I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU!!!

Today we start Day 6 of our challenge. Some are only doing the Sugar and some the Soda and some are doing both. But did you ever THINK you could do this for even five days? Now we are almost through our first week and look what you all have done. Last September when I did this I was a bit shocked I made it my first week, but then I knew I was on my way! And when others starting asking me “What day is it?” I just kept going!! So Congratulations to all of you!! I know it was hard to even begin to think you could do it.....but I knew you could!!! You are all an inspiration to me!!

So I have an incentive (kind of) for all of you. We have 39 days left right? Yesterday my friend Kirsten and I were talking about the blog (with her soda sitting next to her <g>) and she said, “not to mention the cost of it.” I stopped and said, “yeah, you just gave me an idea for my next blog!!"

Stop and think for a second. How many times a day do you go and get a soda from the convenience store? Figure they are at least $1 each. Just by giving up one of those soda's for the next 39 days, you would save $39 dollars? Do you know what you can do with that? If you buy the plastic bottles, they are about $1.59 here in Austin. What about a candy bar? Normally 89 cents here or so. Do you see how much that can add up to? Now what if every time you took that $1 or $1.50 and put it in a coin jar or savings container and let it add up over the next 39 days. At the end of this challenge, you can have a bit of mad money to do something for you!!! It is not taking away from the food budget, or other budgets. Lets face it, that money was never really in our budget. Right?

My thinking is when I spend $1, it's only $1, it's not that much. But just like everything else in life when it adds up, that is where I begin to see my problems. I did this years ago with every pound I lost I would put $1 into a jar I had. Then when I got to the end of my weight loss I was going to buy a new wardrobe. I did really really good at first, then my friend I was going with stopped going. I didn't drive at the time and there were no buses so I had no way of going and went back to my old ways.  Guess what I did with the money I had saved? Spent it on soda and sugar because I became frustrated.

STORY TIME

I used to live in Nashville and work in downtown for the st ate. As a state employee I could park free in the parking lot that was about 1.5 miles away and take the shuttle up to my building everyday. Yes that would have been the smart thing to do, but it also added an extra 15 minutes each way (at least) just to get to my building and back to my car at night. There were also paid parking lots near by that ranged from $5-$7 a day. When it was raining, or cold, or too hot that was my excuse as to use them. But then everyday I had an excuse and it became a habit.

Also very seldom did I bring a lunch, it was easier to go out and get something quick. Downtown Nashville has a lot of little eateries and on a good weather day I enjoyed the walk downtown. Subway was down the street, easy to go to grab a sandwich, drink, and chips for $5 and then head back to work. In addition we had the vending machines. Soda and chocolate for an afternoon snack, $1.50, wasn't that much!  My mom used to have a saying, "It doesn't cost very much if you say it real fast!"  So true!!!

I was paid very well at my job and could not understand why I struggled to make ends meet after my first month. I looked at my budget to see where I could cut back costs. I had just taken money out that day and I noticed there was nothing left of my $20 I had just taken out that morning.  That is when I began to look at what I had spent that day and gasped at the amount of money I could spend EACH DAY! I decided for one month to cut back on some of those things mentioned above. I parked in the state parking lot four times a week, and brought my lunch at least 4 days a week. I tried to leave the snacks alone but my cravings were so fierce. I did  manage to cut them down to once a day instead of 2 or 3 times a day. How did I do it? I only brought enough cash with me for the machines once a day. I also changed my driving pattern to work so  was not tempted to park in a parking lot.  If I didn't make my lunch, I didn't eat. No extra cash for anything.

I learned very quickly after just a few days, the money I was saving. I figured it was at least $300 a month, but that extra money sure made finishing out the month a whole lost easier. Think of that $300 over a years time. It was at least a few thousand I saved. I was totally amazed!

So like everything else, I have learned it is not chopping out the big things in our lives,but the little things that add up. This goes for everything!!! One of the things I noticed right away was that I was so much more peaceful and calm off sugar than back on. I was an emotional roller coaster and my temperament went through the roof. I hated that because I had worked so hard on getting control of myself then I went back on sugar.  UGH Me!! . Now I can tell I am coming back into sync again. And see, it is all fixable I don't need to beat myself up although I did give myself a good scolding.

