Sugar-free? Me? Easy peasy!

2015 is here! Big things are going to happen this year. I can feel it!

So, on January 2nd, I started doing a no-sugar challenge. I have quite the obsession with chocolate and baked goods to the point where I couldn't leave the house in the morning without grabbing a handful of chocolate chips. I was convinced I had a sugar addiction and I was determined to beat the habit!

The term "sugar" is very broad. It includes refined sugars (cane sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, etc), liquid sweeteners (agave, corn syrup, maple syrup, etc.), natural sugars (found in fruits and vegetables). Sometimes people include natural and artificial sweeteners in their definition of "sugar".

You can go out there and find a challenge or a program to follow. I decided to make up a few simple rules that fit with my lifestyle.

Rules

1) Avoid foods that contain refined sugars and liquid sweeteners, except when eating out at restaurants (I really didn't want to grill people over what is in their food, nor did I want to spend my hard earned cash on a dressing-less salad).

2) Fruits are allowed.

3) Sweeteners are allowed.

4) Protein powders and Simply bars are allowed (if I had to start drinking unflavoured protein powder, I would gag)

My last treat: Car Ice Cream!
(Alright... Devin threw some Luna and Larry's Lunaberry Swirl Coconut Bliss into
my cat mug so I could eat it in the car during the leisurely drive we took...
to Starbucks.)

My challenge ended on the 25th because my boyfriend wanted to use up some teriyaki tofu (which contains sugar) and I wasn't in the mood to make something else, haha.

How did I do?

I planned to make a million blog entries so you could read about my struggles with the sugar demon. The challenge ended up being pretty uneventful :/

When my challenge started, I was forced to spend the first weekend at home with nothing to do. Devin and I each have a junk food shelf that is out in the open that I was forced to stare at. I didn't give in though. Devin made seitan bacon for the first time so that had my attention and I gnawed on some clementines and bananas. Not once did I visit the junk food shelf, which was filled to the brim with Christmas goodies by the way. Not once!

Slicin' bacon!

Of the two of us, Devin is the better cook. When a recipe called for sugar, he kindly blended up some dates instead for sweetener. That's when I realized how impractical it can be to avoid all sugars. The recipes that called for sugar used pretty small amounts. I feel it's easier to just throw a spoonful of sugar in something instead of going through the process of blending up dates. Also, when you're using so little sugar in something, the nutritional benefits of the fruit you replace it with is so insignificant, so why bother?

When I started the challenge, I had this huge plan to make applesauce-sweetened desserts and throw stevia in everything. I never ended up making anything like that. I was quite content eating whole foods and trying the pancakes, seitan and stir fry sauces that Devin was whipping up. I received a spiralizer for Christmas too so that took my focus off of sweets and on to zucchini noodles.

Who needs sugar when you can have zoodles with a walnut kale pesto,
sweet potato and fruit?

After about a week, I realized that I probably don't have a sugar addiction. I just need to set some goals. If I tell myself that I need to do something and I hold myself accountable, I'll get it done. Then I started wondering why I was doing this and thought about quitting, but I had a goal, so I stuck with it.

The challenge did encourage me to make healthier choices. Whenever I felt a craving coming on, I would grab a handful of nuts, make a smoothie using fruit and protein powders as sweeteners or grab some Mary's crackers and almond butter for something crunchy and delicious. When I went out for coffee, I tried not to order the sugar-laden lattes and opted for plain cappuccinos instead. At restaurants, I skipped the desserts in the beginning. Then I had a coupon for a free chocolate tofu pie I needed to use up. I also had a mental break-down over what I am going to do with my life which got me some coconut milk froyo, which I had not had in months. Mmm... froyo...

Am I back to binging on chocolate chips? I have eaten some dark chocolate and quinoa cookies but I don't really have the desire to make myself sick on chocolate chips and candy.

Have you ever done a no-sugar challenge? Let me know in the comments how it went!

January is almost over. I'm approaching the ripe old age of 26 (*gasp*) and I'm excited to enjoy some cake this weekend. I just received a meal plan from Coach Lori today which I will be starting this weekend. I see some gains on the horizon!