Maybe because it was my last stop for the day or maybe it was because I’m absent minded by nature but the other evening I found myself standing in the frozen food aisle of Trader Joe’s utterly confused. I had stopped to pick up a few things for the next day’s dinner. We were having friends over and I wanted it to be special. I had grabbed some lemons, an eggplant, and a potted basil plant that swayed when I pushed the cart.

Near the back corner of the store the demo station was winding down for the night but left on the counter in miniature paper cups were slices of dinner rolls. I parked my cart off to side and picked up one of the cups of white processed sweet wheat.

Devouring the bread sample, I grabbed my cart and headed toward the frozen food aisle to get a bag a frozen chicken when I looked down and saw this.

My cart was piled high with of loaves of bread, cupcakes, pies, and other sweets. Where was my eggplant and basil? Whose cart was this? Then it occurred to me that it may be mine. I seriously contemplated the possibility that I had absent-mindedly wandered through the store and subconsciously picked up all this carby goodness.

Crazy thoughts like this aren’t really so crazy when you are up to your neck in sugar addiction.

I haven’t been writing much here lately. Driving to Alaska, taking care of our new baby, keeping our two older homeschoolers on task are all part of my absence here but I’ve also been guzzling sugar like M&Ms are going to be discontinued tomorrow. Then to add to the fire or should I say “lack of” my workout schedule has all been but nonexistent.

I’ve gone back to the “dark days” of pre-2008 (<==my take on nutrition has also changed a bit since). The time when I hid outside my house and drank cups of maple syrup. The times when I would steal candy from my kids.

There is some light in the chocolatey darkness. I’m not depressed like I was seven years ago. I’m not happy about this struggle with sugar but I’m not dealing with a true depression and would never want to minimize those who struggle with clinical depression because I’ve been there and it’s serious. Overall, more days than not, I feel pretty dang balanced and quite often downright peaceful.

But but but…there is this uncontrollable urge to consume sugar and my question is why?

Why?

WHY???

Is it emotional? Physiological? A combination?

A few weeks ago I kept a record of how I felt when I ate sugar and discovered…there was absolutely no pattern. None. I ate sugar when I was excited. I ate sugar when I was bored. I ate sugar when I was feeling aloof. I ate sugar when I was happy. I ate sugar when I wanted to procrastinate. I ate sugar when I was feeling peaceful. I ate sugar because it was a beautiful day and I wanted to add to my pleasure. I ate sugar because “it was there”.

The last time I combatted my sugar addiction I gave up sweets  cold turkey on New Year’s day 2008. During that time I “graduated” myself from “no sugar” to “homemade treats made with unrefined sugars”. It worked beautifully and I rarely felt deprived until I was sabotaged by the Boy Scouts and then again by Halloween when I picked up my first piece of candy in nearly four years. It didn’t take long for that bite sized piece of corn syrup to turn into an avalanche of sugar.

Before those M&Ms melt in your mouth and not in your hand, I was right back where I had started from four years before with one difference, I knew a lot more about sugar’s effect on the body. Previously, I knew my childhood dentist warned against candy and I knew sugar wasn’t helping me loose those extra pounds I was carrying but now I knew about insulin sensitivity, sugar’s link to cancer and other diseases, and sugar has even been associated with premature aging. But even my vanity can’t keep me out of the candy aisle.

Generally speaking I’m very grateful for my life and experience a great deal of happiness most days but I’m also tired. Tired of dealing with the constant cravings. Tired of the guilt that I put on myself for the sugar binges. Tired of worrying that I’m going to get cancer from all the sugar.

I really just want to be able to go to open a pint of ice cream and not eat the whole thing. I really want to be able to eat a few Hershey Kisses and not a whole bag. I really want to be able to keep my kid’s Christmas candy  in the house and not think about it all day.

So that’s where I’m at.

People who know me well know that I’m stubborn as hell determined. I’m determined to understand and overcome this addiction. It just may take me awhile and while that’s not very inspiring, it’s honest.

