Sunday, August 28, 2011

I Love, Love, LOVE Sugar!!


It's an addiction. I'm a sugarholic. And I need to lick the habit!!




We started off doing SO good, on my recent trip to Georgia. I made healthy, green smoothies for the first three days. It was a treat for the grandbrats, because I'd bought them new tumblers to drink them out of. (Hey, whatever it takes!) This is my six year old grandson.





We shopped for organic greens and fruit, and even popped in to see my nephew, Brad Gruno and the gorgeous Jaime Cahalan, (aka Girl Friday) while they were giving out samples of his fabulous
Raw Kale Chips, etc., at Whole Foods.
They would have smacked me beside the head if they knew what was to come!
They're all about health... and most of the time, so am I. I'm a raw foodist, for crying out loud!
But sometimes it's just really, really hard. Especially if you're addicted to something!





My granddaughter passed a really difficult test and got accepted into a fabulous school!
So, to celebrate, we all went to a nice restaurant.
With the great intention of eating something healthy.
This is the first thing we saw as we walked in!! (Not the kid. He was with us.)
How can anyone resist such temptation?!!!!





He was good and ordered a turkey salad, without dressing and water.
He didn't expect the egg-salad stuff and didn't eat it.
Here he is saying grace. The kid's got a good line of chatter, so even his prayers are cute.
And then it happened...





We ALL caved!!!! One... by... one.





And the slices are huuuge there!!!!





Some of us got a piece to go.





But by the time the check came, some of us (yeah, me too!) had put a good dent in it.
We went home and life went on.





Guess what happened a couple of days later. We decided to go there again!
Oh, Oh! Remember this temptation?
What's that old saying...
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome."





He's always so good when he orders his meals - turkey and healthy greens, with water.
He even takes the yolk out of the egg. He likes being strong. He works hard at it.





He boxes.





He plays football.
And he and my eight year old granddaughter both practice Jiu Jitsu.



She also boxes and loves being a cheerleader.





I love her moves. (I can do that. I just don't want to.)





After our healthy meal... we caved again!!
We all felt such a wonderful sugar-high afterwards.





And then the sugar-low!!
If you eat sugar products, you probably know that feeling.
And so, SO many others! Speaking for myself, it's migraines, lethargy, spaciness, etc., etc.
I read that young children, supposedly don't have that yet, whatever it's called, that gets people addicted.
Thank God for that! But, according to the experts, it's not good for them, or anyone, and our family has decided to do our very best NOT to feed sugar-products to the kids, or eat them ourselves!
Easier said than done!!





In desperation, I bought this DVD!
And on the night before I left for home, my son and I sat down to watch it.
It's by the brilliant, Nancy Appleton, PhD.





Still craving sugar on a daily basis, I thought it would be fun to watch the film while stuffing our faces with chocolate donuts!
Stupid, I know. But that's what I do. Any excuse to wolf-down sweets.
I was hoping that it would be our last hoorah, so to speak!!
Eat all the donuts and then, not eat sugary stuff anymore!
But it didn't turn out that way.
About ten minutes into the film, the donuts got tossed into the trash!!
OMG!!!!!! What an eye-opener!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!





I highly recommend the video and these great books, by Dr. Nancy Appleton.
Reading them is helping me curb my cravings, because the alternative is not something I'm a fan of.
I was sugar-free for an entire year and all it took was a little bowl of chocolate pudding to get me addicted again!
Some people can eat one candy bar and be satisfied. I need four. One right after the other.
I know how to make healthy, raw desserts and plan to lick the sugar habit that way too!!
It's just so damn easy to fall back into that trap, when sugar products are everywhere you look!












My youngest grandbrat is only two and just started childcare.
The first day the kids were fed; applesauce, a corn-dog, fruit punch and a Toaster Strudel.
Sugar anyone?!!
The following day, her parents were given a note saying they should bring food in for her, because she wouldn't eat it. Ya think?!
Looks like she's the smartest one of us all!! :)





If any of this sounds like YOU, and you want to stop the sugar habit, I hope you'll check out some of these books, Dr. Appleton's blog/website and especially the DVD.
(You can purchase them there.)





