Cheater Cheater, Sugar Eater

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.

Blake & Tulip Need A Home -- Together!

BlakeI worked an adoption fair at Petco last Saturday for the Animal Protection Society of Rockingham County and FELL IN LOVE with two of the dogs there. Retriever mixes, Tulip and Blake are brother and sister and so freaking cute they make me want to lose my mind. They are very devoted to one another as well. Obviously, we'd like to get them out of the shelter and into homes but it would be ideal if they could stay together. TulipGoing into Petco, Tulip was nervous. The sliding doors and smell of other dogs was freaking her out and she kept backing away from the doors. Then she saw Blake trot on inside, happy as can be, and suddenly she was fine. She followed him inside, no problem. It was like she said to herself, "Well, if he's going to be there it must be okay."

TulipI think both dogs are around 11 months. Everyone remarked that for retrievers, they are very laid back. Blake especially is a big ol' lounge dog. He just sprawled on the floor at Petco and I could just picture him hanging out on the floor beside a couch, just happy to be near people. Blake

Please--these are wonderful dogs. Pass this link around in case anyone you know may know someone who would love to share their life with some super-sweet--and beautiful--dogs. 

Cheers,

Dena

Update on 7 lb Weight Loss

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.

Read More

Airline Travel - So Not Worth It

I'm traveling soon from my home in North Carolina to see my best friend Trisha in Cincinnati. It's about an 8-hour drive, and a pretty drive for most of the way. (Things get ugly when you cross into Ohio. Sorry, buckeyes.) Usually I'd have no problem making the drive but this time I was hoping to fly. My visit is only 4 days, including drive time, and one day while I'm there Trisha and I area driving to Columbus (about 2 hours each way) to see my cousin and her new baby. 

That's a whole lotta driving.

So I hopped on Delta where we have skymiles and onto Priceline, just to check out the competition, hoping to find a "cheap" flight. 

Read More