Sugar may have knocked me down but I’m not dead.

If you have any advice I’m all ears.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

Check out our family’s adventures at Newschool Nomads as we travel in our RV through the United States!

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The post My Faithful Companion: Sugar Addiction appeared first on Girl Heroes.

I have three thoughts this Thursday.

Life is Like Berries.

A Healthy Dessert.

30 Days of Paleo 

Thought One – Life is Like Berries.

Two weeks ago after a busy week in NYC followed by a fulltime family RV rally, we decided we needed a few days up in the mountains to unwind. Nearby there was a local farm with pick your own raspberries. Thing Two and I spent an afternoon picking and chatting. If you know me well you know I think in metaphors. It may be strange to some but I find symbolism in everything and have since I was a child. Finding connections in the world is how I cope with life. Not to go all spiritual on you but it is one of the ways God speaks His peace into my crazy mind.

Anyway as we were picking berries I kept thinking about how much life is like picking berries. At first glance the bushes are large and overwhelming. You look down at your empty basket and at the rows of bushes and wonder, “It’s going to take forever to fill this thing.”

Looking at the bushes as a whole, it’s hard to see the berries but once you squat down and start looking you’ll find berries. A few are stand up on the bushes proudly displaying their perfect ripeness. However, most of the berries are in a various other states. Some are half eaten. Some are still green. Some are dead on the ground. Some lovely ones have fallen and are waiting to be picked up. It seems the majority are beautiful plump berries hiding behind leaves. These berries take a little more time and a little more effort to find but they are so worth it.

As Thing One delighted in doing something “old fashioned”—He once said he’s “just an old fashioned boy in a futuristic family.”—I carried on, one berry at a time, reminding myself it’s not honest to eat your weight in berries before you pay for them. It wasn’t too long before I looked down and saw that our baskets were nearly full.

They didn’t get full by magic. They were filled one berry at a time.

Just like life.

Thought Two – A Healthy Dessert

We came home with three two pounds (Ahem) of fresh raspberries. My favorite way to eat them was in a half of cup of whole milk (cream would have been ideal) with a tsp of maple syrup.

Divine.

Whole milk (I never buy that low fat white water called “milk”.) with a bit of maple syrup has been on of my favorite treats for years. I often get surprised looks when I tell people as if maple syrup isn’t good for anything but pancakes. A cup of milk (I prefer raw) with a small spoon of maple has been one of my favorite treats for years.

Thought Three – 30 Days of Paleo

Milk and maple syrup are not paleo.

So what about this 30 days of paleo?

First of all I have no intentions of ever becoming Wilma Flintsone. I believe paleo is a healthy way to eat but I doubt I will give up cheese or maple syrup despite what some say it may be doing to my body.

My favorite food philosophy comes is the traditional food way of eating made popular by Weston A. Price.

Although that is my favorite way of eating, it doesn’t been I follow it all the time. The first four months of living in an RV were crazy. I started eating refined sugar for the first time in almost four years and I ate more Taco Bell than I’d like to admit. I have 10 extra pounds to prove it. But that’s okay because learning how to live in a 320 square foot space was all I could handle at the time.

A few months ago we finally settled into our new nomadic life and I starting making the effort to find farmers markets and good food again. Taco Bell lost it’s appeal. Mostly.

But I still struggled with sugar.

One of the things that always helps me is reading about nutrition. A few months ago I read Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Healthbut since I already don’t eat a lot of grains, (I started experimenting with grain elimination three years ago.) It didn’t really hold my interest.

Two weeks ago I ordered It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig. (Both are RKCs which I find cool.) I skipped right to the 30 day plan and started it with Brent. I’ve been making my way through the rest of the book. So far I’m enjoying it and will give a full review when I finish the 30 days.

For 30 days I’m not eating dairy, grains, legumes, some oils, and SUGAR. Aside from a few sips of of an experimental pumpkin maple smoothie I was making my kids I haven’t had a bite of sugar natural or refined for 13 days.

