Here is the low down:

I feel a need to write down EXACTLY what my goal is; what I will and will not be eating for the next 8 weeks. After watching this very informative video:

Sugar: The Bitter Truth

I decided that fructose needed to be greatly minimized within my (and my family's) diet. Dr. Lustig is a great proponent of educating the country to the evils of sugar and says the word "fructose" like it is a swearword. (Really though, he does. Watch the video.)  The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 tsp of sugar per day for women and 9 tsp for men. The average American consumes more than 22 tsp each day. I have no doubt that mine has been no less than 22 ON A GOOD DAY. "Healthy folks" who only use natural sweeteners and fruit can EASILY reach that number in any given day. 

After researching this topic I have decided to follow a fructose free regimen for the next 8 weeks. In this the first week I am still eating fruit, to sort of, ease into it. However starting next Monday I will cut fruit from my diet entirely. Here is a list of what I will be "quitting:" 

• All fruit (including coconut milk, fruit juice etc)
• Honey, molasses, maple syrup and other natural sweeteners
• All forms of refined sugar (white, brown, powdered, HFCS, etc)
• Any food with the above mentioned sugars 
• Sugar substitutes (I personally don't believe in these and . . they often give me gas. Not a fan.)

I hope to wean my brain and taste buds off of the sweetness, so when I reintroduce some fruit and possibly natural sweeteners after July 8th I will be able to truly appreciate the taste and have greater ability to keep my portion sizes in check. 

I love Sara Wilson's advice from "I Quite Sugar." (Read her story here: http://iquitsugar.com/start-here/my-story/) I keep reminding myself that this is temporary and after July 8th I can have as much sugar, whatever kinds I please, as I want. My PRAYER is that I won't want it. :) Loving this quote today:

I think it will be my quitting sugar mantra. :) I have already received so much support and encouragement! Thank you all SO MUCH! Please keep following along and sharing your thoughts and advice!  

Sayonara Sugar!

Ladies and gents, this time it is for real. I am saying, "So long!" to sugar. Fructose to be more exact. For 8 weeks to be even more exact. I have wanted to try such an experiment for a LOOOONG time. But, am I the only one who feels like a great, big fat portion of my happiness is directly connected to the next soonest moment that I can eat something sweet and delicious?! It is HARD to even tell myself that I will not be eating sugar. My whole self immediately protests! Which is probably the number one reason why I finally convinced myself that this needed to happen!!

This cute lady has gotten me really excited about the prospect of what life un-sugared could be like:

I Quit Sugar with Sara Wilson

Why quit sugar? My list is as follows:

• Get healthy habits for baby number 2!
• Lose weight AND find a steady, healthy weight. 
• Ditch the crazy mood swings.
• Ditch the mid day slumps. 
• Gain control over cravings and portions.
• I have felt strongly that this will help me with my depression!!

I started May 12th and will continue this process until July 7th. This blog has been started in efforts to have a way to publicly hold myself accountable. I have failed sugar-free attempts one to many times. Please, join with me! Let's all strive towards a healthier relationship with sugar! If you are the kind of person who CAN stop at just one cookie. . . any advice and encouragement is very much welcomed! And in 8 weeks you will see a transformation something like this:

Before

After

Or something like that. :)