There’s no simpler way to say it really. I am fed up with the unhappy feeling I’ve had about my body image for the past 2+ months [since the end of October, roughly].
First off, let me say this: I try to keep Nutrition Nut on the Run a positive space for myself, and for all of you. We all deal with an indecent about of negativity in our lives – whether from ourselves or from the outside world – and my blog is a place where I have the choice to produce positivity by way of celebrating life, from sharing a good granola recipe to a satisfying Saturday run.
That being said, I am human… and life isn’t peachy 100% of the time. Over a week ago, I wrote the post: My Serious Sugar Struggle, where I admitted to y’all plain and clear that I have a alcohol sugar addiction.
I put a lot of effort into keeping my body healthy in every way… ev-er-y minute of the day. I enjoy taking good care of my body, and I do feel that I’m doing the “right things” to keep it at optimal performance… except for the whole excessive sugar thing. Being a nutrition & food science major, worry wart, the Nutrition Nut, or whatever else you chose to call me, I wanted to know if how I take care of my body was really paying off inside. I went so far as talking with my doctor about my sugar concerns; she let me go ahead and get a glucose tolerance test – a total of three blood draws – to see if there was any truth behind all my worrying.
Unfortunately, doctors aren’t so easy to get a hold of. It’s been over a week of playing phone tag; I’m fed up with waiting for the results to start my sugar “cleanse”. No matter what the lab results are – I will share! – something has to change about my high-sugar diet.
I don’t know if it was Tina’s comment on my post tonight, or the Health Magazine tips I stumbled upon today [I’m easily inspired], but I’m ready to do something now! I am tired of my clothes increasingly getting tighter – not because I don’t realize body weight fluctuates – but because my body deserves to be loved every day, and it just can’t with un unflattering sugar coating.
The Tentative Plan:
- Eat a snack rich in protein between 3:00-4:00pm. I want to kick my frequent afternoon latte and cookie habit, and make that into an occasional treat, rather than a regular occurrence.
- Limit my desserts to 1 a day. I want to try Tina’s recent strategy of waiting until after dinner to enjoy my one sweet treat. Eventually, I’m hoping to eliminate dessert from my everyday “diet”.
- Limit dairy to 1-2 servings a day. Milk contains lactose a.k.a. sugar.
- More interval + strength training. I am a true believer that this aided in my lean ‘n’ mean 3rd half-marathon
machinebody. - Bake less. I’m putting my #1 hobby on hold temporarily.
* * *
What do you think? I’m not doing anything extreme until I talk to the doctor. I just want to start somewhere weaning myself from its sickly supply of sucrose.
I’ll keep you updated…
Sweet Dreams,
Hillary
Of Possible Interest:
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s refreshing to hear someone talk about their struggles like you’re doing. I, too, have a serious sugar addiction, and since the new year, I’ve been trying to cut back. Protein is key for feeling satiated for me!
Hope your doctors aren’t anything like mine and mix up your bloodwork with your twin sister’s and try to get you to retake it :)
I have tried to find a way to limit dessert, and I only know of one thing that works. You have to give yourself one dessert a day, that way you know it’s coming and you don’t feel deprived.
Going cold trukey in my expereince only makes me crave it more because I am limiting myself!
Good luck!!
I just had SEVERAL handfuls of chocolate chips in addition to cupcakes and chunks of energy so I am all sugared out right now (and staying up late as a result). I totally know where you’re coming from as I am a sugarholic, too.
My dietitian told me that eating enough starches at every meal will lessen sugar cravings, which are usually your body’s way of telling you you need more starches (especially if you workout regularly). Just a thought. Perhaps a sweet potato or a slice of bread here or there will lessen the need for sweet…? Worth a try.
I just found your blog and think it’s great!
Sorry to hear you’re feeling down. Have you tried drinking green smoothies in the afternoon? They always hold me over really well and curb any sugar cravings I might have.
Eg.
- choc protein powder
- pure cocoa/carob powder
- berries/banana (can omit)
- LOTS of ice
Good luck with the results, and I hope you feel better soon :)
Oh, I know how you feel! My dad bakes cookies for the holidays. His philosophy is it’s not a cookie recipe unless it makes at least 4 dozen. He made 5 different kinds of cookies. For the nights right around the holidays I felt this need to have one of each everyday. It was bad.
I am on day 3 of cutting the caffeine in the morning (swapping out my coffee with green tea) and limiting myself to one small dessert (hot chocolate two nights ago, a dark chocolate square last night).
Oh, and kombucha – which I remember you having the other day. Did that seem to help? I’ve had half a bottle each of the past few days (1/2 to lessen the wallet strain).
I’d like to think kombucha helps. I’m not entirely sure though. Going to restock today!
I struggle too, but your plan looks good. I like that you want to add a protein snack in the afternoon because that’s the time I usually go for a more unhealthy snack instead.
I find when I crave sugar it’s because I have eaten sugar. Seriously! If I don’t eat sugar, I’m fine without it! Or, if I randomly do have a sugar craving, it’s because I want something else… usually carbs/something starchy!
There’s nothing wrong with admitting you need to cut a habit. Yes, everything is good in moderation, but if it’s not working for your body, you have to make a change!
Looks like a great plan!