I feel amazing. My energy is level is back to consistent and my mood is up.

Now I just need to start sleeping 8 hours a night.

It feels good to be finding my old new self even if it means I’m going to skip out on the ice cream at the Ben and Jerry’s factory in Vermont.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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We all know that soda isn’t good for us but giving it up can be hard.

Are there any healthy alternatives to soda?

You betcha! Water kefir, my favorite beverage, reminds me of cream soda with a slight tang. Personally, I prefer water kefir over kombucha. Both of these beverages are so enjoyable that I have continued to brew them while living in our RV where space is tight and everything we brought had to be “worth it”. Water kefir and kombucha made the cut.

I love my water kefir over ice. Beats a chemical laden soda any day!

Tibicos or Water Kefir Grains

What is water kefir?

Water kefir is simply fermented sugar water. Water kefir grains or, tibicos, are a symbiotic collection of bacteria and yeast that feast on sugar in water creating a fermented beverage full of probiotics.

What are the benefits of water kefir?

There are numerous health claims made for water kefir everything from clearer skin to fighting cancer but very little research to back those claims up. The biggest benefit I see is that it gives your gut a healthy dose of beneficial bacteria, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and, like I said, it’s a delicious alternative to soda. Since I started drinking kombucha and water kefir my soda cravings have virtually disappeared.

How do I make water kefir?

I learned to make water kefir from a friend a few years ago. It has always turned out so well that I stuck with her directions.

Water Kefir

4 Cups Filtered or Spring Water *
1/4 Cup of Turbinado Sugar
1/4 Cup of Kefir Grains
1/4 Tsp Organic Unsulphured Molasses (not necessary but the minerals help keep the grains healthy)

*Reverse osmosis or distilled water is not recommended. The water should contain some natural minerals.

Truth be told, I gave up measuring the molasses and now just use a “fork dip” of molasses.

First, dissolve the sugar and molasses in the water in a glass container. (I rarely wait for the sugar to completely dissolve and it turns out fine. Also I use a quart size mason jar and don’t measure out the water.)

Next, add the grains. It’s not necessary to add any of the water kefir. Cover your grains with a cloth secured by a rubberband or a loose plastic lid. If you have a metal lid (like I do) cover it with a napkin, and LOOSELY close the lid. You want the grains to get some air. Let it sit 24-48 hours at room temperature before straining the kefir and repeating the process in a new batch.

I store my water kefir in the fridge in an empty bear bottle. Often I will leave it out on the counter overnight to build up carbonation before putting it in the fridge.

Once I fermented it in the closed beer bottle. Bad idea. When we opened it it sprayed out so hard that it hit the ceiling. I was lucky that the bottle was strong or it might have exploded in my hands. So make sure it can “breathe”.

Water Kefir on the Left & Kombucha on the Right

(photo by Janetha)

Or if I’m brewing more than one mason jar at a time I use large bottles with pressure wire lids. I have no idea what you actually call these sort bottles but you can buy them from Ikea.

Simple dimple.

However if you google around you may end up with a few questions.

Do I need to use a plastic strainer?

Most people will say you do. I didn’t have a plastic strainer and since I’m into minimalism, I didn’t want to go out and buy something else so I used a fine metal strainer I already owned. I should say I don’t let my grains sit in the metal strainer (but I don’t think they would be traumatized if I did). I simply strain the water kefir into a container and dump the grains into a bowl while I’m dissolving my sugar. I’ve been doing this for almost two year now and have never had a problem.

How long do water grains last?

My understanding is that if taken care of they will last indefinitely as they multiply.

How do you “take care” of water kefir grains?

