Hey my sweet sugar-free friends! 

And… Hey my sweet sugar-free wanna be friends! (Not that you wanna be my friends…you already ARE my friends…just that you wanna be sugar-free!)

For your Sugarless encouragement today, I have no theme…just a bunch of random thoughts…so try to keep up…and good luck with that:

Random thought #1:  Sometimes I get a craving for sugar so strong that I think that I just may not be able to stand it. 

During one such craving yesterday, I grabbed my husband’s arm and screamed, “I WANT SOME SUGAR!” 

He didn’t even flinch (which proves that I have these insane moments way too often) and he grinned sweetly at me and said, “Well, why don’t you go eat a little more dinner so you won’t be hungry?”

And I said,  “I’M NOT HUNGRY!! I’M WAY TOO STUFFED FOR MORE DINNER. I JUST WANT SOME SUGAR!”

And he said, “oh.”

Guess he decided that he couldn’t help me. 

Oh, but there’s a point here. I went into the kitchen and did some dishes or something, and within about five minutes, I only felt stuffed, and I did not crave sugar like I had mere minutes before that.

So, when you have what you think is an uncontrollable craving, just wait five minutes and it will go away.

And try not to grab anyone’s arm too hard.

Random thought #2:  Today is Justus’ birthday, and of course having a birthday = having a cake. So I was psyching myself up for this a couple of days ago, and decided that it wouldn’t really be hard to stay out of the cake, because really I’m not that big a fan of cake. 

Unless it’s chocolate. 

Or a cheesecake.

So, when given the choice of what kind of birthday cake he wanted, what does Justus come up with?

A Chocolate Cheesecake.

Are you kidding me?!

So now I’m praying a lot. 

And telling myself that as with other things that I miss and really like, this will not be the last chocolate cheesecake ever in the world. Although I will not get to have some of this one, there will be others. 

So who really cares about this one anyway? 

So there.

Yeah, I think I better keep praying.

Random thought #3:  While one is taking this NO SUGAR Plunge, one should not go to Walmart when one is tired. 

I couldn’t believe how hard it was for me to see all the candy and cookies. And I don’t even buy that stuff normally. Why would it be hard for me now?

And so I got a little grouchy. (but it’s okay, I was by myself and there was no one to be grouchy to)

So, I decided to buy myself some roasted peanuts, because that sounded like a good thing to snack on.

DID YOU KNOW that roasted peanuts have SUGAR in them, and bad oils too?! I had no idea that they roasted them in naughty stuff. 

Well, I’m glad I read the ingredients on the jar, but then I just got grouchy at the peanut roasting people. 

Don’t they know I’m struggling here?

So, I prayed for strength (and that I could forgive the peanut people), and I felt better.

And I went to the produce department and bought lots of organic green things that looked sooo good and made me feel very happy.

And I also looked at the store around me and saw all the abundance and variety and I was reminded of Char’s post yesterday…which leads me to…

Random thought #4:  You really should go read Char’s post from yesterday. She’s been doing a great job taking the Plunge, and her thoughts on it are inspiring and refreshing. It encouraged me to remember how much I have and how giving up a LUXURY like sugar should really be the least of my worries. So, go read it!

Alright people! Who’s with me?! Anybody new ready to jump in with us?! 

Everyone please leave comments letting us all know how you’re doing! 

And, uh, pray for me because I have to go make a chocolate cheesecake in a few minutes. 

Here we are…another day. 

Take a deep breath!

If you pulled it off yesterday (eating NO SUGAR)…hooray! You did it!!!!!!!

If you tried, but struggled and didn’t quite pull it off……hooray! You tried!!!

If you’re trying to decide whether or not to join us today…hooray! You’re thinking about it!

It’s a huge struggle! Just getting through one day is hard, when we are soooo used to eating sugar. 

Today is a new day. No matter how yesterday went for you or what your goals for yourself are, today is a new day. 

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Donna asked if I would share a few things about WHY sugar is so bad for us…you know to motivate us in that way. We know it’s bad, but if we hear some reasons, maybe our brains can catch up to our hearts on the matter. Great suggestion!

So, I pulled out my “Nourishing Traditions” book, written by Sally Fallon. Awesome resource! Everytime I read about sugar in this book (and many other things!) I am convicted about better ways to treat my body. As I shared with Donna, MAYBE I should read it three times a day….to convict myself constantly about abstaining from sugar! 

