I would like to take this challenge but it freaks me out a little.  I am just such an addict when it comes to sugar that I’m afraid to let myself eat whatever I want.  Of course, what happens is I end up going a few days sugar free and then binging like crazy.  It might be interesting to keep a detailed journal about my sugar habits because for me sugar=binge almost every time.  I am going to think about it a little before I decide whether or not I’m in.

I am interested to hear what other sugar addicts think about the prospect of just eating anything they want for a month and not trying to curb sugar intake.

Also, despite the fact that it was an April Fool’s suggestion, with my husband out of town and no classes tonight and a red velvet cake mix that my mom sent from Mississippi in my cupboard it is ENTIRELY possible that I will eat an entire cake for dinner. 

Janet

Janet,

If you eat the cake consider yourself in! Self-moderation is included. You don’t need to eat only sweets. That was a joke. Eating any sweets or a little sweets is fine enough for the challenge provided you write.

I’m not condoning the ingestion of sugar. Lots of folks out there are already eating anything they want—add guilt. So for a month write all about it. You’ll be surprised what you’ll learn about yourself. Next month you might not want to eat sweets at all.

David

Where is everyone?  I can’t possibly be the only person doing this challenge!  It is actually quite illuminating and has not led to the uncontrollable sugar binges (except once) that I was worried about.  I am sensing a pattern around when and why I eat sugar.

Janet

Every time a challenge allows people to eat sweets they seem to run in fear! I’m glad you are seeing some trends. Next month is going to be good because you’ll have a chance to change your habits.

Hey Janet,
I’m in!  This is a daunting task, but it can be done.  I consume a lot of sugar from day to day.  I will just focus on writing it all down, so that I can be properly freaked out when I look back at all the junk I ate at the end of the month.

I’m in! I’m kind of scared about the ‘eat all the sugar you want’ part because I have a pretty big sweet tooth, and that could be bad. But I KNOW I can go the whole month of May without sugar. For me it will be like giving something up for Lent. I’m not sure how specific the ‘no sugar’ part is because I know a lot of foods contain sugar, but my problem is with the sweet stuff, so that’s what I’m gonna lay off of.

Hi Aprille,

Glad you’re in! Most people get nervous when the challenge is about eating whatever you want (I guess they think they’ll eat more if they allow themselves) but the idea isn’t to be a glutton for the month. Instead, just keep track of your normal intake and feelings. Usually people who are struggling with sugar are already working to keep it under control.

Still eating sugar, still journalling every time.  Its pretty interesting.  Some days I eat sugar just because I can.  I am sort of looking forward to May.  I’ve only binged on sugar a couple of times so not the mindless eating I was worried about. 

Well there are not too many of us but I’ll be interested to see what other people are finding by journalling their sugar-eating habits.

So far, the two biggest reasons I can see are:

procrastinating (especially if I have to write something-I hate writing)
because its there

Those are the two biggest culprits but I think its the lesser reasons that are going to be the hardest to get over because some of it seems to be a deeply ingrained habit/response.  I plan on having a “farewell to sugar” night April 30. 

LoopDetector, I am already freaked out by some of my sugar consumption!  Not even how much sugar, but in some cases the fact that I didn’t even want it.  What kinds of loops do you detect?  Are you a computer programmer? 

Janet

I hit an all time low last week and ate an ice cream sandwich at 8:45 in the morning.  I haven’t done that since high school, so I must have been feeling the pinch of the looming deprivation. 

I agree Janet…I eat sugar just because it’s there.  I may not even feel like it but my mouth is bored or I am too tired to cook and my blood sugar is low.  If I open the cabinet and it’s the first thing I see, I can’t resist it.  My wife doesn’t eat sugar very much, but we live with a third adult who still eats Frosted Flakes for breakfast, so the temptation is there all the time.  I can easily resist the Frosted Flakes, but I can’t resist the cookies at 8:00 at night or the pints of Hagen Daaz ice cream in the freezer.  I’m a student, so I have lots of time to sit at my desk at home and eat sugar.  I even have a sugar drawer in my desk.  I make drug store runs to buy tons of candy and chocolate to stock my drawer every couple of weeks.  It’s sick!

Janet, I’m a bike commuter.  A loop detector is used, among other things, on bike lanes to turn the bike signals green.  I like how the word sounds when spoken.

hmmmmmmm.i didn’t know about the site. but i would like to join u. is is tooo late?
i like the idea of writing whatever sweet we eat. my situation is little bit different, i really enjoy eating sweet (specially dark choclate with nuts), but most of the time i eat sweets when i see someone eating it.and as soon as i start i don’t stop til i finish the whole box.
i’m getting married this summer and i really need to lose weight.helpppppp!!!

Hi Mary,

Of course—join us! There’s still time in April and May is right around the corner.

Welcome.