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Blog Post 9- The Takeaway

writing - Bing images

After reading and reviewing my peers’ essays, I was highly motivated to edit and perfect my essay. There were many grammatical errors that I did not catch, even after many times of proofreading. Also, I completely didn’t consider that age progression in the title could be misconstrued, so I’m reconsidering another title now. While I do believe the essay has good bones, it is far from complete. I’m taking what my peers have said and reconstructing it.

            First, I am going to take the suggestions given and start with my background and then journey into the process of cutting out sugar. Also, I failed to mention the changes that took place in my body due to the lack of sugar. The peer reviews also mentioned that I didn’t have a scene within in my essay, and this is true, so I am in the process of adding one. Both peer reviews mentioned adding a chart about the increase in sugar within the United States in recent years, and I do believe this would be a helpful addition in my essay as well.

            Visual rhetoric is also something I plan to add. This was something I didn’t consider beforehand, but I do believe it would add an extra element that would benefit the essay. The takeaway is this- I am thankful for the peer reviews because it brought more to the forefront than I wouldn’t have considered adding. I look forward to making this a more appealing work of art that encourages and inspires others to cut back on sugar and to live life to the fullest.  

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Blog Post 8- A Heart Healthy Diet (Research)

www.bing.com/images

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in most racial groups. According to the Center for Disease Control, someone dies of a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States. Whether we want to make diet and lifestyle changes or not, it is clear that the standard American diet of fast food, frozen meals, and sugar laden drinks does not have a positive impact on heart health. It is clear that there is a problem here with the American diet that must be changed.

The American Heart Association reminds people that “it's the overall pattern of your choices that counts.” A heart healthy diet is about intentionality. Being aware of the foods you consume, and taking into account how these foods make you feel is important. Any foods that are ultra processed and “snack” type foods should not be the bulk of your daily diet. According to the AHA, a heart healthy diet consists of a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy sources of protein (mostly plant based proteins but if you eat meat then lean and unprocessed is best), liquid non-tropical vegetable oils, minimally processed foods, small amounts of added sugar, little to no salt, and limited to no alcohol intake.

While most of us aren’t willing to make all of these changes, it is absolutely possible for us to make some of these changes. Any intentional steps to a healthier you will result in a healthier heart and life. The American Heart Association also suggests knowing your calorie intake, and even tracking calories to stay within a healthy weight range. Their recommendation concerning physical exercise is to aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week. They suggest looking for ways to implement exercise into your daily routine so that you can make it a healthy lifestyle habit. Ideally, we would want to spread exercise throughout different days of the week.

Even though we Americans live in a busy and bustling society, if we take time to be intentional about our food and diet choices, we can protect our heart health. This subject is personal to me because diabetes runs in my family, and it’s not something I want personally to experience. I have seen the pain associated with heart disease, and this encourages me to be persistent in my health, fitness, and wellness journey because I know it has lasting consequences. Though I sometimes fall prey to sweet treats, sugar laden drinks, and French fries from McDonalds, I am learning healthy food swaps and practical ways to fit exercise into my weekly routine. I am no expert, but I have grown in my health journey because of this class project, and for that I am grateful.

The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations | American Heart Association

Heart Disease Facts | cdc.gov

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Post 7: The Birthday Party (Google Map)

A busy day is fun, but often there is great enjoyment at the end of it all, when you can be still and just rest. Here are the events leading up to the birthday party as well as what followed. The moments were fun, but let's see what happens when the birthday party is done.

There were plans for the day. Many plans with very little time to complete each of the tasks required for said success, and so we woke up early. Early for a Saturday that is and went out for breakfast at the beloved waffle house. There was some discrepancy about what we would eat, but after seeing the long line at the new breakfast spot we found our place at the Waffle House content to be eating breakfast there together. The lady at the front door was trying to sell us a coupon voucher. I said no, but was husband was being nice. “No thank you,” I said sweetly but, He bought one anyways. It had a waffle house coupon on it, but we didn’t even use it. Would we really be helping the boy scouts by purchasing this? I don’t think so, but who really knows.

