It's been two years since I've even looked at this blog (though honestly it seems like it's been a lot longer) and the twenty-some pounds I've gained since high school are making me feel like spending so much time in the college cafeteria may not have been such a good idea.
Last time I gave myself a food challenge it was to test my self control. This time I am unashamedly going to admit that I just need to get back into a size-7 jeans.
Also, last time I challenged myself (to not eat sugar from June 1-August 31) I promised myself I would never do that again (kind of like God promising never to flood the earth again, but instead of putting a rainbow in the sky, I just downed 4 quarts of mountain dew in about one hour).
So this time I got a little creative. We all know it isn't what you eat that matters, it's how much. One cheese puff will not kill anyone. A bag of cheese puffs, consumed on a frequent basis, can have adverse effects, however.
Here's the challenge: 1 ounce meals.
Okay, health nuts, don't freak out. We all know there's no way I'm going to pull that off. And most of us know that I really only make rules so that I can create a whole bunch of exceptions to go with them. So here they are:
1. I can eat fruit/vegetables whenever I want.
2. Obviously, no snacking during the day, but I can eat "snack foods" if they fit the weight limit during appointed meal times.
3. (Until I get a weigher thingy) meals probably will be more than one ounce -- they will, however, be small enough to fit on our baby plates. Going to stick with a "spirit of the law" rather than "letter of the law" mindset here. *ahem*
4. On days when I embark on particularly strenuous adventures (hiking, long-distance running) I reserve the right to at least eat a cliff bar (most likely, it will be more than that).
5. Exceptions are subject to change depending on how the first week of this goes.
6. I can eat fruit/vegetables whenever I want. (Had to say that twice. It's important.)
I'm starting on Monday. (For those who'd like to know, I am half-way through a bag of peanut butter M&Ms right now. Delish.) So yeah... Monday.
I will post pictures as often as possible of the food I get to eat and will update this blog on the trials of ... not eating.
And finally, to add to this challenge, I'm going to find a Scripture verse for every blog post. I'm a comfort eater which got me into this in the first place (I'd like to remind you of the bag of chocolate I'm demolishing currently) and the only real comfort comes from God. Weening myself off inordinate amounts of food will only have temporary results if I don't also cultivate a taste for the sweetness of Christ during those times when hot potato-bacon soup with cheese and sour cream seems like the only way to drown my sorrows.
Philippians 4 (NIV)
"6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Monday, August 30, 2010
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).
___
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.
___
Thanks for following guys, you've been great.
Cheers.
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).
___
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.
___
Thanks for following guys, you've been great.
Cheers.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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!
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!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
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!
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!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
From Prague!
I'm writing this post from Prague, Czech Republic! Don't expect too many of these.
We started off on our eleven hour plane ride in LAX and I was coming off an all-nighter. No sleep + 11 hours of also no sleep = ABSOLUTE INSANITY AND HEAD TRAMA.
Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean I vaguely recall having food placed in front of me. There was a square of chocolate and a cup of cheeseca-aaaahh. I remember thinking "I am not supposed to eat this" but everything after that is blank. I'm pretty sure I ate it.
While in Prague, I've stayed away from "American sugars" like cookies, candies, and brownies, but I have eated some of the "Native Deserts." Let's face it - I'll never be in Prague again, I might as well.
When we landed in Prague I thouht that it would only be fitting that the first thing I purchase in a European country would be a meal from McDonalds - the rest of the team was stopping there to chow down. I sat at a table and contemplated eating American food.
Then I fell asleep.
We started off on our eleven hour plane ride in LAX and I was coming off an all-nighter. No sleep + 11 hours of also no sleep = ABSOLUTE INSANITY AND HEAD TRAMA.
Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean I vaguely recall having food placed in front of me. There was a square of chocolate and a cup of cheeseca-aaaahh. I remember thinking "I am not supposed to eat this" but everything after that is blank. I'm pretty sure I ate it.
While in Prague, I've stayed away from "American sugars" like cookies, candies, and brownies, but I have eated some of the "Native Deserts." Let's face it - I'll never be in Prague again, I might as well.
When we landed in Prague I thouht that it would only be fitting that the first thing I purchase in a European country would be a meal from McDonalds - the rest of the team was stopping there to chow down. I sat at a table and contemplated eating American food.
Then I fell asleep.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Cheeseca-aaaahh!
Cheesecake. It's stalking me. No seriously.
I have always loved cheesecake. But I only see it (let alone eat it) maybe once a year. Possibly twice if I'm extremely lucky. And yet, somehow, during the three-month period that I CANNOT EAT IT, it has suddenly appeared everywhere.
