Today is:

Day 23!!!!!

If you are still off the No Sugar and No Soda, it means you have made it half way through the challenge and are on the downhill side to day 45!!.  I am curious how everyone is doing?  Have you been able to stay off the sugar or cut back?  I know many of us were doing different things with it.  For some it opened their eyes to other habits. Kathy mentioned how although she had no sugar or soda, she found herself replacing it with other things.  That is true for me too.

I learned something yesterday at my Woman's Conference.  We live in a society where everything is instant gratification.  That is what we are accustomed to, how we live and how our society is.  If there is something we want we go and buy it. But when it comes to us having to learn something before we can do that task or skill, do we have the patience to learn it.  It takes alot of hard work.  We forget that all of life is a learning process and we must develop the patience to learn. 

So it is with the whole no sugar and no soda thing, it is something we have to learn.  Learning something most likely will not come over night or in a day or two.  We must develop the patience and perseverance to continue at it until we can eventually learn it.  As much as I got frustrated with myself last week, I know this is a learning curve for me.  One day I will be able to be dealt the curve balls I was last week and be able to catch them and throw them back rather than let them knock me down and out.  I just know I can't give up.

So with that said, and to "CELEBRATE" our success so far, I thought I would share with you a recipe I  saw.  I have not tried this, but it looks delicious!!!  If you make it please let us know what you think.  And now to the downhill side of Day 45 No Sugar No Soda Challenge!!!

Sugar Free Banana Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients:
Crust:
1/2 C. whole pitted dates
1/2 C. pecan halves (or any other nut)
splash of vanilla
1/2 t. water
! T. cocoa powder
optional: 1 T. unsweetened coconut flakes

Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese softened
1 very ripe banana, mine was black (I would use two next time)
1/4 C cocoa powder
3/4 C full-fat plain yogurt
1/2 C. Dates
1/2. C water
Optional topping: unsweetened coconut

What you will need: food processor, 9 inch pie plate, small saucepan, mixer, spoons

Directions:

Crust
Starting with your crust, dump all ingredients (dates, pecans, vanilla, water) into a food processor. Turn machine on for at least two minutes. Your crust is done when you can form a ball with your ingredients.
Press crust into a pie plate with your hands. Your crust will cover the bottom of the plate and a little on the sides. You can make it as thin or thick as you like. Set crust aside.

Cheesecake Filling
Use a stand-mixer or hand-mixer for the filling. Beat the cream cheese and banana together on low until smooth. Add the cocoa powder and vanilla and mix again until the ingredients are incorporated and smooth. Set mixture aside.

Put dates in your food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add chopped dates to a small saucepan with 1/2 C. water. Turn heat to medium high and stir until the water begins to boil. Turn heat down and let simmer for five minutes. Take off heat and let cool to touch. Add dates to food processor, turn machine on for two minutes.

Add date puree to cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Pour filling over crust and refrigerate for at least one hour.
Makes 8 servings.

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I found this recipe on the website http://www.myallnaturalweightloss.com. If you make this please let me know how it turns out.  It just looked really good and delicious!!!  It looks like there are some other good recipes there, if you want to give it a look over.

Good Job Everyone!!!