It isn't so much a choice as it is a necessity. Sometimes when you go to one extreme, you have to swing the pendulum back the other way to get on track again. Needless to say, I'm relearning how to eat...well.
Those of you who know me, and I mean really know me, would probably describe me as one of the most indulgent people on the planet. I love decadence. I love champagne, and steak tartar, and duck confit on a Wednesday night just because I can. That is what makes me, me. I have a real thirst for the luxuries of life.
This is also why up until now, living in the center of Manhattan has coincided with every fiber of my being. You can live life here to the absolute extremes. Sunday brunches with fantastic dj's and unlimited mimosas, dinner dates with friends any night of the week, bar openings, gallery hoping, movie screenings, soho shopping sprees...there are no limits here, period. But when you're told pretty explicitly that you need to quit eating sugar NOW, suddenly there are limits (BIG ones).
You don't realize, until you are forced to pay realllly close attention, just how much sugar the average person consumes daily. From your milk/juice in the morning, to your salad dressing at dinner, just about every meal contains sugar. Perhaps the biggest shock of all for me is realizing just how much changing the food in my life affects absolutely everything else in my life too.
Suddenly living in a shoebox apartment in the West Village with no kitchen space doesn't seem so ideal for a person who now needs to prepare their own meals. Going out dancing a few minutes from home doesn't have the same 'win' feeling when having to explain why you can't drink with everyone else. Everything from where I eat to where I hangout is now influenced by my new diet.
Now I'm on the eve of starting a new job and I can't help but wonder how I will maintain a sugar free life in the face of new stresses and deadlines. When you change your life-source (ie food) you undoubtedly change your whole entire life. And despite whatever alarming inconveniences/cravings I faced in beginning this new chapter, I feel my body changing for the better. With less sugar comes diminished anxiety, fatigue, and weight, which is replaced with clearer skin, more energy, and a much more balanced life.
This is just the beginning for me and with it comes a new thirst for life (a much healthier one too). And I'm beyond excited to see where this new lifestyle takes me.
Have any of you gone sugar free? I would love to hear about your experiences below.
Much love,
Meag xx
Good luck with your new lifestyle! I've always thought about going sugar free but it is so HARD. I think, maybe, I will eventually, though. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous illustration!
@Cindy, sometimes you just don't have a choice lol and that was the only way I was going to change my habits. I guess as they say, everything happens for a reason :)
ReplyDeleteYou're right, sometimes you don't just have a choice. :) Sometimes fruit tastes better anyway.
DeleteHope your doing well!
You are brave! You are smart! Yes, I gave sugar, salt a yeast away 4 years ago and I don't even miss it now and when I do go for a random sugar shot I don't enjoy it and wondered why I was so addicted. Basically don't eat anything white is what medicine fairy advised. Congratulations! It gets easier. Still have to give up milk although I have switched to low fat I occasionally get a full cream organic carton as a treat.
ReplyDeleteMiss Rashfree.
@Kim thanks so much for sharing! It is definitely encouraging to hear that other people have taken the no sugar plunge as well. I'm also only drinking low fat milk and consuming the most plain yogurt I can get my hands on. Hopefully it does get easier because right now the cravings are kicking again.
DeleteAll the best with this. I too have massively cut back on sugar. I've always been wary of fat, and blasé about sugar, which is just stupid. I saw a documentary a few months back about how sugar damages our bodies and I don't think I've bought a packet of sweets since. The good news is - it's gets easier, until you'll get to the point you don't want it. I also cut down on my alcohol intake which was BLOODY HARD WORK! But that too is now easier, I tend not to drink in the week any more and it never occurs to me in the evenings to drink. I live in a small city in England - if I lived in Manhattan I would struggle too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this, I hope it goes well!
@Hannah Robinson I think you're right in that fat gets so much more of the blame than sugar! Thank you so much for sharing. Yes it is especially difficult living in a city with so much temptation but that's what makes NYC the ultimate test of endurance. If I can beat sugar here I can beat it anywhere lol!
DeleteI too always watch my sugar intake. Diabetes is one of the biggest killers here.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do like to indulge in sweet things once in a while. If I know that I'm going for afternoon tea one day, I'll skip sugar the day before and after ;)
I admire you for trying to cut out sugar entirely!
I am, however, cutting down on spicy food because apparently it has caused some pretty bad skin sensitivity for me.
@Aggie that's really great to cut back in advance of a little treat! I'm hoping once I recalibrate, a little treat won't hurt like it would now :)
DeleteOh Meag! I'm right there with you... after an awakening trip to the dentist (yikes!), I realized I needed to cut down on my sugar intake. I haven't cut everything out... still have the occasional dessert when we go out to eat but have eliminated all candy, soda, cookies, venti ice chai lattes and anything overtly sugary from my daily diet. The first month was awful but it does get better... and you do start to crave less of it. Once you're conscious of your sugar intake, it's definitely eye opening. Good luck and it'll be worth it! (that's what I tell myself when I pass by those macarons!) =)
ReplyDelete~Joanna <3