When the eight year old was two, she was strapped in her car-seat and going on a drive with her dad. When he stopped at a toll-booth and dropped in the change, he heard a little voice from the back yell, "CHICKEN NUGGETS!!"
We all eat healthier now! Sorry Mc Donalds. ~


For another post about sugar addiction and food allergies, please check this out;



There are SO many things to love!
I love comments and "Followers" too!
Thank you.




Signing off for now,
gabriele




16 comments:

  1. Gabriele, I empathize, but I haven't arrived yet at a place where I consider sugar to be the tool of the devil; I consider my lack of ability to say no to be that. (insert shamefaced smiley here)

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  2. Thanks for the book recommendation. She has great ideas on good nutrition. Having to deny what's around is too hard so I just don't buy or have high sugar products in the house. When I go out, my rule is no desserts unless they have fresh fruit as an option. I see the cakes lined up but they have nothing to do with me. As for the lapses- don't beat yourself up, just go back to what makes your body feel good. And keep exercising!

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  3. Grandmother, I'm with you - if I could, I wouldn't have one sweet thing in the house, but my husband has it everywhere so it's a constant battle for me, staying away from it. It's not easy! When I pig-out on desserts like that, I do put on some weight, but I lose it easily, so that's not a huge deterrent. It would probably make me hesitate a little more, before shoveling that stuff in my face. I love fruit too, so that's what I'm sticking with!!
    xxxx

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  4. sugar, the bane of our existence. that is so not an overstatement. thank you for this post. i may pick up one of these books, yet. i just may...

    love to you, dear friend.

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  5. Hi..I came over from Angella's...isn't it amazing how we find each other? anyway...I just finished watching the dvd Food,Inc. you talk about an eye opener!!...even if only half of it is true!...I will definitely look for these books and dvd's...I'm am so eager to learn more on this subject...looking forwarad to reading your past and future posts..

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  6. Angella, yes, it's hard to get away from the stuff. and it's 'hidden' in so many foods! Just not fair. The DVD is really great!
    xxxx

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  7. Ain't for city gals, I'm so happy you found me! That Angella! Isn't she nice to 'share'?! :)
    I've ordered the DVD you told me about. I'm always ready to learn more!
    (It's the remembering that throws me for a loop.)
    I'm now a Follower on your blog too. Good stuff!
    xxxx

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  8. Love Raw ~ Karolina, thank you SO much for the compliment!
    Especially since you have the most beautiful photographs on your blog!!
    For those of you that haven't been to Karolina's blog, please check it out. Gorgeous!! And YUMMMMYYYY!!!! :)
    Thanks again, my friend.
    xxxx

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  9. Hello friend! You did it again! Haaaa! I have the same problem with sugar! Your grandbrats are adorable. I actually read that book before "Lick the Sugar Habit". I love my raw desserts, they are so much better for you health and they taste great!
    Visit my new blog to see my paper craft creations. Http://marisadesigns.blogspot.com
    I hope to see you soon! Hugs!!
    Marisa

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  10. Hi Marisa, congratulations on your new blog!! It's lovely and so is your work!! You read the book? Great, we'll have to compare notes. Love my raw desserts too! I'm just too lazy to make them sometimes. (That's when I get into trouble. :)
    xxxx

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  11. Judy, thank you!
    I like your website!!
    xxxx

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  12. REAlly enjoyed this post with your grandkids; they are adorable. I am the lucky one; given the choice between sweet and savory, I prefer not Sweet. I live with my husband is a sweet addict; it is NEVER sweet enough; I seen him add maple syrup to his chocolate cake. Then he gets a sugar LOW...that's bad. Good luck with your withdrawal strategy and let me know what works.
    Rita

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  13. I think I have a bit of sugar addiction too. Thanks for all the different resources I can now check out!

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