With me, instead of sweets, I love salty snacks. Wonder if my sodium intake is bad :-)
You know, when you originally wrote your sugar addiction post, it was like a slap in the face to me because I am 100% sure I am an addict too. I live with just one roommate so pretty much what I bring in grocery wise is what I eat. Anyways, I was fed up with my sugar cravings, they would take over my life sometimes. So January 2 my really good friend and I, who also has an addiction, maybe even worse than mine!, made a deal with ourselves. The main rule is no dessert…period. I know that sounds harsh, but I know myself and if I give myself a little inch I will take a mile unknowingly. Anyways, it is a contest between the two of us, the first one to eat anything that could be considered dessert has to treat the other one to a massage at a spa. So we not only have monetary incentive to stay away, but also our pride is on the line. I cannot believe how wonderful it has been so far. Let me tell you it hasn’t been easy, but we have each other for support and now when I look at that little cookie it isn’t just a cookie, it is $60! Just a thought for you and I wanted to let you know I am in the same boat! I will keep you updated as you keep me updated if you want :)
Emily
Ughhh I feel the SAME way and have for a while. And let me just say, the holidays did not help. One strategy I use (and I’m not even sure if this is a healthy strategy) is I will buy a large bag of M&Ms, which are my weakness, and give them to my roommate. I only allow her to let me have a handful a day, usually after dinner. The reason I say, I’m not sure this is a healthy strategy is because I feel I should be able to control myself, but I can’t! It is really pitiful! My hopes are that I can get to the point were I can do this without the assistance of my roommate and also eat them less frequently than once a day. I have felt so negative about my body image also so you would think it would be easy to give up the sweets. Anyway, I’m glad you talked about this. You have touched on it briefly several times, but its really comforting to know I am not the only one with this issue.
I’m totally with you on this one! I’m a regular reader of your blog and can say it’s nice to hear someone actually talk about issues like this. I’ve been feeling the same way lately with wanting to fit back into my used to be “comfy” jeans and also with cutting down on sugar! I’m training for my 2nd half marathon yet I’m not strength training (which I keep telling myself I’ll get into again) or making the best dietary choices daily. I bet there will be more than a few people who are with you on this post and will want to take on a challenge like this with you! I know I’ll be trying to do the same as you :)
I’m also working on eating just 1 serving of a treat…uh, so far it’s not going well considering I’ve eaten 4 cookies before noon.
Hey girl! It seems like you have a game plan for success. I wish I was a planner. Most of the time I just say I want to do something but it never gets done! :-?
I think most people can relate to your post! We all have a little negativity once in a while, and get self-conscious about ourselves. That you want to do something about it is the good thing!
I have read many places that eating sugar can become an addiction; the more sugar you eat, the more sugar you want because things that once WERE sweet, do not seem as sweet anymore. So really, it’s like your kicking an addiction or a bad habit, which just takes practice & patience. And of course, don’t totally deprive yourself, or it may backfire on you altogether.
Seems like you have a good game plan lined out though, and that will definitely help. I myself have been trying not to eat any sweets ’til after dinner, and that does help me not to nosh on sugar as much. (As long as I am not craving sweets so much that then I eat a TON of them after dinner…which is where depriving yourself totally becomes a problem.)
Good luck – you will kick your sugar rush! :)
good luck! i think those are great – the protein heavy snack is great and curbs cravings until dinner… also, you can totally eat ‘dessert’. i always have something after dinner. i just keep it healthy! i’ll have greek yogurt with nut butter, or a raw cookie or something!
It’s okay girl! I actually want to lose 5 pounds. I am beyond fed up with my body as well. As well as not eating intuitively. New Year’s goal!
I think starting this “plan” will be a great thing for you! You don’t have to wait until those results to actually do something – if it’ll make you feel better (about yourself and in general), do it.
Amazing plan – definitely a great way to start. You can do it, Hillary!
Good luck, girl :)
I’ve had body image issues and frustration with it in the past and I think everyone does at some point. I too am trying to get off sugar with the start of the new year. I do a lot of baking and let’s just say that it wasn’t pro-sugar free. I have a really high risk of developing insulin dependent diabetes because my grandfather had it and one of my uncles does as well. Please keep sharing how you deal with sugar. I really like reading about it.
Good luck, Hill!! You go! You have a clear head, which leads ultimately to success! Don’t pause your baking passion! Instead maybe try new things? Sugar free baked goods perhaps?
I think that regardless of the test results, limiting your sugar intake is a good idea. Refined sugar doesn’t really have any benefit so eliminating it/lowering intake shouldn’t have negative effects, with the exception of a bit of withdrawal I suppose. I hope you are able to get a hold of your doctor soon and get this all sorted out, but in the meantime your plan looks good to me!
I’m so sorry about your frustrations :-( But I’m right there with ya! A nutrition graduate, a health-nut, an athlete – I know the right way to eat and treat my body. And I know treats are good in moderation, but lately it’s been through the roof. And with my first cavity (and I’m pretty sure I have another) – it’s not just about vanity and clothing issues. It’s also about health! Let’s do this! Good luck!
Hey girl, I totally hear you with the sugar cravings (and school stresses are so not helpful!), but I have found that when I eat all the fruits I love often, I have less sugar cravings. I have also done an entire sugar cleanse. It gets easier after the first week of not-so-great feelings. I focused on eating natural sugar, but less of it even so that when I ate my favorite fruit (bananas) it was always a treat. I honestly felt better than I ever have, it’s just hard to keep up when I’m surrounded by friends who are eating something that looks oh-so-delicious that I just must try it! Good luck!