Struggling with Sugar Addiction

I think I've mentioned somewhere on this blog before that I have a serious sweet tooth. I blame it on my husband. When I was a kid, I wasn't allowed to eat many sweets. Eating dessert wasn't a regular thing in our house so as a young adult I didn't eat much sugar. 

It all changed when I met my new boyfriend. He was (and still is) a foodie but I could pop open a can of cold green beans and call it dinner. When we started dating he was determined to "teach me how to eat right." His teaching included eating sweets with every meal - even breakfast!

Eventually we married and one unintended consequence of that union resulted in an insatiable appetite for sugar. Although I'm not a diabetic, I have terrible nerve pain in my feet and my gut tells me sugar is the culprit. I know I desperately need to go sugar free but I'm nervous about it; now I can't picture life without it. 

As most of us know by now, sugar is in almost everything. In fact, there's a great movie produced by Katie Couric and Laurie David, called Fed Up, which really opened my eyes to America's sugar problem. It explains how our obsession and addiction to sugar started. I watched it on Netflix and  highly recommend it if you're interested in the subject. 

As I age, another unintended consequence is weight gain. It wasn't a problem for me until recently, when my doctors made a medication change. Some of the side effects include weight gain and boy oh boy . . . my weight gain is that of a small child.

For the past four months I've been wearing workout gear and it ain't because I'm working out. It's because the only thing I can squeeze into was spandex. What a depressing summer! Although I live at the beach and have a pool in my backyard I've been so uncomfortable in my own skin I haven't wanted to reveal that much of myself to the world.

So I'm going to do it. I'm committing now to reducing my sugar intake slowly over the rest of this year. Slowly because sugar is so addictive I would probably ruin my family relationships otherwise. Again, I blame it on my husband (a lovable Arab) who only wanted to teach his girl about his culture and the sweet life. 

Click here to read about the Arab influence on the history of sugar - it's fascinating!

Now You: Do you struggle with sugar addiction? Can you give me any suggestions to make this easier? 

Sharing Saturdays: Creature Comforts

       "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." Psalm 119:50

Lately, I've been thinking about what comforts me and I've come up with some ordinary and unique things, so since today's Sharing Saturday, I'll share three of my comfort items with you!

This Christmas I asked for some soft Pajamas to soothe my painful skin and this is what I got...

Katya bought them for me but thought the pattern might be too much. I love them even though Dania and Sam said they were "embarrassing." All the more reason to wear them when their friends come over!

I love color. I love to color. I love colored pencils and to write the Psalms in color. Weird, I know, but somehow it soothes me.

And lastly, my favorite thing besides coffee and falafel....

Lily's chocolate. Lily's is made with Stevia (not sugar) so it's good for our bodies. If you're not already aware, sugar is an ingredient that can our bodies to produce an inflammatory response. Since we're learning that inflammation is a source of pain, this is a no no for those of us already suffering with it.

Fortunately, Lily's chocolate is a yes yes!

What's your favorite comfort item?

Spiritual Breakthroughs

So, my fast - or partial fast - is finally over. Every time I do it, I'm shocked at how much my body craves certain things and how often those cravings come. This was a sugar fast, so I gave up all sugar except for one teaspoon a day in my coffee, and one slice of cake on Thursday to celebrate my daughter turning Sweet 16.

My morning time spent with God is sacred for sure... and sweet - sugar in my coffee makes it so. I've been legalistic in the past during times of fasting, and I was determined not to be a party pooper on this day of celebration.

                                       I didn't eat the marshmallow centerpieces though!

As I mentioned in my Five Finger Fasting post, I was fasting and praying for five specific family groups. I can't even tell you how God worked in those families, but He never ceases to amaze me with his faithfulness. At least two people had much needed spiritual breakthroughs (mine included). I'm not sure of the others because they didn't know I was fasting for them, but I know God will reveal it to me if He so chooses.

The first day, when the sugar cravings kicked in, I swear I was praying for people every 20 minutes. By the end of the ten days, the prayer promptings came less frequently, but I'm pretty sure there was nothing left for me to say by that time.

A normal fast would be not eating anything for a specific period of time - usually 24 hours. That is way too easy for me though, so I chose the sugar because it's the hardest thing for me to give up.

In his excellent book, The Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster says this:

"More than any other Discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface. If pride controls us, it will be revealed almost immediately."

If you've never tried it, I challenge you to try the discipline of fasting and see what God has in store for you.

"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Acts 13:2