Maybe it was the crime drama I watched just before bed.
Or a culmination of only ever watching crime dramas - and eating a little snack of goat cheese and sesame seed crackers (still no sugar) right before bed, but I had unpleasant dreams of someone trying to kill me all night.
I woke up frustrated and upset.
I got miffed at the dog and accused her of peeing on the rug out of spite. It turns out only cats do that sort of thing and with dogs it is either a bladder infection or severe anxiety. Sorry, dog.
I think the symptoms of withdrawal are finally appearing. I did not expect them to take so long. I did not expect them to sneak up on me like this. Stupid ninja sugar withdrawal.
I'm a little cranky. Maybe not so much as the words make it seem.... like on a scale from 1 to 10 where one is pure joy, and 10 is Die world, Die! I'm really only at a 5.5... just tipping the scale at a slight - bummed.
Physically, I'm a little achy and stiff. About what I would expect after the little bit of lifting I did yesterday, and the short hike we went on. I am interested in the joint popping that is happening though.
I used to sound like a bag of popcorn in the microwave, but I haven't popped like that in years. I'm lucky to get the slightest release from a forward fold these days. Just in the last 20 minutes however, I had a pretty full release in my neck. It felt great. I tried the old favorite - the back twist, but didn't get anything. I'm totally going to keep an eye on that situation. I would love to be able to pop and crack again. It always felt so good.
I am not really expecting to lose a ton of weight doing this since I am pretty much just trading in sugar for fat, but since I do want to keep track of changes in my body I am going to use weight as a possible measurement of change. Last night I weighed in at 88.7 kilos (195.5lbs for those of you who are not huge science nerds) Just thought I should write it down somewhere. I may do other measurements tonight just for fun and curiosity. I am also going to be doing a lot of research on ways to make food fun... because I am already seriously bored with what is in the fridge.
Ok... cranky might be at a 6.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
First 48
It is bright and early on January 2nd, and I am now 34 hours into sugar withdrawal.
Yesterday ended up being a bit rough, but for unexpected reasons. As is was a day full of beginnings... I also started my period with an unprecedented level of cramping. I don't know if it was related to the sugar withdrawal or not, but right now, I have to assume that it could have been. And I would also have to admit that the cramps may have been no worse than in the past, but that it is possible that my tolerance for pain was limited by some reduced happy hormone.
I stuck to my guns and did not take anything for it - as all of the possible medicines available had some sort of funkiness I was not interested in ingesting (Alcohol, sugar, or unpronounceable things like xanthium gum). That lasted about 5 hours and then became a tolerable ache. I pretty much watched movies all day - as planned.
This morning I had a big pile of beet greens, sweet potatoes, tempeh, and goat cheese. I've already finished off the chicken livers and ate half an avocado. Except for the cheese... so far this diet is super Paleo. The wife is concerned about ketosis from the lack of carbs... so we looked it up. Turns out, a low carb diet isn't so bad if it is high in fat. Since my binge has been super high in fat, I have nothing to worry about for now. This is of course only according to wikipedia... so, I'll keep researching as I go - will let you know what I find.
I will also be posting photos eventually... was thinking about doing a little project of a photo a day to see what changes if any occur in my body.
For today, my big plan is to get the body moving. All the research I've done so far says that physical activity is the way to get through these cravings - which so far are not that bad. Had half an apple and 2 strips of beef bacon last night to fight the only real craving I had - and then I went to bed at 9:45pm. Whatever - it worked. I made it through the first day. I did sleep very lightly and woke up several times through the night. That is apparently to be expected, and I feel rested enough, so I am not going to worry about it yet. Instead, I am going to help move a bunch of furniture. It's not exercise exactly... but it will do the trick I think.
I expect the crazy to set in any minute now... will keep you posted.
Yesterday ended up being a bit rough, but for unexpected reasons. As is was a day full of beginnings... I also started my period with an unprecedented level of cramping. I don't know if it was related to the sugar withdrawal or not, but right now, I have to assume that it could have been. And I would also have to admit that the cramps may have been no worse than in the past, but that it is possible that my tolerance for pain was limited by some reduced happy hormone.
I stuck to my guns and did not take anything for it - as all of the possible medicines available had some sort of funkiness I was not interested in ingesting (Alcohol, sugar, or unpronounceable things like xanthium gum). That lasted about 5 hours and then became a tolerable ache. I pretty much watched movies all day - as planned.
This morning I had a big pile of beet greens, sweet potatoes, tempeh, and goat cheese. I've already finished off the chicken livers and ate half an avocado. Except for the cheese... so far this diet is super Paleo. The wife is concerned about ketosis from the lack of carbs... so we looked it up. Turns out, a low carb diet isn't so bad if it is high in fat. Since my binge has been super high in fat, I have nothing to worry about for now. This is of course only according to wikipedia... so, I'll keep researching as I go - will let you know what I find.
I will also be posting photos eventually... was thinking about doing a little project of a photo a day to see what changes if any occur in my body.