After breakfast we took a short car ride across the street. The car now smelled of waffles and hashbrowns that our boys had devoured. With full bellies and happy dispositions, despite the unnecessary coupon purchase that we didn’t even use, we set out for Kohls to get the boys needed some new clothes. Looking at my son’s favorite pants that morning confirmed the need. “They aren’t high waters” he said…but they were. The truth was He didn’t want to get rid of His favorite pants. We had a budget. Our plans to stick to the list were grand, but we didn’t succeed. My husband tried to look for some clothes, but my youngest son who was on His heels hindered Him from doing so. We all walked out of the store with items we needed except my husband, who got the short of the stick that day. His wallet was much lighter after our trip there.  

When we arrived at my friend’s house in Senoia for her son’s birthday party midday a sense of dread filled me. Surely this wasn’t a water slide. My oldest son in the backseat looked panicked. “Mom, did you us bring swim clothes?” My silence told Him all He needed to know. He began to cry. I begin to formulate a plan. “It’s fine,” I said unconvincingly. “There are clothes in the back of the car that we can use.” These are the ones I had been planning to give away for the past month. “I will look for them while you two jump” I said. They believed me, and I went to look through the clothes I complained.

‘Why would she not put that on the invitation’ I thought. ‘This is clearly important information.’ But then I looked at the boys, they were happy…and not wet. Praise the LORD! It was not a water slide. It was just a slide. I yelled out to my oldest son, “There’s no water?” He shook His head. And we were all able to proceed at the party without weeping and gnashing of teeth. Crisis averted. I wiped the sweat off my brow and stood in the sunshine while my kids jumped and played with all the other kids. The only thing that would have made this party better was a lawn chair for me to sit in while I watched.

The mom conversation was wrapping up when we heard a loud cry. Someone was hurt inside the bouncy house. But who was it? My eyes went to the center of the bouncy house. It was Shawn, the birthday boy. “I didn’t mean to,” said the other little boy. I quickly ran to the bouncy house to get a Him out…but I got stuck. The entrance was big enough, but my black coach backpack got stuck in the netting. I helped Shawn get out, and then someone had to help me get untangled from the netting. Thankfully, I was able to get it undone quickly.

The party was over. Shawn was hit in the eye with a nerf bullet, and from close range. Not a good way to end your birthday for sure. So, the kids and I packed up and we headed home. The boys ate candy in the backseat as I prayed for Shawn to not have any permanent eye damage from the bullet that hit his eye. Once during a family nerf battle, I hit my husband in the eye with a nerf bullet and His vision was blurred for a week. I was praying this didn’t happen with Shawn.

When we got home, I heard the familiar, “Mom, I’m hungry.” So, I heated up some leftover pizza from the previous day. It was a simple end to otherwise more complex day. Dinner was eaten. Showers were taken. Above all things, we were quite happy to be home. It was a good day, but the ending wasn’t fun for sure. I messaged my friend to check on her son, and she said He was feeling much better. We all laid down and watched tv, each on a different device but in the same room. Though the house was messy, I left it alone. I was thankful that my sons weren’t hit in the eye with a nerf gun and that our house wasn’t filled with left over party cups and trash from guests. The party though fun, was enough excitement for one day.

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Blog Post 6: These are a few of my favorite things.

Blog Post 6: These are a few of my favorite things.

This is my second go around here at Clayton State. Three years after high school I graduated with my associates degree in Music and went on to Clayton State University. I changed my major to Communications and Media studies, but never finished. I got married, and we had two beautiful boys, but then, years later, I was reminded of something I desired from long ago. So, I went back to school with the Lord reminding me that He would be with me and He would help me complete this bachelor's degree. So here I am now.

The first time around in college I didn’t do my best. I was distracted by fun and friends, and I missed the joy of learning all I could in that season. This time I vowed to do it differently. I decided to give each and every class and assignment my very best. I wouldn’t just pass through; I would do it well. I would study and learn all I could with great intentionality. I can tell you this, I have enjoyed every second of studying literature and taken something meaningful from every class thus far, and I intend to continue in this manner.

So, looking back it is clear I have matured tremendously. And though I haven’t arrived I am pressing towards the goal to finish and complete my bachelor’s here and then after this to finish my Master’s Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. I am a avid learner, and I guess this explains my love for teaching. It is my opinion that the best teachers are lifelong learners. I am a teacher at a small but thriving Christian Academy. I teach music, and though the pay is meager the joy I have in teaching these little ones about God, my first love, and music, a strong third love right behind my family, it is my great honor and privilege.

