28 Days

A few months ago I got the idea in my head to do a no-sugar fast for a month.  I'm not sure where the idea came from, but I just wanted to see if I could do it.  Plus I still have some baby weight and I wanted to see if abstaining from sugar would help out at all.  My idea of no-sugar was basically not eating sweets or treats for 30 days.  Well, I did 28 days!...but they were not consecutive.  I took a four day hiatus for Mother's Day.  It probably should have been just for the day, but I had to make treats for a pre-Girl's Camp activity and I couldn't help myself!

Jacob and my sister Beth were to do it with me.  Jacob did it a little grudgingly to be supportive and Beth actually wanted to do it as well.  I have the best record by far between us three.  Beth's husband Brent was supposed to do it as well, but I don't think he was really inclined because he didn't last for one day. :) 

Here are a few things I learned:

1.  I really like to eat treats to "feel better."  I often found myself thinking "I really need a treat, I've had a hard day."  I don't want to be an emotional eater...I'm working on that.
2.  Completely denying myself of treats makes me crave them.  My Mother's Day hiatus was in the middle of my fast.  I REALLY, REALLY wanted  a treat by the time two weeks had passed.  But, once I had my fill over Mother's Day I had no problem sticking to my fast for the next two weeks.  So I am going to continue not eating treats except for once a week or special occasions.
 3.  I do not actually need the treats.  During this sugar fast I internalized that eating treats is really not good for me and I don't feel that much better for it to be worth eating the extra empty calories.  I know a huge part of weight loss is a person's intake of calories so if I want to loose the few extra pounds of baby weight, I better watch my treat intake.
4.  Treats are everywhere.  There were treats of some sort at every extra church function I attended, at gatherings at friend's houses, and they are expected for almost every holiday.  When I am in charge of planning events I am going to try to make sure there are healthier options available so that a person has something to eat if they don't want a treat.
5. If treats are in my house, I eat them.  I also found I like to eat treats (or anything for that matter) out of boredom.  It is hard to turn a delicious cookie down when it is staring you in the face, just daring you to eat it.  New goal:  less treats in the home!

Hope you enjoyed my ramblings.  Maybe you can identify with one or two of my realizations and work on have less treats in your life as well!