I try to make sure I change the water (start a new batch) every 48 hours. However, sometimes I forget and they ferment too long running out of food. This can damage the grains. At one point, I noticed my grains weren’t multiplying so I strained them and washed them by stirring them (rather vigorously) around in filtered water. Then I put them a quart sized mason jar full of filtered water with 1/4 cup of turbinado sugar and 1/4 tsp of molasses. I let the kefir grains “rest” in the refrigerator for about a week before I rinsed them and started a new batch. Immediately, the grains started multiplying again and making delicious kefir. “Resting” your grains also works when you are going to be gone for an extended about of time. How long it takes your grains to run out of food mostly depends on heat. If it’s hot they will ferment faster and run out of food.

What do you do with extra grains?

Since healthy water kefir grains multiply you will be left with extra grains. I use those grains in smoothies, give them away, and sometimes eat a spoonful plain. I know the thought of it kinda grosses me out too but they don’t really have any taste.

How do I know if my water kefir grains are “working”?

You will see bubbles rising up from the grains and the kefir will have a slightly fermented taste. Try the sugar water mixture before adding the grains by pouring a little into a separate cup (you don’t want any contamination) and then try it again after 24-48 hours and you should taste the difference. It also changes color.

Do you rinse your grains each time?

No, I’m lazy so I rinse them about every other batch.

Nectarine Water Kefir

Can you flavor water kefir?

Yes. After the initial fermentation I sometimes remove the grains and add dried fruit. I’ll let it sit on the counter for an extra night or two. I’ve also heard you can use vanilla extract or lemon but I haven’t tried it.

Where do I buy water kefir grains?

Personally, I have never bought water kefir grains. I got mine from a friend. So my suggestion would be to start on Facebook and ask if any of your friends make water kefir. You never know what your friends might have brewing behind closed doors. I got my first kombucha scoby from someone I had no idea was into health when I posted on Facebook I was looking for one. If that doesn’t work you could always look on Craigslist. Lastly, I’ve seen them for sale on the internet but since I have never bought them online I can’t vouch for any of the website. If anyone has purchased them online feel free to share your source.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post Water Kefir – How to Make the HEALTHY Soda Alternative appeared first on Girl Heroes.

This morning I lay in bed wondering about the state of my immune system and pancreas.

That’s what most people think about upon waking, no?

Since moving into an RV and hitting the road many things have changed.  I wake up to different surrounding almost every day.  I have a small refrigerator.  I have about a foot of space between my bed and my closet.  I drive a truck.  I don’t shop at the same stores every week.

I eat sugar.

White refined sugar.

The sugar I avoided for over 3 years and thought I would avoid for the rest of my life.

It started with the Boys Scouts.  The Boy Scouts…who would have thought?  Who would have thought their Chocolate Lovers Popcorn would taste so good.  I passed off the popcorn as a “super special” occasion.  I mean my Boy Scouts only sells popcorn once a year.

Next it was Halloween.  I have no clue as to why but on my way by the candy dish I ate a mini Snickers.  It was the first piece of real candy I had had since December 2007.  Again.  I decided, it was just one.  Then a few hours later I had some Raisinets.  Of all things.

I did some thinking the next few days and decided I was going to try and eat sugar “in moderation” like a “normal” person.

The problem is I don’t respond to sugar like a normal person.  I respond like a drug addict.  Cravings, eating in secret, hiding evidence, and eating it despite feeling horrible.  I’ve not had a full blown binge but I have been eating multiple servings throughout the day, pumpkin pie with breakfast, a cookie after lunch, and ice cream after dinner.  I need a sugar drip line straight into the blood stream.

There is no balancing act for me.

I’m not proud.

It’s been showing on my waist but believe it or not that is not what bothers me the most.  I’m bothered because I feel out of control.  I’m bothered because I eat it despite waking up every night with pain in my stomach.  I’m bothered because sugar is hard on the body.  I’m bothered because I’m supporting an industry that I am AGAINST.   What we eat is sooooo much more than the size of our pants.  Even if I wasn’t an addict I would still have issues with refined sugar as I do with pasteurized milk and factory farms.  Food is politics.  Food is ethics.  Food is freedom.