I wasn’t always zealous for the Lord Jesus Christ, though I did love Him in the way that I knew how, which was mostly religious practices without any revelation of the relationship aspect of knowing God; it wasn’t a thriving relationship. After I battled with postpartum depression, I found the Lord in a new way, and I felt His close and tangible presence that transformed my life. I will never turn back to Sunday morning Christianity. It is dull and not what God intended for the human soul. Now I write Christian devotionals and have a ministry devoted to encouraging and equipping the Saints to be light in darkness. My life was changed forever by Jesus- not religion, and I will never again be the same.

I am Puerto Rican, and have a love for good food, family fun, and the beach any time I can get there. As a family we love to hike, camp, and play music together. I sing and play guitar, and my husband as well as our sons play the drums. Music is important to us.  I am learning to find great contentment in the mundane times by looking at this life as an opportunity and not a burden. To me living life fully means enjoying every single moment and learning from the hardships without staying stuck in the struggle. My heart is set on living every day for the glory of God alone, which you see written in Latin as Soli Deo Gloria. My life isn’t perfect by any means but it is good because I believe in a good God who works all things together for my good and His glory.

I found hope in the cross of Jesus Christ. He renewed and restored me by pulling me out of the pit, setting my feet on a rock, and by putting a new song of praise in my mouth. Now I am overwhelmingly grateful to be alive, and thankful to be where I am; here, writing to you. I know that not everyone shares the same beliefs as me, but I do believe there is great beauty in each person’s story, and I feel there is great power in sharing it. In relation to my story, here are the bible verses I claim:  

Psalms 40:2-3

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear and will trust in the LORD.

            May your life be filled with great joy and peace as you go forward in accomplishing these many goals to better yourself and your future generations.  I am cheering for you.

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Blog Post 5: Valentine's Day

Blog Post 5: Valentine’s Day

Planning ahead makes things much easier. We didn’t do a nice dinner on Valentine’s Day this year. We kept it simple. My boys and I went to dollar tree to get some snacks and treats to fill each other’s bags with, as well as a cards. It was honestly fun just picking out the small treats together. While we were in the dollar tree an older gentleman gave my boys a peppermint. This made their day. But then, while we were checking out Him and His wife bought my boys a Valentine’s Day balloon as well. They were so excited to play with those balloons when they got home.

I expected all the sweet treats to pile up this Valentine’s Day, and they did. The day started with Bo-berry biscuits from Bojangles which I decided before hand I would not partake of. I brought them home for boys, and they are still in the fridge.  I work at a preschool and teach music there. It’s the best job in the world and even though I don’t get paid very much, I truly love it. But, on this particular day I was helping in the baby room with Mrs. Karen. The kindergarteners so sweetly brought me gummy bears and I sent them to my room for lollipops.

There were bags of sweet treats, a nice big red heart filled with chocolate, and then one of my other students brought another chocolate heart for me. It was kind and thoughtful; they just didn’t know that I was fasting from sweet treats. Thankfully, I did get one gift, from the teacher I was helping. She got me a Bath and Body Works candle and some body wash. Now that I could use! All the gifts were great, but I knew I wouldn’t be eating any of the sugar.

When I got home, we each signed the cards and got started on our Valentine's Day as a family. The kids opened their bags of snacks, sweets, and encouraging cards, then we did. My husband got me some flowers and a caramel chocolate bar that was sweetened with stevia. The funny thing is, I bought one of those for myself and put in the little red bag from the dollar tree. I also had a sweetened with erythritol Body Armor drink. We watched Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile as a family as we ate our snacks along with some pizza. It really was a relaxing and fun family night that we all enjoyed.

The Christmas bag is now filled with all the sweets from Christmas and Valentine’s Day treats that I can’t eat. This bag is still sitting beside me filled to the brim as I write to you. Really, it doesn’t bother me as much now. The less sugar I eat, the less I crave it. On Saturday we went out to a nice bakery as a family, and I did order a sweet and sugar laden treat. But I only ate half of it. It was good at first, but then it tasted too sweet, and I could tell my body was done. It is sitting in the fridge now uneaten. I’m learning. I do believe my sugar addiction is completely broken. Now my mind is set on what needs to be my next steps in relation to limiting my daily sugar intake when I’m off this fast.

