Refraining from Refined and Sneaky Sugar

For the next month my family is going sugar-free. For the next 3 months (until June 11th, marathon day), I am going to refrain from eating sugar in the form of junk food. It is time for a breather from this white substance that entices us to devour it. It is time for a little -- maybe even a lot -- of self-control.

I am aware that there is sugar in a lot of foods other than just cookies, cake, and candies. With foods like yogurt, milk, sauces, etc., we are also being extra careful, and checking labels for super high sugar content. It sneaks in there in the weirdest places... I really have to look at the labels.

I am only supposed to take in about 25 grams of added sugars per day, or 6 teaspoons. (Apparently, that's what is normal for women.) That seems like a lot when thought of in terms of sugar by the spoonful. But as I have been searching out where sugar sneaks in, it is amazing the amount of sugar likely consumed without even realizing it. I read that most Americans consume more than triple the amount recommended.

Let's take yogurt, for example. There are 30 grams of sugar in a small 6 oz container of Tillamook yogurt. Yikes! One yogurt, and that's all it takes to max-out. Go to the grocery store and just check the labels on "healthy" yogurt. It can get all crazy up in there! After flipping every yogurt, we finally found one that had 3 grams of sugar, rather than 30. Extra spoonfuls of sugar creep in almost everything, especially the breakfast aisle.

Now, I hate doing this -- refraining from sugar -- but I love it, too. I want to take good care of my body, and put good things into it. I can be far too lazy about it most of the time, and if I do not pay attention, loads and loads of sugar creep in, and settles comfortably in various locations throughout my body. (The sugar is comfortable on my body, but my body/spirit is not comfortable on the sugar!)

I love treats. I love cookies, and most things loaded with sugar. Sugar tastes so good, and is very addicting for me. With the emotional stuff I have been through, it has been hard not to turn to treats as comfort food. I find I am especially weak if I combine treats and a movie. Self-control flies out the window, and self-soothing steps into play -- especially if I am watching sappy, romantic, Hallmark specials.

I have been training now for 8 weeks. I have made some progress with my health, and have lost about 10 pounds so far. (That would be great if it wasn't just holiday cookies!) I am feeling a lot better, and I am grateful. I am getting stronger, faster, and gaining more endurance. And though I have been training like a beast, I have been eating like a beast too... consuming my efforts, with too many junk calories.

I am not being hard on myself, trust me. I know I can do better.

One of the side-effects of lots and lots of running is something called "Runger" or running+hunger. It is a real thing, and I have experienced it in full-force, especially after really long 10+ mile runs. When I get home from long runs, I want to eat everything in sight. Sometimes I am burning near 2000 calories when I go out for long amounts of time. But if I come home and stuff myself with cookies, I can undo all my hard work in a very short amount of time, and that seems pretty self-defeating to me. Yes, I totally crave junk food after running. I crave good food too, but cookies always sound good to me.

My family is going to join my efforts for the next month. I have offered a reward at the end of the month if they are successful -- not a food reward. Strange enough, all the kids seem excited about doing it. We have had some good conversations about health, and how we should treat our bodies, and the effects that too much sugar can have on our bodies and our spirits.

For me, too much sugar makes me feel super sluggish, tired, and I can lack all energy. It is even bad for skin, and can really mess with mental strength and clarity. I want the children to feel the positive side effects of no sugar, but I also just want them to have an experience with practicing self-control. It will be hard, but I will help them. We have already talked about what to do when treats are offered at school and church, and wherever we go. There will be temptations on a daily basis, I am positive.

After my children complete the month without sugar, my plan is to not bring junk food into the house until after the marathon. After the month they can have treats at school, or church, or whatever, but I am going to do my best to keep sugar out of our house for that time. I will reassess the situation in time, and see how things are going.

Don't get me wrong, it is not like I am giving up sugar forever. 

But right now, my family needs a break from it.