Raven’s Range
Blather around a virtual range

When I was a kid growing up, sugar was a “fake” swear word that our no-nonsense parents dealt with in the same way as the rude word it covered up. I sort of get the idea that in more ways that one they had the right idea. ;)

• Sugar covers up the natural flavors of things.
• It covers up our ability to distinguish between thirst and hunger.
• It covers our ability to enjoy natural foods because we crave the junk.
• It’s addictive.
• And it’s in abso-sugar-lutely everything. ARGH! It’s even in my favorite snaps, snapeas (but not one of the first three ingredients)

Today was my last day as a regular at the Sanctuary. I brought cookies and cheese straws and someone else brought doughnuts. There were maple doughnuts.

I love maple. I actually acquired my taste for it in England when I used to buy “American-style pancakes” from the supermarket. Then a Canadian friend sent me real maple candy and syrup and I was a lost cause. Now, at least that’s a natural sugar, but the maple flavor is a failing of mine and so I grabbed, without thinking, a maple donut and devoured it.

There were some people to whom I wanted to say a few words, hand over contact information, etc. Those people were faced with a hyper me, speaking too fast, because I was in the throes of a sugar high. There are only three circumstances under which I become excessively garrulous: one is when I’m happy and in good, comfortable-seeming company, one is when I’m nervous, and the other is when I’m having a sugar high.

Well, today’s verbal diarrhea was doughnut-induced. And now that the effects of all that sugar are wearing off, I have a headache, I’m a tad embarrassed and I’m possibly going to need a nap. My brain stops working: I can’t write in a straight line, and I just tried to screw the water bottle cap back on my bottle of vitamins.

Sugar is poison. I keep forgetting.

So, I’m going to try to quit. I’m at risk for diabetes, things have been shifting inside me emotionally and mentally, and it’s time.

For a period of three months–let’s say until the Autumn Solstice–I’m going to try to not buy sweet things. I can’t avoid sugar entirely–it’s in everything. But if I go to a coffee shop, I’ll buy a bagel/sandwich instead of a scone. I won’t buy any more ice cream, other than the almost empty pint of Ben & Jerry’s in my freezer, which I will eventually finish. There will be no more grabbing anything other than a diet soda–if I’m out of my diet cream soda, I’ll reach for the water.

Maybe I’ll even use up that bottle of unsweetened cranberry juice that’s been sitting in there for months.

After the solstice, I will see how I feel in terms of weight, energy and what I eat and if I feel okay about things I will allow myself an occasional treat such as a good-quality box of chocolates to eat slowly over a period of weeks. I will be more careful about the products I buy and there are some things I can’t bring myself to give up yet, like ketchup and BBQ sauce. But right now my fridge and closets are about bare, which means I can actually do something major with our next big food shopping trip.

Anyone else want to play? If you do, I’ll post progress reports from time to time and we can compare notes. :)

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