october 2011 was a low point for me. a super duper low point. stress seemed to dominate every aspect of my life - family, volunteer work, school, personal. you name it, it was a challenge. then we added a puppy into the mix. a tiny, needy, 24/7 puppy. oy. then my grandmother's passing was the final blow. by the end of the month, i was raiding the fun-size butterfingers and twix bars from our Halloween bowl by the fistful and by 5pm i was feeling woozy and completely devoid of energy.
my rock bottom was an afternoon when i had to lie down right on the kitchen floor, i didn't even have the energy to sit upright for puppy playtime. isabel was nudging and licking my exhausted body begging me to play as i lay flat down and closed my eyes on the dirty floor. it was not a shining moment. in fact, it was downright ugly. my sugar demons had won the battle that day.
one of the perks of blogland is that i've read that a few of you out there struggle with the very same sugar demons. Jen D posted this story recently, Dana at Bungalow '56 recounted her sugar battle in detail last year, starting with this post, and I know that many others of you have offered similar stories ... in fact, Kerri just posted her 3-day diet a couple of days ago and Nicolle has long been the biggest champion of quinoa i know - she even has a whole sidebar dedicated to it!
by the end of last week, i was clearly in desperate need of some diet correction. so on monday i took the first step and cooked an entire box of quinoa in my big 5-quart soup pot. the beauty of quinoa, as evidenced by Nicolle's numerous ideas, is how incredibly versatile it is ... you can add anything to it and come up with a great meal. so this week my afternoons experienced a dramatic change when my lunches went from candy bars to a healthy quinoa combo each day. the difference in my afternoon focus and energy was incredible - and i never once had that unmistakable 4pm sugar crash. the verdict was certain - sugar was the guilty party.
here was one of my favorite lunchtime combinations this week ...
after cooking up a mega-batch of quinoa on monday, i stored the cooked quinoa in a large fridge container and was able to have lunch ready in seconds each day ... this particular combo adds uncooked broccoli, aduki beans, and a dash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. i have to admit that i added salt to this one - one demon at a time, folks. just warm it in the microwave for one minute and it's ready to eat! other yummy quinoa combos are: avocados & black beans, asparagus & goat cheese, scrambled eggs, cashews & scallions, raisins & pine nuts, green apple & cranberries ... the possibilities are truly endless ...
but alas, friends, my battle has only just begun. the replacement of candy with quinoa at lunchtime was only the first step. a single step in a very long path. now the question is ... where does the path go from here? The amount of information out there is totally overwhelming - and downright paralyzing.
Three things I'm considering ...
is anyone familiar with any of these? or do you have another recommendation altogether? i'm open to any and all advice ... don't be shy ...
one of the perks of blogland is that i've read that a few of you out there struggle with the very same sugar demons. Jen D posted this story recently, Dana at Bungalow '56 recounted her sugar battle in detail last year, starting with this post, and I know that many others of you have offered similar stories ... in fact, Kerri just posted her 3-day diet a couple of days ago and Nicolle has long been the biggest champion of quinoa i know - she even has a whole sidebar dedicated to it!
by the end of last week, i was clearly in desperate need of some diet correction. so on monday i took the first step and cooked an entire box of quinoa in my big 5-quart soup pot. the beauty of quinoa, as evidenced by Nicolle's numerous ideas, is how incredibly versatile it is ... you can add anything to it and come up with a great meal. so this week my afternoons experienced a dramatic change when my lunches went from candy bars to a healthy quinoa combo each day. the difference in my afternoon focus and energy was incredible - and i never once had that unmistakable 4pm sugar crash. the verdict was certain - sugar was the guilty party.
here was one of my favorite lunchtime combinations this week ...
after cooking up a mega-batch of quinoa on monday, i stored the cooked quinoa in a large fridge container and was able to have lunch ready in seconds each day ... this particular combo adds uncooked broccoli, aduki beans, and a dash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. i have to admit that i added salt to this one - one demon at a time, folks. just warm it in the microwave for one minute and it's ready to eat! other yummy quinoa combos are: avocados & black beans, asparagus & goat cheese, scrambled eggs, cashews & scallions, raisins & pine nuts, green apple & cranberries ... the possibilities are truly endless ...
but alas, friends, my battle has only just begun. the replacement of candy with quinoa at lunchtime was only the first step. a single step in a very long path. now the question is ... where does the path go from here? The amount of information out there is totally overwhelming - and downright paralyzing.