It really does feel like freedom. So, I want to encourage you today in saying, “the less you eat the less you crave.” Honestly, sugar has long been a go to crutch that I have relied on. Now the sweets have lost their hold on me, and this is the way it should be. I still love celebrating, but I’ve learned so much about self-control and refusing to drink the Kool-Aid, or in this case eat the sugar, just because everyone else is doing it. Just because others eat junk, doesn’t mean we should. It’s a choice to respect and honor my body and my life by choosing to eat what makes me feel good. And that, is a huge accomplishment for this sugar loving girl.

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Blog Post 4: Looking back to move forward.

Blog Post 4: Looking back to move forward.

This week I’m remembering the why. I truly believe your willpower will only be as strong as your why. So, I’m taking you back to my why, which takes us back almost six years to the birth of my second son. It was a beautiful day, when He was born with His big brown eyes and brown hair making me the proud mom of two healthy boys. Except I still remember the nurse coming in every hour and pricking my youngest son’s feet. It was horrible. I was tired, He was tired, my husband was tired, and all I wanted to do was sleep, but the nurse had to check His blood sugar.

Why? Well because I had gestational diabetes all during the pregnancy leading up to the birth of my second son. My Dad had triple bypass surgery about three years ago, His mom had type 2 diabetes and later developed Alzheimer’s, and my aunt has type two diabetes as well. The gene pool clearly wasn’t flowing in my favor and the sickness seemed to trickle right down to me. The symptoms were low mood and a lack of energy, but I was mom. So, I chalked it up to job description. I mean, all moms are exhausted right? Apparently, these were warning signs of what was to come, I just didn’t know that at the time.

I ate sugar free chocolate pudding every day after dinner to curb my sweet tooth in a healthy way and took walks when my sugar was especially elevated. After I had my son, and after the heartache of hearing Him cry when the nurse checked His blood sugar, I moved on with life, sweets, and all. But a couple years ago I was diagnosed with chronic gastritis and acid reflux. So, this is when I became a vegan. I let go of the meats and cheeses, filled up the fridge with vegetables, and watched many documentaries about how diet is connected to overall health. My favorite documentary is still “What the Health” by Kip Anderson. In this documentary, Kip uncovers the secret to reversing chronic diseases.

After years of living a vegan lifestyle and seeing the health benefits including clear skin, good digestion, and overall increase in energy, I began to get lax in my efforts and became a vegetarian, and now I eat meat again. The point is that those habits are only as effective as my ability to maintain these healthy eating choices consistently and over a long period of time. Now I am focusing on eating healthy foods overall. I’m pulling back out those old but loved vegan recipes including crispy tofu with quinoa and steak seasoned zucchini. I even put some of the candy from my Christmas bag into the communal candy pile for someone else to devour. This may sound small to you, but it’s a big deal for me.

I said no to Super Bowl brownies and key lime cake last night, as well as all the diet sodas that I used to love. My favorite soda used to be cherry coke zero. The point is that Americans, myself included, consume too much sugar. I know I did, and I now must come up with a game plan to leave the sugar where it needs to stay, on the shelf for special occasions. According to the American Heart Association Americans on average consume 20 teaspoons of sugar per day while the recommended daily amount of sugar is 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men. Beverages make up most of our sugar consumption at a whopping 47% which include soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and tea. The second leading cause of excess sugar comes from snacks and sweets at 31%.

The point is, sugar consumption has gotten way out of control, especially in the United States, and we need to be aware of the risks associated with excess sugar which include chronic inflammation, tooth decay, acne, advanced skin aging, weight gain and obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, brain loss, cancer, and premature death. Sugar though sweet can be deadly. It’s recommended by John Hopkins Medicine that we avoid sodas and other sugar sweetened beverages, reach for fruits instead of candy, cookies, or other sweet treats, read ingredient labels, and watch for sugar aliases. As it turns out, smoothies with no added sugar still taste sweet because that’s how they are made naturally. If we stop and think before we run to the sweets isle, in the future we will be happy with the choices we make.

