As you know, I am on a journey to a healthier life. So far I have lost weight and added walking to the exercise calendar. As I approach my goal weight, I need to focus not only on my outside appearance, but I need to clean up my insides. I am contemplating eliminating sugar in my diet. Easier said than done. I appreciate your thoughts, concerns, encouragement, and sharing of your own research. Here we go!
Background: Two years and 10 months ago, I gave up soda/pop. Cold Turkey. I created a calendar and gave myself a sticker for each day I resisted the urge to drink. This was the most difficult thing I have ever done. And let me tell you, NOT A DAY GOES BY WHEN I DO NOT CRAVE A POP! There is a soda for every type of food. Just like many of you pair wine with your culinary delights.
How am I doing on today? Fabulous!! I will admit that I allow myself a glass of sparkling cider on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Once I drank half of a Long Island Ice Tea at Hard Rock Cafe before I realized it had Pepsi in it! I stopped in my tracks. I have had about three moments when I accidentally sipped one of the boys' drinks only to immediately spit out the pop! So I think I can say I have been faithful.
Side Note: At the time I decided to eliminate soda, it was not a sugar thing. My son Gregory had broken his leg a few years ago, and his orthopedic surgeon lectured all of us about the dangers of soda on our bones. He was and still is firmly convinced that the carbonation is leeching our bones causing them to become brittle and break easily. No wonder Greg's leg snapped like a twig at 12! That lecture stayed with me. I finally decided to eliminate soda once and for all.
Today, as I am contemplating the challenge of giving up sugar, the experts say to ease into it. Baby steps. The first step? GIVE UP SODA! Wow! Easy peasy! Been there, done that! Check off step one!
Now it is time to examine the next step. I choose the elimination of coffee creamer! I am talking the amazing French Vanilla, Almond Roca, Pumpkin Spice, and all the yummy flavors that make my favorite beverage so yummy! I drink a thermos of coffee each day. So eliminating the creamer is a huge deal!
So why not add artificial sweetner? I am not just substituting one type of sugar for another. I am not eliminating sugar just to use Stevia, Splenda, NutriSweet, etc. The idea is NO SUGAR!! If the real deal is "poison," I can only imagine what the chemical stuff will do to me!
So I will start by switching to Half and Half. Cross your fingers!
Thanks for coming along for the ride. Buckle up! Crash helmets and life jackets are recommended. In the event of an emergency: PRAY!