So for me every time I THINK about getting a soda or candy bar, I am going to put an IOU in my jar. Ha Ha I don't have a job so no money, so I will have to owe myself like everyone else!! Ha Ha

Thanks Kirsten for the inspiration for today!!!! 

What will your savings container look like?

Let's Learn to Substitute!!

Bev inspired me yesterday when she said she had a craving for Hot Chocolate, but didn't like the Sugar Free hot chocolate packets so she was going to crochet instead. It is great that she found an alternative to stay away from the sugar.  But I know those feelings. As much as you try to suppress them,you still think about it and want.  (Sorry Bev for ratting you out!!! You inspired me though!)

My background is computer technical support.  Whenever you have a problem with your software and call into a help line....that would be me.  I know you are all wondering "Why can't you just fix the problem!"  Because all problems are different.  And when you work in technical support, if you are a good technician you will ask questions and learn to think outside the box. 

STORY TIME

This is an incident that was related to us on how to think outside the box on a printing problem.  An office had to print all their documents in the morning by noonish or so, otherwise their printer would stop printing.  That is what they knew and what they saw and how they dealt with it.  It was very frustrating not to be able to print all day long.  Any documents they got after the 12:00 noon deadline was a hit and miss and had to wait to the next day, or go somewhere else to print.  I am sure you are like I was the first time I heard this and laughed thinking those stupid people!!  They were just doing something wrong!!! Printers cannot tell time.  No, the printer couldn't tell time, and no the people were not stupid.  How did they fix the problem?  The printer sat next to a window.  When the sun began to set in the afternoon it shined through the window, overheating the printer and so the printer would not work.  In the morning the sun did not come in that window, therefore the area was cooler than in the afternoon when the sun shined in.  They resolved this problem by simply closing the blinds a bit to take the sun away from the printer cooling down the printer and the work area.  This story is about 20 years old and technology has come along way since then.  But you understand how you need to be able to think outside the box to resolve a problem?  As crazy as it seems, while at Vanderbilt University I ran into something similar.  One of our networks would go up and down all day long.  I mentioned this story to our technician and discovered when ever anyone got on a certain service elevator the network went down. It had something I believe to do with the electricity in the air, or magnetics or something.  None the less once it was discovered what it was, problem resolved.

So when Bev said she wanted hot chocolate, I went on a mission for her to find a substitute on how she can still have hot chocolate, crochet and stick with her No Sugar No Soda Challenge.  Here is what I found!!  It came with rave reviews so I thought I would share it here as a reminder, if there is something you want, step back and see how you can have it within your guidelines.  

Years ago when I did Weight Watchers, I loved Bacon Cheeseburgers but of course they were not on the menu.  I looked at what I had to work with, and I could still have the hamburger patty, and cheese in small amount and bacon bits.  So that is how I made my Bacon Cheeseburgers.  If you have something you have been struggling with please share with us.  Maybe if we all put our heads together we can come up with a substitute for you!!!

Here is the recipe I found, I am not a hot drink person.  Years ago I burnt my throat and mouth and so I get leery of hot liquids.  I have tried, but it is very hard for me so I just don't go there any more.  Here is the recipe, I understand you can change the pudding out with different flavors so I would be interested to hear what you try and what you think if you make it.  The link to the website where I found it is at the bottom of today's blog.

Fat Free Sugar Free Hot Chocolate Mix

Ingredients

• 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
• 1 cup Splenda granular (or other sugar substitute)
• 1/2 cup baking cocoa
• 1 (1 ounce) package fat-free sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
  

Directions:

Prep Time: 1 mins
Total Time: 2 mins

1. Mix all ingredients together.
2. Store in airtight container.
   

Add 3 Tbsps mixture to mug
Add COLD water (helps with clumping)
Heat to desired warmth


Fat Free, Sugar Free Hot Chocolate


Let me know what you all think!!!

My First Small Challenging Day:

Today some ladies heard me talking to a friend about the No Sugar No Soda blog. A little while later one of the ladies saw me eating some “chocolate” and said, “So what part of the No Sugar and No Soda category does that fall into?” I looked at her and held up the wrapper and said, “It;s Sugar Free”.

