Whether
you’re trying to fit into that form-hugging dress for a friend’s wedding or
training for the next marathon in the Sahara desert, goal-setting is a great
way to get results and stay motivated.
I find goal-setting
a very helpful tool and the sense of accomplishment upon reaching my goal aids
me in other areas of my life as I realize, if I put my mind to it, I can do
anything (yes, even a diet with no refined sugar).
Last year, I
accepted a bet and successfully completed 185 days in a row of Bikram
Yoga. This year, without
provocation, I challenged myself to see if I could go 100 days in a row without
sugar.
This past
Tuesday was day 100. Mission
accomplished.
Was it
hard?
Some days,
yes. But overall, it was surprisingly do-able. I only found it difficult when I would see other people
eating treats or advertisements on TV.
But as the old adage goes: out of sight, out of mind. Truly.
What did it
entail?
Basically,
eating out was out of the question.
Every dish comes with some sort of sauce that inevitably has sugar in it
in some form. But I didn’t mind
this. Frankly, I can’t think of
one restaurant in this city that is the quintessential of culinary excellence
(this is what happens when you travel extensively throughout Europe). So I never felt like I was missing out.
No
alcohol. Yes, it’s been hard going
to the bar/patio to hang out and sip on water with a twist of lemon, or play
baseball in a BEER league, but I haven’t needed that drink so bad that I’ve had
to cave. Yet.
It forced me
to make my own food (god, I’m such a useless cook). But on the flip side, grocery shopping is so much quicker
and easier. I bypass all the
aisles because I basically only have to make two stops: the produce section and
the meat section.
That being
said, having no refined sugar has given me a chance to get the creative juices
flowing. When the sweet-tooth
craving hits me harder than usual, I’ve concocted some pretty tasty sugar-free
cookies (you guys have even tried some! Be honest, they're not so bad, right?)
What did an
average day of eating involve?
Breakfast: a plate of vegetables with almond
butter
Snack: Hummus with veggies
Lunch: Egg & Bean Salad
Dinner: Steak with asparagus and roasted garlic
The
benefits?
I’m pooping
1-2 times a day (I used to go once every five days). I have tons of energy and I never get that “I feel gross”
feeling after I eat. In fact, I
feel really good overall. Which is
why…
Instead of
the original plan of celebrating my No-Sugar milestone with an Extra Large
Banana Cream Pie Blizzard with extra whip cream and caramel sauce from Dairy
Queen, I’ve decided to continue with the no sugar lifestyle.
Don’t worry,
I’ll eventually have my DQ Blizzard (I’m not going to give up on ice cream) but
it just won’t be as often as I usually do (DQ is right down the street from my
place…and yes, they know me by name).
Have a milestone or goal you'd like to share? Let me know and I'll share it on the Beef Blog.
