Candy

A few months ago I heard a study linking sugar and cholesterol.  I’ve always had a sweet tooth and know it contributes to my dental woes, weight gain and now looks like it might hurt my cholesterol numbers.  I’ve been good at cutting out simple carbs but have trouble with sugar.  So after hearing this “new” study (I did a search and found an article on it, from a few years ago), I decided to start reducing my sugar intake - starting with candy.  I was brought up eating minimal candy.  However, I’ve enjoyed my freedom as an adult.  If I want to indulge in one or two or four Cadbury cream eggs at Easter, you know what, I can, and have.  Last month I made a conscious decision to not eat candy.  I don’t buy it often, but every once in awhile I will indulge.  I have found that sugar begets sugar.  Over the holidays I’ll end up eating a lot of sweets - pies, cookies, etc. And come January I crave dessert after dinner. 

I can’t remember what day I stopped, but I’ve been good.  Halloween candy sales were bombarding me - super good deals on really good candy.  And I passed it by.  I come into work after Halloween, and everyone has their extra Halloween candy on their desks and in the kitchens.  And I pass it by.  I pop into the store after Halloween and everything is on super sale, including the candy corn which I love.  No deal.  Today, I’m craving chocolate after my lunch, so I went to the fridge at work to get my chocolate tapioca I brought in and I see this:

 

We got a new coffee machine on our floor - they kind of just pushed it into the coat rack section awkwardly.  And to entice people, there is candy strewn on the counters.  Man - right when I’m at my weakest, craving chocolate sweetness.  I was so tempted and started making the case.  “They’re mini-size. I’ll only eat one.  It’s just as much sugar as in my tapioca”.  But I held strong and grabbed my tapioca and headed back to my desk.

I still eat a lot of sugar.  I’m just much more conscious of the amounts and try to only eat sugar that I put into my food - so no processed food with sugar.  I’ve experimented with my breakfast - reducing sugar amounts in my pancakes, no more sugar on my grapefruits.  And experimenting with sweet alternatives.  I’ve made these energybites a few times which is really good.  And I stumbled upon Gluten Free Bites, coconut cashew crunch that are so good - they’re like candy, but healthy and no refined sugar.  I think Stop and Shop sells them, otherwise I’m ordering some from their website.

Slow but surely, I’m planning on reducing my sugar intake, one category at a time.  I’m hoping my cravings will dissipate slowly.