“So actually you are just substituting and not giving it up then” she said. I said, “No, I am breaking a habit that helps me stay away from eating the sweets.” Then I made the mistake of saying, “I know I can do this because last year I lost 70 lbs and I feel like it was largely due to giving up sugar and soda for 86 days. This year I want to lost 100 lbs.” She said, “In addition or total?” I said, “No in addition” and I realized I opened my mouth when I should have shut it. She just said, “Hummm” and I could see the wheels grinding.

Many thoughts have run through my head today as I have thought about this incident. It's not the first time in my life I have encountered it, nor will it be the last. I know we each have a different story to tell. I have heard the snickers, and whispers, and remarks my whole life. I have never been a small person nor will I ever be. My goal is to get smaller and healthier. And if I can help others by encouraging them then I will do that as well. This is not over when we hit Valentine's Day hit, it will only be a break.

I know my weight issues have have come from my childhood and my background. For years I have done all the diets, and they worked for a while, but when I went off the diet, the weight came back and then some. Then there are the emotional issues I have had to deal with. On top of it all, it is society's perception has beaten me to a pulp because I was not the norm for society or anything close to it.

I did what I had to do to survive in this world. I know part of my weight was my protective wall. I have used my weight for a lot of excuses. One of the main ones I am seeing is it gave me an excuse as to why no one loved me. Oh sure people said they did, but I knew they didn't.   Little did I know they did, I had to learn how to love myself and be loved in order to know I was loved in this society. Once I began learning these things and fixing the inside, only then could I begin to work on the outside. Learning those two things goes along way in the weight battle. Food is a comfort and safe place for many of us, but we need to figure out what is going on in the inside. If we don't fix the latter, I think our weight loss efforts will be a relvolving door that will never stop.  

 

I was very proud of myself today. For one, usually my feelings mentioned above would have sent me to the nearest chocolate (which there was nearby today) BUT it didn't. Because I have set my own rules and guidelines for me on this journey. It doesn't matter what any one else thinks, this is my journey not theirs. Just as it is your journey!! We are all in this together!!!

I can tell you from experience, for me last September I had to gain a bit of control of my life and this was the only thing I could control—the sugar and soda. The weight loss was a huge benefit I always forget about when I do it. Now I realize it is also the base of helping me get back my life, emotionally and physically. I was glad I had my Sugar Free Chocolate with me today, it came in handy when I needed it. As I have said, THIS IS YOUR JOURNEY!! Do your best, don't give up and keep trying, it will all come!!

Has anyone else had any challenges yet? Or has it been smooth sailing?

How to Combat the Soda Part

I found an article on Wikihow.com on how to Quit Soda in 9 Steps.  So this is the basis of my blog today:

1. Why are you quitting soda? One reason listed was saving money. I never thought about that!!! But yeah soda is kind of expensive when you buy the single bottles.

2. Find Substitutes!!! That is what I have said!!! They list juice, but I don't know if I would substitute juice, it is high in sugar. Although, occasionally I would have one. Number one substitute was flavored water!! That is what I said!!!

I agree with the first two, these may be helpful if you are trying to cut down.

3. Track your soda consumption – do you know how much you buy a week?
4. Make a quitting schedule
5. Buy less soda every week
6. Prepare for caffeine with drawl
7. Remind yourself why you are giving up soda.
8. Calculate how much sugar is in a bottle of soda.
9. ??? It is missing!!!

In case you want to read the entire article, here is the link:

How to Quit Soda Pop: 9 Steps

Okay let's look at this. I totally agree with Step 1 and Step 2.

Why are you quitting soda? I am quitting because I realized along time ago, drinking soda made my legs swell. I already have enough trouble in my legs with my lymphedema, I do not need soda to help them. Plus my flavored water I get, I enjoy much more. Not as fizzy, just a tad bit of carbonation, cheaper and works for me. But saving money was never the reason I switched to it.

Finding substitutes. When I began my No Sugar and No Soda in Sept 2009 that is when I went in search of substitutes. At first I drank a ton of water!!! I still drink a lot, but need to drink more. I rely too heavily on this flavored water.