And I am no longer free.

I’ve wondered about the truth of my sugar addiction from time to time.  Is it real?  Am I really an addict?  If so, you don’t give an addict their drug of choice in moderation.  We don’t tell people to shoot heroin in moderation.  We don’t tell alcoholics to drink in moderation.  But it’s just sugar….

Just sugar.

My body responds to sugar like a fiend.

Based on my feelings and actions I’m convinced what I hoped wasn’t true is true.

This has been one heck of a reality check.  I’m not mad at myself.  I’m not invincible.  I don’t have the iron will I thought I had and I’m entirely not sure how much “will” plays a part.

I’m human.

I have much more to say about this and I have two more workouts, Arizona and New Mexico, to share very soon but for now I’ll leave you with this.

Hi my name is Jenn and I’m a sugar addict.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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Today I went to Costco for the 4th time in 4 days.  It was a test of character.

A test of strength.
(Functional fitness, baby!)

A test self-control.
(Oh how I would love to sit down on my cart and eat that entire bag of cranberries right there in the parking lot.)

I’ve been busy busy  with pre-production for the video shoot but….

….there is always time to stop and smell the flowers.
(Even if they are at Home Depot and don’t smell.)

And time to play in the fabric store.
(Even if the fabric sheds enough to confuse me with an Afghan Hound.)

And time to workout.
(Even if it’s short and sweet.)

And time to laugh at a new gimmick.
(Even if I don’t eat sugar.)

Or do I?

You see New Year’s day of 2008 I decided to give up sugar.  It’s a long story but the short version is sugar was controlling my life and I didn’t like it. It made me sad, overweight, and generally screwed with my overall wellbeing. The more I read of about sugar’s effects on the body the more I realized I didn’t want it in my life.

So for one year I “did it”.  I gave it up.  I didn’t eat any obvious refined sugar or “treats”, i.e. candy, cakes, cookies, ect.  That year became two.  My third year I decided I would start allowing myself to eat “treats” as long as they were homemade with unrefined sugar.  This worked brilliantly for about a year and a half.

However, it has started to lead to an extra spoonful of honey or maple syrup here and there.  However, the here and there has become here there here there here there here there.

I don’t like it.

So I’m going to do something about it.

Kick Start Kick the Sugar Challenge

I really enjoyed doing my “Fit(ter) for the Fourth” Challeng last month so I wanted to do another one.  I love how I feel and how my body responds to a low sugar diet so this month is my 4 week Kick Start Kick the Sugar Challenge.

This month is going to be “no added sugars”.  Which means no maple syrup, no honey, no molasses, and none of Brent’s homemade ice cream.  I will keep eating fruit and drinking my water kefir and kombucha.

This week is really not the ideal time to start being a holiday and being up in the mountains for the shoot.  I thought about putting it off but until when? I decided is never really an IDEAL time to start? There is will always be an excuse if you let it.

Feel free to join me.  Or not.  It’s very personal decision and certainly not an easy one for a sweet toothed lasses like myself.

Anyway, I know I said I was going to start a “How to I Make” series this week but it’s going to have to wait until after the video shoot.

Happy 4th of July!

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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Thank you for all the advice and thoughts in dealing with Halloween candy.  I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said all week and decided, since Halloween the “sugar season” kickoff, I’d like to delve into the issue more.

I have a younger sister.  She is my best friend.  We have the same biological parents.  We grew up in the same house in the same decade.  (Mostly.  She missed the 70s by 4 years which means I’m cooler.)  We even shared a room growing up until I tried to throw her out of the window but that’s a story for another time.  We’ve stood side my side in the mirror comparing our bodies and it’s crazy how much they look alike.  We could almost trade heads and no one would know the difference.  For all the similarities in nurture there are a great many differences in nature.  She’s a saver.  I’m a spender.  She lives a few miles from where we grew up.  I live a few thousand miles from where I grew up.  She’s rational.  I’m irrational adventurous.  She can eat a few pieces of candy and then stop.  I can eat a few pounds of candy and then stop.  Every Halloween, I would eat all my candy in a matter of days. DAYS. Jess, however, would dump her candy in her “candy drawer” where it would sit for years.  YEARS.  “Occasionally“, I would sneak in to steal some and the chocolates would look white as they were so old.  It didn’t stop me.  It was still sugar.  I didn’t (and still don’t) understand how she kept a drawer FULL of candy year round.

