Heavenly Homemakers

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!