Ok, I won’t give up.  I needed this post this morning.  I have just been feeling physically so crummy from all of the sugar and junk I’ve been eating and yesterday I recommitted to healthy eating which lasted until about 9:45 p.m. when I was on my way home from school and stopped at Starbucks to see my son and ate two GIANT M & M Cookies.  One of which I wanted, the other of which I didn’t.  This is my segue into grad school.

I started law school 4 years ago on my 44th birthday.  In my former life I was a computer programmer with a good job and nice salary.  I got bored out of my mind however and felt a need to 1.  do more with my life and 2.  go deeply into debt.  So, I decided to go to law school.  I am in the “part time” night program.  I would like to know exactly where the powers that be got their definition of “part time.”  It has been an amazing experience.  Sometimes it’s been just overwhelmingly difficult but it has been incredibly rewarding.  I have met some tremendous people and it has challenged me academically beyond all reason.

My point of all of this is that if you’re thinking of going to grad school you should do it.  I can tell by the way you write that you are very bright and very creative and I’m sure you like a good intellectual challenge every once in a while!

I graduate this May and will sit for the bar in July.  I still can’t quite believe that my 4-year journey is coming to an end finally!

So I ask myself…if I can work and go to law school and be in the top 3% of my class and manage the rest of my life, why can’t I just give up sugar?  Why is it so damn hard????

i almost don’t want to say it out loud because i’m afraid i might jinx it, but i’ve managed to go 18 days without sugar—- so far.  it has gotten easier, and i’m thinking less about the sweet stuff every day.  the first week was pretty awful, however.  i read somewhere that 9 out of 10 people give up on their new year’s resolution before the end of january.  i’m determined to be in the 10% who stick with it. 

i feel so motivated by janet’s posting about grad school, that i might go myself! good job, janet. in what would you be interested in getting a masters, david?

A master’s in fine arts. Not sure if I can go back to school however.

Janet, sounds like sugar is your oasis. What other thing could you do or eat to take a break from all the things that you are working on? You know, sugar is slowing messing with your energy levels.

holy hell.  last saturday was my birthday.  my (continued) new years resolution was to stop eating sugar.  since January 1st, ive eaten sugar every day.  this weekend was HORRENDOUS.  we partied and hung out, traveled and snacked on the go.  its not even like i have a horrible diet -  i eat mostly fruits and veggies for regular meals.  i also run 4 miles, exercise and lift weights, and do karate at least 4 times a week. im fit.  however, i LOVE…. no i am ADDICTED to dark chocolate.  and ive been on my period so i crave it even more at this time.  i also give myself the excuse that dark chocolate is good for me (well, better than other kinds at least).  but damn, once i start its really really really hard to stop.  also, JUICE!  i love naked drinks… and vitamin water.  after drinking one small bottle of Naked, i feel all crazy and then about an hour later PASS OUT.  are there any drinks of equivalent value and taste that dont have 29 grams or milligrams or whatever of sugar.  and its all from the fruit, they say!!!!!      sheesh.  im not giving up, and the motivation is there, but its just like i keep tripping…..

Sugar IS my oasis!  What a great way to put it.  Since you wrote that, I have been trying to develop other oasis (what is the plural of oasis?  Oasi?)  I am ok for about 2 days and then I’m diving face-first into a bowl of ice cream the size of my car.  The thing is too, I’m not even really that stressed out.  I’m busy, however, and I think the whole Oasis thing stems from juggling so many balls.  Figuratively, not literally.  I tried to learn how to juggle once but it was hopeless.  Anyway, I will keep on trucking.

Hannah, I feel your pain.  I too workout and have a pretty good diet overall and am reasonably fit.  Its just the sugar that kills me.  I know I would feel so much better if I could get off the stuff but the instant gratification thing gets me every time.

Try sparkling juice. It is like soda but without added sugars. Just sparking water and fruit juice. I find the sparkling water prevents me from wanting more than one. I feel like I’m treating myself when drinking it.

Dark chocolate is still chocolate. Nothing makes people want to binge more than chocolate! You might have to cut that out if you can’t control it. If you ca somehow make a ritual of having one square a day, then you’re golden. Otherwise try avoiding it for a while and see how long you can last.

I work with drug addicts and alcoholics and a lot of people that are my coworkers are ex drug addicts.  I talk to them all of the time and they say giving up extra food or sugar is way harder than the drugs/alcohol.  But if you think of it like alcohol or drugs that you have to give up because it has become a problem, and take that seriously, maybe that would help. 

I personally have battle with sugar and food addiction my whole life but never thought of it as an addiction problem.  All I have to say is some days are good some are bad but it is always a struggle.

thanks for the support everyone. yes it is an every day battle, and one day at a time.  much like many of my friends who have been addicted to something and gone through rehab, as JoJo pointed out.  that definitely gives me a different perspective on thing.  i just cant hang out in those places anymore (even though work has the candy jar) or do those kinds of activities (eat the birthday cake… and drink the sweet juice… then have a sweet snack… then enjoy the mints, etcetera etcetera) or give in to my friends who say ‘oh come on, you only live once’.  they dont understand that its something i dont wanna do.  they dont understand that just because i wouldn’t REALLY die if i ate it, or be breaking the law, or be morally wrong, or be messing up an important relationship, its okay to indulge in.  its a personal challenge and a personal struggle.
soo…. i dont think i can eat just one square.  im gonna have to quit cold turkey.  i want to, but i also really really really dont want to.  im gonna have to make a list, pros and cons.  aaaaah back to the old drawing board

Keep DOING IT.

(You are doing it.)

One step at a time.

One bite at a time.

well, i just had a birthday and i am 56.  i have been battling this sugar addiction my whole life (yes, i really mean since i was a few years old).  i had been off sugar for 4 1/2 months until the holidays and my birthday came and i thought i could handle some sweets.  of course, that has not been the case and i am struggling to get back to no sugar.
The physical manifestations have been increased allergies, break-outs on my face, lethargic and tired, etc.
the mental manifestations might be even worse.  i am depressed, negative, and beginning to withdrawal from social activities.
my advice to all of you is to try to kick this when you are young. (of course, do it at any age) it really makes a huge difference in the way you feel and the longer you can obstain or control the amount of sugar you ingest, the better your chances for success in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
and yes, i will keep doing it because i know how it feels to be healthy.