If you read Lilly’s comment back on Pt. 1 of this series, she reminded me of the fact that almost all foods have some form of sugar in them. I had written that I’m elliminating “all forms of sugar from my diet”. I was really just talking about the refined sugars and natural sweeteners (like rapadura, honey, etc.). I am not taking out carrots and peas and other whole foods that have “natural sugars”. 

So, that leads me to:  Foods such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains do have some kind of chemical in them that ends in “ose” which is a sugar. HOWEVER, those are whole and in an unrefined state. And because they are whole, they are linked together with all of their vitamins, minerals, enzymes, protein, fat and fiber….which mean that they can digest properly and our bodies can utilize them right away for good!

Kinda makes me want some broccoli…right now! 

On the other hand, when a carbohydrate is refined (such as to make whole wheat flour into white flour, or whole cane sugar into white sugar, or corn into high fructose corn syrup), the process strips it of alllllll it’s vitamins and mineral…thus leaving them empty. Empty calories.

Or, shall we call them “negative” calories. Because, when we eat them, they give us nothing that our bodies can use, so our bodies have to draw from it’s reserves (which are precious), and eventually we have nothing left in our reserves if we aren’t feeding it whole foods…and then we are left depleted.

Ah, I have felt depleted before, haven’t you? It doesn’t feel good.

Are you still with me? I have more information, like several pages worth…do you want to hear it? You may need to eat a spoonful of peanut butter or something while you read…just to keep you alert.

Okay, now. We have in our bodies a pancreas, and hormones from glands such as thyroid and adrenal. These guys work together in our bodies to regulate our blood sugar.

When we eat whole, unrefined foods, along with their proteins and fats, they are digested s l o w l y and the sugars from them enter our bloodstream at an even rate over a period of hours. 

But when we eat refined sugars, especially without the fat and protein, the sugar enters our bloodstream in a rush, making our pancreas and it’s friends kick into high gear to get our blood sugar levels acceptable. Eventually, this system is going to get worn out from doing this. 

(Picture a pancreas, all sweaty and exhausted, sighing from frustration at being unable to keep up and do the job it was created to do. Probably looks something like I do at the end of the day trying to keep up with these kids!) 

And, don’t forget about all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes we’re missing out on too when we eat these unrefined sugars. Not only is our sugar-regulating system all worn out from working 80 hour weeks, we’re not feeding it any vitamins, etc. to help give it energy. 

Alright, enough information for now. Chew on that for a while (while you chew on your broccoli). 

Are you ready for today?!?! It’s gonna be great! All those yummy, whole foods God made for us to enjoy! Enjoy them as He gave them to us! Whole and real!

Be sure to comment and let us know how you’re doing and what your goals are for today! We’re in this together!!!! 

If you want to jump in with us, be sure to let us know! The more the merrier! 

Okay everyone…how’s it going? We’ve had several “takers” on this NO SUGAR challenge! WOOHOOO! 

But hey, sugarless people, you are NOT alone! Several of us have ditched the sugar today with you! 

For me, Day 1 was the hardest to get through! Just so ya know.  Get through today and you will feel so impressed with yourself tonight! And you’ll feel more motivated to do it again tomorrow!

Have you read all the encouraging comments from Take the NO SUGAR Plunge? If not, you HAVE to go read them. Even those who haven’t taken the challenge are really cheering us on and that’s awesome! 

Several of you have told me what good timing this is for you and how grateful you are…so, you’re welcome…but REALLY, YOU are helping ME!!! This has been great to help hold me accountable and ease my temptations. 

I’ve had several questions come in about how strict to be about this, what counts as sugar, etc. Great questions! 

So here are some tips and suggestions for some do’s and don’t’s of the NO SUGAR Plunge. But hey, this is what is working for ME, so if you don’t like it, that’s okay! Do whatever works best for what YOU NEED to do this thing. You may need to be less strict about it to make the goal more attainable for yourself. Or, you may need to cut back on more than just sugar. Do what works for you to help you meet your goals!

1. Don’t replace your sugar with artificial sweeteners. From what I’ve read, those are even worse for you than sugar. And, they don’t help you to stop craving sugar!

2. Don’t let yourself go hungry. Eat wholesome meals that are rich with nutrients that fill you up. If you are hungry, you’re more likely to want something snacky and sweet.

3. Eat fruit! But don’t overdo it. Even though it’s natural sugar, it’s still sugar. Eating fruit does help with sugar cravings though, so let yourself have some. And WOW, doesn’t fruit taste so sweet and good when you aren’t eating other sugary foods! (Go, God!)

