single day and the Publix Bakery workers knowing to start boxing up a cannoli every time I walk in is enough of a sign.
So, on Friday while at breakfast with the oldest fruit of my womb, I committed to giving up all sweet ooey gooey delicious junk food for 1 month. Don’t judge me … one month is all I can do right now. Bethany gave up sweets for lent and now only eats them once a week. I stared at her very tiny self nibbling on some sort of egg white omlette and hung on her every word of advice as I sopped up maple syrup with my light and fluffy ever so crispy Belgian waffle.
“I’m going to do it”, I promised between bites. Monday. I’ll start on Monday.”
*****
So my friends, it’s Sunday night and this is what I’ve been eating all day…
The cookies are a recipe from the Pioneer Woman, the recipe is HERE for all of you who can handle your sweets, you gotta try them. (Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies!)
Starting tomorrow…no, today (you’re reading this on Monday!) when I get the overwhelming urge for something scrumptious and sweet I’m going to do what Bethany does and sip a smoothie or make a yogurt parfait with granola. And then I’ll probably lie on the floor in the fetal position and sob. But I’m committed. Sigh.
To be continued…
Publix has a frozen treat with no sugar called “power of fruit”. They are just fruit! Good luck, I don’t think I could ever give up sugar but weight watchers has helped me make wiser choices. It’s also a great time to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers. You can do it!!!
Our perceptions of ourselves
takes on different appearances
as we move amoung the small
units ~:
Good decision to cut back on the
sweets but your poundage is just
right: ))
Wishing you the best. My son (27 as of yesterday) discovered last week that he is not only overweight but he also has high blood pressure. To start the weight loss he is giving up sugar, starting with coke. It’s day number five and he complains of headaches but he’s making it. It will be worth the change.
I felt bad for my son yesterday. It was his birthday. We all had carrot cake but he passed. …
Juat wanted to say, I gave up caffeine several years ago because of racing heart. I, too, had headaches. Everyone does who has been using alot of caffeine. But he will get through it and feel BETTER than ever. Good luck to him!!!
Robin, you’re no help to me! I was fancying some treat before going to work (though there are no proper cakes at home now: we finished the chocolate oatmeal cookies yesterday), and now I’m craving for these blondies or somes sort of moist cake! 😀
Seriously, I think Jojo is right about where to start when you want to cut on sugar: sodas! Well, that is if you drink soda at least every other day. If desserts are where the problem lies, then do like me: stop buying the ingredients. Right now, I’ ll have to head for the kitchen to have… a glass of water! Because there’s nothing else! Or nearly…
Anyway, don’t forget that your beloved ones love you, no matter the number of pounds you gained.
Have a lovely day!
Only 10 lbs? This seems quite drastic for only 10 lbs. 🙂 Well, best of luck! I know it isn’t going to be easy. As I tell my wife (she tends to be an all or nothing person) moderation… It is all about moderation. 🙂
.-= Philip @ RAOP´s last blog ..What Is The Right Family Size =-.
You are better woman than I am :0 )! I just won a Kitchen aid mixer, so I am thinking I’ll put my moratorium on sweets off for just a bit. Good luck. I know you can do it. Was that sweet comment above from your real Dad ?
.-= susan´s last blog ..Happy =-.
Don’t give up anything Susan, Line, Rose…all of you can probably nibble something wonderful without overdoing it! Philip…MODERATION…I’ve no idea what that is. No idea. Here in lies the problem 🙂
I’m not as concerned with the 10 lbs as I am the physical obsession I have with sugar!!! I get ANGRY if I don’t have something freshly baked in the house! And unlike my bud Vicky, I eat ice cream EVERY day.
So far this morning I haven’t wept one time 🙂 (of course I’m still full from yesterday!)
And Yes…that’s my sweet dad who commented 🙂
xoxo
I always find after I “detox” for a bit it, then I don’t really crave it. So if I keep it out of my house, its really not part of my thought process or my diet. But I will do an ice cream treat about once a week or so 🙂
Have you read Women, Food and God? I haven’t yet, but it sounds like a good read as well…
Good luck!!
.-= Vicky´s last blog ..The lunch girls =-.
Oh the detox from sugar will be hard but in the end you will feel better and enjoy your sweets without such a craving…or one can hope! Good Luck!! I have been trying to satisfy my sweet urges with yogurt and it has helped! 🙂
.-= Linda @ A La Carte´s last blog ..JUNE SILVER SUNDAY =-.
I’m with ya, Robin! I love, love, LOVE to bake! The problem is I love to then eat what I created. For the past few weeks, though, I’ve been getting my sweet fix from fresh fruit and haven’t baked (except for strawberry shortcake:). If I don’t have the junk here, I can’t eat it. I’m weak, so that’s how it has to be. Just know that you’re not alone! Hugs!
.-= Marie´s last blog ..Conquering Insanity =-.
Hi Robin, I just love food, and especially sweets . If there isn’t any in the house I have anxiety! I love your blog , and have tried many of your wonderful Yummilicious delights, but must confess that I have been eating them without control! I am embarrassed to say that I have been eating leftover Marshmallow chocolate frosting with a spoon when I need my chocolate ‘fix’. Please keep s updated on your progress! Ann
(Sorry if this somehow posts twice; the first time seemed not to work…)
Oh, good luck! I’ve been doing a similar sort of thing the last month or so. Just in case it is helpful, I found myself more willing to deal with the habit if I focused on why I acquired it to begin with. With sugar, I realized that I had three basic lines of thought that started the whole mess:
-“It’s here now, I must have it! I might not be able to have it again!” (Most mammals, when presented with sucrose, will eat it– even if they are not hungry.)
-“I’m dissatisfied and want something to make me feel better, and this food is delicious.” (I’m not looking for sweet food, I’m looking for sweetness and pleasure in my life.)