I have two sons.  They are best friends.  They have the same biological parents.  They are growing up in the same house in the same decade.  They share a room.  Thankfully, my oldest has never tried to throw the youngest out the window.  Their little bodies look almost identical.  But you what?  Yep.  Their personalities are as different as night and day, as is, their reaction to sugar.  My oldest will eat sugar until he is sick.  He has never not finished a candy treat.  On the other hand, my youngest, leaves half eaten pieces of candy lying around to be thrown away.  We go out for ice cream and my oldest eats his before my youngest has even taken 5 bites.  Brent usually ends up finishing it.

It is with these differences that I struggle when it comes to parenting and sugar.  I could give them all their candy and the oldest would eat it ALL within days making himself sick. Breaking my heart in the process as I watched him be overcome by the never ending cravings.  My youngest would eat a few pieces until he lost interest and it would sit getting old like the candy in the hoarder’s my sister’s drawer.

My journey with sugar has been a long one.  It has been more bitter than it has been sweet.  Just being honest.  It took me 30 years to get to the place I am now but, oh, the things I’ve learned about myself on this bittersweet journey.   In the comments, Lisa from I’m an Okie said this, “At least you know yourself and your limitations and you are ok with it. That’s huge I think. Just being ok.” I am ok with my limitations.  She is right.  To come to this place of accepting my limitations and being okay with them is huge.  I do not apologize for my choice to not eat refined sugar.  I do not feel weird when everyone orders dessert and I order tea. I do not mind saying no thank you when someone offers me a treat.  It’s my body and I know it and enjoy caring for it.

Sugar is weird.  It’s can be as innocent as the sweet elderly lady next door and as addictive as heroin.  It’s loved and hated.  It’s celebrated and cursed.  And for some of us it is a curse.  I’ve found my peace with it.  My hope is my oldest son does too.  I’ve been in his shoes.  I understand.  So I do the only thing I can, my best.  I reach out for advice.  (Thank you!) I teach what I know.  I try to lead by example.  But at some point he will have to make his own choices.  It is his body, not mine.  As crazy as it may sound, I think it comes down to faith and in 30 years, I hope I will look back and laugh.  Laugh at making such a big deal out of nothing because everything will be still be ok.  And that’s huge.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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As a kid, Halloween was one of the most fun nights of the year.  I would sprint through the neighborhoods as if I was being chased by a stranger trying to get to as many houses as possible until the last porch light was turned off.  In a way, I was being chased except my pursuer wasn’t a stranger.  Oh no, my pursuer was very familiar.  It was my never ending craving for sugar.  When I got home, I remember dumping my loot out on the floor and after checking for staples, razor blades and other creepies, I would chew, crunch, and suck until my stomach hurt.  This would continue for about 2 days until the only things that remained were a few of those nasty peanut butter taffies wrapped in the black or orange paper.

(source)

Yet, not even the waxy nastiness could stop me.  Nor would my aching jaw.

Things have changed.  I don’t eat candy.   Not because I’m self-righteous but because almost 3 years ago I accepted my limitation.  I grew tired of being controlled by a 3 pound bag of M&Ms or a pound of Twizzlers. I tried moderation.  I tried portion control.  I tried “one piece of dark chocolate a day”. I tried scaring myself out of eating it by reading of its “evils”.  I tried talking to myself lovingly as if I was a small child, gently reminding myself that one is enough.  Nothing worked except, when I was ready, refusing it.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a sugar addict.  I will own that.  There is such thing as too much maple syrup and too much honey.  However, because I don’t eat candy or other sweets made with processed sugar my intake is greatly reduced.  GREATLY REDUCED.  Gone are the days of candy and cookie binges.  After all, maple syrup is expensive.

