Tuesday, March 19, 2013

How can I have s'more of nothing?

Yesterday was the first day of no sugar. This go around. I've gone off sugar a couple times before in the four years my hubby and I have been trying to get pregnant. But I only went off for about two weeks. Apparently, that isn't nearly long enough.

I'm happy to report that even though we had friends over for a foil dinner cookout––which was so fun! and very yummy––I didn't have a single bite of sugar. Not even when they broke out the s'mores. Of course being the first day, it was fairly easy.

Until night came. Dang night time! That's when I'm at my weakest. I have this bad habit of munching at night. So instead of my usual popcorn and something chocolaty, I had a salad with little bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top. Then spent the rest of the night feeling like I was starving. Which I wasn't. Just those nasty cravings kicking in.

And it's only going to get better––said in a very sarcastic voice.

All right, day two. I'm ready for ya.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Skinny not healthy

I am one of the very few women on this earth who doesn't care if people know my weight. I spent most of my life referred to things such as, bean pole and pencils, until I gained enough weight to earn me the title "skinny". Do I wish I had more curves, absolutely, but I've learned to love me for me. Flat chest and all. 

The thing is, skinny does not equal healthy. I've battled with health problems my entire life as well. Nothing too major, (besides scoliosis) mostly little things that build up and just make me feel icky. Things like constant headaches. And I mean constant. Every day of every month of every year. When I complain that I have a headache, it means it's gotten bad enough that medicine won't kick it. These things are the bane of my existence. 

Beyond the headaches I also suffer from fatigue, adult acne, joint pain, bloating, constipation (did I mention yet that this blog won't be sugar coated?) sleeplessness, infertility, and hypothyroidism. Even though I may appear to be healthy just because I'm skinny, doesn't mean I am. 

And I'm sick of it. 

I've been to my doctor several times about the headaches. He did everything he could including Migraine meds and MRI's. Nothing helped. Several months ago he suggested I go on an elimination diet to see if I was having an allergic reaction to a certain food, but suggested I wait until after the holidays to make it easier on me. Of course, without a set day to go back, I didn't. Not until my thyroid medicine ran out and I had to. 

This time, in his very polite and professional way, he insisted that I try the diet. I agreed. Then he told me in order for it to work properly I would have to give up sugar and caffeine for two-three weeks prior to starting the diet. 

AHHHHHH!!!!!!

I love sugar. Like LOVE sugar. Chocolate to be more specific. So to think of not eating any, none at all, not even a chocolate chip for three weeks before and then the threes weeks of the diet? Are you kidding me?

It finally came down to, how much do I want to feel better? If there's even a chance this diet will help me feel better, how can I not try when the alternative is to spend the rest of my life in constant and growing pain? 

I turned to Pinterest for helps on quitting sugar and came across the book I Quit Sugar, by Sarah Wilson. I bought the book and read it that afternoon. It's pretty short. She lays out an eight week program to quitting sugar. For good. Not sure I want to go that far yet, we'll see how I feel at the end of eight weeks I guess.

One thing she suggested was to keep a journal of how you feel, write down your frustrations when the cravings and withdrawals are bad. I like to type much better than take pen to paper so I figured why not blog about it? Maybe someone will read it, maybe what I go through will help them too. Don't know. I just want to write something honest. 

I started week one yesterday. The first week is really more of just being aware of how much sugar you eat regularly and cutting it in half. So this week should be relatively easy. 

I'll let you know how it goes.