Good morning! If anyone wants to read further about my sugar-free adventure, I'm moving my posts to another blog that I neglect so badly, I forgot I had it!! :)
You can read about it here: http://www.seekinglearninggrowing.blogspot.com/
Oh, by the way, I go by my middle name, Dana, on that blog. I think I was feeling the need to be private at the time I started that blog or something. Weird, I know. But what'r ya gonna do? ;^)
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Day 5
So I'm heading into day 5 of no sugar.
I. Feel. Awesome.
I don't even know what else to say. I just feel so energetic, hopeful, happy, etc, etc, etc!!
I did eat a protein bar yesterday that contained some sugar. Some may say, "Well, then you're not sugar free!" It is what it is. This is my journey, and I'm going to listen to my body and do my best to do what's best for it.
I have a phrase I've been using, and that is "blatant sugar." My dictionary defines 'blatant" as: "completely obvious, especially in a crass, offensive manner." Ha! I love it. Sugar is extremely offensive to me! My body is constantly on the defense when I'm ingesting loads of blatant sugar.
In my little mind, my definition of blatant sugar is sugar includes foods like cake, ice cream, candy bars, candy, etc. Those are the types of foods that have me coming back for more and more and more, and those are the types of foods I am avoiding. A protein bar that has a little bit of sugar doesn't make me want more. For someone else, however, it may, so everyone has to know their own body well in order to make that decision.
Some observations thus far:
1. My craving for sugar is so little, if even there at all. My family went out for ice cream last night, and I had NO desire! Nada.
2. My cravings for other foods are diminished. I don't crave breads as much. I don't crave fast food.
3. My stomach has shrunk! It's not flat by ANY means, but I felt a noticable difference this morning while laying in bed. Then I measured, and I've lost a couple inches already. I'm sure it's water retention/bloating. Whatever it was, it's gone, and I'll take it!
Loving this journey so far.
In His Love,
Kari
I. Feel. Awesome.
I don't even know what else to say. I just feel so energetic, hopeful, happy, etc, etc, etc!!
I did eat a protein bar yesterday that contained some sugar. Some may say, "Well, then you're not sugar free!" It is what it is. This is my journey, and I'm going to listen to my body and do my best to do what's best for it.
I have a phrase I've been using, and that is "blatant sugar." My dictionary defines 'blatant" as: "completely obvious, especially in a crass, offensive manner." Ha! I love it. Sugar is extremely offensive to me! My body is constantly on the defense when I'm ingesting loads of blatant sugar.
In my little mind, my definition of blatant sugar is sugar includes foods like cake, ice cream, candy bars, candy, etc. Those are the types of foods that have me coming back for more and more and more, and those are the types of foods I am avoiding. A protein bar that has a little bit of sugar doesn't make me want more. For someone else, however, it may, so everyone has to know their own body well in order to make that decision.
Some observations thus far:
1. My craving for sugar is so little, if even there at all. My family went out for ice cream last night, and I had NO desire! Nada.
2. My cravings for other foods are diminished. I don't crave breads as much. I don't crave fast food.
3. My stomach has shrunk! It's not flat by ANY means, but I felt a noticable difference this morning while laying in bed. Then I measured, and I've lost a couple inches already. I'm sure it's water retention/bloating. Whatever it was, it's gone, and I'll take it!
Loving this journey so far.
In His Love,
Kari
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Letting Go Can Hurt...
...like, physically hurt.
So I'm being a tad dramatic, but this is day 2 of no sugar, and I'm feeling some effects. Namely, I've had a headache today, and I feel pretty tired. I feel like I could go to bed right now, and it's 5:00 p.m.!
I think part of the problem is that I'm probably not eating enough calories. I need to figure this healthy thing out. ;) I'm so used to getting soooo many calories from sugary foods that I feel a tad lost, even though I know what's good for me and what's not. Part of it is that I need to stock my kitchen a little better.
I am so happy that I've gotten through. I would usually stop my headache with something cakey and frosting-y. Little Debbie Zebra Cake comes to mind. Swiss Cake Roll, anyone? Anyway, even though I've felt sort of yucky today, it's nothing compared to the bloated, completely stuffed, utterly disappointed and defeated feeling I have felt even as recently as Tuesday of this week! Yuck.
