Sugar Fast: Day One

Read this first if you didn't know that there's a sugar fast going on.

The first time I heard somebody say that she was addicted to sugar, I hmmed politely but inside I did the HUGEST eye roll. Please. Addicted to sugar? Even if that was a thing, what's the big deal? It's, like, below even caffeine on the "everyone's doing it" list. You can't even convince me that it's a gateway drug. "Oooh shoot, busted for meth. You know, it all started when she started sending her husband out for Dunkin' Donuts on weeknights."

Now, here I am. If sugar dependence exists, I am its poster child. Literally, like the posters on the wall when I was in sixth grade of all the farm animals smoking cigarettes, but me with a cupcake, with the same caption, "It looks just as stupid when you do it!"

You know what's a great way to start your sugar fast? Head to the grocery store on day one. Wander the aisles in search of a few things, and walk boldly past the sweet treats for some holiday that's coming up next weekend. Pick up some ricotta cheese after successfully avoiding the ice cream case. Honestly, it was no big deal, but I can only imagine in another week or two how it might feel - will it be easier or more difficult to avoid the sweets?

And then there's the well-meaning hubby who said to me this evening, "So how's the sugar fast going?" And I said, "Well, fine so far." And he replied, "Well, we have this banana cake in the fridge that needs to get eaten." Thanks, babe. Glad you were able to take care of that for me and remove a big temptation. Right in my face. Also there might have been a little sugar in my coffee this morning, but I am so not complaining about that because I have freshly roasted, freshly ground coffee made and waiting for me every morning when I stumble to the kitchen. #spoiled

So far, I haven't really thought of sweets other than when they were waved in my face. Had applesauce on my pancakes this morning instead of syrup, no biggie. Day One under my belt without breaking a sweat. Tonight and into the next few days, I'll be reflecting on what I want to direct myself toward when faced with a craving or temptation. It's intended to be a spiritual discipline, obviously, but I feel like it should be parenting-oriented somehow. Food for thought....haha...food. See what I did there? Because this is about fasting.

Any input for me on doing a sugar fast? When might I expect to get all cranky and cravy, as I've heard about?

Pitching the Sugar Fast

If you know me at all, you probably know that I am a sugar fiend. Well, a food fiend. I'm an eater. And when I cook, it's with butter and garlic and all the things that are delicious. And when I bake, it's three pies in one evening for my husband and brother-in-law's birthday party - blueberry, pecan, and apple crumb. I don't exactly shy away from the eat. Thank you, breastfeeding.

But sugar has a special place in my heart. Or in my extra dessert stomach, depending on who you ask. Give that up? Nay, gentle fool.

The Lord has been working on me, though, in that small nagging way that He sometimes does. I came across this sugar fast idea on this Moms of Boys Facebook page that I follow. Fast from sugar? How would that ever be possible for me? Dessert is a food group, a staple. I like my coffee blond and sweet, and I stress-eat like all mommas do at the end of the day. Or in the bathroom with the door locked while I eat a fun-size Snickers in two bites before the kids catch on. Some mommas do wine, I do cookies.

So, am I dependent on it? Gulp. That's a whole 'nother question, and one that I've ignored because sugar? So not a big deal. But again, that little nagging feeling that I am missing out on something that might happen if I give it up. Similar to the notion that giving up social media periodically is good for the soul. And hey, if I've done that and benefited...then perhaps the sugar fast might not be a bad idea?

What I'm saying is, I'm ready to find out. And I need accountability. If I put it on the internets, then I have to follow through, right? The sugar fast I linked to above has 16 days left. That seems doable. 16 days with no added sugar, no dessert, no candy. Which is awesome timing because I've got the remains of three pies and a banana cake in the fridge, and we just scored something like 20 pounds of M&M products this weekend at the Hackettstown Spring Festival (or Festi-bull, depending on who in my house you're talking to) and they are lazing around in baskets just taunting me with their siren song. The kids can hear the sound of a wrapper from across the house, through three closed doors, and they ask me what I'm eating despite my best not-chewing-anything poker face. Hmm, speaking of accountability, I think the way to nail this sugar fast is to tell my kids that momma's not going to eat any sweets for awhile. It won't even be worth cheating, knowing the inquisition that will follow.

I think I'm ready for the challenge. I'm ready to be free from sugar, if that's a thing, and feel my energy skyrocket (theoretically), and grow closer to the Lord as I use the fast to prompt prayer and Scripture reading (hopefully). I'm not sure that I'm ready for the effect on my moods, if sugar dependence is as real as I've read. Since I use blogging as a sort of journaling, perhaps I'll blog my way through it for your amusement/edification.

Does anybody else want to join me? Thinking about a different kind of fast? Or have you sugar fasted and succeeded? I'm curious to hear how this has gone for others. And I'm super curious to see how the Lord will use this to somehow prune my heart, as strange a thing as it is for me to try to give up!