            “Always begin with the end in mind.” - Ellen Muth

References:

“How much sugar is too much?” American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/sugar/how-much-sugar-is-too-much

Ndumele, Chiadi. “Obesity, Sugar, and Heart Health.” Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/obesity-sugar-and-heart-health

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Blog Post 3: The Circus and Birthdays

Blog Post 3: The Circus and Birthdays

I am person who believes in celebrating life. Those who know me best often hear me say, “Happy Tuesday” or “Happy Thursday.” Really every day is a happy day to me, not because of joy inducing circumstances, but simply because it’s another day to live and grow. I believe that everyday merits cause for celebrating. Really. This is how I approach life. The only issue with celebrating every day is that most people celebrate with cake. Before this sugar fast my daily celebration was midday tea and cookies. I highly suggest this if you’ve never tried it. It’s like teatime in Britain which is normally between 3:30 and 5 pm, except it’s right in your own home.

This weekend we went to visit my family in Alabama. It’s a four-and-a-half-hour drive which entails us being cramped in the car, but it is always worth it. My grandmother who is almost ninety years old lives in the back woods of Alabama with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. When we stop seeing gas stations and well-known food joints, we know we are getting close. And they, like me, believe in celebrating life. So, spur of the moment we decided to go to the circus, since we always make time for fun events. We got in the car and drove about 30 minutes out to this aluminum building where the circus was hosted.

After paying, we walked in and saw all the treats and snacks readily available for a hefty price. “Mom, I want a slushy and cotton candy,” my youngest son said. I told Him with firm and unwavering love that He could only get one sweet treat. Childhood diabetes is a real thing, and that’s not something I want in our lives as far as I can help it. Unfortunately, I made the rookie mom mistake of getting my kids the slushy before circus started, so midway through they were asking for popcorn, but I refused to spend more money. I already spent ten dollars and that was enough.

Really, being at the circus didn’t trip me up as far as my diet goes. Everything was so expensive, and I didn’t want to spend any additional money because we had planned to eat out afterwards. And after the circus, at Zaxby’s, I ate a salad with ranch dressing and drank ice water. I had some fries with dipping sauce too. But, before the circus my mom and I went to the dollar general in town and picked up some vanilla cake with chocolate icing for the birthdays we were celebrating that night. My cousin Kinsley was turning fifteen, and my uncle John was turning sixty- five. While we were at the circus mom had already baked the cake and it was ready for the surprise party for Kinsley.

I didn’t think the cake would bother me until we got home, and then I realized it might be a bigger issue than I anticipated. As I placed the pink and gold candles in the cake, I noticed that it was especially moist. The cake was an issue. Even so, we sang Happy Birthday and Kinsley blew out the candles as I longingly looked at the chocolate that dripped off the sides. My mom heated up the icing to make it tastier. I cut the cake giving a piece to my youngest son and everyone else. “This cake is perfect. It’s so moist. What did you do differently?” I asked my mom. Apparently, she whipped it longer. This makes boxed cake mix even better.

Surprisingly, I sat at the table and served my family. I talked with everyone and cut many pieces of cake, but I didn’t partake. Food is very much a community event in most cultures. When I was growing up, we used to sit around the dinner to eat and talk. We had a lot of great conversations there. Occasionally there would be sweets, but really it was about just being together and enjoying life. I now see that we don’t have to eat junk to be apart of the fun. While sweets are tempting, it is more important to be fully present with the people that are around you.

It's been twenty-five days since I’ve had a sweet treat. Since then, there have been numerous opportunities to eat and enjoy, but I really don’t crave sweets anymore. Apparently, the less sugar you eat the less you crave. Sure, I could have enjoyed a large piece of vanilla cake with chocolate icing. Yes. It would have been delicious. But because I didn’t eat the cake, I had the opportunity to serve others and to see their happy faces as they ate. I have realized that I don’t need sugar to enjoy life. I can still celebrate life while abstaining from brownies with vanilla ice cream, apple pie, strawberry cake, and chocolate chip cookies. Sweets do give you quick energy, but they also leave you wanting more a couple of hours later.

I don’t think I will become one of those overzealous “no sugar ever” people, but I do believe this has set the stage for healthier choices. As it turns out, cutting back on sugary treats isn't the end of the world. And if I decide to do this again, I will remember these moments of strength. I’m not running to Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks for a quick and sugary pick me up anymore. And while donuts are delicious, maybe I can learn to make them at home with stevia instead. I want you to know too that it is possible to cut back on sugar and still enjoy your life. I know. I didn’t it was possible either. But I also want you to know that if I can do it, you can do it too. And maybe at birthday parties, you and I can learn to look at the people around us with gratitude instead of only the cake that’s in the middle of the table.