For today, my big plan is to get the body moving. All the research I've done so far says that physical activity is the way to get through these cravings - which so far are not that bad. Had half an apple and 2 strips of beef bacon last night to fight the only real craving I had - and then I went to bed at 9:45pm. Whatever - it worked. I made it through the first day. I did sleep very lightly and woke up several times through the night. That is apparently to be expected, and I feel rested enough, so I am not going to worry about it yet. Instead, I am going to help move a bunch of furniture. It's not exercise exactly... but it will do the trick I think.
I expect the crazy to set in any minute now... will keep you posted.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
It is the first day of 2013, and the first day, of my first ever - new year's resolution... and it's a whopper.
I have not so suddenly decided to end my addiction to sugar to go 'cold cane' if you will, and to stop eating and or drinking all other sugar related things that used to call themselves food. They are dead to me now.
I've tacked on a couple of other things that I am avoiding for now that I think might trigger me into a binge or a craving or just has not been serving my digestion well over the years. The list is lengthy, so my wife and I have decided, after much discussion (and a little whimpering on my part), is to focus on things I can have. She is going to be very supportive by the way, but not necessarily participating.
In this first week, since it is going to be the most difficult, I am going to allow myself a bit of a fatty food binge, with lots of green things to make the diet not so one sided. We spent about $125 at the health food store getting lots of yummy things to eat: Avocados, collard greens, beets, zucchini, celery (lots of celery!), green onions, a box of salad mix, apples, dried apricots, split yellow peas, tempeh, tofu, ground turkey, ground beef, chicken livers, oysters (because it is a new years tradition, but then we did some digging and found out they are SOOO good for you), eggs, tea (bengal spice because it is naturally sweet), goat cheddar (because I never knew such a thing existed, and cow dairy is on the shunned list), frozen blueberries, brown rice, sauerkraut and mushrooms. The wife also got carrots - but I will probably not be eating too many of those for now.
I don't know if this plan is going to work. I just know that I am done feeling like a slave to sugar, so... I had the Mrs. hide all of the sugar in the house... Including the sugar we use for baking: the white cane, the brown, and the powdered... all gone. My stash of fudge... gone. My road trip treats... gone. Her whiskey...safely out of reach. The cookies... finished off, and not by me. Ready, set, eat healthy.
I gave it a slow start yesterday, no alcohol, and only a little bit of sugar in the cocktail sauce for the oysters. This morning I am having a coffee substitute, half an avocado, some fried chicken livers (don't eat them if you don't like them. They are like candy to me!) and I cooked up the rest of the oysters. Probably not the best start ever, but like I said - this first week is all about getting past the cravings. I've got a handful of celery stalks, the lord of the rings trilogy cued up, and two days off in order to get through the toughest 48 hours.
I am currently Thirteen hours into the day, and no symptoms of withdrawal yet. Wish me luck.
I have not so suddenly decided to end my addiction to sugar to go 'cold cane' if you will, and to stop eating and or drinking all other sugar related things that used to call themselves food. They are dead to me now.
I've tacked on a couple of other things that I am avoiding for now that I think might trigger me into a binge or a craving or just has not been serving my digestion well over the years. The list is lengthy, so my wife and I have decided, after much discussion (and a little whimpering on my part), is to focus on things I can have. She is going to be very supportive by the way, but not necessarily participating.
In this first week, since it is going to be the most difficult, I am going to allow myself a bit of a fatty food binge, with lots of green things to make the diet not so one sided. We spent about $125 at the health food store getting lots of yummy things to eat: Avocados, collard greens, beets, zucchini, celery (lots of celery!), green onions, a box of salad mix, apples, dried apricots, split yellow peas, tempeh, tofu, ground turkey, ground beef, chicken livers, oysters (because it is a new years tradition, but then we did some digging and found out they are SOOO good for you), eggs, tea (bengal spice because it is naturally sweet), goat cheddar (because I never knew such a thing existed, and cow dairy is on the shunned list), frozen blueberries, brown rice, sauerkraut and mushrooms. The wife also got carrots - but I will probably not be eating too many of those for now.
I don't know if this plan is going to work. I just know that I am done feeling like a slave to sugar, so... I had the Mrs. hide all of the sugar in the house... Including the sugar we use for baking: the white cane, the brown, and the powdered... all gone. My stash of fudge... gone. My road trip treats... gone. Her whiskey...safely out of reach. The cookies... finished off, and not by me. Ready, set, eat healthy.
I gave it a slow start yesterday, no alcohol, and only a little bit of sugar in the cocktail sauce for the oysters. This morning I am having a coffee substitute, half an avocado, some fried chicken livers (don't eat them if you don't like them. They are like candy to me!) and I cooked up the rest of the oysters. Probably not the best start ever, but like I said - this first week is all about getting past the cravings. I've got a handful of celery stalks, the lord of the rings trilogy cued up, and two days off in order to get through the toughest 48 hours.
I am currently Thirteen hours into the day, and no symptoms of withdrawal yet. Wish me luck.
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