Three things I'm considering ...
 |
| this one is only being sold as a $15 e-book (downside), but it includes a detailed 8-week program (upside) |
is anyone familiar with any of these? or do you have another recommendation altogether? i'm open to any and all advice ... don't be shy ...
9 comments:
I think sugar is like a drug...the more you have it, the more you want. I am loving quinoa too....my fave is black beans, avacado, scallions and a little ff sour cream. One of these days I want to try it for breakfast like Nicolle makes it.
I found that it really only takes a day or two to start feeling better when you're not having sugar. I'm starting my 3 day diet again today. I hope you're feeling better SOON!
Sloan..like Kerri says above..sugar is like a drug. And I for one am addicted! I can't eat just one cookie! Uugh. I gave up sugar last year for lent and I swear.never felt better. My dad hasn't had sugar in 6 years! Not one bite of birthday cake..nothing! I haven't heard of any of those books..keep us posted. And...my entire fall has been stressful..wish we could get together for a cup of pumpkin spice latte..or a glass of wine! :)
I think Pam hit the nail on the head
. . . For me stress makes me crave more sugar. I gave up my daily walks because of sick kids and suddenly I find myself in bed at night ea ting mini candy bars like crazy. . . Which leads to some wild dreams!
Keep up the good work!
Hiya Sloan, don't be too hard on yourself...you have had a lot of stress and we always fall back on old habits when we are stressed. I am so, so sorry to hear about your Grandma's passing. I think you are doing great by eating a healthy lunch. The next step is to dump the candy bars..don't buy them. I keep a very small stash of chocolate in a tupperware container (so it stays fresh and isn't too available!). Also, if you are going to eat sugar, the experts say to pair it with some protein which will level out the sugar high. i am loving greek yogurt (good source of protein) these days. also, eating more frequent small meals(200 calories) is helpful in keeping from getting cravings. fresh fruit in small quantities would be healthy (berries & cottage cheese), too. small changes are good. and good luck with puppy..I remember those days!! hugs, cathy
Oh...I want to join this no sugar diet but I don't for fear that I will fail miserably. Let me know what you find.
Seems like you struck a chord with a lot of us! I know you can count me in as a sugar addict for sure! I can so feel the effects of it and the whole "wanting more" thing. I try so hard to keep my water up on days I seem to have more sugar then I need to. That helps a bit. So does exercise!!:)
I can't wait to see what you learn...please share...please!!:)
have a happy day sloan
Oh I love quinoa, as you have noticed. :) There is a quinoa pilaf recipe on the back of my bag that I'm going to make soon. Yours looks DELICIOUS! You are so right, it is so versatile and SO good for you. I think I read that it's one of the top healthiest foods you can eat. That makes me happy!
Sugar is a drug, I really believe this. I have always had a sweet tooth, so I crave it often. I am like Cindy, I try to drink tons of water, and that helps a lot.
Even though I've slipped a bit, what has helped me is having one really good sweet to look forward to each week, and then I just try to avoid it the rest of the time. Try the cinnamon and splenda and a dab of butter in your quinoa for breakfast. It gives you some sweet, but not the overload of sugar.
:)
Count me in as another sugar addict. I tell you, as soon as Oct 1st rolls around I dive in head first. I haven't been all about the Halloween candy this year, but I do want cakes, cookies and brownies.
I gave up soda for about 6 months a few years ago. And I barely ate any sugar during that time either. I felt soooo much better, but of course, I fell off the wagon and am right back in it.
I had a book about sugar that was really good. There is even a kids' version. I'll have to do a little research to remember what they are called. Let us know if the ones you've posted are any good.
Good luck! oh, and I just had quinoa for lunch today. Love your broc version. going to have to try that one.
Ok...found it. It's called Potatoes not Prozac. And the kid's version is called Little Sugar Addicts. They are good books. Going to check them out of the library again to remind myself.
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