Now when I trick-or-treat with my kids my past and present selves are at conflict.  On one hand, I want to cheer them on as they race house to house with them squealing as the plastic pumpkins are filled to the brim.  On the other hand, I know we are playing with fire and possibly genetics.  I’m quite certain, one not both, of my kids is a blossoming sugar addict.

Right now about 6 pounds of candy is on a shelf above my desk sitting on top of a stack of old Oxygen Magazines.  I’m allowing them to have one piece per day after a meal.  They think I’m the Halloween Grinch and I think I’m trying to be a good mother.  My kids may think I’m about as awesome as a peanut taffy when it comes to candy but I make up for it by joining them in the costume fun.  Brent and I as Princess Leia and Han.  If you want to see more photos of our Halloween check out our family blog.

What do you do with the Halloween Candy?  If you have kids, how do you deal with all of it?  (Any advice is welcomed.)  Did you dress up?

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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Yesterday, I was walking while my kids were in taekwondo when I stopped in my tracks.

Scattered over the sidewalk in front of me were little pieces of my past.

PEZ!

When I was a kid I would buy the Pez multi-packs and not even bother putting them in the dispenser.  Scandalous.

Oh how I  loved PEZ especially the pink ones.

For a second I considered picking them up off the sidewalk and popping them into my mouth.  I did.  But instead, I took a picture because that’s what you do when you see one of your favorite candies lying on the sidewalk.  Right?

Or maybe that is what sugar addicts do when they see candy.

5 reasons I Don’t Play in Candyland.

1.  I don’t know what’s in it. Have you ever read the ingredients on the back of a PEZ?  I haven’t either but only because I didn’t read labels when I was 16.  Now I have Google.  Here’s the ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Adipic Acid, Hydrog. Palm Kernel & Palm Oils and Soybean Oil, Mono and Diglycerides, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Artificial Colors, FD&C Red 3, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2. Cola Also contains Sodium Bicarb.Color.  Aside from the first ingredient nothing else looks appealing.

2. Candy triggers cravings for other foods I’m not keen on feeding my body.  It’s not just the candy.  The candy says chips.  Then the chips say candy.  It goes on and on and although my mind wants both my body wants neither.

3. Candy makes me it much harder for me to stay lean. (See reason #5)

4.  I didn’t make the candy myself with unrefined sugar.  I LOVE SWEETS.  For two years I avoided all sweets but then last New Year’s I decided to have a taste of my mom’s peanut butter icing.  A mistake. Two hours later, I was hiding in the pantry pounding my nieces’ Cinderella fruit snacks.

I learned two things.  One, I LOVE like want to marry sweets.  I missed sweets.  Two, self-control is “difficult” at best when it comes to sweets.  So I gave myself a “rule” to trick myself into moderation.  This year, I started eating the occasional homemade sweet made with unrefined sugar.  So far it’s working mostly because I’m lazy.  I could (guiltily) finish off 12 boxes of Oreos from the store.  However, I will not make 12 batches of cookies.  Case in point, since I allowed myself this option I have made one batch of cookies using NuNaturals stevia.  ONE batch in almost 8 months.  In this instance, laziness is a strength.

Would this work for everyone?  Probably not but it’s a solution that is working great for me.

5. None of the other reasons would matter if it weren’t for this: It’s easier for me to say no than it is for me to use moderation. I’m at the place where I could eat candy in moderation but I don’t want to.  Simply put the instant gratification of candy is not worth the energy is takes for me to use “moderation” (Nor is it worth increasing my chances of developing  insulin resistance, a suppressed immune system or other health related disorders).  Moderation with candy (or store bought sweets) is harder than not eating it at all.  I’d rather not eat M&Ms than try to talk myself out of eating 5 lbs of M&Ms because (for me) when it comes to candy one bite leads to another and another to a binge.  There have been studies indicating that sugar can be as addictive as drugs and, at this point of my life, I have chosen to just say no. It’s easier and I’m happier.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post 5 Reasons I Don’t Play in Candyland. appeared first on Girl Heroes.