So I'm keeping on. I'll need to get more creative with what I eat, try new recipes, perhaps. But for now, I just need to get the sugar out of my system. Yes, that is what I need to do.
:)
So I'm being a tad dramatic, but this is day 2 of no sugar, and I'm feeling some effects. Namely, I've had a headache today, and I feel pretty tired. I feel like I could go to bed right now, and it's 5:00 p.m.!
I think part of the problem is that I'm probably not eating enough calories. I need to figure this healthy thing out. ;) I'm so used to getting soooo many calories from sugary foods that I feel a tad lost, even though I know what's good for me and what's not. Part of it is that I need to stock my kitchen a little better.
I am so happy that I've gotten through. I would usually stop my headache with something cakey and frosting-y. Little Debbie Zebra Cake comes to mind. Swiss Cake Roll, anyone? Anyway, even though I've felt sort of yucky today, it's nothing compared to the bloated, completely stuffed, utterly disappointed and defeated feeling I have felt even as recently as Tuesday of this week! Yuck.
So I'm keeping on. I'll need to get more creative with what I eat, try new recipes, perhaps. But for now, I just need to get the sugar out of my system. Yes, that is what I need to do.
:)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Bye-bye, Sugar
So this probably isn't the right blog to document my new venture, but I reeeeally don't want to start a new blog. I have enough user names and passwords to keep track of. And since I haven't posted here for about seven months, why not? :)
Started a challenge with a friend today, giving up sugar. I think we're just starting with a week of no sugar. A week is doable in my mind. I just feel the need to write my observations, mainly for myself, but if anyone else gets something out of this, GREAT!!!
So it's 5:00 p.m., and I feel great. I haven't craved anything all day...nothing! Let me back up a bit and explain (very briefly) how ADDICTED to sugar I am. For those of you who don't believe sugar is addictive, please do some research. It is an addictive substance, scientifically proven. Heck, even before it was scientifcially proven, it was proven through my personal experience.
Anyhooooo, I grew up eating TONS of sugar. My friends & I would go get our 4/$1 candy bars and eat them all...like, four candy bars EACH! :/ I ate junk all of the time. Fast forward to adulthood, and I'm the lady who goes to a gas station and gets a candy bar or two, eats them and is heading to the next gas station WHILE she's eating them, only to get more. Only a couple people who are very close to me know I do this. It's so embarrassing.
I've given up sugar before. I believe the longest time I've done it is for two months. Then I would believe that I had beaten the addiction, and I'd fool myself into believing that I could have just one bite or just one piece. Then the downhill spiral begins. And it's not pretty. Trust me, people.
So I have a wonderful friend who nonchalantly said last night, "I'll do no sugar with you if you want."
There's something about doing it with someone else that helps me. Partly because I don't feel like I'm the only person in the universe who is trying to live without sugar. People really don't like to hear it when I go off of sugar. "Well, you can't give it up forever." "Come on, you've got to LIVE!" "Everything in moderation." Blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH!!
First of all, I CAN give it up forever. Now, if I were to tell a friend that I was thinking of giving up water forever, then I would agree that I can't give it up forever. Unless I wanted to meet my Maker sooner rather than later.
Secondly, yes, they are correct, I DO need to live. But I'll tell you what, living in the grips of a sugar addiction is not living. It's dying. It's living miserably. It's missing out on so many things, too many to list here. Sounds dramatic, I know, but...yeah.
And to the last comment, believe me, I have tried moderation. I've tried very hard to do moderation, and I don't do it well. This is the same reason I gave up all alcohol almost six years ago. I never stopped at just one beer or just one glass of wine. Excess was my game.
So I'm finally ready to admit that I CAN'T DO SUGAR IN MODERATION.
Will it be difficult at times? I'm certain of it. Will I just shrivel up and die if I never eat a piece of wedding cake or birthday cake again? I'm certain I won't. Will I leave a wedding or birthday party with my head held high and my stomach feeling clean and happy? Most certainly.
Anyway, I'm feeling great on this day one. Awake, alert, not sluggish like I normally do. Hopeful.
