#9- 100 Day Goal - Abstinance from Obvious Sweets - Want to join? Please Do!

[californiapoppy]

Pathetic? I'll just have one crumb...yeah I know that feeling. I also had trouble getting to sleep last night, but I had pains in my legs. I know I have arthritis in my lower back, but my legs? I really need my legs ! Maybe I need greasing...more fats? That's a no-no too.

[Rowan]

Signing on to join the arthritis club ... no wait .. wrong thread!

I can't move this morning! Spent two days bent in half weeding the garden and my lower back and legs are stiff as planks!

I woke up through the night to eat, too. I used to do this all the time, but hardly ever now that I am OS-free. I made do with a handful of mini rice-cakes, dill pickle flavour.

Astro? Your daughter made brownies? OMG if my daughter made brownies while I was abstaining .. I just don't know what I would do! Run screaming from the house! Drive the brownies to an abandoned country road and dump them out the window before burning rubber out of there!

And Jack? Don't worry about recalculating my days - it's not a big deal - I didn't realize the calculations that go into figuring it out so lets just leave it.

Alright .. time to get ready for another day at the office. Where's the Advil?

[smiling jack]

On the aches and pains...I am reminded to not do more than what will keep me from getting outside and using the body the next day. Exercise is a One Day at a Time deal, also, to me.

There was some sugary dessert someone made for an AA anniversary last night. My thinking went...since I was already starting over...why not have a piece?

Earlier in my recovery...there were many times when I would just say, "No, thank you."

I don't know what's going on inside me. I am AA sober, and that is the cornerstone of all my sobriety. Snitching OS's, and snitching other things that are addictive to me, on one hand, give me low self-esteem. I guess I am learning to accept the consequences of my actions.

On the other hand, I haven't OS binged in a while, and my life feels somewhat manageable. Regardless, I am attached to this thread. I need accountability in all addictive areas of my life. I need to face reality and be honest with myself and others.

If I don't do this accountability, I believe I will jeopardize my AA recovery.

Nina - 3/8/2009 - 58 Days
Cali - 4/1/2009 - 34 Days
Astro - 4/10/2009 - 25 Days
Fubarcdn - 4/13/2009 - 22 Days
Poppy - 4/13/2009 - 21 Days
Rowan - 4/15/2009 - 20 Days
Pony - 4/17/2009 - 18 Days
Dave - 4/19/2009 - 16 Days
Bamboozle - 4/19/2009 - 16 Days
Roxie- 4/25/09 - 10 Days
Neagrm -4/30/2009 - 5 Days
Cathy - 5/4/2009 - 1 Day
Jack- 5/5/2009 - Day 1

[Fubarcdn]

Good morning.
Amazingly enough I woke up in the middle of the night with my legs hurting also. Maube it is from a lack of sugar and a brownie would help. Oh Oh that is the beast talking. Yopu can't trick me.
Keep at it Jack. You are doing a lot better than you were a few weeks ago and don't ever let it affect your AA sobriety. That will always be our number one priority.

All of the success here inspires me to pass on the sugars and it is becoming easier. Thanks to you all.

[cali]

Astro:
I've been contemplating that, what do I do when I've abstained for 100 days, does this mean I'll never eat sweets again?

This line jumped out at me...I hope I NEVER eat sweets again. I am a past chronic relapser with alcohol...I did the same thing again and again expecting a different result. I sucessfully did the SAME thing with sugar and junk, again and again and again!!!

I see the pattern, I can't eat sweets/junk safely, period!

This is just my opinion for myself. It's how eating sugar makes me "feel" that I don't want back ever ever!!!

[Cathy31]

Thank you everyone for your encouragement. Disordered eating I like that. REading my own post again it's clear I am living in the future so I'm going to stick to TODAY. the thought of no OS's for the rest of my life is a sad one I lvoe my sweet things. HOWEVER the thought of not pigging out and losing my energy and self respect again is a GOOD thought!
I went into surgery today and am at home now warm in bed - God is very good, successful op. No huge pain as yet but it made me think how grateful I was that I HAD had some days strung together because my body was able to respond well and I think I'll recovery quickly. I have a strong healthy body when it's not mired in sugar so I am very grateful that for today although I have not eaten much my body is in a good place iwth no OS's in it. It feels good to treat my body well which has stood me in such good stead. Sorry to be melodramatic LOL but being in hospital with people my age (35) who are REALLY sick, and people younger and older REALLY sick made me reflect on how cruel I am to my body with bingeing on sugar which is NOT good for you in the quantities i take it. I never could moderate alcohol, and that realisation saved my life and gave me a whole new one. Could possibly be the same with sugar. For today I am OS free!
THANKS again everyone for this awesome thread! I'm very grateful.
Cathy31
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[Astro]

Originally Posted by Rowan

Your daughter made brownies? OMG if my daughter made brownies while I was abstaining .. I just don't know what I would do! Run screaming from the house! Drive the brownies to an abandoned country road and dump them out the window before burning rubber out of there!

