July 14th, 2013, 9:00am
I started my day with the breakfast of champions. And by that I mean two waffles with syrup, a chocolate junior Tastykake, and a can of coke.
I will not have sugar again until July 14th, 2014, 9:00am.
Last year, on May 24th, during a long car ride and conversation with my husband, I decided to give up sugar for a year. I really hoped that one year later I would be writing a blog post entitled “One Year, No Sugar” but instead of telling you all that I would be giving up sugar for a year, I would be telling you that I already did it.
Well that didn’t happen. I did go for about three months, and I lost about 20 pounds, but I failed. I gave in. And then I got pregnant.
The conversation with my husband started with me saying, “What will you get for me if I reach my goal weight?” He went on to tell me that he didn’t care how much I weighed or how much I lost; instead he just wanted to see me stick with a plan, whether or not it resulted in weight loss.
Let me get real here for a moment.
I don’t care about being healthy. I don’t care about eating nutritious foods.
I want to look hot.
I want to be thin.
I know those are incredibly un-PC things to say, but do you want me to be PC or honest? The honest truth is that I just want to look good. Okay fine, I don’t want to be UNhealthy. I don’t want to die young or be sick. But that’s not why I’m going to start eating better and exercising.
Anyway, my husband and I debated a lot during that conversation, and we still don’t agree on several points. For example, I didn’t want to do a year of no sugar starting then, because I knew I’d be getting pregnant sometime along the way. Not that eating healthy is ever a bad thing (especially while pregnant), but I didn’t want to be making major sacrifices to lose weight…during a time when I would be gaining weight! There is no reason to make 9 months of pregnancy harder than it already is.
So here I am, a junk food junkie. A coke (ca cola) addict. Two weeks postpartum and the heaviest I’ve ever been in my entire life (and I’ve already lost about 20 pregnancy pounds- gained 35-40 this time around).
When I made my first attempt, I hardly told anybody. I didn’t want anyone scrutinizing what I ate or how I looked. Maybe that was a mistake. This time it’s going to be common knowledge, and hopefully the major accountability that comes along with that will be helpful.
I planned on giving myself the entire 6 week postpartum recovery period to eat however I wanted, and then go for a year of no sugar. However, we are planning a trip to Maine next July, and I’d like to be free to indulge a little on my first hometown trip in 3 years, so I started today.
It’s just one year. 365 days. One birthday, one Christmas, one of everything.
I turn 30 next May, and one of my 30 Before 30 goals is to weigh 130. Then hopefully by the one year, no sugar mark I’ll be down to 120-125. Those are my goals. FYI, I’m 5’1″ so those are healthy weights for my height.
If I accomplish my goal of no sugar for one year, my husband will buy me my wedding dress (and everything that went with it) from the company we rented it from.
12 hours down, 8748 to go.
9 comments
Whoa, this is quite the goal! I gave up sugar for Lent and it was challenging but got easier with time!
Can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Carly
http://www.lipglossandcrayons.com
What an awesome idea, I can’t wait to read about how it goes!
When I gave up sugar it was the best thing ever! The only real challenge for me was that sugar is in everything! You have to redo the way you cook and that takes preplanning. But gosh, is it worth it! I feel so much better inside and out. Energized and “light.” One thing is I stopped craving sweets and when I saw people eating sugary stuff it didn’t bother me. And I’m a sweet tooth person. I didn’t give sugar up like you are — none for a whole year. I gave it up when I went on a diet (Fast Metabolism Diet — best diet ever!) and when I finished it I could have sugar again, but obviously not hog wild. Anyway, I had it and 1) it wasn’t as tasty as I remember 2) way too sweet 3) I felt like garbage and 4) I didn’t want more after that. I’m happy for you and your goal! If you need a cheerleader and some helpful tips I’m here for ya!
Wow. Just wow. I’m so tempted to do this with you. Sugar is my downfall, I love it so much. I am very intrigued, I am going to do some thinking on this. It could really help me jump start my weight loss again.
Good luck to you, it’s an admirable goal. I am like you and my goals for not eating sugar are just to be hotter than my husband. Granted he exercises while he’s at work and hasn’t squeezed 3 kids out. I just retain all my extra weight right in my stomach. But I love sweets. I’ve tried to cut back and I notice the difference in my weight, but there are days like today where I had no willpower. I just take one day at a time. It feels better on my joints when I don’t carry extra weight so that really should be my incentive to not eat sugar.
You can do this! Best of luck on this journey, I hope you learn so much about yourself along the way.
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