Mamavation Monday: The Sugar Diary

When I started Mamavation back in June it was because I was trying to change my lifestyle too quickly.  I went on a drastic diet that made me so sick it was impossible to keep up.  The one thing that I have been really trying to get rid of in my life since that drastic diet was caffeine.  Caffeine is a huge problem for me, one because when I am stressed or tired it is a “comfort” for me; coffee, soda, chocolate… you name it, I want it.  To date, the only thing I still drink that has caffeine in it is soda.  This has been the hardest habit to kick.

What I have noticed since June, is when I am doing really good on the no caffeine thing, I end up substituting sugar for the caffeine.  Suddenly, I cannot get enough junk food; twinkies, candy, cake and other things I normally don’t eat I suddenly crave.  Now that I am aware of this, I’ve tried to keep it in check.  I’ve also started paying attention to the labels at the grocery store for “hidden sugar”.  The stuff is like crack.  You eat it in so many things and then when you deprive your body of it, that is all it wants.  If I start craving something I take a look at the label to see if any of this hidden secret sugar crack is in there, to my surprise, usually it is.  Things that I don’t expect to have sugar in them do, like spaghetti sauce.  Who would think that spaghetti sauce has sugar in it?

Needless to say I’ve spent a lot more on my groceries because this new-found awareness has secluded me to the hippie aisle- also known as the organic/natural/whole foods isle.  Last night when I made the Healthy Parmesan Chicken a previous InspiredRD recipe, I bought a $6 jar of marina sauce because it had nothing but tomatoes, onions, tomato juice, salt, and garlic.  No sugar added, no high fructose syrup, no other secret hidden sugar crack.  Normally I would go for the cheap $1.99 jar and add spices to it when I got home but the second ingredient in that can was high fructose corn syrup and the fourth was sugar.  There were more than 10g of sugar per serving in that bottle of spaghetti sauce!

Since I have re-started Mamavation and the 2 week challenge I have let the sugar ninjas on the loose.  They are cutting the hidden secret sugar crack wherever they can!  One thing at a time, one step at a time, my family and I will get healthy!  This year will be the year that I FINALLY lose the weight and get back to my pre-baby body weight.

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