I think the easiest for me in limiting myself with it or tracking it, is that I only buy one or two bottles. Then if I want more I have to go back to the store. Ain't gonna happen, not that desperate. Ha ha I am fortunate that I do not have caffeine withdrawls. Why? Are you ready for a funny but true story?

Storytime

I grew up in Iowa in a welfare family. My mom had to be very careful with money and the amount of treats we got. But she loved her RC Cola!! I remember one year at the store on Christmas Eve and we were picking out a drink for Santa. My mom talked us into getting Santa an RC Cola instead of milk. She just knew he would like it better, because all the other kids would leave milk. So he got RC Cola that year.

Anyway, in my days growing up, soda came in glass bottles with a bottle cap, not a can or a screw off top. My mom would buy the RC Cola and Pepsi for her, 7-UP and Root Beer for us kids. Now think about this, where is the caffeine? In mom's drinks. I had no problem with the Root Beer and 7-Up they are still my favorite sodas today. Now my brothers, they were all about the caffeine. When she would yell at my brothers they found a way to still have their caffeine and not get in trouble...at first. True story....they used to ever so carefully take the bottle cap off, and drink a few sips of the RC or Pepsi, fill it up with water and put the bottle cap back on, and put it back in the fridge. I don't remember this working for very long, as they went to get some soda and there was no RC and Pepsi and we had just returned from the store. We knew mom had hid it, but where? Are you ready for this? In the TOILET TANK!!! The water is cold and clean!!! I don't remember how we eventually found out where she hid it, but it didn't matter to me, I liked the Root Beer and 7-UP. So because that is what I was left to drink, that is what I like to drink.  No caffeine withdrawls.  By the way, anyone remembering hunting for "pop bottles" to turn in for candy?  We got 3 cents a bottle!!!  Man I am old!!!  Ha

I used to find it amazing that we would come home from the store and put the groceries away then go watch TV and when we came back for a treat, there was no more ice cream and cookies. My mom would say she hid them!!! She wouldn't tell us. So where would you hide them?   Would you ever think to hide them in the snow outside? It was cold enough to keep the stuff cold and the ice cream frozen. There was one small problem. One day while out playing I stumbled in the snow.  Digging in the snow to see what I stumbled on,  hit the jackpot!!  I found the cookies and ice cream!!!  Ha Ha Busted!! True story!!

Okay that was off tangent but you get the idea. Limit yourself. For me I substitute the flavored water but know I have to be careful still and limit myself as well and drink water, water, water!!!

So what is everyone else doing for the NO Soda part of the challenge (if you are doing it?) Anyone got a funny soda story?

Good Job on Day 3 everyone!!!!

Combatting The Sugar Portion....

Why is it we feel as though we must have that candy bar right then and there? Have you ever done that? Standing in line and right there is your favorite candy bar. We all have a favorite and it is most likely at the checkout stand as we are leaving. You hear it and it is screaming, “Wait you forgot me!!”

I was talking to a dietitian once and told her about my giving up sugar for a period of time. She found that interesting and asked, “Why do you feel you need to give it up?” I tried to explain to her my addiction to sugar and her comment to me was, “There is a piece of chocolate cake I have had my eye on now for two weeks in the cafeteria and it is still there. I know when I go back, there will be a piece of chocolate cake if I want it. So I tell myself, “I don't want this today, maybe tomorrow.” 

Two things I learned from her this day:

1. Those candy bars are ALWAYS going to be there the next day, I don't have to have one today for fear they won't be there tomorrow.
2. Do I have to have that candy bar or do I want that candy bar?

When I go through a checkout line and hear that Three Musketeers scream at me, “Hey Laura!! Here I am! Come get me!!” I think these two things, it will be there next time and is it something I have to have? The answer to those things usually help me get past the candy to the checkout line.  And just in case you are wondering, yes that Three Musketeers really talk to me! Ha!

Now don't get me wrong, I am in no way cured!!! I am far from it!!! But what I have learned is that I can control that sugar addiction and attraction a little bit more by creating new habits. I do ask myself these two questions and if I still feed the need for chocolate, I find sugar free chocolate to satisfy me.

