December, unsweetened, No. 15

1/2: Sweet success!

This blog chronicles the author's attempt to endure the month of December, 2019, without eating sugary foods or drinks.

New Year's Eve presented the final significant challenge to my unsweetened holidays. Holly and I typically spend the last evening of the year watching a movie and calling it a night well before the clock strikes 12.

In a last-minute attempt to be a bit celebratory, we decided to try a new Indian restaurant that served a New Year's Eve buffet. It wasn't a very splashy move to make a reservation for 5:30 p.m., but it was a pretty big deal for us.

At the end of several very long tables, each loaded with various foods, were several desserts, only one with which I was familiar—gulab jamun. Essentially, they're doughnut holes soaked in a sugary, cardamom-flavored syrup. They melt in your mouth so fast you don't even feel like you ate anything.

At the end of my meal, I opted for some fresh fruit salad, punctuating my commitment to avoid sugary sweet foods from December 1 until the day after New Year's Day.

It's not important for me, at this point, to determine whether I was clinically addicted to sugar. All I wanted to do was assess the results of my commitment to go without it, at least in things like desserts, pastries, candies and ice cream.

I tried to be as scientific as I could, keeping everything else stable in my daily routine. The only thing I couldn't control was how the holidays, weather and minimal daylight might affect me.

Here are my observations:

1. I was irritable and blue for the first couple weeks of December. That may have been related to the factors mentioned above, but it seemed like the exercise of denying myself sweets had left me cranky and a bit sullen.

2. I dropped about five pounds, although I haven't jumped on the scale since taking two trips through the Indian buffet line. The point is that instead of gaining about seven pounds over the holidays, which had long been my norm, I lost weight.

3. There may be some internal changes for the better that I can't see, but I haven't noticed any apparent physical benefits from cutting back significantly on my sugar intake, except for one that I hadn't anticipated ...

4. ... and it was pretty remarkable. About 20 days into December, I noticed a physical benefit that my upbringing won't allow me to explain in detail here. It was significant enough, however, to prompt me to do a Google search, which yielded dozens of results pertinent for both men and women. Here is a link to just one of the pages that presented information I wish I'd known long ago:
https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/a758955/how-sugar-is-wrecking-your-sex-life/

Where do I go from here? I'm going to continue to restrict my sugar intake indefinitely and am looking forward to seeing blood test results from my annual physical in June. Maybe they'll yield some other, less readily discernible benefits.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading! And please let me know if you try a similar experiment in sugar-minimizing for yourself. I'd love to compare notes!

December, unsweetened, No. 14

12/30: Home stretch

This blog chronicles the author's attempt to endure the month of December, 2019, without eating sugary foods or drinks.

Four more days.

On January 2, my resolution to ban sugary treats from my diet, a commitment that began on December 1, will come to an end. At that point, I'll spend some time jotting down ways in which my unsweetened December may have affected me—in ways both positive, negative and, perhaps, not at all.

For today, it's enough to remember why I made this outlandish holiday commitment in the first place. It was all about weight. For years, I'd approach Thanksgiving at around my usual weight. By January 2, every year, I'd have packed on about seven pounds, which I'd spend the next few months trying to burn off.

I know mine is not a unique holiday story. I suspect it's a story shared by most Americans. A few days ago, I took some comfort in listening to a late-night sports talk radio host share his recent experience. Sal Licata, of WFAN, let his listeners know disgusted he was with himself for letting the holidays get the best of him, complaining that he hadn't been working out, had been overeating, and felt "sluggish, chunky and lethargic."

I hear you, Sal.

My wake-up call came a day after Thanksgiving, after I'd consumed a substantial meal of leftovers. Within the next 90 minutes, I'd also  polished off two slices of pecan pie and a dish of ice cream. As usual, I rationalized that I exercise a lot so it's understandable that I have a good appetite. Eating is just a matter of refueling.