4. Don’t drink too much fruit juice. Even the 100% juice isn’t great for you, as the bulk of the enzymes from the fruit are stripped away, leaving mostly the fructose (sugar). And, the amount of juice that you get from one piece of fruit is far less than what you get in a big glass of juice. So, drinking a big glass of juice can provide you with the amount of sugar from several oranges, apples, or whatever.

5. I’ve chosen to avoid sugar in any form, which includes, honey, maple syrup, molasses and the like. If you chose to avoid white sugar, but not natural sugars, great…just watch out not to overdo!

6. Fill in the time that you normally eat sugary foods or crave snacking on sugary foods with something else, so that the struggle isn’t so hard! Exercise, call someone on the phone, read your Bible, play a game with your kids…do SOMETHING so that you aren’t as tempted to fall back into your sugar eating patterns.

7. I know I already mentioned to not let yourself go hungry, but it’s worth saying again in a different way! You’re cutting out sugar and desserts, now focus EATING other really good foods! I have found that I’m eating much more at mealtimes and REALLY enjoying my food! It tastes sooo good. I am amazed at how good food tastes when sugar is not coating my palate, or when I haven’t snacked the afternoon away. I am lovin’ that cow in my freezer!

Okay everyone!!!!! Leave a comment or email me to let us know how you’re doing! We all need to hear about your day. Tell us about the hardest time of day for you, tell us what you ate instead of sweets, tell us what you’re having the hardest time giving up, tell us how you feel about this whole challenge, tell us what you’re having for dinner….tell us anything you want to about this NO SUGAR Plunge! We can’t wait to hear from you!!!

And, if you are just now deciding to jump in with us…YEA!!! Tell us when you plan to start and how you feel! We want you to join us!!

Or, if you aren’t taking the challenge, but want to cheer us along…lick the cookie off your fingers and leave us an encouraging comment! Some of you have done this before and you KNOW what it’s like! 

And ALL of you, check back in tomorrow for more sugar free fun, encouragement, back patting and ideas. 

Now, everybody go eat a carrot.

I have just challenged myself and I was wondering…anyone want to take the challenge with me?!?!?!

Please?

Pretty please with sugar on top?

OH WAIT! NO, NOT with sugar on top!

That’s what this challenge is about!

I have decided that I eat ENTIRELY TOO MUCH SUGAR.

I pride myself on eating well and feeding my family well. 

And here I am eating valentine candy like a junky. (I tell myself that if I eat it, the candy won’t be around for the kids to eat…oh I’m such a good mother…thinking of the health of my children.)

AND, I also realllllly love to bake and have goodies on hand. I make them with unproccessed sugar and whole wheat flour so they are better…but it’s still sugar.

Sugar is so stinkin’ good. (as in yummy…not as in good for you)

And it is VERY addicting. Our bodies begin to crave it and that’s a fact.

So, in an effort to cleanse my system and feel great, I decided to challenge myself.

I started off with a small goal:  Don’t eat sugar in any form for one whole day.

For those of you who go for days at a time without sugar, just never mind okay? Just leave me alone. 

I don’t want to hear how easy that goal might seem to you. 

YOU JUST DON’T KNOW HOW IT IS! IT’S HARD, OKAY? 

(Wow, sounds like someone is having a little sugar withdrawl and is a little grouchy.)

Anyway,  I went all day yesterday without sugar of any form. And I went to bed feeling great!

So then I decided to increase my goal:  Don’t eat sugar for one week.

Maybe, just maybe, I’ll increase my goal after this week. I’m trying to be realistic with myself and not bite off more than I can chew (of course I’m not biting off anything that’s chewy, ooey, gooey…).

And then I decided that I needed help to do this thing, which is why I’m telling you about it.

And I also figured there might be others who want to take the challenge with me.

Any form of the challenge. One day, one week…even just cutting back to less sugar.

C’mon…we’re all sweet enough as it is. It’ll be good for you.

So give it some thought.  I know you can do it!

If you decide to take the challenge…leave a comment or email me! Tell me what goal you have set for yourself. Maybe you have a different “health goal” you’ve set for yourself. Let us know about it.

If nothing else, leave me a comment and tell me what a good job I’m doing and how I’ll be so glad that I did this and I’m gonna feel so much better and have so much more energy… But whatever you do…do not mention chocola…

I SAID DON’T MENTION IT!

I’m an addict, remember?

Be sure to check back with me here tomorrow and find out how it’s going! I’ll be ready to fill you in on all the struggles and triumphs of this wonderful No Sugar Plunge!

C’mon and jump in with me!