Last week, I was sad.  It happens.

On my way home from errands I decided to stop here because I was depressed hot and wanted a cool drink.  And a distraction from the aching feeling that my life wasn’t enough.  (Ultimately, I know I am enough but sometimes it just doesn’t feel like it.)

“Candy, Soda Pop, Fun.“

Fun? That’s what I needed so I thought about getting these.

(Is it just me or does that M&M guy have an evil look on his face?)

But then I realized I would need these…

and these…

and I would have to “try” these…

and these…

In fact, I could eat every last ounce of sweet sugary distraction and I would still be me.  Only disappointed and with a tummy ache.

So instead I got this.

Ingredients: Pure Juice made from apple, white grape, and peace juice concentrates, sparkling water, citrus acid, and natural flavors, gum arabic, beta carotene, red radish concentrate.

I was pretty good.

Two years ago I would have eaten everything in the store and then cried myself to sleep.

That’s not fun.

Do I miss things like M&Ms and Swedish Fish?  Sure, for about 5 minutes but then I remember that every choice has it’s consequence.

That’s key.

For me.

Moderation is a beautiful thing when possible.

Ironically, I’m walking out the door to go here.  Going for the mini-roadtrip and time with friends not for the cupcakes.  Although if they have one made with honey I’ll be sure to enjoy it.  I’m loving life today and I love you!!!

If you haven’t entered my first giveaway please do!!!!!

Check out Deb’s post about our first kettlebell workout!  Now Deb IS fun!!!

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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(CNN) – A sweet tooth could lead to a heart attack, the American Heart Association warns.

Americans are consuming more than 22 teaspoons of sugar each day. And the added sweetness could lead to obesity, high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke, the group says.

The organization warned Americans to cut back on sugar in statement released Monday.

“Sugar has no nutritional value other than to provide calories,” said Rachel K. Johnson, lead author of the association’s statement. “Consuming foods and beverages with excessive amounts of added sugars displaces more nutritious foods and beverages for many people.”

The statement focuses on added sugar, which it defined as sugars and syrups added to food during processing or preparation.

Most women should consume no more than 100 calories, or six teaspoons of this added sugar, a day. Men should not consume more than 150 calories, or nine teaspoons, the Heart Association said.

The No. 1 source of added sugar is soda, it added.

“One 12-ounce can of regular soda contains about 130 calories and eight teaspoons of sugar,” Johnson said.

The Heart Association recommended cutting sugar and maintaining a diet heavy in fruits, vegetables, lean meat, poultry and fish.

Okay so it’s not groundbreaking for most of you.  But I remember a time not too many years ago when I knew I shouldn’t eat sugar because it was bad for my teeth and that’s about it.  In college, I would sit in class washing down a pack of m&m’s with a soda and think for a second about possibly getting a cavity before I shrugged it off with a another gulp of soda.  I’m SO EXCITED to see an association that is generally respected by a lot of people speak out against sugar.  Yes, they could have said a  lot more regarding the consequences of a diet high in sugar and not all sugars are created equal but it’s a start!  I know at the peak of my sugar addiction 100 calories of refined sugar would have been a GIGANTIC improvement for me. My only concern about this article is that people will each just as many sweets but make them sugar-free or diet instead of learning to satisfy those sweet cravings with things like fruit or honey.  But it’s a step and I hope some people will look at their diet and make a change for the better because it’s not just about fitting into those skinny jeans anymore (not that it was ever just about that ;)) but it’s about saving or improving your life.  The American Heart Association says so!

xoxo
j

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