I often joke about my sweet tooth and talk about how it runs my life. I could easily out eat a full grown gorilla when it comes to anything with sugar, and in the past I’ve not worried about it too much because I had a decent balance on my intake.
Fast forward to over a year ago, when my mental strength turned to mush.
Some things occurred the last year and a half that helped catalyze my diet to become something you’d likely see on an episode of Jerry Springer, the foodie edition. It’s come to a point where it’s no longer a joke, and I’ve been completely hijacked by sugar. Don’t get me wrong, my Costco cart is still filled with greens, and the bulk of my diet are whole foods, but that doesn’t excuse the excess amounts of treats I’ve consumed.
I will never completely abandon processed sugar, I’ve tried and it just causes me to binge. A healthy balance of greens and treats is what I long for, and because I’m not currently in a mental state to have “just one,” sugar has got to go. For now.
I’m not proud of the spiral I’ve fallen into, and my carefree intake of processed foods has affected me both mentally and physically. I’ve gained 25 pounds, my fitness activities are challenging, and my motivation is dismal, but the good news (because I’m a sucker for silver linings and must end on a positive note) is that this is reversible.

Whole Foods – the king of vegan chocolate mousse
Life happens, and sometimes that means we fall off the wagon. Or in my case, get body slammed off the wagon, run over, and then the wagon backs up just for good measure. We’re human and sometimes it takes time to realize our actions aren’t serving us very well, and in my case it’s taken over a year. I can only take what happens in life and learn from it.
I’ve been dwelling long enough on my choices and it’s time to make some changes. I no longer want to just “look a certain way,” but rather I want to feel a certain way. I want to sleep better, I want my skin to feel hydrated, I want my energy levels to be elevated, I no longer want my eyes to look lifeless, I want my joint and muscle inflammation to dissipate, and most importantly I want my mind to be at peace.
Sugar messes with so many parts of our bodies, and our brains are hit the hardest.
SO I went out with a bang last week and stocked up on treats from Whole Foods, because they are my JAM when it comes to vegan baked goods. Starting today I will be training for my seventh half marathon, which will help get me back on track. Within the next three months I plan to avoid any and all processed sugar with one exception – my birthday.
Life’s too short not to have cake on your birthday.

Whole Foods – mile high vegan cupcakes
I guarantee I will have x-rated fantasy’s of sugar dancing in my lap, and post race I plan to indulge in the most decadent of treats, but overall I hope to regain my mental strength, reestablish some self control, and rediscover what balance means for me.
Posting this on the blog is my attempt to stay accountable because it’s easy to put this into words after eating a locally made donut when my sugar levels have been filled, but come next week when my reserves are empty I’ll need this accountability to stay strong. I know when I’m out running my double digit miles next month I’ll thank myself, because without all the processed garbage blocking my innards running will feel so much better.
Three months sans sugar, and three months of focused running to bring me back to a balanced state of living. I’ll do random updates every so often. One of my favorite half marathon training plans has every Monday as a rest day, including the first one.
Starting off training with a rest day, I can work with that.
Instead of running today you can find me at work, and unwinding with one of my favorite gifts of the year. A friend of mine took one of my Instagram photos and had it made into a puzzle. It was a total surprise, and totally awesome. Also, I’m still rocking three pumpkins outside my house because I have separation anxiety for the fall season.
Wish me luck, and if I snap at you while having a conversation just know it’s nothing personal. It’s just the sugar beast searching for glucose. 🙂
Q: What’s the longest you’ve gone without sugar? For those of you that live sugar free, what was it like when you first made the lifestyle change?