-“If I don’t eat this, the person who is offering it to me acts like I don’t love them or like I’m being rude!” (The Christmas party problem– people often equate food with affection.)
Getting past the habit has still been hard. But now that I’m no longer eating sugar because my body just screams that it wants sugar, I find that I’m getting more useful messages about what I want at a much more tolerable volume. A glass of water, a substantial meal or snack if I’m hungry, a few quiet minutes to myself, a walk, a conversation with someone who loves me. And yes, sometimes ice cream or a piece of chocolate, but not so constantly and not in such large quantities.
Good luck… you can do it! We’re rootin’ for ya. 🙂
Finally, after grousing and moaning around all topics of self-control or Christian growth, something I can feel superior about. Well, for just that nanosecond- and now back to humility. I think the title of the book is the real key. I’ve gone back and forth for 2 year about whether I go back to Jenny Craig to lose the 30 pounds I lost and gained- or to do protein. Back and forth and back and forth and no victory in any of it whatsoever and I continued to gain. By the grace of God – I’m off all but 10 carbs a day. They now make a carb yogurt that just has 3. It is my big treat each day and I love it. Okay – I like the low carb beer too – gasp! I’m not sure how much I have lost because I don’t really weigh – but I know I FEEL 100% better – I’m not hungry all the time – in fact I have to remind myself to eat enough calories. I know I cant do it on my own – my addiction to food and pleasure is too great. I like the AA version of the first 3 steps. I can’t, God can, I think I’ll let Him. You only have to do this one day at a time. I know He will get you through if you let him and depend on HIS STRENGTH not your own. And it does matter – God doesn’t want us slaves to anything but him. I hate that verse that says….in the end days people will be slaves to their stomach- that says a lot doesn’t it. A life obsessed with just thinking about what to put in our mouthx next – or even the opposite – a life worried about weight. As I’ve said before – when we get to heaven God is not going to be terribly pleased if the answer with what we have done with our lives is only, “I tried to lose 10 pounds:)” Love you Robin – always love when you share from the heart.
I made a similar change in my life about 3 weeks ago. I didn’t think I was that “overweight”, but i felt sluggish and, well, for lack of a better word, unhealthy. So, I joined a health club at the hospital here in town, had an evaluation with a personal trainer, and nearly broke my jaw when it hit the floor upon learning I have over 36 per-cent body fat and I could not do a single sit-up. I was truly motivated into making some big changes! I’ve been wearing a monitor that counts my steps throughout the day, gauges my calorie burn minute by minute and records my sleep for the last couple of weeks and it is really helping me monitor my progress. It’s really cool because it downloads to my computer, where I also log every bite of food, and lets me know if I’m eating and working out as much as I need to. Couple this with a two-mile brisk walk early each morning and an hour in either a weight-lifting class or yoga/tai chi class six days a week and – voila – I am not even craving sweets anymore!!! First, I would hate to have to log in eating a bunch of sweets. But, beyond that, I just simply am not craving them. When I want a “pastry”, I toast an Eggo Nutragrain whole wheat low fat waffle and drizzle a bit of raw honey on it – yum, yum. You gotta give those a try!!! Good luck!
.-= jane carter´s last blog ..Putting It All Together… =-.
Oh my goodness gracious. I am a junk food junky with an affinity for sugar. I am pregnant with my 3rd child and have become completely nauseous ANYTIME I eat ANY sugar–even fruit. I never thought I could give it up (and still don’t think I will–this is temporary!) but the nausea is way worse than being denied my tasty desserts.
Way to go to take better care of yourself!! Not an easy step, indeed. I’m right with you, a little sugar is like only eating one chip…I can’t seem to do it! So most days I just try to stay away. Only I’ve gained 40 lbs because of it. Ten? You can do it!
.-= Carey´s last blog ..Our Summertime Word Art =-.
Robin darling, If you have gained 10 pounds I want to know where you are hiding it! You look great every time I see you. You do have a lot of yummy looking sweets in the pictures. Maybe you could channel that energy into writing a book about ALL your INTERESTS, like baking, furniture refinishing, sewing, crafts, gardening, tablescapes and party themes. You are one busy lady and I wish you could bottle and sell all that talent. I would buy some!
Good luck on doing without sweets for one month.
Ok, it is now 10:39 PM on Monday. Soooo, how did you do:):):) Ther is a box of cookies sitting on my kitchen counter right now that I am taking to lunch on WEDNESDAY and they are TAUNTING me:):):) I YI YI! XO, Pinky
Good for you…I have been on a bit of a stress induced bad eating binge for a couple weeks now…thanks for motivating me!
.-= elizabeth´s last blog ..Summer thanks… =-.
oh! i am so proud of you! This is the hardest thing for me as well! I have such an enormous sweet tooth!
Ten pounds is all? I think that is amazing in itself after eating such sweet and delicious foods. I had gained 58 pounds over the last 5 years and have now lost 48 since September. Yay! We eat no refined sugar and I love it. The less you eat the less you want. It’s a wonderful cycle. Have you checked out the *clean eating* website or books. I just bought her recipe book and love her healthy principles. It’s a way of life that makes sense. No diet per say.
I wish much success to you! You can do it! ~Melissa
Wow, I just returned from a family reunion and well you know how we stuffed ourselves with everything from shrimp salad to ice cream sundaes and lots of sweets of all kinds and I feel like I’m ready to explode! I have found myself looking for my sugar fix more than I’ve been going to God. I will order the book, Women, Food and God. I feel like I have a partner in this journey with others and know that God wants us to look to Him to be filled and satisfied.
praying for u,
Deb
.-= Deb´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
I am wondering how this old post showed up on my computer today?????????????
Pinky…I don’t knooooowww!!!