2 weeks in!
4.5 until a very “sweet” Easter.
Here are the updates from the field. It’s just Amanda and I reporting this week as Meghan was experiencing some technical difficulties. You can check out the week one update and see our pretty faces here.
AMANDA:
I know I’m hurting for sugar when I find myself staring longingly at the free sample in the Lund’s bakery: powdered donuts. Just a few weeks ago I would have managed to snag two of them. It’s really not getting any easier. I don’t think I mentioned this before, but I’m a new mother and still nursing my 12 week old. Call me crazy, but I feel like my new diet has taken a toll on our little dude’s tummy. Diapers have taken on a life of their own!
Things I’m craving that I can’t have:
Everything! Grocery shopping, commercials for sweets, cooking shows are now really hard to do and watch if there is something involving sugar. And FYI…everything has sugar.
Non-sweetener substitutes that you love (or any that just didn’t work):
Actually, I’ve simply taken sugar out of a couple recipes (baked brie, brie fondue, homemade pasta sauce, etc) and I haven’t missed it.
Accidental (or not) cheat moments:
I had a piece of gum on my way to teach a class. I had to. There was no other way to disguise my hummus breath. I’m sure there were other moments that were truly accidental, but I can’t do much about those.
General thoughts: has it been hard? Anything specific that you are noticing?
Normally I love going out to eat, but I feel like this Lenten challenge makes it more stressful. I have to ask the server too many questions! I also feel like I’m starting to substitute butter for sugar and that can’t be good! What will week 3 bring?
The plus side: I’m back in my pre-pregnancy jeans. Well, some of them.
JEN:
I think I went through some major withdrawal this past week. I had a day or two of dizziness and ickiness. I just felt “off”. I even stayed home from work for a day. Could it have been the lack of sugar? Could I have been cured with a square of chocolate? If so, that’s crazy! I’m feeling much better now, so I’m hoping my “offness” has passed.
Things I’m craving that I can’t have:
I can’t say I’m craving anything specific. It varies on my surroundings. For example, we went out for dinner with Anne and Pat on Friday night and it’s tradition for the 4 of us to go for ice cream after dinner. Not being able to partake in that was disappointing. My latte was good, but it didn’t taste like a scoop of Pavarotti.
Non-sweetener substitutes that you love (or any that just didn’t work):
I am now in love with dates. 1 or 2 at the end of a meal are proving to be a great way to keep my sweet tooth in check.
Accidental (or not) cheat moments:
None that I know of! I almost cheated. I was at Whole Foods this past weekend and there was a sampling of crackers and trout spread. I had cracker in hand and was about to add the trout spread when I thought, “I should check the ingredients”. Yep, both the trout spread and the cracker had sugar in it. Into the trash it went and I made a b-line for the cheese samples.
General thoughts: has it been hard? Anything specific that you are noticing?
I am really noticing how much sugar we consume. I would consider myself a very healthy eater. I love desserts and have missed them. However, I’m more amazed at the sugar in other foods – like trout spread. What’s that about?
What about you? I know we have a few readers that are doing their own challenges. One of you is off the splenda (yeah!) and a certain sister of mine was going sugar-free for the week. Are there more of you?
Tell us about it. What are you noticing? Any tips? Secrets?
She said. She said. 
Week 2 is definitely easier. I had massive headaches last week. I’m finding that it’s not nearly as hard as i thought to put a packet of raw sugar in my coffee in the morning instead of the 4 packs of splenda I used to put (yeah, you read that right). What’s hard is the afternoons, like now, when I would use my diet sunkist lemonade to keep me full and to keep me from eating sweets. I have discovered adding lemon to water and tea helps a lot. Also, i’ve been trying to cut down on my salt – very successfully. And, there are Flavor & Fiber bars at Trader Joes with natural sweeteners (fruit juices) and they have some good blueberry bran muffins also with natural sweeteners if you no-sugar kids are interested.
To Amanda: You are nursing a 12 week old and are off sugar??? WOW!!! I consider the nursing period the same as the pregnancy period- eat whatever you want!! That’s amazing! (And also- you are able to DINE OUT AT RESTAURANTS 3 months post-partum??? How does that happen? I think I ate at a restaurant ONCE in the first three months after my son was born!)
To Jen: Trout spread? That sounds nasty- you shouldn’t be eating that anyway:) Give me a call after Easter and I’d love to go out for ice cream with you to make up for the Sebastian Joe’s that you missed out on.
I don’t know how you guys can do it. I just gave up desserts..well sweets in general, but not sugar all together. It’s been tough. My hat is off to you gals going cold turkey. Amanda, I am with you on the substituting. I’ve been drinking chocolate milk with my lunch, I never do that! Sugar is a powerful thing my friends.
Jennifer ~ Trout spread???!!!! I can’t put into words how icky that sounds.
Doing weight watchers is challenging enough for me. Dropping sugar off my diet is not going to happen. Did I mention I’m also lactose intolerant?:) Why add to my dietary restrictions.
I am impressed at your perseverance. Keep it up.
Trout spread? Ummmm…..no thank you.
I did not do very well with my commitment. It lasted less than 12 hours. I recommitted and that lasted about 24. I threw in the towel after that. I was not prepared. It is much like WW, being prepared is the key and having the proper foods in the house plus a plan is the key. Unfortunately, I feel like I haven’t been to the grocery store since the Clinton administration. We have fallen into busyness here. I am working on a grocery list and will re-evaluate my level of commitment this week. Groceries on Saturday.
shout out to those of you on WW. I am too but i’m trying to just be healthy and not crazy about it (i.e., using all my points, losing weight slowly, cheating enough to keep me sane). I just don’t like that WW encourages a lot of artificial sweeteners (hence, i gave them up). Something doesn’t seem right about that.
Love the blog and especially your mom’s potroast…and just as good warmed up. Congrats on your willpower on giving up sugar…amazing