The Emotional Candy Bowl

February 15, 2007 at 6:56 am | In health | 30 Comments

chocolate I didn’t eat ONE bit of candy yesterday.

On Valentine’s Day.

I’m totally serious. Do you think I would kid about such a thing? I mean, it’s CHOCOLATE we are talking about people. There were even Top Pot donuts at our staff meeting and while I’ll admit I breathed their deliciousy yummy scent deep into my soul, I did not cave. This is a big deal if I am turning down a chocolate coconut donut.

It’s been a solid week since I have ingested sugar and add to that, very, very little white flour products. I have never before in my life attempted this. It’s surreal. But you know what? Beside the headache that keeps shifting around the different parts of my head (one day it’s on the right, the next in the forehead, the next above my left eye, WTF) I have been feeling pretty great. Two things I am noticing: 1) I don’t feel very hungry. It’s like my body doesn’t know what that is anymore. Once my stomach starts growling I have to sometimes force myself to eat. And 2) I am not as moody. My co-worker even remarked, “You seem really calm. It’s kind of freaking me out.”

Many of you remarked that you couldn’t do it. I never thought I would be able to but something internally just said, “enough.” Once that internal shift happens you gotta just go with it. It’s like how I tried to quit smoking so many times but it wasn’t until I turned 30 and something inside me said, “enough” and here I am almost 4 years later without a cigarette. Or like when you put up with someone’s bullshit for years and finally, inexplicably, you are ok with walking away.

I am noticing my connection to sweets is entirely emotionally based. When I start to feel bad about myself, I immediately think I should just get {insert tasty treat here} and forget about self-care. There were baskets of chocolate all around the office and only once did I almost eat one. And I can remember that I was feeling dejected and a bit sad at that moment. I picked it up and held it under my nose, sniffed it and then put it back. (It was in a wrapper just to be clear lest you start envisioning me sniffing large bowls of peanut M& M’s. It hasn’t come to that yet.) But here’s the thing- if I am going to break my sugar fast, I’m not going to do it for mediocre chocolate. I have standards.

I really feel like I am growing. Just not in the “putting on the pounds” kind of way. This sugar detox is so much more about prioritizing my emotional health than it is about my physical health- the physical part is just an added bonus.

30 Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Congratulations Sizz! Your discipline is inspiring! I did the no sugar/no refined flour thing for a while and you’re right, I felt amazing. Plus, the less you give your body of one thing, the less it craves it. Hmmmm… I think I’m going to have to finally get back on that horse.

Comment by alissa — February 15, 2007 #
Hi Sizzle:

Well done! I have attempted this in the past too but failed miserably, so it’s motivating to know IT CAN BE DONE.

I, on the other hand, caved so badly I have chocolate smears on my cheeks this morning….

Maggie

Comment by Maggie — February 15, 2007 #
Wow, this is so awesome!
*insert small jealous twinge here*

I didn’t stuff my face with choccies, altho it was everywhere, but i do know that I eat waaaay too much of the sugar and flour products in my life. Hearing you say how it has made such a big difference in how you are even perceiving hunger, this makes me seriously sit up and take notice.

Good for you! For what it’s worth, I am impressed.
*hugs*

Comment by Bully — February 15, 2007 #
That is seriously awesome. You rock, Sizzle!

Comment by whoorl — February 15, 2007 #
You are totally awesome! I can’t make it through a day without breaking down. Kepp up the great work.

Comment by hotpinksox — February 15, 2007 #
Eating sweets, snacking overall really, for me, I think is more of a habit. (Did that sentence have enough commas?)

I did go off soft drinks cold for about three or four months many years ago. You’re inspiring me to *think* about trying it again :)

Comment by Bone — February 15, 2007 #
Congrats. Not only are you doing something good for you but it sounds like you are learning a lot about yourself in the process. Isn’t it interesting what makes it the “right” time to give something up, take action, or walk away?

Comment by MamaMaven — February 15, 2007 #
You are totally right, it’s not that any of us “could never do it” because we can. It’s amazing the clarity that comes with the flip of that switch, isn’t it? It’s almost as if the decisions (if you can even call them that) of what to do and what not to do become so simple, so easy.

Go you!

