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.

We Survived the Great January Buying Cleanse (sort of)

Remember that I said in a previous post that Tiffaney and I were going to take our 2011 resolutions one month at a time?  We chose to go on a "buying cleanse" for the entire month of January.

Tiffaney wrote about our month-long adventure below.  I have a guest blogger!  Does that make me official or what??

As it turns out the theory of not buying anything new, that isn’t considered consumable,  had more “gray lines” than I anticipated. It’s strange how you can find way to rationalize that items are “consumable.” Overall I think you’ll see that Magen certainly out performed me in her attempt to curb consumption. But, I think we both realized we often make impulse purchasing decisions with little regard to whether we truly NEED the item. I can remember a few occasions of contemplating purchases to only remember we were on our “January Quest.”  Now I can’t remember most of what I wanted to purchase…guess that proves that you don’t always need what you want. 

January’s Tally

Magen’s Purchases:

• 2 - $3 disposible tablecloths (I think these are considered consumable)
• $70 of Clinique makeup (It was bonus week, therefore a bargain in any woman’s mind!)
• $2.58 for two itunes songs
• Magen edit – Okay okay, Tiffaney, it just occurred to me that I bought Sugarland concert tickets on Jan. 29, but its not till MARCH!  Oops, my bad.

Magen's Resisted Purchases:

• Wall Calendar $15 (turns out she got one free from Economics Arkansas later)
• Norah Jones Duets CD $14
• Bathroom rugs $40
• Living room rug $100
• Birthday gifts $75 (some were improvised, and some are coming, Talyn and Jake!)
• James Dobson’s “Strong Willed Child” book (that’s another post) $8
• Magen edit - Y’all there are countless other things that I thought about buying that I can’t even remember.

Tiffaney’s Purchases:

• $8 – Mascara – We counted this as consumable (one of those gray areas)
• 2 – Birthday gifts – I went as consumable as possible, but sometimes you just have to buy a gift.
• 2 pairs of pants – Now I rationalized this one by ordering them in January, but I will not get them until Febuary…tricky. (You can chalk this one up to forgotten RedStrike chapstick  in a pocket and sent to the dryer…turns neon yellow.)
• Hangers – I completely cheated on this one. I wanted, not needed hangers and may have tricked Magen into saying they were consumable/purpose driven items. What I did not disclose is that I ordered 100 of the slim line ones. I just had it with my closet and have been thinking about it for six months so technically not an impulse purchase, but still cheating. Sorry Magen!  Magen edit – I did not say they were consumable!  I said they were NOT consumable!  :) But I did buy those tickets, so we're even.

Tiffaney's Resisted Purchases:

• BE Lip Gloss set $25
• More lavender slim line hangers J
• A board game I saw that would be good for our upcoming game night
• New Glasses

Hopefully our sacrifices have taught us a little self-control, we’re certainly going to need it for February…

no sugar month! 

12 Resolutions for 2011

OK - quick break in the Wonder Years posts...

I’m excited about 2011. Are you?  Like my dear Susy blogged about, I was happy to say good riddance to 2010.  Don’t get me wrong, there were so many good things about it, but 2010 also marked some life-changing difficult times for me.  I did learn – albeit a difficult lesson – that life is not easy, nor is it supposed to be.  I don’t think we were promised happiness, were we?  Rather, we can find joy in our Creator who is just so in love with us, and in aiming to please Him.  Wow – it is so amazing as I look back to see the strength and peace He blessed me with this year.  Thank you, God, and please go gentle on me this year!

Louis L'Amour  wrote, "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning."  All I know is, 2011 will mark the 30^th year of my life and I am going to relish every moment of this year and celebrate the start of a new chapter, a new decade.

So…

My friend Tiffaney and I are mixing it up with resolutions for 2011.  Instead of one 12 month resolution, we’re taking it by the month.  For example, we’re on a “buying cleanse” for January.  We have agreed not to buy anything that is not considered a consumable this month.  Obviously, groceries and gas are okay.  But, no indulgences.

As I was shopping in Whole Foods on New Year’s Day (buying a homemade birthday cake for mom – ha), I realized that this is going to be a little more challenging than I thought.  I saw a 2011 wall calendar that I “needed” for the kitchen, but remembered that I couldn’t get it.  Also, as I was checking out, I saw a Norah Jones (don’t you love her voice?) duets CD that I would have purchased without a second thought before, but did not.  So that’s probably $25 right there for those two items.  I may make a list and see how much I potentially save throughout the month.

We also thought about using one month to do things for one week at a time.  For example, maybe in August, we’d go without tv for a week, drink only water every day for a week, etc.

We talked about the need to get into the habit of daily Bible reading.  That will be a yearlong resolution.  College Avenue C of C has a bible reading guide to take you through the Bible in a year.  Here’s a link to one I found online.  My parents’ church is on board: “One Church.  One Bible. One Year.”  They’re using a Daily Bible that is arranged in chronological order that takes you through in one year. 

Back to the monthly resolutions – we’re still developing the list, but here are some ideas:

• No sugar
• No Dining Out
• Working Out 3  Days a Week (my issue, since Tiffaney's always at the gym)
• No Driving Distractions (phone, makeup, etc)
• Daily Random Act of Kindness
• Arriving on Time ~shudder!~
• Organizing
• Journaling

Help!  What are your ideas?  What can I do to develop myself physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally?