Beating my addiction

I never really thought of it as an addition, but it was. It controlled my life, causing pain, debilitated my physical and mental abilities. It is worse than alcohol or drugs combined. I began hiding it, waiting til my husband went to bed or finding hiding places for it. I would stop for awhile, but never for very long. My husband, unknowingly or sometimes knowingly, would enable my habit.

IDENTIFYING MY ADDICTION

I finally had to face the truth, I did indeed have an addiction. I loved it, I craved it and I suffered from it. SUGAR. . . yes - SUGAR. . . that was the culprit. Fudge, chocolate of any kind, french cruellers with chocolate, bread pudding, pie, carrot cake, gummies, carmel, ice cream. . . just some of my favorite things. I knew it was bad when I began hiding and sneaking it.

COMING TO TERMS WITH MY ADDICTION

Yes, I could deny it, I could say that I could control it, but alas, IT controlled me. Have I continued to cut sugar completely . . . no, but have reduced it to a reasonable amount. I know I have a ways to go, but it's a learning process also. There is sugar in so many of the items we eat, even healthy choices like some fruits and so-called healthy snacks. So I have to learn to pay attention to labels.

STEP 1 BREAKING THE CHAINS

I knew I had to cut the sugar out and not just reduce it. I needed to be off it in order to start to get control of my life back. I went to Texas to see my son and his family. They do a pretty good job of eating healthy. I normally hid candy in my suitcase to eat at night when I went to bed. This trip I did not take any candy with me. I refrained from the Cinnabon, (which was right across from my gate) and chose to buy Pistachios as a snack. Instead of the Pizza at a layover, I had a 1/2 of Chicken Salad Crouisant (know the Crouisant was not the best choice, but I only ate the bottom with the chicken.) The only really sugar treat I had while I was there was 1 scoop (wanted 2, but refrained) of ice cream when we went out to celebrate my granddaughters victory in gymnastics. At first it was hard, but I persisted through my trip home. I actually lost 4 lbs.

BENEFITS OF CUTTING OUT SUGAR

I have noticed a few things that have changed since I have cut my sugar consumption. I have more energy, my mood is better, my food tastes better, I sleep better and I am more alert. Another more important benefit was the reduction of inflamation in my joints. I had hardly been able to walk due to the pain in my knee joints. Today I walked to church from my car instead of riding my scooter and I climbed my stairs instead of riding my chair lift.