Forget Sugar: Get Out The Sponge Bob Bandaids

Last updated on April 1st, 2012 at 02:35 pm

As I begin to write, my first thoughts are of the people of Chile.

Rocking a 8.8 earthquake must feel like the world is coming to an end.

When mother nature decides to roll over in bed, we are thrown to the floor and shown  how little we control.

Catastrophes like this are a sober reminder that I have no real problems.

Speaking of no real problems . . .

Ladies and gentlemen, I bounded out of bed Monday morning feeling on top of the world.  This new energy began Ash Wednesday, right after Fat Tuesday, when I decided to give up sugar for Lent.  I am a recovering Catholic, so no, I did not do this for the religious implications such a sacrifice might imply.

I think holy water might spontaneously com-bust if I touched it.

And the priest would faint.

I started a new type of thyroid medication, and the urge to quit sweets seemed as natural as brushing my hair, so I decided to give it a shot. You know, that whole taking it one day at a time approach. Lent can be the time to try abstaining from behavior we find no longer suits us.

The pain in my knees, after just two miles on my walks was also a big motivation to do this no sugar thing. I have always been able to hike  – the new knee problem made me decide it was time for a change.

Now.

Don’t you agree?

Then Lent fell into my lap.  Perfect time to get ready for spring, you know the time when flowers start to grow and we celebrate the arrival of the Cadbury Easter Egg and Peeps.

It’s been 11 days without sugar (and flour) and I feel great. I’m amazed by how I feel,  along with the stability of my moods. Life just seems easier – even when there’s stress.

I also get that no one is coming to save us ladies, we have to be in charge of saving ourselves.  It was time for me to throw myself a life preserver.  No one is going to fix my knees for me.

A fairy Godmother isn’t going to come fluttering into my room some night and say, “Here darlin’ let me fix that for ya’ with a wave of my wand – grab your pumpkin, vibrator and your dog – ready?”

Not happinin’.

Sitting around complaining about how hard something is just isn’t my style.

Hard is my friend going through chemotherapy to beat liver cancer, while trying to work to support his family.

Sugar is nothing to give up compared to that.

So I did.

Some days the sugar cravings are stronger than others.  I haven’t slapped some stranger in the store, so all in all I am doing good.  If I eat some protein and drink a glass of water any sweet cravings go away.  Sometimes I wonder if I am just a bit hypoglycemic.  (I’m hearing some friends nod, “Duh” – yeah bite me).

I know there are many of you who think, “Oh my holy red bra, I could never give up sugar!”

I tell you, if you can get past the first four days you will be rewarded with restful sleep, even moods, and energy which lasts evenly throughout the day.  I am as amazed by these perks as when my teenage son last told me he loved me in front of his friends.

Shocking.

Life without sugar makes life’s little problems (and most are little because I am a woman and we women make problems bigger than they are) seem manageable and easy to fix.  Girls, I also notice when we commit to ourselves (and follow through) the fringe benefit is happiness.

I think commitment and happiness are inner-connected.

Remy says that committing to ourselves (and our dream) means we must fully participate in our entire life.  When we won’t commit to ourselves (or our dream) it’s a sign there’s another area in our lives we don’t want to commit to as well.  There’s something in our life we are resisting.

I find this theory fascinating.

If there is deep unhappiness (or resistance) in one area, it makes it difficult, if not impossible for some of us to fully commit to ourselves, let alone our dreams.

And for some, to commit to oneself (and a dream) means doing something about the unhappy area of our life first.

Where’s the First Aid kit and Sponge Bob band-aids?

So I allowed my ex husband to find me this great compounding pharmacy in Windsor which is making my Armour thyroid medication, thus resulting in my ability to give up sugar.  It’s amazing what can happen if you open yourself up to other people’s suggestions (and actually follow them) even if they do come from an ex-husband.

This week I felt further motivated to have Remy take my photograph from the front and from the side holding a magazine.  I am going to allow her to capture my sugar abstinence in photographs.  We also took butt shots.

Maybe I should save that part of the story for Remy or Heather to explain . . .

But if we are going to do this dream thing, then we need to really do this dream thing, and I should be leading the charge.  Hey – wasn’t this was my crazy idea in the first place?  And I am sure people in Santiago Chile would tell us that all we have is right now – this moment – because we never know what tomorrow will bring.

Today is a gift, wrap it and give it to yourself.

Keep on dreaming –

Catherine

(Catherine’s dream is to be a motivator and published writer. She is testing her theories on motivation with this blog and the seven other women who have volunteered to be a part of her dream project. Catherine also writes about her life as a mom at the blog A Week In The Life Of A Redhead. Someday, she would also like to be invited to speak at TED as the next Erma Bombeck Catherine usually writes the weekly motivation posts which are published late Sunday evenings for the following week)

DREAM GOAL:  TO GET 8 WOMEN DREAM ON ELLEN AND/OR OPRAH FOR THEIR 2010/2011 SEASON and RUN/WALK/CRAWL THE SF BAY TO BREAKERS WITH 8 WOMEN DREAM