Not Trying to Sugarcoat, But...

It occurred to me that I haven’t written much about my 30-day challenge in a while. 

Honestly, there hasn't been much to write. I'm doing it. It's not so bad now. I guess it's good that sugar isn't always on my mind because that leaves my brain free to think deep thoughts. And though I feel pretty free to write about what I want  -- because it's my blog -- I decided that today might be a good day to discuss what 22 days without sugar has been like so far. 

First, full disclosure on what I am and am not eating.

I do eat fruit. No more than 2, ½-cup servings per day because I know that sugar, regardless of its source, affect my brain’s reward center and I'm trying to alter that. I eat lots of vegetables and nuts and seeds. I eat meat…all kinds. I try to source most things locally, but  our economy, unfortunately, is not designed to make these things affordable so I fill in with grocery-store beef, chicken, and fish as well. I don’t eat any grain (since long before I gave up sugar), but I do eat dairy because, well, CHEESE. I also eat beans because I like them and they are great fuel for running. I also eat lots of eggs. And have you noticed they are more expensive lately? 

I have enjoyed alcohol on one occasion, though enjoy might be too strong a word for it. Don’t misunderstand, it tasted great and I certainly enjoyed the company, but I did not enjoy the aftermath. It took a shockingly small amount of bourbon to make me a useless blob for 18 hours. So I’m not doing that again. For a while. Until October 1. At midnight.

In short, I’m just eating real food and drinking 32-64 ounces of water a day. (I know 32 isn’t enough, but I will tell you that 64 is tough. I feel like I'm just drinking and peeing all day long.) For the last 22 days, I haven’t eaten anything commercially packaged* except for coffee, frozen vegetables, meat from the grocery store, and that stuff which was bottled by a very fine distillery in Kentucky. That’s the food plan.

How do I feel after 22 days? Somewhat different. I don’t want to over-inflate anything because I’m not selling it…just reporting on how it impacts one person. I have a little more energy. I think a little more clearly – mostly I’m able to think faster and I’m remembering things a little better. I wish I could say that I have more patience or tolerance or that I’ve grown more generous or more...well, something that would ultimately benefit humanity…can’t really say that’s happened. But that could just be because I'm a sort-of-psychopath.

How do I look? Pretty much the same, if you ask me. Of course, I look at myself everyday so how would I notice a difference? The only noticeable physical difference is that my skin looks great (which could be the water). I’ve gotten on the scale once and I’m two pounds lighter…not particularly impressive as “diets” go, but I’m not watching calories nor am I exercising more or less than I was before.

Speaking of exercise, I had a particularly good run yesterday – the best in about 6 months actually – but there were too many variables in play for me to attribute that to sugar. The weather was cooler, my companions insisted they were exhausted (so I didn’t have to struggle to keep up), and I had been up for 45 minutes longer than usual because I had to take my daughter to her first morning swim practice of the year. Also…knowing that a whole bunch of teenagers are starting their day at 5:00am with weights and swimming because they want to is pretty solid motivation to not be such a slack-ass.

In general, I would say I feel like a better version of myself than the one that started this journey on September 1. Not magically different, just a little better. And maybe that’s enough. Maybe my desire for huge, fast change (and my inability to achieve it) is what keeps me from changing at all. Overnight growth ends at the same time puberty does and I am way past that. Maybe working to change is part of what changes us. I know you’re thinking that brain fog has set in again, but before you tell me to go eat a cookie…

Why should anyone expect an overnight fix…or even a 30-day fix…for a habit, condition, or problem that took years to establish? We shouldn’t be shocked or disappointed to learn that it's going to take some time and effort. It’s intuitive. I do believe that practicing self-discipline and really tapping into free-will (or in this case free-won’t) plays a valuable role in change, and once you’ve “mastered” it in one area, it can be easier to access that mind-set in other arenas.

I also believe that relying completely on will-power is a recipe for disappointment.Taking the time to become an educated consumer has also been helpful. I’ve done some research and as it turns out, there is actual science to back up the notion that sugar itself may work against us when we make decisions. It not only impacts what decisions we make (what should I eat for breakfast? what route should I take to work?), but how we make them (efficiently or impulsively?)

Here are three (of many) sources that explain this far better than I could hope to.

http://www.iflscience.com/brain/here-s-what-happens-your-brain-when-you-give-sugar-lent

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-sugar-affects-the-brain-nicole-avena

http://neurosciencenews.com/diet-gut-bacteria-cognition-2147/

With all of this to consider, the obvious next question is will I continue this past the 30 days? That’s not easy to answer, I mean, forever is a long time.

Let’s see if this helps:

PROS	CONS
Not having that headache again	Ice Cream tastes good
Not having cloudy brain again	Chocolate tastes good
Good skin	Cookies taste good
Substantially fewer sugar cravings	Peanut M&Ms taste good
Less hunger in general	Coconut Cake tastes good
	Ok, that’s enough, I think we get the idea
	Peer Pressure/Temptation
	Requires constant vigilance
	Difficult to eat out
	Always explaining/defending

On the face of it there are quite a few cons working against this as a lifestyle choice, but the quality of the pros…they are high quality and they grow in number daily.

Evaluating the cons:

• Things taste good for a few moments. And then, I want more. And more. 
• If I’m 42 and can’t handle peer pressure to take that first bite, I have bigger problems to deal with -- as do the peers applying the pressure
• I only feel tempted after the first bite and then for the following week, so if I ignore the peer pressure, temptation isn't a factor.
• Reading packages is time-consuming and inconvenient, but avoiding packages altogether isn’t – especially now that I’m in the habit.
• Eating out less is better for the wallet anyway and we never go anyplace where I can’t at least find a salad and some plain balsamic vinegar.
• I am 42 and I don’t have to explain or defend the choices I make about my health to anyone. And also, those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind, right?

So I am leaning toward keeping the sugar out of my diet for the foreseeable future, but you never know…there are 8 days left and who knows what the future holds. If there’s some sort of apocalyptic catastrophe and the only thing standing between me and starving to death is a Twinkie, you better believe I’m going to eat it.

Because, you know, Twinkies are forever.

*I do use spices and oils (olive and coconut) that are in packages too, because I can’t grow anything and I wouldn’t have the faintest idea how to go about making oil.