So yes, small steps of progress are to be celebrated, but not necessarily with a piece of cake.

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Blog Post 2: Camping and S'mores

Camping and S’mores

We were headed to South Georgia for some family camping. The car was cramped, and the kids were tucked safety inside their car seats with sleeping bags packed as unwanted cushions all around them. As it turns out, a Camry is a good family car, but it is not large enough for those families who desire to go camping in the middle of the woods. Honestly, primitive camping is something I would much rather go without. Perhaps I could fast from primitive camping? That would be a fast I would greatly enjoy.

Even so, we were headed to camp in the middle of the woods that my husband’s side of the family’s owned. It was a great and beautiful expanse of acreage smack dab in center of nowhere. The truth is I’m not accustomed to glamping, but I do believe that women need a bathroom. With men it’s quite a different story, but me, bring on the community bathrooms in the middle of the state parks and well-known campgrounds. This is my cup of tea.

            We stopped by my husband’s grandmother’s house to use the bathroom before we drove into the woods where we would be staying for the next few days. I thanked God for the indoor plumbing and then headed out into the cold night with my family. The tent was simple to put together, but we had a little trouble starting the fire. The temperature had already plummeted substantially. It was supposed to be in the thirties at night all weekend. Thankfully, we purchased the 30 degree sleeping bags and had the space heater so that none of ended up sick by the end of the weekend.

            By the second night we all had our share of fun, but my oldest son especially was ready to get inside the house. “I’m ready to leave and go up to Memomma’s house but I don’t want to spoil Dad’s fun” he said. I truly do love camping. I have nostalgic memories of family camping on Jekyll Island and eating shrimp and grits for days because my dad always got a bargain on local shrimp. There were always delicious dinners, and smores. Once we even roasted them in the tent with a lighter, but Mom thought they tasted like lighter fluid, so we only had one.

            “I’m going to the store to get food,” my husband said that morning. So, me and my sons went and took a hot bath indoors at Memomma’s house to warm us up after the long night. By the time we got back to the campsite it was lunch time. We had just finished shooting practice (our boys have Red Rider BB guns) and my husband said, “Who’s ready for lunch.” We had pretzels and hotdogs. I noticed the bags in the back of the car. Haribo gummy bears and even a plethora of delicious s'mores ingredients. I thought about having one s'more and ten gummy bears.

“Mom, can my make my s'more,” said my youngest son. So, I did. I sat patiently by the fire laboring for a hot and delicious smore that I wanted to eat so badly because really, what is camping without smores? I mean really, is it even possible to go camping without smores? It’s unamerican I tell you. But, I made my youngest son His smore and watched the white turn to golden brown. Then I grabbed the s'more maker and assembled the graham cracker, marshmallow, and chocolate as is custom, then watched the chocolate melt off the sides.

Honestly, I wouldn’t suggest camping without s'mores, but as it turns out, you can camp without s'mores. We walked through the woods, shot BB guns, played soccer, ate snacks, made mac and cheese, and looked at stars. The s'mores and gummy bears were eaten but I ate none. That second night I had a banana and some sleepy time tea without honey. And even though I prefer camping with s'mores, as it turns out, you can go camping without them. I know, I didn’t think it was possible either.

When we got back to our house my mom made some cakes to share with us. A strawberry cake, and a strawberry cheesecake. Both are my favorite. And she never bakes like this except on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then, when I got to school this morning there was a table of free delicious Dunkin Donuts with sugar laden Sunny D juice. I passed the table to write to you. Apparently, the world is trying to trip me up. But I have seen that my self-control has grown tenfold over these past couple of weeks. Where I wouldn’t have hesitated to eat at least one of each of these things, I abstained. So, I’d say that’s progress.

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Blog Post 1: "Hurty" Thirty

“Hurty” Thirty

“Hurty” thirty my husband calls the thirtieth year of life. He likes to use the analogy that people are like cars, always deteriorating. In my most Christian voice I said, “I rebuke that lie in the name of Jesus.” Sure, we were getting older, but I didn’t have to claim ailments just because of that. In fact, I refused to claim ailments and sicknesses just because of the increase in years. ‘I claim health and wellness’ I thought to myself.

