A few times I’ve considered giving up sugar. Hey, I even downloaded Sarah Wilson’s eBook I Quit Sugar. Which I read while eating a packet of bullets {licorice covered in chocolate for those not familiar}.
I’ve read about how great it makes you feel, how much more energy you have – yes please – and another side effect is losing weight. Not that I’m concerned about the last point. In fact, I’d probably be more inclined to give it up if a selling point was: tones your flabby bits while you sleep. Then sugar and I would have long parted company. Except I’m not so good at sleeping, which giving up sugar will apparently help fix.
The trouble is: I really like sugar. I can give or take biscuits and cake. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll eat them if they’re presented to me. But I love chocolate. And by love I mean I LOVE CHOCOLATE. Seriously. Not a day goes by that I don’t eat chocolate in some form or other.
Yesterday I made a raw, sugar and gluten-free raspberry ‘cheesecake’. It’s a lot thinner than a standard cheesecake, but it’s quite tasty. So the thought swam through my mind again that maybe I could attempt to give it up.
Today is my birthday. So I’m not giving up sugar today, because give or take the birthday cake Bubba and I are going to bake together this afternoon, I’ll take it thanks. And the chocolates I’m allowed to eat today because it’s my birthday and I can.
Bubba has eaten exceptionally little sugar in her short life, and I plan to keep it that way for as long as I can control what goes in. So if she can’t have it, why should I?
Maybe if I give it up I’ll look and feel younger? Maybe I’ll live longer? Or maybe it would just be good not to crave something every single day.
Maybe.
Curiously, have any of you given up sugar? And given it up from a very strong love of chocolate/cake/cookies kind of place?
For today: happy sugar-laden birthday to me. By next year things might be different. If they are, I’m sure you’ll all share my journey.
bumpyroadtobubba 
My birthday was the 27th. Happy birthday to us! When I was a teacher, my co-workers and I made a New Years Resolution to stop bringing sweet stuff into the teachers’ lounge. It was always a mine field of yummy stuff! About a week into the resolution, we were all lethargic, crabby, and miserable, sitting there staring at a bowl of fruit and a package of crackers. I finally said, ‘I have some cookies in my classroom.” That opened the floodgates. Apparently, we had ALL hidden some sugary goodies in our rooms. But after a week of not having out teachers’ lounge sugar fix, we didn’t have the energy to go get them!! Eating sugar is a must. Without sugar and caffeine, I have no personality at all!!
Yay, happy birthday to us. I haven’t said I’m going to do it, just that I’m thinking about it. As someone else pointed out, I’d have to give up wine. And I’m a single mumma who works full time. So maybe I’ll give up chocolate other than wine and chocolate-related? Do you think that will work??
Since it’s still the 28th here, I can wish you a very early Happy Birthday :). I hope you’ve had a fun and relaxing day. And, insofar as giving up chocolate (aka sugar) I say: NO WAY. You know, there’s health benefits to dark chocolate and that’s a strong reason for having that piece.
Sage advice 😉 x
Hi MJ! Oh happy birthday! I love topics like this!! Do give up sugar! Giving up sugar does NOT mean giving up sweet!! I cut sugar which I KNOW helped me beat PCOS. I have a killer sweet tooth. Investigate other delish and nutritious alternatives 🙂 coconut sugar for a start.
Thanks honey … I’m thinking coconut sugar and dark chocolate would make a good treat 😉
Happy birthday MJ! I’ll be the cheeky voice in your ear telling you not to give up sugar 😉 Some occasions just require that chocolate fix, y’know?
they do!
Happy birthday! Hubby’s was Jan 14 and mine was Jan 19 – very popular month! Sadly, the only lasting “sickness” I have had during my pregnancy so far has been a total sweet aversion!!!! I used to eat chocolate every single day, in many forms, and this little baby is just not having a bar of it – literally! I don’t mind, as I have gone mad for fruit and veggies and I actually feel really good now my appetite is returning!
I’ve ready Sarah’s book too, but there was no way I could give up sugar!
Hope you enjoy your birthday cakes – they look super yummy!!
Happy Birthday lovely mama! I just found your log off of Mamamia this week, and read the entire thing in a few days, and am so very glad I did! Your blog is so gorgeously uplifting, the fuzzy loves and bubba are cuter than words can even describe, thank you for sharing your wonderful story and making the day of everyone who drops by so much brighter. My prince charming is American, and if we make a bubba half as precious as dear bubba is I too will be happiest mummy in the world. Have a wonderful birthday, I enjoyed it so much at times I kind of wanted to marry you myself lol, (well the vegetarian food was the clincher.. mamma can *really* cook! lol). XOX PS Try stevia to help cut sugar cravings, its natural super sweet & apparently good for us. Not sure how it’ll taste in place of sugar, but worth a shot – but lady you look great! Whatever you’re doing keep doing it, you don’t need to change a thing 🙂
Thanks for such a lovely comment – and for the dedication to read our whole story in a few short days! What a shame you’re not a tall dark handsome funny boy 😉
Have super bday!!!! I gave up sugar when I was in college for 4 years. It is not easy to do. Instead I live on a simple diet. My recommendation actually is to live with all things in moderation. There is no need to deprivation. Come have a cup of coffee with me and we can discuss it. There is a special invite just for you: http://dogdaz.com/2013/01/29/1-29-13-coffees-on-come-on-over/
Jen also loved sugar, but it was more like an addiction I think. She read this book called The Diet Cure and, according to the author (and clinician), sugar consumption can lead to all sorts of problems. So Jen gave up sugar AND all the artificial sweeteners and started taking the amino acids the author recommended and she feels so much better.
And Happy Birthday to you!!!!
🙂
Thanks Rumpy. I am going to check that book out!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday MJ!!! Enjoy those cakes and don’t worry about the sugar, it’s all a balance! 🙂
thank you 🙂
Hi, long time lurker, first time commenting. Just wanted to wish you a Happy birthday, hope you enjoyed your day. I am also sugar addict and I have given up nearly 3/4 of my daily intake of sugar. I had to do it slowly, as I tried cold turkey and the headaches were insane, so in the end I just reduced it little by little. Since October I have lost 12kg (yay me). So if I can do it, you can too. Trust me, when I was a little girl my mother had to hide all the sugar, castor sugar and icing sugar packets because I would just eat it by the spoonful straight from the package (yes I was that bad).
I think reducing is a better idea than cold turkey. I am a single mumma who works full time and has a toddler after all. There are going to be days I’m going to need a glass of wine and a chocolate or two! Thanks for coming out of the shadows to say hi – and thanks for sharing our story!
Can one ever be too sweet? I do not think so therefore I shall keep eating sugar. As for you definitely have sugar on your birthday. I hope it was a wonderful birthday and a Very Happy One:)
I think it will be a sugar reduction rather than elimination 🙂 Thank you, I did have a lovely birthday.
A very belated happy birthday! I hope you had a lovely day