Objectively, though, I had to wonder how and why I'd consumed three desserts after my dinner. I couldn't lie to myself. I was on track, once again, for another seven-pound weight gain (if not more) over the holidays.

So, I vowed to eliminate all manner of extra sugar from my diet, starting in December. No desserts, cakes, cookies, pastries, candies, ice cream. On the first day of the month, I stepped on the scale and and watched it ring up 159 pounds, even.

Then, as an extra motivational tool, I started researching other benefits, beyond weight control, of cutting down on sugary stuff. There were promises of more energy, greater strength, clearer thinking, reduced risks of various diseases, and a dozen other things. It seemed like I'd have the potential of becoming some sort of senior-citizen Superman.

As of today, I've managed, and not without a great deal of will power, to survive 30 unsweetened days. I'm looking forward to unlocking my sugarless shackles in a few days, after which I'll take one of three paths into my dietary future:

• maintaining my commitment to skip sweets;
• finding some level of moderation in my sugar intake, or;
• devouring a box of Ferrero Rochers, making a batch of Ghirardelli triple-chocolate brownies, and redeeming my coupon for a free pastry at Panera.

I'll reveal the findings from my sweets-free holidays—for better or worse—in the final installment of "December, unsweetened," on January 2.

December, unsweetened, No. 13

12/21: Visions of sugarplums

This blog chronicles the author's attempt to endure the month of December, 2019, without eating sugary foods or drinks.

It finally happened. It was yesterday, December 23, which is usually when it happens.

Co-workers, friends, and neighbors you barely even wave to throughout the year all seem to give holiday gifts to other co-workers, friends and neighbors two days before Christmas. Typically, such gifts fall under one of three categories--alcohol, candles and, of course, confections.

At this point in my life, I've gained a reputation as someone who most appreciates gifts of the latter variety. I've been told my eyes literally light up at the sight of sweets, so I'm usually on the receiving end of all sorts of treats. This December 23 was no exception.

First, a friend's mother handed me a one-gallon baggie full of homemade chocolate chip and sugar cookies. Must have been a couple dozen in there. Holly's co-worker Barb, as is her annual tradition, makes and hands out fudge. It's the kind of fudge you don't just eat; you want to have a meaningful relationship with it.

Then again, there is the array of gifts that arrive at offices for staff members to share. These are almost always in the confection category, usually cookies or candies that can be shared among employees, unlike a bottle of brandy or a candle.

Often, there are so many tins of cookies and boxes of chocolates given as office gifts that they're offered to anyone who walks in the door for the next few weeks. Finally, when it becomes clear no one is going to eat the last broken cookie with the hardened raspberry jam, or the last lemon-cream chocolate, they'll eventually find their way into the trash.

For someone trying to eliminate sweet treats from his holiday diet, the couple of days right before Christmas present the greatest challenge of all. For the first time, last night, I had a nightmare that reflected my frustration.

I was at a holiday house party that was winding down. People were saying goodbyes in the living room and I was alone in the kitchen. On one of the counters in the kitchen, well out of sight of anyone else, sat a large, nearly empty plate of cookies.

I spotted a broken piece of a Double-Stuff chocolate-cream Oreo. I quickly convinced myself it was too small to count as a violation of my resolve. I popped it into my mouth and was immediately so stricken with guilt that I spit it into a trash can.

The following morning, my craving for a cookie was nearly overwhelming. I began to rationalize that it would be rude of me not to eat the sweet holiday gifts I'd been given. I wouldn't want to be rude, would I?

Nevertheless, I remained strong. Holly offered to freeze the cookies, fudge and whatever else tempted my sweet tooth, until January 2 when my self-imposed unsweetened holidays would be over. Right now, the day before Christmas, visions of sugarplums and Double Stuf Oreos are dancing in my head. Come January 2, I might just eat every sweet and dessert I can get my mouth on.

Hey, I never committed to a lifestyle change. I committed to go without sugary treats for 32 days. As of tomorrow, I have one week of denial left. So far, the only clear benefit is that I haven't gained the six or seven pounds I usually gain during December and New Year's Day.

