Breaking Free from Sugar: A Journey to Control My Sweet Tooth
Written on
Chapter 1: A Sweet Temptation
I have a deep affection for chocolate. Reflecting back to my teenage years, around the age of 13 or 14, I once skipped school—a common occurrence, truth be told. My dislike for school coupled with the ease of forging my mother's signature made it all too simple.
On that particular day, I slipped out to indulge in a treat. With my own money from a paper route, I decided to 'reward' myself with a family-sized chocolate sponge cake filled with cream. It was a peculiar choice, as I couldn't share it without confessing my truancy. In my household, chocolate was a luxury reserved for special occasions, making the act of consuming an entire cake while playing hooky feel delightfully rebellious.
While I can't recall if I devoured the whole cake, I do remember the thrill of bending the rules, which can be traced back to my strict upbringing. Now, as a coach, I recognize that my chocolate obsession may be a lingering act of defiance against those rules.
These days, I primarily focus on a healthy, plant-based diet, so an occasional sugary treat shouldn’t be an issue, right? Ideally, it wouldn’t be—if it were truly only occasional. The problem arose when chocolate, cakes, or cookies were within reach; they would inevitably be consumed.
I manage fine when I don’t keep sweets in the house. I never feel tempted to buy them for myself. However, as a grandmother to two young boys, I prefer to have a small stash at home. I don’t want to be the "mean" granny who never offers a treat.
Several thoughts weigh on my mind. Both my parents and older brother succumbed to heart attacks, and my younger brother has undergone a triple bypass. With a family history of heart disease and the fact that I’m post-menopausal, I feel a pressing need to manage my chocolate cravings.
Although I didn’t want to eliminate sugar entirely, I also didn’t want to be the person who had to decline all desserts. Coming from a strict family, I cherish my autonomy and the freedom to make my own choices.
What I yearned for was a more balanced relationship with sugar. I wanted the ability to coexist with chocolate, cakes, and cookies and have the option to say no, yes, or just one.
Until recently, I had never achieved that equilibrium.
What Didn't Work
I explored various strategies to reduce my sugar intake while still keeping treats available for my grandsons and husband. I tried resisting completely, but that lasted only a few days before I caved. I also attempted allowing myself one sweet treat per week, which proved ineffective. Similarly, permitting myself one treat a day became a slippery slope of excuses.
Ultimately, nothing provided a lasting solution. I believed my self-discipline was stronger than that. However, upon reflection, I realized that imposing restrictions clashed with my value of freedom.
What Did Work
Frustration mounted as I pondered why I couldn't find the right approach. I decided to shift my perspective. In my coaching practice, I encourage clients to focus on possibilities rather than limitations.
Rather than designating days when I couldn’t indulge, why not establish days when I could? This subtle change in mindset was significant, as it transformed my outlook. I began to anticipate the days when I could enjoy my treats.
Week One: I selected one day to abstain from sweets, allowing myself to indulge on all other days. This felt manageable since it was just one day without treats. I documented this as a small victory in my journal, recognizing the importance of acknowledging wins.
Week Two: I decided to alternate sweet days. For instance, if I could enjoy something sweet on Monday, I would skip it on Tuesday. This felt effortless as I only had to wait until the next day. Another victory! Celebrating these wins releases dopamine, enhancing motivation.
Week Three: I experimented with two consecutive days without sweets. For example, if I could treat myself on Monday, then Tuesday and Wednesday would be sugar-free. Surprisingly, I started to hardly notice the absence of sweets on those days.
Weeks Four to Present: After trying various combinations, I settled on allowing myself sweets twice a week, spaced three days apart.
Did my relationship with chocolate, cake, and cookies transform? Yes, I still enjoy them, but I no longer feel an overwhelming attachment. This was the ideal scenario I aimed for.
Now, I indulge in something sweet about two days a week. After eight weeks, I no longer adhere strictly to this schedule. Initially, I did consume more sweets on the days I could indulge, leading to sugar spikes and crashes, which left me feeling drained and nauseated, reminiscent of a child let loose in a candy store.
Conclusion
Changing or establishing habits gradually is effective because progress occurs step by step. I often illustrate this concept to my clients using a staircase analogy:
If you try to leap from the bottom to the top of a staircase, you’re likely to fail and risk injury. Climbing one step at a time may take longer, but it’s a much safer and more manageable approach.
I take pride in overcoming this challenge, and I believe this change will positively impact my health.
For those interested in reclaiming their self-confidence, I offer a weekly newsletter. You can sign up here and download my free ebook filled with confidence-building tips!
In this video, Molly Carmel shares her journey of breaking free from sugar addiction, offering insights and strategies to build a healthier relationship with sugar.
This video provides effective tips for overcoming sugar and fat cravings, helping you take control of your eating habits and promote weight loss.