When I started looking at all of the food products (I can't even call it food anymore) in my kitchen, I was shocked at how many items had it hidden in its ingredients list. Even "healthy" foods contain this cheap sweetening agent. You think you would be safe with something like Yogurt or your kids lunchable! This just makes me feel so angry. You might think to your self "But it's only a little, how much can it really hurt?" well in my previous post I shared with you that the average American adult consumes about 22 teaspoons (almost a 1/2 cup) of sugar daily!! These hidden sugar traps are one of the main reasons for that! I found a good list of products that contain HFCS just so you can get a visual (and remember this list doesn't even contain it all).
So today is the first day that I have noticed some cravings. It is kind of a strange feeling. I never really realized that I was craving sugar until I put myself on a detox and told myself I couldn't have it! I found myself snacking A LOT today and even though my stomach felt full, I just kept feeling the vague feeling that I still needed more food, to which I obliged.
I had an omelet with blue cheese, fresh spinach, mushrooms, and red onions, topped with salsa for breakfast; ate a couple apple peanutbutter "sandwhich" slices; drank two cups of coffee with raw sugar ( I am still allowed natural sugars right now) and milk in it; ate some spinach nuggets; and last but not least my sun dried tomato, spinach, and feta bake.... I guess when I write it all out, it really isn't that much, but it felt like I was eating all day. One thing that I need to figure out is portion sizes and how much I should be eating.
I can tell that this is just the upswing to my cravings that I am going to have. It is so odd at how your body reacts to an addiction. I really hope that my mood doesn't get too nasty, it is something that I am going to consciously keep an eye on. To all my friends and family, I am apologizing now for any shortness I may have with you!! I promise it will not last forever and I will continually work to keep it in check. That is so I have it in writing ;)
I am going to leave you with a photo of the destructiveness of pop on your body. I am more leaving this for me, so that I can remember why I am doing this. It looks like death comes in a sweet and delicious disguise!!
Hello! First of all let me applaud you on your efforts! It's really hard to be vigilant about what's in your food. I am also a doula and student midwife and for the last few years have been on a journey to eating real food. I have eliminated HFCS from my diet (It CAN be done if you read the ingredients on EVERYTHING before you buy it. Sometimes even the brand will make the difference) but I have not been able to eliminate sugar entirely. I have SUCH an addiction. Last year I adopted the Paleo lifestyle (grain free, dairy free, legume free) and was able to stave off the intense cravings for breads and grains, but it took about 16 hours for me to give in to sugar. It is a long term goal I have because I really need to get my sugar intake in check for the sake of my health! Anyway, I highly recommend looking into the Paleo diet, especially the book The Paleo Solution. It is based on REAL food and how our ancestors ate. It is especially helpful to those who suffer any kind of inflammation or disease. It can help your body heal itself!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work!
Thanks so much for the words of encouragement! I have heard about the Paleo diet and am interested in learning more about it. Right now, in my journey, I am just trying to gradually step down from processed foods and cut back on my sugar. I know that I will not be able to eliminate sugar completely. In fact, you can't eliminate it completely, the sugars are what our bodies use as fuel, including our brains (which actually needs sugar to run). But what I know I don't need is white processed sugars. My goal for this detox is to try and break that hold that processed sugar has on me....I am a hide in the closet with a honey bun kind of gal, lol!!! I am so excited to continue with this and it is so motivating to see that people have done it and are routing for me!! Thanks for following me along in this journey!
Delete-Amy