Yay. :D
Started a challenge with a friend today, giving up sugar. I think we're just starting with a week of no sugar. A week is doable in my mind. I just feel the need to write my observations, mainly for myself, but if anyone else gets something out of this, GREAT!!!
So it's 5:00 p.m., and I feel great. I haven't craved anything all day...nothing! Let me back up a bit and explain (very briefly) how ADDICTED to sugar I am. For those of you who don't believe sugar is addictive, please do some research. It is an addictive substance, scientifically proven. Heck, even before it was scientifcially proven, it was proven through my personal experience.
Anyhooooo, I grew up eating TONS of sugar. My friends & I would go get our 4/$1 candy bars and eat them all...like, four candy bars EACH! :/ I ate junk all of the time. Fast forward to adulthood, and I'm the lady who goes to a gas station and gets a candy bar or two, eats them and is heading to the next gas station WHILE she's eating them, only to get more. Only a couple people who are very close to me know I do this. It's so embarrassing.
I've given up sugar before. I believe the longest time I've done it is for two months. Then I would believe that I had beaten the addiction, and I'd fool myself into believing that I could have just one bite or just one piece. Then the downhill spiral begins. And it's not pretty. Trust me, people.
So I have a wonderful friend who nonchalantly said last night, "I'll do no sugar with you if you want."
There's something about doing it with someone else that helps me. Partly because I don't feel like I'm the only person in the universe who is trying to live without sugar. People really don't like to hear it when I go off of sugar. "Well, you can't give it up forever." "Come on, you've got to LIVE!" "Everything in moderation." Blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH!!
First of all, I CAN give it up forever. Now, if I were to tell a friend that I was thinking of giving up water forever, then I would agree that I can't give it up forever. Unless I wanted to meet my Maker sooner rather than later.
Secondly, yes, they are correct, I DO need to live. But I'll tell you what, living in the grips of a sugar addiction is not living. It's dying. It's living miserably. It's missing out on so many things, too many to list here. Sounds dramatic, I know, but...yeah.
And to the last comment, believe me, I have tried moderation. I've tried very hard to do moderation, and I don't do it well. This is the same reason I gave up all alcohol almost six years ago. I never stopped at just one beer or just one glass of wine. Excess was my game.
So I'm finally ready to admit that I CAN'T DO SUGAR IN MODERATION.
Will it be difficult at times? I'm certain of it. Will I just shrivel up and die if I never eat a piece of wedding cake or birthday cake again? I'm certain I won't. Will I leave a wedding or birthday party with my head held high and my stomach feeling clean and happy? Most certainly.
Anyway, I'm feeling great on this day one. Awake, alert, not sluggish like I normally do. Hopeful.
Yay. :D
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Aaaahhhh...Sweet Winter
So yeah, it's been a while. :)
I just read my last post and ... waaaaahhhh!!! Things are going much better. Feeling great about homeschooling and continue to be blessed by this opportunity. Just had a little slump there, I guess.
Winter has definitely arrived in Iowa. We are enjoying playing in the snow and have gone sledding a few times too. We "survived" our five Christmases this month and are looking forward to getting back into a more normal routine.
Here are a few photos I took of our surroundings yesterday. I love living here!! I hope everyone had a Christmas that was full of unexpected blessings and that 2011 is a year of joy, peace and spiritual and personal growth.
I just read my last post and ... waaaaahhhh!!! Things are going much better. Feeling great about homeschooling and continue to be blessed by this opportunity. Just had a little slump there, I guess.
Winter has definitely arrived in Iowa. We are enjoying playing in the snow and have gone sledding a few times too. We "survived" our five Christmases this month and are looking forward to getting back into a more normal routine.
Here are a few photos I took of our surroundings yesterday. I love living here!! I hope everyone had a Christmas that was full of unexpected blessings and that 2011 is a year of joy, peace and spiritual and personal growth.
xoxo,
Kari
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Doubts
We're well into our third month of school this year, our fifth year of homeschooling. I sit here feeling dejected. Dejected about homeschooling, about parenting, about being a wife, about my relationship with food, about my purpose on this earth. The devil is at work, this is for certain.
