When the Diet Ends
Last month I committed to a Two Week Sugar Challenge. I cut all white sugar and desserts out during that time. It wasn't a diet really, but rather a challenge - a chance to challenge an old habit and learn a little something in the process. This challenge was inspired by two observations I had made previously:
1. I feel kind of cruddy when I eat sugar in quantity.
2. I notice that I go to sugar when I feel the need for a break or want to “treat” myself. Could I find a more direct and authentic way to do that if the sugar were not an option?
It was a worthy exercise and I gathered some useful information beautiful insights and got to enjoy some time away from my favorite vice! I loved making that commitment for myself and I loved seeing myself follow through on my promise.
And then the 2 weeks ended. And I put absolutely no thought into what happens next. I think that was not entirely accidental. I think I thought I wanted the freedom back. And then a week or so later, with the structure peeled away and the sugar being an option again I can say, I think I want some structure again. I am eating sugar almost daily and feel lost!
I fought structure and making commitments when it came to eating for some time. I am a recovering dieter. It was an important part of my process to let go of rules and structure for a while. The time away gave me space to reframe what it meant to apply some structure to my eating. In that time, committing to a practice around food became an act of love rather than an act of control. Ah, much better!
So here is what I came up with for myself as a post Sugar-Challenge plan:
The following commitment will be in effect until the last day of March (I like giving these practices time-frames, this way I have an opportunity to assess and recommit or make appropriate alterations when necessary.)
I am implementing a sugar allowance. Specifically I allow myself the pleasure of dessert on the weekends (Fri and Sat) should I choose to indulge. The remainder of the week I will pass up desserts. An allowance brings the focus on what is welcome and less on what is being avoided. In this case I can look forward to my time to indulge I can plan for it and salivate over which bakery I will visit or which dessert I will make. This feels more like “allowed” and celebrated instead of “not allowed;” just a flip of a mental light switch that brings a bit more ease to the process.
As for natural sweeteners, I will continue to use these products that are a bit closer to the earth and seem to create less of that cruddy feeling to bring bits of sweetness into my day (my tea, my oatmeal, etc). I am going to continue to avoid dessert like foods (including baked goods) even if they are sweetened with natural sweeteners. I think the experience of going without the sweet sweets most of the time will allow me to continue to explore how to care for myself without a “treat.”
Do not adopt this plan. Rather, find you own practice that you want to commit to. What is something you desire to change or challenge in your diet? Start there and see what specific plan you can design and implement today! (We never start with a new commitment “tomorrow” or on Mondays – feels too much like the old days!)
