Are you a sugar addict? I am.
In 2005 I vowed to quit and began
writing about life without sweets.
This site contains a forum,
product reviews, my journal,
educational Sugar Challenges,
and the Stop Being Sweet ebook.

8 Unexpected Benefits of Avoiding Sugar

December 22, 2011 • Comments (0)

I have been off sugar since 2005. There have been obvious and expected results to my sugar abstinence, but below are some of the unexpected benefits of avoiding sugar:

1. Meeting Like-Minded People

A lot of people will think you’re nuts when you stop being sweet. Those who understand will become your friends and allies.

2. Responsibility

By blogging about my journey, I have become a role model for others who want to get off sugar. This helps me stay off sweets. When you stop being sweet, you will blaze a path for the people who meet you. They can follow your example, which in turn keeps you honest.

3. Interviews

It’s fun and rewarding to get the opportunity to talk with people about something I’m very passionate about.

4. Less Consumption Overall

The food court in the mall holds little to no appeal. Buying stuff is less fun. I only get what I truly want or need.

5. Car Culture Changed

I used to be tempted into drive-thrus for snacks when driving. Now I don’t even notice signs for junk food. It’s just not on my radar. Convenience store—what’s that?

6. Saving Money

It wasn’t until I went shopping for Halloween candy that I came to see how much money I’m saving by avoiding sugar.

7. Saving Time

The amount of time I used to spend thinking about, planning, hunting down, and eating sweets was insane. When you stop being sweet you’ll have that much more time to deal with your life.

8. Enjoying Life for What It Is

It used to be that I’d have to eat some sweets to enjoy myself. A movie wasn’t a movie without some kind of treat (okay, I still snack at the movies but it’s something I smuggle in from home and it’s not imperative). A party wasn’t a party without some cake. Now a party means being with people I love and laughing.

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 12/22/11 • Comment

Sugar vs. Me: Holiday Edition

December 20, 2011 • Comments (2)

I’ve been playing the Sugar vs. Me game for several days now. Since I don’t keep sweets at home I haven’t had a bout with sugar—until last night!

A 2011 Holiday Sugar Challenge support meeting was held at the Zimmerman Community Center yesterday evening. When I arrived there was a nice couple cleaning up the remainder of a birthday party that had just happened there.

Before they left, the woman said, “If you and your group want, I left some chocolate mousse and coffee cake in the refrigerator. Feel free to eat it all. We can’t take it with us.”

I thanked her and they went on their way. Suddenly I was all alone with fresh cake. Yes, I looked at it. Chocolate mousse is one of my favorites! And the coffee cake looked amazing. I didn’t eat any of it.

Sugar 0, Me 1.

Alas, nobody came to the meeting. Who in their right mind would try to avoid sweets during the holidays? I must be a freak.

Posted in My Personal Journal on 12/20/11 • Comment

Candy at the Bank

December 19, 2011 • Comments (0)

Attending a workshop in the lobby of our current bank.

After my transaction at the bank the other day, the teller offered me a treat. Usually they give out logo imprinted chocolate silver dollars. She had offered the person before me a choice of dark or light chocolate, something that’s never happened before. When I got to the counter I saw that she had a plate of Hershey’s Chocolate Kisses. I made my deposit, declined the candy, and left… reminiscing.

When I was a kid, I got my very first savings account in the bank that used to be in this building. Now it’s a McDonald’s restaurant. There were lush bushes and trees surrounding the place when it was a bank. They’re gone now, ripped out and cut down to increase visibility for the fast food chain.

Every time my mother took me to the bank a teller would give me a lolly pop, just for being a wide-eyed kid. I learned to smile and say “thank you.”

Imagine if more retail outlets gave out candy every time a customer conducted a transaction with them. We’d be happy to refill the fuel tanks in our cars, visit the shoe store, and go to the phone store. And we’d be fatter than we are now.

Posted in My Personal Journal on 12/19/11 • Comment

The Beautiful Truth

December 14, 2011 • Comments (0)

This film explores how advertising, companies, and legalities have messed with our health. The amalgam mercury filling scene alone is worth the watch. Then it goes on to discuss food additives, including aspartame. Then they talk about chemical companies in the food business.

The presentation is heavy handed, but worth the watch because it contains a lot of food for thought.

Posted in Tips, Tricks, Info & News on 12/14/11 • Comment

Sugar Challenge: Play the Sugar vs. Me Game!

December 12, 2011 • Comments (0)

We’re rolling along with the 2011 Holiday Sugar Challenge. Whether you’re participating or not, you can easily play the Sugar vs. Me game anytime of year. Here’s how it works:

1. Determine a time frame to play the game. For example, one day, week, or month.

2. Every time you are faced with the choice of whether to eat sweets or not, consider it as a single bout in the larger game.

3. Make a note with sugar on one side and you on the other.

4. Keep score. If you eat sweets then Sugar gets a point. If you avoid sweets then you get a point.

Whichever side has the most points at the end of the game duration is the winner.

Have fun!

Posted in Sugar Challenge on 12/12/11 • Comment