Friday, January 7, 2011

I think I can, I think I can! (I can, right?).....by Marcella


I have been a loyal follower of the J Project since it began last January and I always intended on signing up for a month of no new purchases. Well…that never happened. I am perfectly okay with admitting that I am a wimp when it comes to shopping. Every time the first day of a new month came around, I would think, “I can do this. It won’t be that bad.” Then the stubborn shopaholic side of my brain would say, “No way! Just think about what you would be missing! You know… that tag sale at the Nordstrom Rack is this month” and I would completely chicken out. Kudos to you, Js. I don’t know how you did it! :)
However, this month’s project, Healthy Living, is something I can commit to. During the colder months, comfort food is what most of us reach for. My favorite comfort foods are usually sugar and calorie-packed, so my plan for Healthy Living Month is no sugar. Not sure yet if that’s going to include other natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup. So far I haven’t resorted to that, but we’ll see how desperate I get!
I can’t tell you how many times I whined and complained during the first few days. It wouldn’t be so bad if that Vosges Bacon Chocolate Bar wasn’t banging on the cabinet door, begging me to eat it. (If you haven’t tried one of those yet, well…you know what to do. Wait until Healthy Living Month is over, then go get one!) Dessert for me now means an apple or a couple of dried apricots. Blah.
But by day 7 of the challenge, those pesky cravings are slowly subsiding and I’m finally feeling like I can enjoy this. I feel more energetic and I am proud of my seven sugar-free days!
I am also following Little J’s advice, which means a tall glass of lemon water every morning. It’s actually quite tasty. I like to get the water nice and hot so it feels like I’m drinking tea. Bottoms up!
*Yes, the white stuff in the picture IS sugar! When I took a picture of C&H's semiannual delivery to my house a couple months ago, I had no idea it would come in so handy! ;)

5 comments:

Juliana said...

Yay Marcella! It's so nice to have a guest blogger and another crazy "J". WE will have to get together for a cup of love at Noto's and then stop by for some coconut ice cream at my house! Plus I need to give you your prize!!!!

Jessica said...

Good job Marcella. i'm also doing no sugar (but much honey has been consumed, so don't know if I'm actually qualifying as "no sugar")

Juliana said...

Honey is Ok in my book! I think its the truck loads of refined sugar should be avoided.

Marcella said...

Juli-Yes!!! That sounds like a great plan! Just let me know when! I agree about honey, but I thought it would be easier for me at the beginning to go cold turkey and get used to not having sweet stuff. I am willing to eat some occasional honey now though, especially if it's in the form of coconut ice cream! ;)

Jessica-I'm so glad I have someone to sympathize with! We will have to celebrate together with a delicious dessert next month! As for the no processed foods thing, no sugar basically eliminates all of them anyway. We CAN do this!

Anonymous said...

Good job u guys. On being healhy
Bobby