SUGAR FREE/ WEEK THREE

Wow I've just come to the end of week three and I'm still in one piece! I definitely feel like I've battled through the hardest part now and am settling into my new diet.  I had some moments earlier in the week when I wasn't sleeping well and therefore particularly craving a pick me up.  But my will power is growing stronger by the day and I managed to resist the cream donut that was trying to seduce me from the bakery cabinet.  On Saturday morning we had run out of bread (the downside on making your own bread. I really need to keep a back up loaf in the freezer) so Nic whipped up a batch of scones. While the others dressed theirs in a beautiful slather of raspberry jam, I simply added a sprinkling of cinnamon (on top of the whipped cream of course).  And do you know what?  It was fine, it was better than fine, it was great!  I found I didn't WANT the jam.  I didn't crave that sweet tingle on the back of my tongue.  It just wasn't there.  Having said that I have had two sweet treats in the past week.  Both were made with only natural sugars and a lot of cocoa and coconut oil.  They tasted amazing and if it wasn't for the guilty after taste I possibly would have had a second piece.  Still I didn't, and moderation is progress in itself.

The afternoon slump
One thing I do want to mention is the afternoon slump.  I'm still suffering from it!  I don't crave sugar in the afternoon at all anymore but my coffee addiction is still going strong.  I have a coffee in the morning after breakfast, and usually another one after lunch.  I know that I should probably ditch that second one (I did try recently and substituted it for a quick siesta) but firstly I love coffee and it's one of the few vices I have left, and secondly as most parents know, nap time is when you get some precious 'me' time and I don't want to waste it on sleeping!  I realise how silly that sounds but that's just where I'm at right now.  They say it takes about two months for your body to adjust to life without sugar, so I'm still expecting the afternoon drowsiness to subside.

Sugar free family
I think one of the most frequent questions I get asked is 'what about your family?'.  Or to be specific, 'what about Ayana?'.  Well to be honest it's not really even an issue.  I'm one of those mean mama's that denies her child the pleasure of sugar unless it's a special occasion (ie birthday cake) or a bit of pure maple syrup on her Sunday waffles.  We don't drink juice or soft drinks, we never have biscuits in the house and most of our food is made from scratch so there's nothing processed.  Of course she likes sweet things, what kid doesn't, but she also doesn't know any different and understands when something is a treat.  I was raised the same way so I know the time will come when she's going to blow all her pocket money at the dairy (ermm or in my case on chocolate milk and donuts at the school tuck shop) and that's okay, but for the moment while her little body is growing so fast I'm going to make the most out of feeding it right!  As for Nic, I've heard him occasionally murmur that maybe he should give up sugar too but so far I don't think that's happened.  In fact I think I just spotted half a packet of gluten free ginger nuts in the pantry that are so full of sugar they actually sparkle.  Firstly though he's a grown man who can make his own decisions (about most things ;)) and secondly he doesn't drink soft drinks or eat at Mac Donalds so the occasional bag of lollies probably won't do him much harm.

Aside from ridding myself of an addiction, this whole experience has also really spiked my interest in nutrition and made me think more than ever about what we're eating.  I feel like it has opened up a whole new world for me and I spend my (precious nap time) reading and researching all sorts of fascinating (and often horrifying) information about food.  But more on that next week...