Four Days of Sweetness 2011: Results & Insights

Candy from my Four Days of Sweetness, 2011

For the past six years I have abstained from sugar and sweets except for Halloween until November 3rd annually.

Annual results: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

2011 was no different, although the results of my ongoing experiment have definitely evolved. Last year I purchased entirely too many sweets and had trouble finishing them all in four days. This year I got smaller portions—enough to finish in a single sitting. As for ice cream, a gallon ensured that I’d have a bowl a day. Way too much!

What I Ate

- Chocolate Peanut Clusters (bulk)
- Chocolate Chip Cookies (home made)
- Chocolate Chocolate Ice Cream (Mudslide)
- Chocolate Sables Anglais (Cookies)
- Chocolate Mousse (home made)
- A Cupcake (home made)
- Twix, Reeses, $100k Bars, Milky Way, KitKat
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels (bulk)
- Chocolate cake (home made) with ice cream
- Flipz brand Chocolate Covered Pretzels with peanut butter
- Chocolate yogurt (M&Ms, chocolate chips, Reeses topping)
- Pancakes and syrup
- Milkshake (just a bit)

Mission Accomplished

It never fails that each year, days before I allow myself to eat sweets, the idea of consuming sugary junk food seems appealing. Then, as soon as it begins, I’m looking forward to the end. I could stop anytime but for some reason I keep going. The last of my Four Days of Sweetness couldn’t come fast enough. Thankfully that day is today! I’m very much looking forward to starting a new, sugar-free year tomorrow.

In past years there were some leftover snacks that I didn’t finish in time. They stayed in the kitchen uneaten and haunted me. This year I ate everything I set out to eat so there’s nothing tempting me tomorrow. That’s important.

Reactions

Over the past few days my muscles have been tight and it has been hard to focus on small tasks. I felt and still feel terrible. Waking up has been a chore. I have also stayed up later than usual. My energy waned. Walking around had me tired and out of breath. All this in four days of eating mostly nothing but junk all day. To be expected, right? Imagine what a whole month of sweets would do.

Society is Sweet

Lots of people eat junk all day everyday. How do they do it? They don’t know any better. I didn’t. Ten years ago I ate junk all the time and wondered why everything seemed like such a chore. No more! Look around at all the sweeties. Not me.

Goals for 2012

Next year I want to eat less sugar altogether. In fact, I’m going to eat one sweet thing each day of my Four Days of Sweetness and that’s it. Yes, that’s my plan. Four sweet things in 2012. Just watch me! I will also exercise more and learn how to cook. Did I say that last year? Probably. Feels like I did. Sometimes you have to make resolutions several times.

In and Out

There’s a strange thing about abstaining from sweets. Since I’ve given up sugary snacks, a whole world of commercial and consumer goods have become off limits to me. I don’t notice fast food restaurants or signs for snacks while driving. Gas station convenience stores have absolutely zero appeal. Half of the supermarket is of no interest. It’s as if I’ve jumped a fence and stand outside of pop culture. Then, for four days, I climb back in to party with everyone, stop at the store for snacks, and fill my blood with sugar. My money slips out of my pocket and gets replaced by some kind of chocolate confection. Oddly, those around me consume more sweets as well. Then, as quickly as I arrive, I hop the fence and leave. 

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