It's a total a cliche to say I want to cut down on processed sugar as a New Years resolution. I'm pretty sure everyone says they're going to do it and intends to do it. We're constantly reminded of how bad it is for our bodies, and what we're giving up by replacing real food with sugar. And yeah, I get it. I really do. I know that ideally I should reach for fruit salad after dinner to stand in for dessert. I am well aware that a piece of chocolate is not a right after every meal. Blah blah blah. I really like sugar. And sorry silly "health" people, agave nectar is not sugar. Nor is stevia or splenda or anything else fake. At least I have identified the problem, right? I know sugar is not good for me, but I'm not into the healthy alternatives and I refuse to believe that fake food is healthy anyway. (That sound was me jumping off the soapbox.)
I have been reading all these "resolutions issues" in the January magazines (full disclosure: I love me some magazines). I'm pretty sure they're all written by the same person because they all say the same thing: you have to choose a resolution that you're really committed to, you have to know why it's important to you, and you have to have a plan to implement the changes. So let's run through this quickly:
1. Something you're really committed to...I can best sum up my sugar resolution as: "I suppose so." Truth told, I would love to continue eating baked goods with relative impunity. I workout a lot and can get away with the cookies to a certain extent. However, I am also well aware that I would feel better and perform better in my training if I could kick the sugar habit. So I will change it to: "Yes, let's do this thing."
2. Why do you want to do this? Training purposes, for one. I know I would perform better if I would stop putting so many empty carbs into the tank. There is something else though, ugly though it is. I simply don't like that it's a habit. I want to I have more control over my cravings. Right now it's automatic for me to want something sweet after a meal, especially after dinner. It's not necessarily that I love it, or feel I've earned it, but more like an automatic reaction. I just know that I'm going to want it. Ideally, I would like to decide that dessert sounds good or that it's the right time for it and just go for it guilt-free.
3. Plan of action. This is where things break down a little. The Man of the House (MOH) is about as addicted to sweets as I am. Also, I love to bake. Usually it goes like this. MOH says he feels like dessert...I agree it would be delicious. Despite wanting to cut back, I also want to bake so I tell myself I will just have a little. MOH chooses dessert and I implement. We each have some and I package up the rest for regifting.
Granted, this scenario could be far worse. We rarely go nuts and never really eat more than a portion or two. But we do this pretty much every night. This stuff adds up. Also, I am terrible about the "bites." I don't want to eat a full portion so I creep a bite as I walk by. It would be so much better decide that brownies are amazing and that I want two. Even better if I could just do it and not feel bad because I haven't eaten sweets every day this week.
Back to the plan: I may have to recruit MOH for this and get him on board. No more 8 pm requests for brownies (unless there's a good reason). Also, it's time for the chocolate in the cupboard to go. It's way too easy to have a square as I walk by. I want the sweets to be a conscious decision.
I am starting this somewhat begrudgingly, but I am going to give myself a week or two and see how it goes.
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