Like I've said before, I don't think it's right to expect an 11 year old to understand and respect my issues and addictions, it's just something I need to deal with.

cali, I keep thinking that someday I could eat a cookie or two, but each time a look at a plateful I want to eat all of them.

I need to make an amends to this group for my use of the word "pathetic" in my last post. An eating disorder is just like any other addiction, it's a disease, and I felt like my use of that word was harsh. My apologies to every one of you.

[Astro]

On a slightly lighter note, to remind myself to not take things too seriously, I found this on the net and thought we'd all get a smile out of it.......


A Dieter's Prayer


Lord, my soul is ripped with riot
incited by my wicked diet.

"We Are What We Eat," said a wise old man!
Lord, if that's true, I'm a garbage can.
To rise on Judgment Day, it's plain!
With my present weight, I'll need a crane.

So grant me strength, that I may not fall
into the clutches of cholesterol.
May my flesh with carrot-curls be dated,
that my soul may be poly unsaturated

And show me the light, that I may bear witness
to the President's Council on Physical Fitness.
And at oleo margarine I'll never mutter,
for the road to Hell is spread with butter.

And cream is cursed; and cake is awful;
and Satan is hiding in every waffle.
Mephistopheles lurks in provolone;
the Devil is in each slice of baloney,

Beelzebub is a chocolate drop,
and Lucifer is a lollipop.
Give me this day my daily slice
Cut it thin and toast it twice.

I beg upon my dimpled knees,
deliver me from jujube's.
And when my days of trial are done,
and my war with malted milk is won,
Let me stand with Heavenly throng,
In a shining robe -- size 30 long.
I can do it Lord, if you'll show to me,
the virtues of lettuce and celery.

Teach me the evil of mayonnaise,
And of pasta a la Milanese
and crisp-fried chicken from the South.
Lord, if you love me, shut my mouth.


Amen

[roxiestone]

Just checking in.

Wishing us all peace.

[Nina Kay]

It's so funny that you would all talk about being in pain at this time. I was going to come here to tell you all what a difference it has made for me to abstain from obvious sugary sweets, in that I am not having much pain anymore. I just noticed it a couple of days ago and was so surprised because I am always in extreme pain in various areas of my body all of the time. It happened to me the same way the last time that I was abstinent from sugar for a long period of time, which is why I knew that it was due to my refraining from sugar.
It sounds like you are all doing great with abstaining from OS. Keep up the great work. Just for today, I am also still OS free.

Jack, please keep coming here and trying. I know that you can do this because you've done it so well before. For those of you who don't know, Jack has already made the 100 days OS free before. Jack, I may be wrong but I have been sensing that you are having a greater struggle lately because you seem a bit down, in your posts. I know that it's rough to think we have do this all of the time, why can't we just be free to do what we want like others get to. But the truth is, we are going to be much healthier for it all. We are going to be able to be proud of ourselves for these great accomplishments and hold our head high. And why do we make such a big deal about a certain kind of little drink or a certain kind of little morsel of something to put in our mouths. There are plenty of other things to drink and there are plenty of other things to eat. Right?! RIGHT !!! What is the big deal anyway. We Can Do This Together. :ghug

[Rowan]

Thanks for the poem Scott that was awesome. I'm gonna print it to keep by my desk and to share with my co-workers. We often trade food and dieting tips.

I had no idea Jack had made it to 100 days before! Wow Jack I'm so inspired!!

For me, I know it's an inevitability that I eat sugar again - but it wouldn't be a relapse or a slip - it would be a choice - and I would start my count again. I have never gone this long before and for that I am proud. I have more energy, my head is clearer, and I feel empowered today. I look forward to that day when I have a sugary treat as a reward, and will enjoy every morsel. It won't be a whole bag of cookies, but just one or two.

Thanks as always to everyone for your words and for your accountability.

[Neagrm]

I need to start over again at day 1. Thanks....

[Fubarcdn]

OK this is going too far.
I went to give my wife a big amorous kiss last night as a hopefully prelude to a session of showing our love for each other and do you know what she said?
You can't have that. Don't you know I am an obvious sweet?
When I stopped snickering I was out of the mood. Maybe next month.

I am obviously joking. Unfortunately about the prelude too.

No sweets for me today.
I am like Rowan in that I also plan on enjoying sweets again and probably sooner than later but I also want to be able to stop at one or two and if I can do that all will be well for me in sugar land.

[roxiestone]

Good morning group.

I am grateful for each of you, the board and all the tools available for use in my recovery.

May we all live in peace.

[smiling jack]

Nina, thank you for your thoughts. I am grateful for my life, my family, and almost all of the choices I make. When it comes to slipping and sliding with the OS's, it's a little here and a little there...and I don't binge like I did before I came here.

I need to continue to come here for accountability and the joy I receive in reading the experience, strength, hope and joy of you all. Take care.