Comment by justrun — February 15, 2007 #
I ate two cupcakes but no candy.

Comment by Rachel — February 15, 2007 #
Go for it. I went through the same thing two years ago. Now I still have my tasty treats, but I don’t want to eat mass quantities anymore. Just a little taste does me just fine.

I’m so proud of you!

Comment by esmerelda — February 15, 2007 #
Good for you! That’s fantastic! You are inspiring me to kick the sugar habit.

Comment by LVGurl — February 15, 2007 #
Good work! I’m glad you’re feeling so much better already. I’m trying to cut out most of the processed flour stuff, but am keeping my Sunday bagel tradition. :)

Comment by sandra — February 15, 2007 #
You go!

Comment by Alison — February 15, 2007 #
*YAY*

that’s really, well, REALLY…AWESOME

you go sista!

Comment by jenny — February 15, 2007 #
Yeah, I wasn’t quite as ChocoChaste as you were. I had some. It was good. I don’t regret it. Not yet, anyway.

Comment by kapgar — February 15, 2007 #
Good for you! I need to work on my sweets addiction too. You’re a great inspiration.

Comment by Jessie — February 15, 2007 #
Hurray! You’re my hero!!!

Comment by girlanddog — February 16, 2007 #
I am late to the party but….this is amazing that you are feeling this way. How long has it been now? I know, I could go back and look but I am lazy, LOL.

Maybe I should give up sugar…wonder if that would help with my anxiety and all that jazz?

Comment by Hilly — February 16, 2007 #
^5

you know… some of this is also related to yesterday’s post, loving yourself

you are loving yourself & taking care of yourself

keep it up sister/friend

(((hug)))

Comment by question girl — February 16, 2007 #
You rock! :-)

Comment by Traveling Chica — February 16, 2007 #
You’ve been tagged at my blog!

Comment by Hilly — February 16, 2007 #
I’m so impressed. You are inspiring me to consider the possibility. I’ve done it before, but only for a short time; it amazes me how sweet things taste. The emotional connection becomes painfully obvious for me when I do cut back or stop.

Comment by kim — February 16, 2007 #
I am the same way that when I decide I am done with something, no matter how hard it is, I will succeed. Good for you!

Comment by tori — February 16, 2007 #
Congrats! This is really inspiring. I have my own sugar addicitions, especially to ice-cold Coca-Cola, which i have tried and failed to give up several times. Yay for you! After Christmas, V-Day is probably the hardest chocolate holiday to get through.

As for the headaches – they could be sinus headaches. i have them alot, and they will be in your forehead or under your eyes, and will more around based on where the sinus pressure is. Usually above the eyes, though. Try a sudafed and see if that helps – this weather is the perfect kind to breed sinus pressure. You can have sinus pressure in the upper cavaties (forehead) even if your nose is not at all stuffy or runny.

Comment by Stephanie — February 16, 2007 #
WTG Sizzle! Keep moving forward! :D

Comment by Lisa — February 16, 2007 #
Good for you. That’s a hard thing to give up, but like you said, it’s akin to giving up cigarettes. Once you make the decision it’s a whole lot easier.

Comment by Karl — February 16, 2007 #
I did the no sugar thing for years…I’m POSITIVE that I felt, looked, and acted better because of it.

Unfortunately, I love sugar…so I’m back to square one.

Comment by Dawn — February 16, 2007 #
Life is far too short to not eat candy or anything with sugar. When you die (and I pray it’s not for a long long long time) but if you are still blogging and we find out about it like from your sis or your Dumpling… I am going to send a box of chocolates because … again, life is about eating things you want and in moderation. Be who you are and love yourself completely with all your worries and quirks. Please!

Comment by Amy — February 17, 2007 #
Just catching up here, but I had to comment on this – it’s so inspiring! I’m so glad you’re sharing this with us.

Comment by Long Story Longer — February 21, 2007 #
[...] folks, you’re looking at week two of no refined sugar. I did this before two years ago with good results though back then it was for emotional reasons that… During the months I was off sugar I had great results- being better able to tell when I was [...]

Pingback by Sugar-Free Sizzle Tastes Just Like the Real Thing « Sizzle Says — May 27, 2009 #