My Serious Sugar Struggle

I believe the first step in overcoming any addiction is admitting you have a problem. So, here goes…

“Hi, I’m Hillary and I’m addicted to sugar.”

You may think I’m exaggerating the truth. Well, I’m not. I do not document everything I eat on my blog, and because of this, y’all aren’t aware of the amount of sugar I eat every day or the number of chocolate chip bags I purchase monthly ;) I think if I did, you would get a second-hand sugar high.

It’s no secret that I have a sweet tooth. I have for as long as I can remember, but it was never an issue growing up. My mom enjoyed baking us sweet treats rather regularly — though, we ate our share of nutritious eats [including sautéed chard with onions and raisins] — so I enjoyed eating her chocolate strawberry scone cake without second thought. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college when I found my portions of sugary foods skyrocketing – late-night cereal, frequent fro yo, and the increasing habit of afternoon lattes and a cookie. Not having dessert after dinner is now a rarity, and I can devour the richest of the rich in terms of decadent desserts. I’m not oblivious to the fact that the more sugar I consume, the higher my tolerance for sugar has become.

I study nutrition and the science of the human body day in and day out. I know that my cells have a limit for the amount of glucose [sugar] they can absorb. Ignoring and/or abusing this fact has an ugly consequence… it’s called type 2 diabetes. I am no doctor, but I know that a high intake of sugar has a long list of negative effects. After years of focusing on my figure, health, and general well-being, I can attest that sugar is doing me no good, no good at all.

• My skin hates me.
• My six-pack abs are hiding ;)
• My mood is up, down, and all around.
• My wallet is thinner from constantly stocking my sugar supply.

… just to list a few.

With the holiday season now behind us, and a new year decade right around the corner, I’m ready to squash my serious sugar struggle. I’m sick of the mood swings, the constant cravings, and the detrimental worrying about harming my health. I want to live off running highs and make foreign the feeling of a sugar high.

I’m not sure how I’m going to tackle my addiction exactly. I’ve attempted to in the past – and it was obviously easier said than done – so I know what incredibly difficult of a challenge I have set out in front of me. As like with any drug, I’m prepared to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms both mentally and physically… and I apologize in advance for those of you who have to deal with a cranky Nutrition Nut.

I know eliminating sugar via he “cold turkey” method will not work… and for your information, I’m not planning to eliminate sugar from my diet completely. Hello, baking is a huge hobby of mine. As hard as it will be, surrounded by inspiring recipes on every blog corner of the web, I have decided to sacrifice my #1 hobby temporarily in lieu of my health. Plus, my recipe page is in need of a few more savory recipes, don’t ya think?

Once I get my plan of attack organized, I’ll fill you in on my sugar-squashing strategy, the struggles I face, and hopefully the successes.

Goodbye, Sugar. Hello, Health.

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Do you struggle with a sticky sweet tooth?

What’s one habit you’d like to kick-out this year?