Sometimes, GASP! I am not in the mood for chocolate but still want a “treat”. With that I do one of two things, nuts and fruits. I love Walnuts and I can get a small container for a couple of dollars. I also look for some fruit that looks tasty. On the days they have fresh pineapple samples, SCORE! I love that!! Sometimes, that is all I need to satisfy that craving--a sample. This Christmas I was given a dried berry mixture that was quite tasty. There was not the fructose and processed sugar content in it, although there were some sugars listed. I am just trying to find ways to break my habits and give me alternatives to the whole sugar addiction.

Another thing I have read that works for some is to limit your sugar intake to drop pounds. For me just limiting does not work, I need to find ways to cut it out completely. But if you are saying you want to try this No Sugar, No Soda thing but can't do without the sugar, try taking your Grams of Sugar down to about 30 or so a day and see if that helps.  Does that seem doable? 

Well that does mean you need to look at labels. So there are some options for you on No Sugar Thing. I have found lots of interesting articles on the net about this, that I will share along the way.  I am too lazy to do that, so I will just cut it out and live with it.

I have a little exercise for you.  We have all heard about healthy foods or what we think are healthy foods.  This is one of my favorite foods that I THOUGHT was healthy.  And it is healthier than most things, but when I saw the sugar content, I thought WHOA MAMA!! And my focus is cutting down my sugar content.  If I was to limit my Sugar Grams to 30, this would just about do it for the day.  Any guess what it is? 

 What do most of you have a harder time with the No Sugar? Or No Soda? What are your ideas on how you are going to combat this and succeed at it? Anyone have any major breakthroughs? I want to hear from you!!!

Just remember Day 2 is almost over and you all thought you couldn't get by one day!!! Yeaaa Us!!!

Day 1 -- So How Did It Go?

On Thursday nights I attend an addiction and recovery class at my church. I am sure Sugar Addiction is not one of the addictions they had in mind BUT I truly felt I needed strength to truly break my addiction to it. We go through a 12 Step Program and Thursday night the step was on Forgiveness. I have thought about this and how it relates to my own addiction of Sugar.

Because I am writing this the night before Day 1, I cannot honestly tell you if I made it through the day with No Sugar or Soda but that is my plan. I have thought of those who say they want to try this but don't think they can.....but yet they have signed up and are taking that first step. I truly believe the only way we can become stronger people is by sharing our stories. We all have “things” in our lives we need to overcome. For me, mine is more publicly visible because of my weight. I have heard the snickers, the cruel words, felt the glares – it all stings. As a teen I was referred to as an animal. Usually a horse or Ox or Bull. I could run to my sugar and free myself from the hurt and pain – because there was no one else to do that for me. Today when I get frustrated and see myself, I ask myself, “Look what you have done.” And just like the little girl I feel bad for letting “me” down and want to run for the comfort that has always been there. I have a hard time loving myself and forgiving myself because of my past.

Last night in my class, we were reminded one of the first people we had to forgive was ourselves. What does this have to do with Day 1 of No Sugar and No Soda? There may be some of us who don't make it past Day 1, or others down the road that will stumble. For all of us I ask we remember to forgive ourselves if we stumble. Look back at the day and see what events happened that made you lose that control to have the sugar or soda. Was it a headache? Jitters? Did you not even realize what you were doing till it was in your mouth? There are a million different reasons. Just don't be afraid to get back up and try again. Forgive yourself and don't be afraid to share your story!!!

Happy New Year 2011

We're here!!! Yeaaaa!!!

A friend has reminded me that today is

1/1/11

You see that? All one's! A new beginning!!

I don't normally do New Year's Resolution's, but Kathy asked us what they were on her blog and I thought it was a good idea. So I am cheating and ask all of you the same thing, what are your New Year's Goals. I am a big believer that by sharing our stories, our triumphs and stumbles it makes us all stronger. So here are mine:

Stay off the Sugar and Soda through at least Valentine's Day.
Find a Job!
Make it to WI to meet my cousins for the first time.
Continue with my daily prayers and scripture reading
Get a safer and better car
Go to the Temple
Go Back to school - at least a class or two
Get one of my books finished and published


I am sure there are more if I think about it. None the less here they are, I will be more apt to get them done. Ha Ha Please share your goals, remember it is the small baby steps that get us to the end!!!

Happy New Year everyone....I am anxious to hear your reports on your first day of No Sugar and No Soda!!

We can do this!!