David Vanadia

Keep On Keep’n OFF

January 16, 2006

Lately I’ve been maintaining my sugar free diet and there’s not much to write about it. My energy levels are pretty steady and I’m in good spirits. I got a bike and am riding it daily. It feels good. I feel good.

It used to be that Cheez-its and Gold Fish crackers were regular snacks for me but they don’t seem appealing anymore. Apples and natural peanut butter really get a lot of mileage and, as a daily staple, satisfies my cravings.

Basically what I’m saying is that a few months ago I wouldn’t dream of not eating the cheddary baked cracker snacks…and now they’re unappealing. I’m eating less, eating better, and feeling better. I’m also more interested in cooking and learning how to prepare good meals.

Posted in My Personal Journal on 01/16/06

Crashing

January 10, 2006

I’ve still experienced the “crash” effects of sugar even though I’m off sugar. It’s not regular as when I’m eating sugar, but once in a while I still get really sleepy and just need to lay down in the middle of the day.

While my moods are more regulated, sometimes I still wake up feeling tired or just plain down. My body sometimes feels heavy. I attribute this to my diet which, while not containing refined sugars, hasn’t really grown healthy enough.

Still working on it…

Posted in My Personal Journal on 01/10/06

Trick or Treat?

January 09, 2006

Not many people know this but my entire unsweetening began with a ritual.

I had to do something crazy in order to do something crazy like free myself from sugar, so I went trick or treating on Halloween!

Yes, TRICK OR TREATING.

And boy was it fun! Gwenn, Jacob, and I each got a nice bag of candy (see photo below) which I ate during the two days between Halloween and my birthday.

In fact that was all I ate—candy!

Then I quit sweets for a year.

My quit date had to be significant, thus my birthday.

The act of trick or treating showed the lengths at which I’d go to get sugar into my system.

As insane it may sound, it worked for me.

I created a ritual.

In this day and age, many of our rituals are based on products and advertising.

How about creating your own ritual?

Ritual: A detailed method of procedure faithfully or regularly followed.

Build a shrine to your healthy self and do sit ups, push ups, or jumping jacks in front of it every morning.

Burn a box of cookies once a week.

The point is, DO SOMETHING!

And most of all, make it FUN or you’ll never do it.

Posted in My Personal Journal on 01/09/06

No More Binging

January 08, 2006

Since going off sugar I have binged very little.

When I did, it wasn’t on sugar.

Yes, I have eaten more, but that is starting to fade.

Most recently my goal of eating less has had me feeling better.

Smaller portions and slower eating helps and that’s how I’ve been eating since the holidays passed.

Jen mentioned Food Meditation (thanks Jen) and it’s a good thing.

While I haven’t made every meal special, slowing down has certainly helped with how I feel after a meal or a snack.

Anyone can go fast. Not everyone can move slowly.

Slow down.

Eating healthy isn’t about your whole life.

Eating well is about one moment.

It’s about now.

Posted in My Personal Journal on 01/08/06

Avoiding Sugar is Like Brushing Your Teeth

January 06, 2006

My brother is a good father. When his daughter was young he taught her how to brush her teeth and told her, “Nobody else will do this for you. It’s up to you to keep your teeth clean and healthy…”

He explained that it was completely her responsibility and her choice.

Only she could do it.

Thus I tell you that, “Nobody else can or will do this for you. It’s up to you to stop being sweet.”

I’ve been thinking about you who wrote to me and asked that, if you join me in becoming healthy would you have to give up your (morning coffee / afternoon snack / late night snack) favorite daily sweet.

Basically you wanted me to give you permission to quit sugar while still being able to eat your daily trigger foods.

You can’t do that!

You also can’t buy success.

You can’t buy your way to quitting sugar. It’s not a sustainable solution.

Perhaps it could work for someone for some time, but paying to quit sugar is like running on a treadmill at the gym. You could easily do the same thing on the streets of your neighborhood for free.

It’s up to you.

Only you can stop being sweet.

So ask yourself, do you really want this or is it just a nice idea?

Is this the first time you though of this or is it the millionth?

Can you envision yourself living without soda pop, candy, cakes, breads, and your favorite fast food?

Would you enjoy building your body rather than breaking it down?

Did you know that it only takes five weeks to start a new habit?

FIVE WEEKS.

Want me to be your sugar guru for five weeks?

Sorry, I’m too busy maintaining my own diet!

But here’s my idea:

May I be your inspiration?

Because you are reading this, you are my inspiration.

Can I be your muse?

You are my muse because you are here.

If nothing, let me be the guy who pisses you off enough to cause you to take action.

Stop being sweet.

Do it with me or with your friends.

Or with a stranger.

But do it!

At least TRY.

Tom Peters of tompeters.com asked, “What is the single most important thing you did in 2005?”

For me the single most important thing I did in 2005 was to publicly quit sweets.

Then he asked, “What will the most important thing you do be in 2006?”

In 2006 I have many goals, but the underlying theme is to STOP BEING SWEET.

Changing my diet ultimately changes how I think, feel, walk, sleep, and socialize.

It affects my mood, complexion, sex drive, energy levels, follow-through, how people relate to me, and thus transforms my whole life.

I stopped being sweet on November 3, 2005.

How about you?

Who could you be if starting eating healthier from now on?

Imagine who you would be if you weren’t so sweet.

Imagine.

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 01/06/06

About David

I realized I had a sugar problem back in 2003 after a weekend-long binge on raw chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate covered pretzels. As a result, I began trying to quit sugar but kept failing. Finally, I figured out a way to stay off sweet junk food for good. Read more.