Another night of sleep interrupted by a trip to the loo and then by a barrage of thoughts that have no place being in my head at any time, let alone at 3:30 a.m. ... Until about 5:30 a.m. So when I finally go back to sleep for a time and wake up to start the day, I am groggy, grumpy, mad, sad, losing hope that I can make it through the day successfully. I don't teach as well. I don't parent as well. I don't keep the home as well. I have no energy when my husband gets home from work and then I head to my job for a three- or four-hour chunk of time many nights. And then I go to bed again. Wake up. Repeat cycle.
What is this all for? The glory of God? That's what my days should be for. But I'm not focusing on glorifying Him when I feel lethargic and near apathetic at times. I'm, frankly, self-absorbed when I feel this way. How can I get some rest? Who can I get to take care of me? Who can I get to watch my kids for a day so I can be alone? I throw a mini (sometimes larger than mini) pity party for myself.
Is this the life God planned for me? I highly doubt it.
My kids are in quiet time right now so I can have some moments to ponder our situation.
Pray. Be still. Listen.
Act.
Above all, God is reminding me to refocus. Take the focus off of me, my family, my situation. Focus on Him. Focus on Him. Focus on Him.
There are so many distractions in this world. Some on the news, some going on right in my circle of friends. And Facebook. Stinkin' Facebook. I'm not on it for long periods of time, but I do check it multiple times a day, just like my e-mail. It's just another distraction.
So here I sit, resolved to focus on God again. It's been about a month since I've done that. And not so surprisingly, it's been about a month since I've felt "less than." He is my Rock. Without Him, I will sink.
Heavenly Father, please renew a right Spirit within me and anyone else who may read this and be in need of your intervention. In Your son's precious name, Amen.
Another night of sleep interrupted by a trip to the loo and then by a barrage of thoughts that have no place being in my head at any time, let alone at 3:30 a.m. ... Until about 5:30 a.m. So when I finally go back to sleep for a time and wake up to start the day, I am groggy, grumpy, mad, sad, losing hope that I can make it through the day successfully. I don't teach as well. I don't parent as well. I don't keep the home as well. I have no energy when my husband gets home from work and then I head to my job for a three- or four-hour chunk of time many nights. And then I go to bed again. Wake up. Repeat cycle.
What is this all for? The glory of God? That's what my days should be for. But I'm not focusing on glorifying Him when I feel lethargic and near apathetic at times. I'm, frankly, self-absorbed when I feel this way. How can I get some rest? Who can I get to take care of me? Who can I get to watch my kids for a day so I can be alone? I throw a mini (sometimes larger than mini) pity party for myself.
Is this the life God planned for me? I highly doubt it.
My kids are in quiet time right now so I can have some moments to ponder our situation.
Pray. Be still. Listen.
Act.
Above all, God is reminding me to refocus. Take the focus off of me, my family, my situation. Focus on Him. Focus on Him. Focus on Him.
There are so many distractions in this world. Some on the news, some going on right in my circle of friends. And Facebook. Stinkin' Facebook. I'm not on it for long periods of time, but I do check it multiple times a day, just like my e-mail. It's just another distraction.
So here I sit, resolved to focus on God again. It's been about a month since I've done that. And not so surprisingly, it's been about a month since I've felt "less than." He is my Rock. Without Him, I will sink.
Heavenly Father, please renew a right Spirit within me and anyone else who may read this and be in need of your intervention. In Your son's precious name, Amen.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
School has begun!
Had our first day of our fifth year of homeschooling yesterday. Aaah...it went so well. I am loving our version the workbox system and will be sure to blog about it soon. Being organized just does it for me. And my kids are certainly taking to our new system very well.
I feel better about homeschooling each year, and I am absolutely convinced that this is what God wants for our family at this point in our lives. I'm often asked if I will homeschool through high school, and I repeatedly answer that that is my plan, but I'm not sure what God's plan is. Who knows?
I feel better about homeschooling each year, and I am absolutely convinced that this is what God wants for our family at this point in our lives. I'm often asked if I will homeschool through high school, and I repeatedly answer that that is my plan, but I'm not sure what God's plan is. Who knows?
Oh, yeah. God does.
I love that our first subject every day is Bible. What a way to start the day! My kids are well aware that the first drawer they open will be Bible. My hope & prayer is that they continue to seek God first every day when they are adults and making decisions on their own.
I hope everyone's school year is going well!
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