Cheater Cheater, Sugar Eater

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Today's post is a public shaming. I figure if I'm going to brag about the good times, I should be honest about the bad. 

Earlier this week I crowed celebrated blogged about how cutting out sugar had led to some weight loss. Shortly thereafter, I fell off the no-sugar bandwagon. Bumpity-bump-bump. Yesterday at Starbucks I gave in to cravings and enjoyed a dark-chocolate graham square--at 22 grams of sugar! I've also had some bananas and today I ate kale sauteed in orange juice and sprinkled with raisins. I also had some french bread and wine with dinner. How about some sugar with that sugar, sug-ah?  

I FEEL TERRIBLE. As in, physically ill. My stomach is queasy and I've had a small headache that started about two hours after I ate the chocolate graham square and that hasn't gone away since. 

Is it the sugar making me feel bad? I don't know, but it seems a reasonable guess. That's the only thing I've changed in my diet/routine. And after eating each of the sugary items, I felt fine for about 30 minutes and then I just felt... yech. 

This is good. It reinforces the message that I'm better off without the sugar. The kale and occasional banana, fine. But the bread and chocolate need to go bye-bye. (The wine is not going anywhere. Don't even think it.) 

So back to it. No refined sugar. Go team no-sugar!

Just someone, please... keep me away from Starbucks.

Update on 7 lb Weight Loss

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if you'll recall, on March 1st I posted that I was gunning to lose 7 pounds. I am pleased to report that 14 days in, I am down 3.5 pounds.

I've gotten better (but not great) at portion control and within just the last week I am making a push to eliminate all most sugar from my diet. At first I thought I'd go so far as to even eliminate fruit, but I nixed that idea because a) I don't think it's healthy and b) I was snacking non-stop on bread, which can only lead to evil. Instead, moderate fruit, but I have eliminated sugars such as honey, maple syrup, and CHOCOLATE.

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Kabocha Squash

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Kabocha Squash. Ever heard of it? I found a recipe for roasted Kabocha squash on my new favorite website, Heather Eats Almond Butter, and have been longing to try it. One problem: kabocha squash was nowhere to be found. I searched Earth Fare, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Fresh Market and even (I was desperate) Wal-mart. Nothing. 

I whined to Blair about not being able to find it. 

"That's because it doesn't exist," he said.

"What do you mean it doesn't exist?" I asked. "Of course it exists. There's a recipe for it."

"You vegetarians are so easy to con," he said.

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Small Town Grocery Shopping

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The elusive arugulaI love my little Southern town but living in the sticks does make vegetarian/vegan shopping a challenge. From Walmart cashiers holding up kale or rutabaga, snapping their gum and asking, "What's this?" to produce stock boys telling me they've never heard of this "arugula" I speak of, weekly grocery shopping inevitably turns into a scavenger hunt. Here's a partial list of items from this week's list that I'll be forced to drive into Greensboro to find:

  • Bok choy
  • Thai red paste
  • Veggie beef tips
  • Arugula (Yes Virginia, it is a lettuce)
  • Red lentils
  • Dates (fresh, not boxed and covered in sugar)
  • Tempeh
  • Shredded Cheddar Rice Cheese
  • Veggie Meatballs

On the bright side, Walmart has started carrying Wasa Crackers, Maranantha Almond Butter, and Eden Organic and Muir Glen diced tomatoes. They also have tofu on a regular basis and American sliced fake-cheese. 

While we're on the subject of food, two of my friends have started food blogs. I'm a forever vegetarian and even I'll admit that the Blue Cheese Burger with Red Wine Onion Jam on my friend Andy's blog looks pretty damn good. 

My friend Nathan and his girlfriend Katie are quite the gourmet cooks and have started their own blog, Sustenance & Libation. They're big time carnivores but I feel sure with a bit of pressure from me, they'll add a "Tofu Tuesday" or some such bit sometime soon. Yup. Aaaanny day now. 

Cheers,

Dena