As part of my Happy Healthy Mama Healthy Year Challenge, January is Cut the Sugar month! This is my week 3 update. You can find the week 1 update here and the week 2 update here.
Woo hoo! We made it through week 3 of the Cut the Sugar Challenge! How was this week for you?
The Highs
All I can say is I’m feeling goooood! I don’t know why I let myself slip down the slippery slope of sugar consumption. I know I feel so much better when I’m not eating sugar.
It doesn’t take long, friends. My taste buds have adjusted and have a lessened need for sweetness. I’m telling you, you can train your taste buds.
Most of the time, I need a very sweet fruit, such as banana or pineapple, to make my green smoothies sweet enough. I was making one this week and didn’t have any pineapple and didn’t want banana flavor. Normally without those, I’d add some dates for sweetness. I decided not to this time and just added frozen strawberries, spinach, lemon, ginger, and water. I loved it! It was perfectly sweet enough for my taste buds. Breakthrough.
The Lows
For me, this challenge is going very well. I couldn’t be happier. The only thing that’s bothering me is that my family isn’t doing it with me. I tried to get Tim on board, but he just didn’t want to give up sugar completely for a month. He has cut back slightly, but overall he’s still eating way more sugar than he should. It’s a hard line to walk as a wife who wants the best for her husband, but also doesn’t want to be a nag. I have to pick my battles sometimes.
The kids are doing it half way by default, since I’m not making any foods with sugar this month. They are, however, still eating some foods with added sugar, such as Larabars with chocolate chips, one of their favorite treats. I’m regretting not having them do the challenge with me completely, but without Tim it would be tough. Overall, I know they eat less sugar than the average kid, but I guess I’ll always worry some that they’re eating too much.
On to week four! We are on the home stretch. Now I want to hear from YOU. What were your highs and lows this week?
I love that I think cookies and other things made without any added sugar are now sweet to me. I made the no sugar added banana PB cookies for my work party and they were so yummy. My struggle has been convenience mainly in salad dressings. I am not good at making salad dressings by scratch. So that has been hard. My family is a little under the weather his week with coughs and congestion so I have had a little honey/cinnamon/lemon essential oil to help with the sore throat and cough. I must admit I did have a chocolate covered strawberry at my husbands work party. Ready for week 4.
Yes that is the best part! I have a few suggestions for store bought salad dressings but I will have to comment and let you know tomorrow. Sorry I’m answering these comments from bed tonight. 😉 It’s so hard to find good quality store bought dressings, but I have found a few decent ones without added sugar. Let me get back to you tomorrow!
I am curious about store-bought salad dressings as well. I typically use Garlic Expressions, but I’m sure there are better options out there without added sugar.
I’m sorry I forgot to come back and answer this! So the brand I’ve found to have some options without added sugars is Annie’s Naturals. There is Green Garlic and Goddess dressings, both without added sugars. The only problem is they are made with vegetable oil. I feel like there’s always a compromise. I have yet to find a store-bought salad dressing I’m totally happy with that has a quality oil AND no added sugar. When I’m in a hurry I often just add olive oil, vinegar, and salt. It’s not as tasty, but is quick and healthy.
First, I enjoyed the quotes that were in my inbox today. Thank you.
As for my sugar intake. I am coming right along, but as you say it should be getting easier. However, I felt last week was more challenging for me. It is almost like my body is craving something and I am not sure what it is. I have been making and eating my homemade chocolate date balls like there is no tomorrow. 🙂 Trying to fill a void?? I don’t know. But this week I am ramping up my veggies and will just keep plugging along. At times I seriously wished I had your phone number to get me through thru the rough patches. 🙂 Thanks for blogging and being an honest, real life blogger at that. 🙂
Oh, Kathy. I’m sorry you had a rough week! I think that it’s normal to have good weeks with bad weeks mixed in there. I think eating more veggies will help actually. Especially greens. Hang in there! I hope there are less rough patches this week. 🙂
Dear Maryea,
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sarena and I am a fellow blogger. I’m reaching out to you to share some information on ShiftCon. Shiftcon Social Media Conference was created to support social media influencers who care about food, wellness, health and the environment. This conference blends professional workshops, networking, parties, and intense collaboration of changemakers from all over the United States under one roof. With a solid focus on green content creation, food & environmental activism, organic and nonGMO food, social media marketing, educating the public, natural products, recruiting additional influencers and making this world better for future generations, ShiftCon is unique in its draw and reach. We invite you to come and connect with brands and people who are really changing our future and experience ShiftCon! As a fellow lifestyle enthusiast that loves to share on a public forum, I’m hoping you will join me in creating a healthier, happier future for us and our environment.
ShiftCon 2016 is set for December 1-3 in New Orleans, Louisiana! This is going to be an incredible weekend focused on eco-wellness education, food, fitness, fun and friendship! We are offering a special sale price of only $149 for the first 25 Influencer tickets sold. The price of $149 is $200 off the regular price of tickets. After those 25 tickets are sold, they are gone. The price will immediately go up to $249 “Early Bird” tickets which are still $100 off the price of a regular ticket.
http://shiftconmedia.com/register/
We are looking to add you to our circle of influencers. If you are interested in hearing more about the participating brands or agenda for ShiftCon, please let me know as soon as possible and I will keep you updated on the event.
Best Wishes,
Sarena Shasteen
Hi Sarena,
Thanks so much for the info! I will look into ShiftCon and see if it’s something that I can fit into my schedule and budget. It sounds like a great conference! –Maryea