Diary of a Cranky White Woman
December 31: Eat own weight in fudge, kids’ Christmas candy, cookies, and raw cookie dough. Feel sick. Decide that This Must Stop. Brilliant idea: Give up sugar for a period of time to break addiction. Decide: Will avoid sweets for two weeks.
January 1: Happy with decision. Choose a bagel for breakfast instead of Honey Crunch cereal. Midafternoon, eat an orange and pat self on back for healthy life choice.
January 2: Kids have eaten all the candy that I like. Cookie dough and dark chocolate M&Ms call to me from kitchen. Tell them to “talk to the hand.” Eat graham crackers and peanut butter because I’m not a Sugar Nazi. Start to notice how grating kids’ voices are.
January 3: These children are driving me CRAZY. Why are they so grumpy? I am So Sick of my life.
Afternoon: Flee kitchen after seeing cookie dough on bottom shelf of fridge.
Evening: At bedtime, kids remember that they didn’t have dessert. Tell them to just deal with it and send to bed crying. At 10 pm, eat canned peaches cuz at least they’re sweet.
January 4: Go to church, hear PK talk about getting “in the zone” i.e. in a place of obedience where God is free to bless us. Wonder if eating habits could keep me from zone. PK says don’t TRY God; TRUST him. Hope that doesn’t apply to 2 week “trial” of life without sugar.
Afternoon:Kids and Charlie are so darn ANNOYING. They all want something from me. Why won’t they all just Leave Me Alone?!! Eat peanut butter and honey sandwich for lunch. Need shower afterward to clean all excess honey off my face. (For future reference: CAN fit 1 cup of honey on one sandwich.)
Evening: Kids beg for fun dessert. Dig out can of frosting and graham crackers and turn them loose with them. Later plunge frosting-covered plates under running water to keep from licking them.
January 5: Kids ask for cinnamon rolls (?!) for breakfast. Pop open can (thank you, Mr. Doughboy) and bake. Spread glaze and then pry little container with bits of glaze clinging to sides from hands to drop in trash. Rinse fingers rather than licking. Kids leave behind one roll. Consider that maybe this sugar experiment is ill-advised. Grit teeth and put roll in baggie. Rinse pan.
***
Yes, I’ve taken a break from sugar. I don’t say “given up” because that means “forever” which means “resolution” which means “I am compelled by my contrary nature to rebel against myself and eat 16 oz of cookie dough for breakfast.”
But as it is, I’m doing something I’ve NEVER done before: consider making a radical lifestyle choice because it’s “good for me.”
By giving up sugar for two weeks, I’m using this time to make note of any sugar withdrawal symptoms (crankiness, check). And to consider what I need to do after January 13. (Please God! Don’t make me say farewell to M&Ms!)
Pray for me!
Off and on this month, I may put up some of my favorite old posts, since they are works of awesomeness and you might not have seen them.
That and I might be too cranky to churn out anything new.
Just substitute “sugar” for “fries” in the following video, and you’ll get a glimpse at my struggle.
(Video produced by the creative team (with Whitestone Motion Pictures) at my church, 12Stone. They’re awesome.)
28 responses so far ↓
1 Andrea // Jan 5, 2009 at 7:04 am
I can relate to the crankiness – in eating better last week, I discovered how addicted to sugar I am when I woke up with a caffeine withdrawl headache. Only, I'm not giving up my caffeine! Pretty sure my body is wondering where all the white stuff went!
Oh, and then, yesterday was my "off" day, so I ate chips. Still paying for that one 24 hrs later.
I miss sugar. And chips. But I feel a lot better! Hang in there – it DOES get easier!
2 sherri // Jan 5, 2009 at 7:21 am
You need to take your title over to Annie's site so she can put it on a NO FAIR WEAR Tee shirt! I love it.
Funny post.
From one glutton to another.
3 Dear Gabby // Jan 5, 2009 at 7:22 am
I have some advice for you, but I would never give it unsolicited.
4 Randommusings // Jan 5, 2009 at 7:36 am
Finally! A love song to french fries. I am wiping tears from my eyes. That was beautiful. FRENCH FRIES! DON'T LEAVE ME! I WILL CHANGE!
5 Beth // Jan 5, 2009 at 7:57 am
Haha. Not only do I love the original song…now I love its spoof!
Yeah…I'll be singing this for a month.
I too, suffered from holiday gluttony. I told myself it was time to change. I'm supposed to grocery shop today. What will I buy????
6 katdish // Jan 5, 2009 at 10:06 am
Well, I'm gonna give you unsolicited advice cuz that's how I roll…
First off – tough love. You did NOT give up sugar. You gave up processed sugar. Peanut butter, honey, peaches – all sugar. Stop eating that crap. Go cold turkey – I'm about to drop the "A" word. That's right Atkins. I said it. If you are addicted to sugar, you gotta stop eating it. Buy some carb bars — eat those when you want sugar. No bread, no corn, no potatoes – they all turn into sugar. I struggled with my weight my entire life until I just said no to carbohydrates. Now somebody's gonna chime in and say that low carb is bad for your blood pressure and heart. I have very low pressure and my heart is healthy (that has more to do with getting my mom's genes than diet). After my first pregnancy, I lost 60 pounds doing the low carb thing. I eat relatively normally now, but when I put on a few pounds, I become a carnivore and I take it off pretty quickly. But sugar or no sugar — your family will probably still get on your nerves (at least mine does.)
7 Annie K // Jan 5, 2009 at 10:28 am
No carbs (meaning no potatoes, chips n' salsa) is bad for your married life. If I cut those things out my husband would be done with me. I'd be out and the next carb queen would be in. (I don't care about the sugar thing…but I live by the 3 C's… Coffee, carbs and carbon (Tacos el that is).
