Good Riddance Sugar-Free February!

So Sugar-free February wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.  Actually I thought the Great January Buying Cleanse was easier. 

Because sugar is in so many things, our goal was to avoid obviously sugar-filled treats, like candy, desserts, and sodas.  I didn’t think that I would have any problem with giving up sweets, but it was a challenge.  Here’s how it worked out for us:

MAGEN

Let’s start with sweets, and we’ll get to sodas in a sec.  I was good.  From February 1 – 13.  Then I consulted with Tiffaney and determined I deserved a cheat day in honor of Valentines Day.  Had some chocolate covered strawberries.  And it kinda went downhill from there.  I gave into temptation, well, probably 6-8 times after that.  That’s including that Cream Cheese Banana Bread that I made.  Should have never given myself a cheat day.

Now about sodas… I usually have a couple sodas a day when I’m at work.  On the first day of February I had a Coke Zero (no sugar, right?) and Tiffaney (my very own personal Jiminy Cricket) didn’t think that was a great idea.  She said that if I was going to drink soda then it may be better to drink the real thing rather than consuming all those chemicals in diet soda…

Sulphite Ammonia Caramel, Phosphoric Acid (Also used for rust removal), Sodium Citrates (Also used in photography and as an anticoagulant of blood stored for transfusion), Asapartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Sodium Benzoate, Phenylalanine, Caffeine

…Yeah.  Not that the real thing is good either.  So I had maybe 4-5 Coke Zeros during February.  I am going to claim one victory for February, and that is the reduction of soda drinking and the increase in drinking water.  I don’t think I’ve ever been a consistent water drinker – don’t really like the flavor. :)  So replacing all that coke with water was what I am most proud of for February.  Believe it or not, I have still not had a Coke yet.  I’m kind of afraid to, and also I don’t want my first Coke after a long break to be just any Coke.  It has to have GOOD ICE.  Am I right?

TIFFANEY

I totally agree with Magen that quitting sugar cold turkey is difficult. I tried not to even allow myself sugar-free products, but one night thoughtful Magen brought over some sugar-free candy to eat on my trip to Chicago. It was a “sweet” gesture; however, it led to my falling off the wagon for almost 5 days straight. The desserts of Chicago are hard to resist. I still remember the muffins! Sorry Magen.

I actually did fairly well, except with the occasional breakdown of Valentine’s Day Conversation Hearts (one of my favorites) and a pancake dinner (that I didn’t cook, therefore rude not to eat J.) As the month went by, I found myself craving sugar less and less.  Although come March 1, one would not be convinced seeing as how I consumed a good third of a box of well hidden Valentine’s Day chocolates.

Overall I think we accomplished our goals of breaking our dependence on sugar.

Good riddance Sugar-free February!

…Check back soon for Journaling and Kindness March.  Still trying to come up with a catchy title for that one.