Is that enough of a benefit to make me want to break up with Barb's homemade fudge?

December, unsweetened, No. 12

12/21: Sleep would be helpful

This blog chronicles the author's attempt to endure the month of December, 2019, without eating sugary foods or drinks.

We're only four days away from Christmas and I'm still hanging on to my commitment for an unsweetened December. By a thread.

Bokay

A few days ago, my cat/best friend, "Bokay," had to have surgery to remove a few stones from his bladder. Merry Christmas. But what does that have to do with not eating sweets?

I'd read, a few years ago, that if you don't sleep well you're more inclined to eat sugary food the following day. If you start your day dragging, your brain tells you to eat sugary things for quick energy so you can push through the fatigue.

It makes such recommendations all day long, until you're able to catch up on your sleep. A nap is never a bad idea, assuming you can find a pocket of time during the day to take one. During the holidays? Good luck with that.

There are times, like this, when your brain doesn't really give you the best advice. Maybe it means well, but in this case it would be better if it kept its suggestions to itself.

Back to Bokay. Getting him into a cat carrier to go to the vet is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. Probably harder. So, while I was worried about his anticipated operation, I was even more concerned about how I was going to get him ready to transport to the vet.

Then, of course, I was stressed about Bokay's surgery and recuperation. For a span of nearly a week, I didn't sleep well at all... making it a very bad time to do food shopping.

They're everywhere.

Sweet temptations were at the end of every aisle. Special holiday displays featured cookies, pastries, cakes and, of course, Ferrero Rochers in festive Christmas tree-shaped containers. All the while, of course, my brain was doing its best to convince me I needed something sweet to help me get through the day.

Bokay seems fine. The surgery went well and now I might be able to get some solid sleep. I have 13 more days to go without sweet treats. Twenty-one days in and I still can't say I'm feeling any better.

If anything, I've been feeling sort of blue, although that could be a result of increasingly abbreviated daylight. Dusk seems to follow dawn all too closely, these days. Seems I just finish breakfast, brush my teeth, and then the sun goes down.

Thirteen days. I can do this. Pretty sure. But will it have been worth it?

December, unsweetened, No. 11

12/16: Movie motivation

This blog chronicles the author's attempt to endure the month of December, 2019, without eating sugary foods or drinks.

Maybe it's too soon to tell, but I'm halfway through my dessert-free holidays and I'm not noticing any particular benefit of having dramatically reduced my sugar intake. In fact, I've felt worse. My mood is flat, my vitality has ebbed and my thoughts are more frequently muddled.

Yesterday, when a perky Panera employee wandered through the shop, offering free bite-sized samples of their "bear claws," I nearly caved in. The samples were each about an inch square, so I almost allowed myself a tiny "cheat."

After pulling myself together and graciously declining one of those sweet little freebies, I realized I needed some sort of extra motivation to maintain my commitment level. So, my evening with Holly featured a full-length documentary movie entitled, "That Sugar Film."

There are, to be sure, at least a dozen films proclaiming the physical and mental health dangers that come with conspicuous sugar consumption. It was pretty much a roll of the dice as to which one we were going to watch. If you're so inclined, check out the trailers and decide for yourself.

That Sugar Film is something along the lines of "Supersize Me." The leading man maintains a healthy diet of whole foods, until trying an experiment with his body. Since the norm for people in America, as well as in his native Australia, is to consume 40 teaspoons of sugar per day, he adjusts his food selections to do the same for 60 days. Most of the food he eats is typically considered "healthful," but contains surprising amounts of added sugar.

I won't spoil the ending, but I suspect you can make a pretty good guess as to how it ends. Along the way, I picked up some interesting tidbits about just how much sugar is added to our processed foods. The answer is way too much. And
if you take everything out of a supermarket that has added sugar, you'd have only about 20 percent of the items left on the shelves.

