Over half way through lent and thus far the cravings have been mild and manageable.
Why is this?
Previously I have been a sugar fiend and the idea of giving up would be challenging to say the least.
This time however, lent came around quickly and I didn’t have much time to prepare either physically by getting substitutes or mentally. The little prep I did though must have been meaningful. I didn’t treat it like there would be some great loss, nor have I pressured myself to be completely abstinent.
That has meant that on some occasions I have forgiven myself the odd ‘sin’. The little ‘sins’ I have allowed myself have been minimal.
For example on day one I unknowingly bought a drink with Sugar in. As soon as I took a sip I noticed the sugar hit on my tongue, but I decided to have it anyway. It was tasty, expensive and I was thirsty. I didn’t punish myself and it taught me to become more aware of what I was buying so it was useful.
Another time I attended a funeral with a buffet featuring a grand selection of cakes. I gave in to the craving and had about three bits, maybe more. I thought that if I’m gonna break the rules, there is no point in just having a snide nibble!
Over three weeks and these two misdemeanours are the only lapses.
With Addictions, and Sugar has long been an Addiction for me, I find that people often set themselves rules which they cannot break. Then if they do they feel like they’ve failed which invariably leads to a full blown relapse.
Even as I allowed myself the three bits of cake, I felt that I made a conscious choice rather than being compelled to gorge on the cake despite my will. I forgave myself. Due to the fact that I didn’t mean anything to me, about my will power or my personality it was easy to get back on track.
A strange phenomenon for me is the fact that since the beginning of this Sugar Fast I have developed a cough, with lots of yucky phlegm.
OK, when I used to smoke this was quite normal, but it’s unlike me to have a cough like this now.
I did a bit of research and found that Sugar affects cancerous cells in the lungs. It may be that this Sugar Fast is helping to clean them out and keep them out of harms way.
http://lungcancer.about.com/b/2009/12/29/less-sugar-speeds-death-of-precancerous-lung-cells.htm
Another thing struck me about this Sugar Fast is the unknown benefits one gets when making a healthy choice.
After a couple of weeks or so with no sugar (except my little lapses of course), I decided to make biscuits with my son. My wife gave me a recipe for sugar free biscuits (using honey) and we set about the wondrous task of baking.
The whole process of making them ourselves was bliss. The mess. The stirring. The fun we had. The bonding. The baking. The sense of achievement.
I haven’t baked biscuits since school. If it wasn’t for this Sugar Fast there is no doubt in my mind that I would not have been baking sugar free biscuits . We have made more since and I hope we will make more again.
Also, I only feel the need for the occasional half biscuit and on an even rarer incidence perhaps three, rather than wolfing down over half a packet of Custard Creams.
It’s these unknown factors that one couldn’t imagine yet they exist now and are just waiting for us to make that change to bring them into reality.
What changes would you like to make?
What could it do for you?
Perhaps you won’t know until you make them!
If you would like get some advice, ask any questions or to book a Hypnotherapy session either call 07949989986 or email me on kim@possie.co.uk