I used to run cross country. I was terrible at track and way too slow to be a help to my long-legged teammates, but I found out that I did have endurance. I still remember attempting to race in the four by four. The baton was handed to me and I was off, only to literally stop right before the finish line because sprinting was not my thing. There were students in the stands who pointed and laughed. It was an awful day, but I did learn that I was a long-distance runner equipped for slow and steady progress.

So, I found my place with the other long-distance runners on the cross-country team. I never won a race, but I always finished. That had to count for something right? It did for me. As I grew and matured over the years, I learned the value of endurance. Pressing forward amid struggle was a gift, and it was cultivated in cross-country racing. “The mind is the athlete” my coach would always say. So, I am challenging myself, mind, body, and Spirit at the start of this new year to kick some old hurt bearing habits.

During Thanksgiving and all the way past Christmas I overindulged. I had cakes, cookies, pies, Christmas candy, and tons of hot chocolate. Yes, I’m an adult and I love hot chocolate. I honestly even love to put the little marshmallows on top with some whipped cream for good measure. I act like I make hot chocolate for my two kids, but it’s mostly for me. I enjoy our Dunkin Donuts dates just as much as they do. After all, who can say no to a sugar laden drink and donut that keeps you going until your next fix? Not me!

Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. You know. Do you also keep your Christmas candy in your room, so no one eats it? I do. And sharing the Christmas candy, well, is it so hard to give up those Haribo gummy bears and Godiva chocolates. I know it is. Because sugar is addictive. Between all the candy, creamers, cupcakes, and Christmas treats that are on sale now, it’s so hard to say no. Right? Exactly! And as I write this to you, I currently have a sugar headache because it’s been seven days of no sweet and addictive treats.

That’s right. You heard me. As I type this out, I am longingly staring at the Santa Claus Christmas bag which houses my beloved cookies, candies, and Hu chocolate bars. As it turns out, just because it’s vegan chocolate doesn’t mean it’s healthy for you. I know. When I found this out, I was so disappointed too. But here’s the truth, studies show that when we eat sugar it releases dopamine in our bodies, which just keeps us coming back to it for the next high. According to Healthy Simple Life, sugar can even be more addictive than cocaine. That’s sobering for sure.

Now that we are on the same page, I want to tell you why I’m what I’m doing. I was complaining to my husband about two weeks ago. “Ugh. These pants are too tight.” And He simply said, “Get new ones.” I considered it for way longer than I should have then said, “I don’t need to get new pants. I need to lose weight.” Friends, I’ve been the same size since I graduated from high school. I say that with overwhelming gratitude, but I also realize that if I keep up these unhealthy habits then I will not remain this size much longer.

My husband ruined me. (It’s easier to blame him that to actually take responsibility.) Before we got married salad was my favorite food and I chose it above almost every other food. Then I got married, and now I love sweets. My husband does too. So, we both have gotten into this unhealthy routine of living life for today, and that includes copious amounts of sugar. Of course, we wouldn’t want to admit that to anyone, but today I’m being brave and telling you.

After New Year's Eve, I decided that I had to give it a rest. All the sugar was hurting my body, making me dependent, exasperating my acid reflux, and making me feel stiff at music class when I was dancing with the children I teach. Forty days of no sweet treats or delicious donuts sounds daunting, especially when your family isn’t fasting from sugar too.

So, I am doing these forty days without sugar to purify my temple, this body that God has given me. Beauty starts within and I want my body to be a healthy place so that I can radiate without hindrance. After these first forty days, I will be implementing healthier eating habits, introducing less processed sugars (stevia, monk fruit), experimenting with wholesome cooking, and abstaining from sugar (all sugars) one day a week.

Join me in the highs and lows of this new journey I’m on. And, if you feel so led, drop the sugar with me and cultivate your inner beauty so that others will see and join us in making health and wellness a lifestyle. Let’s choose to be truly beautiful inside and out.

References:

Anna Schaefer. Experts Agree: Sugar Might Be as Addictive as Cocaine. Heathline, https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/experts-is-sugar-addictive-drug.