For me, it was worth watching and confirmed, at least for now, that my unsweetened December idea would eventually prove worth trying. I'm just waiting for that moment when the evidence is clear to me. The film suggests that it generally takes two to four weeks before the "detox" is over and the positive results begin to become apparent.

I just have to have enough patience to wait for the payoff.

December, unsweetened, No. 10

12/14: Pretty sweet deal!

This blog chronicles the author's attempt to endure the month of December, 2019, without eating sugary foods or drinks.

This is going to be a problem.

I like Panera Bread shops, especially the one near my apartment. I like the ambience. I like that I can order online, from any table in the place and have my meal delivered to my table. I like the people, who always seem well trained and very pleasant.

Paneras have become, to me, what Howard Johnson's were to my parents—a go-to restaurant. I'm a card-carrying Panera Rewards member. So, I flinched a little when I heard the local shop was going to be renovated inside and expanded to include a drive-thru lane outside. I've always had an if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it attitude.

That, however, turned out not to be a problem.

It has been a couple weeks, now, since the renovations were completed and I'm fine with the changes. Yesterday, though, I received a flyer in the mail. It announced the new remodel and encouraged me to check it out.

As an incentive, two coupons were included on the flyer, one of which was (gulp) for a free pastry or sweet with any purchase. My mind leaped to thoughts of Panera's Chocolate Chipper cookies, which are often available warm, from the oven. When I get one, I'll often sit and inhale the aroma for a minute or two before taking a bite.

The problem, of course, is that each cookie contains 30g of sugar. Having no idea what a gram looks like, I used an online calculator to convert them to something I could better visualize. As it turns out, 30 grams is equal to two tablespoons, which, I had to admit, surely qualified it as the kind of sugary food I'm trying to avoid.

For better or for worse, the coupons expire Jan. 31, 2020, four full weeks after my commitment to avoid sweet treats expires (Jan. 2, 2020). The question is whether I'm going to want to start avoiding desserts and candies after my period of denial is over, or if I'll rush back to the sweet, welcoming embrace of sugar.

The truth is, I'm going to have to feel a helluva lot better, by the start of the new year, to convince me not to redeem that Panera coupon.

December, unsweetened, No. 9

12/12: Some good fortune

This blog chronicles the author's attempt to endure the month of December, 2019, without eating sugary foods or drinks.

Yesterday, I was invited out to a complimentary buffet lunch (free food) and was worried that the end of the serving table would be groaning under the weight of numerous dessert options.

As it turned out, mercifully, I had nothing to worry about. The restaurant was what we Americans would commonly call "Chinese," and desserts are, well, ... pretty much foreign to that corner of the world. That proved to be helpful for me on the 11th day of my unsweetened December.

I had skipped breakfast, so I arrived at the restaurant hungry and quickly blew through samplings of savory entrees. Having been years since I'd dined at a Chinese restaurant, I'd forgotten their dessert menus are models of minimalism, if they exist at all. 

One plate was full of what appeared to be shortbread or sugar cookies with a single sliver of almond atop each one. The other, of course, was a bowl full of the standard crinkly-plastic-wrapped fortune cookie.

Neither option moved the needle on my sweet-o-meter.

I grabbed a single fortune cookie, primarily to spark a little conversation among the acquaintances with whom I was seated, at a table for eight. I cracked open the cookie, read my highly forgettable fortune, and ate the broken shards of the cardboard-y cookie. It was clearly not a violation of my commitment to eliminate sweet treats from my holiday diet.

Instead of seeing a table full of seductive cakes and cookies, I spotted only two options that could even remotely qualify as dessert. Not a bit of chocolate in sight. 

Later research informed me that sugary desserts are a Western invention, a custom that those in the Eastern world commonly eschews. If anything, after a meal, they might enjoy some sliced fresh fruit. Apparently, they believe food is their medicine, or something like that.

In other words, I caught a break. I'm nearing the midpoint of the month without any seriously sugary temptations. I still can't report feeling any better, but I remain hopeful.