Hello, my name is Sarah and I have a sugar addiction...
I have decided to give up sweets (aka the majority of processed sugar) for Lent. Now you may be asking yourself why an atheist would be giving up something on this religious holiday of fasting and sacrifice. Well let me tell you:
It is true that I am not undergoing this feat in an attempt to bring myself closer to God. Nor am I taking on this challenge to "slim down for Spring Break" or bikini season or other such nonsense. My reasons are much more simplistic.
I am addicted to sugar...that's all there is to it. Over the past few months I have gradually consumed larger and larger amounts until today, 3/4 of my daily calories now come from candy, cookies, ice cream and the like. It has gotten to the point where eating the crap makes me physically ill and I have no desire to do so, yet I continue with trend. Why? Because I am addicted. This is my sad fate.
Anyone who knows me understands that I am a bit of a health freak. I work out compulsively and until the sugar addiction took over was pretty much obsessive about what i put into my boday. I felt good, looked better, and was a genuinely much pleasanter person to be around without the emotional highs and lows that come from blood sugar rushes and crashes. I miss feeling that way and would like to get back to it.
Thus, Lent is the perfect excuse. Usually at meals and snacktime and people offer you desert, you are practically forced to accept. Otherwise you get the "oh my gosh, why are you dieting, you must be anorexic" speech...incredibly annoying. But if I can say "I gave it up for Lent," I highly doubt I will hear "Let me help you break a promise to God." Therefore, this is as good a time as any to try.
Mind over matter...I will not let the processed foods industry triumph over willpower!!! So please, anyone who reads this, DO NOT under any circumstances buy me sugar, offer to take me for ice cream, eat it in front of me while waving it in my face, etc...that will only make it worse.
It is true that I am not undergoing this feat in an attempt to bring myself closer to God. Nor am I taking on this challenge to "slim down for Spring Break" or bikini season or other such nonsense. My reasons are much more simplistic.
I am addicted to sugar...that's all there is to it. Over the past few months I have gradually consumed larger and larger amounts until today, 3/4 of my daily calories now come from candy, cookies, ice cream and the like. It has gotten to the point where eating the crap makes me physically ill and I have no desire to do so, yet I continue with trend. Why? Because I am addicted. This is my sad fate.
Anyone who knows me understands that I am a bit of a health freak. I work out compulsively and until the sugar addiction took over was pretty much obsessive about what i put into my boday. I felt good, looked better, and was a genuinely much pleasanter person to be around without the emotional highs and lows that come from blood sugar rushes and crashes. I miss feeling that way and would like to get back to it.
Thus, Lent is the perfect excuse. Usually at meals and snacktime and people offer you desert, you are practically forced to accept. Otherwise you get the "oh my gosh, why are you dieting, you must be anorexic" speech...incredibly annoying. But if I can say "I gave it up for Lent," I highly doubt I will hear "Let me help you break a promise to God." Therefore, this is as good a time as any to try.
Mind over matter...I will not let the processed foods industry triumph over willpower!!! So please, anyone who reads this, DO NOT under any circumstances buy me sugar, offer to take me for ice cream, eat it in front of me while waving it in my face, etc...that will only make it worse.