One More Day!

Woah! Just one day left! That happened fast!

I feel like people have stopped reading this blog (which is why I haven't been posting as much - at least in part), probably because they've lost interest or because ... I haven't been posting much (this feels somewhat circular.)

Believe me, I would be telling you all my sugar conflicts on community college campus were it not for the fact that ... I'm at community college all the time now. (Again, circular?)

Just know that, while I've slipped up a few times this summer, especially toward the end here, I haven't quit. I've basically gone without sugar for three months.

Things that I haven't had for 90 days?
Coke/Rootbeer/Pepsi/Dr. Pepper/etc
Cookies or brownies of any kind
Ice Creeeeeeeaaaaaaam
Cake
Caramel
Starbucks Frappaccinos
Milkshakes

It's funny, on Saturday I volunteered at my School's Bible Bee (the local level of the National Bible Contest for our area). Last year I was a competitor and there was a huge cake. I couldn't eat any because in September of last year I was doing a one-month version of this summer's no sugar project. Back then I thought to myself, next year I will be able to eat this cake.

Guess what.

It goes without saying that I've learned a lot doing this no sugar thingy... Sometimes food just tastes better when you're not eating it. I definitely remember more of my summer because every ice cream date with friends, every bag of candy in the theaters, every soda at a picnic was one I couldn't have (as opposed to "just another coke/ice-cream/etc"). It all stands out more, like those moments with food this summer have been highlighted and catagorized and filed away in my head. Which was kind of the point of this whole thing anyway - I was bored and wanted to make summer interesting.

But I've also realized that sometimes sugar makes things better. A life of lemons without sugar can only be made into lemonwater. Likewise, sometimes it's important to OTHER people that you join them in the fun. Sometimes "sweet" is exactly what you need.

Interesting how God foresaw human weakness and gave them a temporary, physical treatment (outside His Written Word).

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So what am I doing on Wednesday? I'm waking up at the crack of dawn to go to school - for breakfast I'll eat cheesecake that has been frozen for over a month and a half.

When I get home Wednesday night I'm cookin' up some bacon and dipping it in chocolate (watch for the pictures on fb.)

Then I'm having a HUGE bowl of ice-cream with all the toppings.

And I'm never going back.

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Thanks for following guys, you've been great.
Cheers.

Mountain Don't

My first week of college is over. It was a nightmare in a 1/2 acre radius.

Being late to my first class wasn't awful. Being laughed at for not knowing what a scantron is wasn't totally humiliating. Forgetting my student ID number and losing my spot in a half hour line for student picture IDs wasn't completely inconvenient (no. I take that back. It was.).

But nothing was as horrible as standing in the cafeteria and not knowing what to do. There was food and people everywhere and I had no idea what was going on.

I guess homeschooling has it's draw-backs.

I finally figured out the system and sat down next to some kid who had a massive cookie and a Mountain Dew. I eyed the soda jealously. I was running low on energy anyway (my flight from Prague landed in LAX at 7 - it was 11:30 before I got home - 1AM before I was in bed - and then I was up five hours later getting ready for my first class.)

I definitely bent the "no sugar" rule in the Czech Republic - some of that was necessary. But I have not had a drop of soda for three months. Believe me when I say, that Mountain Dew looked holy -- as in, it glowed and I could hear the Hallelujah Chorus in the background.

But I stuck to my guns. I had a bottled water.

In two weeks, I'm hitting that cafeteria with the force of a stampeding elephant. And this time, I'll Mountain Do.

Sugar-Coated Confessions

For you, dear followers, I will be honest.

I ate a ton of chocolate last week. Now, I was true to my word and I didn't have any "American Sugars" but the Czechs are notorious for their chocolate and it was EVERYWHERE and by the end of my last week in Europe, eating chocolate actually became essential to survive (I know, you don't believe me. I guess you had to be there...).

Point is, I am unashamed.

I am also back to not eating sugar of any kind (and I'm sooooo happy to be back on US soil.)

But for the last two weeks of this "no sugar" thing, I'm raising the bar. No sugars and no sodas were a given. Now I'm moving to no seconds and no snacks (which should be extra tough now that I've started my college classes and meals are hard to come by but snack food is everywhere.)

Furthermore, I'm getting rid of my exceptions (INCLUDING WHIPPED CREAM). Anything that COULD BE SUGAR I will not eat. That includes muffins and sweet breads, syrups, and juices. Anything in snack form, like chips or trail mix, will be left alone. Anything not provided during regular "meal time" will not be partaken of. I'm going hard-core here, guys.

GO BIG OR GO HOME.

Join me? Feel free.

Let's do this thing!

Czech out the Soda!

Apparently, Czech soda is super different than American Soda. As in .. Not as good.

Now, I haven't had any "American Sugar" since I've been here. No snickers bars, no coke, etc. But I've had Czech Cocolada and Czech Soda and it's all been quite an experience. I almost don't want to come home in ten days because I know I'll be coming home to two weeks of absolutely no sugar or snacks or seconds at all (and believe me, I've had my share of second and third helpings this trip.)

Also, you have to pay to use the restroom here. And sometimes they give you a reciept. Welcome to Europe!