You may recall that I recently froze a piece of cheesecake for the fall. Not long after the execution of that more than brilliant idea I was invited to a party at the Cheesecake Factory. The first part of the evening was lovely (so were the waiters), but the second was grueling (so where the heels I was wearing.)
It may (or may not) be slightly obvious that the Cheesecake Factory only serves one thing for dessert . . . CHEESECAKE (or as we shall refer to it from now on: cheeseca-aaaahh!! in a very whiny and sort of unpleasant tone, because that's how I feel when I see cheesecake.) While everyone else ordered their deluxe cheeseca-aaaahhs, I was sitting in the corner (the corner farthest away from the outdoor heater, with the puddle of water run-off right below my feet) sipping my cappaccino and trying not to look grumpy.
Lucky for me, no one wanted the whip cream that came with their cheeseca-aaaahhs (which, you may recall, is my only exception), so my cappiccino quickly became a whipcreamo (which spellcheck is saying is a real word...).
About a week ago (new story here) I attended a homeschooling leadership conference with my mom up in Pasadena. I won't tell you how we got lost for two hours in the middle of the night and ended up in San Bernadino, or how we asked random, sketchy looking strangers for directions. I won't even tell you that our hotel had awesome vallets who couldn't speak english ... at all. But I will mention that, for dessert during their big brunch, they served cheeseca-aaaahh.
And what did I do with this cheeseca-aaaahh?
I'll tell you.
I mashed it up on the plate and swirled it into the raspberry sauce until it was a henious shade of chartruesse (which I spelled correctly on the first try!) and then heaped it back onto the gramcracker crust. When the waiter came to clear my plate he said slowly and with as much tact as possible, "...Are you done, Ma'am?" To which I replied slowly and with as much dignity as possible, "Yes."
Here's the truth guys,
I'm failing miserably. I ate a piece of Angel Food Cake. I had a pina colada (x3). And I've been snacking and seconding this whole month. It's discouraging.
But I'm still going. I've said "no" more than I've said "weeell...okay, if you insist."
Tomorrow I'm leaving for the Czech Republic where I'll be continuing my "no sugar" thing. When I come back, we just have TWO MORE WEEKS and then it's back to life as normal. And I'll finally get to eat that piece of frozen cheeseca-aaaahh.
I have always loved cheesecake. But I only see it (let alone eat it) maybe once a year. Possibly twice if I'm extremely lucky. And yet, somehow, during the three-month period that I CANNOT EAT IT, it has suddenly appeared everywhere.
You may recall that I recently froze a piece of cheesecake for the fall. Not long after the execution of that more than brilliant idea I was invited to a party at the Cheesecake Factory. The first part of the evening was lovely (so were the waiters), but the second was grueling (so where the heels I was wearing.)
It may (or may not) be slightly obvious that the Cheesecake Factory only serves one thing for dessert . . . CHEESECAKE (or as we shall refer to it from now on: cheeseca-aaaahh!! in a very whiny and sort of unpleasant tone, because that's how I feel when I see cheesecake.) While everyone else ordered their deluxe cheeseca-aaaahhs, I was sitting in the corner (the corner farthest away from the outdoor heater, with the puddle of water run-off right below my feet) sipping my cappaccino and trying not to look grumpy.
Lucky for me, no one wanted the whip cream that came with their cheeseca-aaaahhs (which, you may recall, is my only exception), so my cappiccino quickly became a whipcreamo (which spellcheck is saying is a real word...).
About a week ago (new story here) I attended a homeschooling leadership conference with my mom up in Pasadena. I won't tell you how we got lost for two hours in the middle of the night and ended up in San Bernadino, or how we asked random, sketchy looking strangers for directions. I won't even tell you that our hotel had awesome vallets who couldn't speak english ... at all. But I will mention that, for dessert during their big brunch, they served cheeseca-aaaahh.
And what did I do with this cheeseca-aaaahh?
I'll tell you.
I mashed it up on the plate and swirled it into the raspberry sauce until it was a henious shade of chartruesse (which I spelled correctly on the first try!) and then heaped it back onto the gramcracker crust. When the waiter came to clear my plate he said slowly and with as much tact as possible, "...Are you done, Ma'am?" To which I replied slowly and with as much dignity as possible, "Yes."
Here's the truth guys,
I'm failing miserably. I ate a piece of Angel Food Cake. I had a pina colada (x3). And I've been snacking and seconding this whole month. It's discouraging.
But I'm still going. I've said "no" more than I've said "weeell...okay, if you insist."
Tomorrow I'm leaving for the Czech Republic where I'll be continuing my "no sugar" thing. When I come back, we just have TWO MORE WEEKS and then it's back to life as normal. And I'll finally get to eat that piece of frozen cheeseca-aaaahh.
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