Nina - 3/8/2009 - 59 Days
Cali - 4/1/2009 - 35 Days
Astro - 4/10/2009 - 26 Days
Fubarcdn - 4/13/2009 - 23 Days
Poppy - 4/13/2009 - 23 Days
Rowan - 4/15/2009 - 21 Days
Pony - 4/17/2009 - 19 Days
Dave - 4/19/2009 - 17 Days
Roxie- 4/25/09 - 11 Days
Cathy - 5/4/2009 - 2 Days
Jack- 5/5/2009 - 1 Day
Neagrm -5/6/2009 - Day 1

[californiapoppy]

Feeling good, no more aches and pains, we must have all caught the same arthritis virus, glad it's over ! And as Nina says I do feel better without sugar, and I do not get up in the night to eat any more, I had forgotten about that, so things are definitely better, because there has got to be a dozen little things like that, that I don't remember that are doing better. Energy for one, I thought sugar was instant energy, and I've got more energy, endurance wise than before. I'm really glad to have joined in with you all, I never would have believed it without trying ! Thanks !

[cali]

good to see everyone taking care of yourselves!!
I am in it for another day!!!

[Astro]

Jack, you continue to inspire me, don't ever stop. I admire your determination.

I think I overdid it a little today with the healthy eating thing. I just ate a roast turkey and cheese sandwich.....that doesn't contain any meat or dairy products. It's like tofurkey and tofueese or somethin'

I plan to cave though, my daughter and I are grabbing mini sirloin burgers from Jack-In-The-Box to eat at my son's Little League game tonight

Still OS free, I will not give in when daughter digs in to the brownies at home. Drool maybe, but not indulge.

[Rowan]

I bought some all-natural peanut butter to have on my Ryvita snackbread it's delicious!
Also bought a few sugar-free candies for when the urge for something sweet hits.

I had tofurkey at Christmas one time, Astro, and it was pretty good!

[Cathy31]

Hi All
Rowan I LOVE peanut butter with ryvita great healthy snack. Anyone read the sugar addicts recovery book by the lady who wrote 'Potatoes not Prozac' extremely practical and helpful.
I am on day 4 I think!
Cathy31
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[smiling jack]

Potatos, not Prozac was popular on this thread a while ago. I and others read it. I would like to know on the book about sugar-free snacks....what are the opinions now?

In my mind, which gets me into trouble, most of the time I think stuff that is purposely made sugar-free, will manipulate me into the real deal. I do not do non-alcohol beer because I fear it is a slip for me...and would lead to getting drunk.

What is the science of sugar-substitutes? Are they addictive also? Maybe I should try sugar-substitutes for snacks and still claim being OS free? What are the thoughts, please.

Nina - 3/8/2009 - 60 Days
Cali - 4/1/2009 - 36 Days
Astro - 4/10/2009 - 27 Days
Fubarcdn - 4/13/2009 - 24 Days
Poppy - 4/13/2009 - 24 Days
Rowan - 4/15/2009 - 22 Days
Pony - 4/17/2009 - 20 Days
Dave - 4/19/2009 - 18 Days
Roxie- 4/25/09 - 12 Days
Cathy - 5/4/2009 - 3 Days
Neagrm -5/6/2009 - 1 Day
Jack- 5/7/2009 - Day 1

[TryingisDying]

Hi everyone.....can I join? Im a recovering bulimic/anorexic and COE.....

[Rowan]

Hi TID - welcome to the thread! Of course you may join!

Jack - good thought on the sugar-free stuff. For me, I've noticed that it seems to set off a craving for more. And - I'm worried it could lead to the real deal. Having said that, I left my sugar-free candies at work, and won't eat them at home or keep more than a couple in my purse. And when I ate those sugar-free cookies a while back, I ate the whole bag! I think I need to avoid anything that even resembles a treat, except for very rare occasions. I was also putting sweetener in my coffee and think I'm going to can that idea also.

Hey Cathy et al I'm going to check out that Prozac/Potato book and also the sugar addicts recovery book - gonna hit the library tonight after my meeting.

Have a great day everyone.

Hugs.

[Fubarcdn]

I think sugar substitutes are fine.
I substitute Splenda for sugar in my coffee but that is about it for me. I am trying to cut down on the coffee anyways and sub green tea for it since green tea aids in weight loss.
I am also going to try to sub high sugar natural fruits such as orange juice with lower sugar ones such as apples or melons.
I do have the occasional near beer at 50 calories so 2 of these is less damaging than a fruity drink or ice tea. It does not make me want to drink real alcoholic drinks but I enjoy the taste of beer without the buzz.
I am staying strong and studying labels as when I get back from holidays I am going on a 16 week fitness and nutrition program to try to get back in the shape I was in when I was 20.
Still OS free today.

[Cathy31]

Hey jack
just like with alcohol I avoid the substitutes. Not talking substitute sweeteners but anything else...similar to Rowan I once bought non sugar, no this no that choc chip cookies and at the whole bag and felt even sicker than on regular choc chip. I just think that for me, like alcohol, I can't have the real thing and substitutes are relapses waiting to happen. I do think in time one can moderate sweet things (unlike with alcohol) but I am very far away from that right now. So, in answer to your quetion, i'd stick with the purist approach for now and avoid OS and substitute OS's.
Good luck!
Cathy31
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