8 Mel // Jan 5, 2009 at 11:50 am
Ok the sugar thing i can do, but cannot do the coffee/caffine thing..
9 @ngie // Jan 6, 2009 at 2:07 am
You can do it Steph! I believe in you!
I heard once that when you are changing a habit you have to evaluate if it is a habit of commission or omission. Commission means you are actively doing something that you no longer want to do. Omission means that you are not doing something that you feel you should be doing. Then once you have determined that you can decide your action plan for change. If it is an act of commission then you need to replace it with a positive act of commission. If it is an omission then you need to replace it with a positive act of omission. Thus you are going with your natural tendency. Does that make sense? Examples: Commission = too much sugar. Replacement = eating more veggies. Omission = not enough veggies. Replacement = less sugar. Might be all in our heads, but it might help.
At any rate I admire you profusely for going public with your choice – that right there is a brave thing in and of itself. Bravo!!!
10 stonefox // Jan 6, 2009 at 4:02 am
Bravo, Steph! You have made it this far, the worst part is over. Well, getting better. Hang in there, and keep posting because it is hilarious.
11 Midwest Neurotica // Jan 6, 2009 at 4:20 am
While I can say I like the taste of something sweet as a meal concluder, I don't really crave it. I crave salty/sour – like doritos and sour cream, or cheese of any sort. I wonder if giving those up cold turkey would produce similar cravings/responses. I'm cranky enough though.
Good luck with the rest of your challenge – you seem to be doing well. Keep up the internal monologue and I think you'll succeed.
12 Kim @ Up North Mommy // Jan 6, 2009 at 5:35 am
Good for you. I know low carb is important, too, but don't forget exercise. I've been going to the gym 4-5 times a week for about an hour and I feel great and my body is starting to tone up. Saw an acquaintance of mine at the gym today and she noticed that I've lost weight since she saw me last. Yippee!
You go! Cutting out processed sugar is hard, but you can do it!!
13 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 5:41 am
Thank you Kim!!! I need all the encouragement I can get.
But today I seem to have turned a corner… Perhaps it's a coincidence that my kids are all back at school?
Oh, and I AM trying to exercise more. I have a regular appointment with the Wii Fit trainer chick. Even though I'm growing to hate her.
14 Dear Gabby // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Carbs are your friend. They were created to bring you COMFORT.
Only in excess do they become the devil!
Everything in moderation, my dear Steph. Everything in moderation.
15 thedomesticfringe // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I'm feeling your pain. Starvation is becoming my closest companion. All for 10 pounds…I'm still wondering if I'll be happier 10 pounds thinner. Good luck to you and your sugar fast.
-FringeGirl
16 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Thanks for the encouragement. I sure HOPE it gets easier… I am such a rebel when it comes to dieting, but I'm trying to stick it out.
17 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I know, isn't it just breathtakingly beautiful? Go ahead, let it out. The french fries won't mind.
18 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Sooo, what'd you buy? I have to shop tomorrow morning. Still trying to make a list of stuff I like that I can still have.
19 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Amen, Sistah! Ooooooo, Tacos al Carbon… I'm in the mood for Mexican food now. (No sugar there!)
20 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I'm with you Mel. I have no plans to give up coffee or caffeine. God would have to make that CRYSTAL clear.
21 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Thank you Gabby. I think I need to visit your blog and ask how to remain friends with an Atkins Nazi.
22 Steph // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Starvation and obsession with all things caloric. My youngest has a half full chocolate milkshake on the counter right now. She'd better drink it or toss it soon, or I might find myself on the floor licking the inside of the paper cup.
23 JennCallingHome // Jan 7, 2009 at 1:11 am
So I've been trying some new recipes (see my latest post), which takes out sugar and refined foods. I've had a headache for the last 3 days and my older daughter keeps asking why I"m so cranky. It just dawned on me after reading your post, that maybe it has to do with some withdrawal symptoms. I'm not totally cold turkey or anything, but did see a need to reign in our sugar consumption after the holidays.
By the way, the feedburner is not working for me again. Not sure what's up with that…and I hope you'll give some updates on the advertisers contacting you. Would like to know how that all works. P.S. Things look different over here, or is it just me?
24 Steph // Jan 7, 2009 at 2:13 am
Glad to know that my torment has not been entirely in vain.
Yeah, based on what I've been feeling, you could be going thru some withdrawal.
As for my feed, can you check and see if you're subscribed to http://redclaydiaries/feed?
When I was moving my blog, I messed up and created a bogus feed with some extra letters at the end (tma, I think). If that's the one you subscribed to, it's now dead.
How does it look different? I'm constantly playing with my sidebar, so maybe that's it?
25 Lolli // Jan 8, 2009 at 3:21 am
Good luck! This is something I should also do….and I'm sure I would be cranky as well. I am SO addicted to sugar!
26 JennCallingHome // Jan 8, 2009 at 3:42 am
Thanks Steph. The feed did have a TMA at the end, so I deleted and resubscribed. Seems to work now. I guess it's the Comments that look different, but maybe I just didn't spend enough time on my first visit. Hmmm, I really should get a photo instead of this gray silhouette thing.
27 Stay tuned for “As Our Stomachs Turn” | Call When You Get There // Jan 8, 2009 at 2:08 pm
[...] lately; I realized I was having some withdrawal symptoms. This was confirmed after reading Red Clay Diaries‘ recent post. If your new year’s resolution includes dieting or just eating healthier [...]
28 faemom // Jan 9, 2009 at 5:02 am
Hi, I'm Faemom. I'm a sugar addict too. Granted it would have helped if I used my real name. But I cannot go two weeks without sugar. You're a better woman than me.
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