One Day More

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March 31, 2013 by little hurdles big race

No not Les Mis…one more day of Lent.  Actually about 4 hours.  So, in anticipation of Easter I went to the grocery store today and tried to decide what my sugar choice would be tomorrow. I wandered around and became paralyzed at the thought.  Waffles, pancakes, cookies, cake, ice cream…what to choose?  It’s like a prisoner being asked his last meal but this would be a first meal.  But then came my realization – most of these things I didn’t really eat before Lent anyway.  What is the sense in buying ice cream so I can have a bit and then leave it in my house calling me from the freezer?  How sad would I be if I actually overloaded on cake?  What a horrible step backwards.  So, what am I doing?  The sugar I really cut out was primarily found in protein & granola bars, the occasional dessert, and the candy that is found in great abundance at work.

 

So why waste all this hard work?  For the second year in a row I’ve given up sugar only to slowly become addicted again.  One Reece mini cup becomes another and another…empty calories that never fulfills me.  Is sugar addiction like other addictions?  There are clearly benefits to maintaining a sugar-free or low sugar lifestyle.  But, it is nearly impossible to avoid sugar altogether but can I do it in moderation?  I have increased my protein intake as well as fruits and vegetables.  I didn’t give up natural sugar so fruit has been a great substitute when I want a treat.

I did discover sugar in jerky, many dried fruits, and lots of prepared foods.  So in the end it’s made me look at more labels while I was shopping and made me look at the labels for foods already in my cabinet.  While looking at labels I’d also scan the sodium, trans fat, and caloric intake of everything too.  Information is power that’s for sure.

I did buy a Cadbury Caramel Egg the other day when I was at Walgreens – maybe that’s what I will have tomorrow.  I’ll have it before I go to the gym 🙂

Then again…maybe I’ll just have a granola bar.