Hide the Easter Candy!

Well, the sweetest of all holidays is behind us. Sort of. The candy in my kids' baskets is still staring me down, begging me to eat some more. I've never been a fan of people who can take one bite of dessert and feel satisfied. Actually, I totally wish I could be one of them. How do they do it? For me, it's all or nothing. If I never take a bite, I'm fine. But there's no way I'm going to be able to have just one mini Twix bar, and stop there. Nooooo way. I'll have 5 or 6 or 10... And don't think I can take two bites of chocolate cake, and leave the rest. I'll eat mine AND the rest of yours. What about those magazines that say to take two bites, eat them slowly so you can really savor them, and leave the rest. WHATEVER!

Are you all sick of my sugar ramblings, yet? I'm obviously trying to work through some sugar issues. If you know how to have your sugar in moderation, then please skip to the comments to shed some light for the rest of us. How do you do it?

But for the majority of us, why is it so hard to resist sugar? Well, for starters, it obviously tastes better than broccoli. But the truth is, when you consume large amounts of it, your pancreas has to work overtime. It then produces loads of insulin, which causes your body to build up a sort of resistance to sugar. So what happens, then? The more sugar you eat, the more you need to eat to feel satisfied. Ouch.

If you ate bucketfuls of candy this weekend, oh well. Don't beat yourself up. But here are a few numbers for the curious calorie/fat/sugar gram counters in all of us:

Cadbury Cream Eggs – 140 calories

Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs – 180 calories

Jelly Belly Assorted jelly beans (35) – 28 g sugar

(Small) Cadbury Chocolate Eggs (12) – 26 g sugar

Nestle's Crunch Solid Chocolate Easter Bunny – 36.2 g of fat

Reese's Reester Bunny – 42 g of fat

Hershey's Hollow Milk Chocolate Egg – 570 calories in the shell alone. (If you eat the four Hershey’s kisses inside, you’ll consume 660 calories and 41 grams of fat). Yikes!

Hopefully you added some real eggs to the menu. But whatever you ate, hope you enjoyed it. I did! And a sugar overdose always leaves me a little more motivated to avoid it in the near future. We'll see how long the motivation lasts! How was your Easter?

The Truth About High-Fructose Corn Syrup

My family loves to make fun of me for many reasons. I'm the picked-on-middle child, what can I say? One thing in particular they often scorn is my food-label-reading-obsession. I just have to know what's in what I'm eating. No, this doesn't always deter me from eating what I shouldn't, but it helps.

One thing I really watch out for is high fructose corn syrup. My husband likes to say, "You grew up eating high fructose corn syrup, and you turned out just fine." It's true. But I'm honestly in much better shape than I was growing up. Was HFCS the culprit for the chub? Who knows. My parents didn't have a scale in the house during my teenage years, so I have no idea what I really weighed in High School. I think that's a good thing. And luckily I've learned a few tricks since then.

One thing I've gained is an aversion to high fructose corn syrup. Why? Here's the scoop. According to Alexandra Shapiro, Ph.D., a research scientist at the University of Florida, "High-fructose corn syrup has a higher ratio of fructose to glucose than other sweeteners." Some studies have linked this sweetener to the obesity epidemic. Why? Shapiro's research found that consuming too much fructose could impair the function of leptin, the appetite-controlling hormone. So we don't know when we're full! Leptin resistance is associated with weight gain and obesity.

However, other studies show no effect on hormone levels from the high-fructose corn syrup. So what should you do? Find alternatives. And when an alternative isn't available? Treat high-fructose corn syrup as you would any other added sugar. LIMIT! AVOID! RESIST! (And if you must, bake your own goodies! That way you'll know exactly what's in 'em!)

What tidbits have you gained along your journey that you didn't know about healthy living in your adolescence? Do you read food labels? Do you scorn food-label-readers? Join the conversation in the comments...

Reading Food Labels to Avoid Too Much SUGAR!

We've already established that I'm a sugar addict. I tried to commit to a sugar fast. Don't ask me how it's going. After caving the first time, let's just say I haven't gotten back on the no-sugar-bandwagon.

I'm about to re-commit myself. Why? Because I'm convinced that the only way you can really "spot reduce" is by controlling what goes into the mouth. I'm often asked questions such as: "How do I lose my love handles?" "How can I get rid of belly fat?" etc. I've already ranted about certain workout myths, such as the myth that doing lots of crunches will give you a flat tummy. In my opinion, crunches are usually counter productive. But that's another post for another day.

Most of us just don't spend enough time working out, if we're to have the freedom to eat whatever we want all. the. time. (if we want to look how we want). This is where diet is crucial! Yes, exercise is a #1 priority. But we are normal people with normal lives. I'm one of those people who actually really loves working out. But I love spending time with people, doing other things even more. As a wife-baby mama-housekeeper-chef-chauffer-part time personal trainer-teacher-church-goer-friend- neighbor-blogger, I can't work out any longer than the time I've already allotted myself. In fact, if we're being honest, I probably am much less productive in other areas of my life because of my daily workout routine.

This is where diet really plays a major role. How you look is largely determined by what you eat. LARGELY determined. I'm going to go out on a limb and say PROBABLY more than exercise. I work out a lot. According to my Heart Rate Monitor (with which I'm obsessed!), I burned around 3,500 calories last week. But I probably ate enough junk to balance out the calorie deficit.

SO, if we mommies want to lose our mummy tummies for good, we have to be disciplined low-sugar-occasional-indulging eaters. Here are a few hidden sources of those darn sweeteners to watch out for:

1. READ THE LABELS. You have to know what to watch out for! Sugar isn't JUST sugar. If the label says any of the following, watch out! Maltose, dextrose (glucose), fructose, fruit juice concentrate, corn sweetener, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, honey, malt syrup, and brown rice syrup.
2. FAT-FREE DOES NOT MEAN LOW SUGAR! If something is low fat or fat-free, higher amounts of processed sugar are often added to make up for the missing flavor created by the missing fat!
3. EASY ON THE SAUCE! My husband loooovvvves sauce. He was leery when I first introduced him to Heinz Organic Ketchup. But once he tasted it, he could NOT tell the difference. So many sauces we eat on a regular basis are packed with sugar! Barbecue, spaghetti, hot sauces, ketchup, and relish to name a few. More than half of the calories often come with added sugar. Look for low (or no) sugar options, like my ketchup. Otherwise, lighten up, and always request sauce and dressing on the side!
4. WATCH OUT FOR "ALL-NATURAL". This healthy-sounding terminology really doesn't mean jack! There are no guidelines for it's use, so READ THE LABEL. Many supposedly "all-natural" items are loaded with refined sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup.

So I'm re-committing to having a sugar-free month in April! Wanna join me? How do you control your sugar cravings and intake?

Guest Post...10 Tips for Going Sugar Free

Today's guest post is by Jen. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 20, and has great tips and info on going sugar free. Enjoy!!!!

I’m excited that Robyn is having me guest post on Fit Me Pink. What a great website with relevant information for staying fit and healthy as busy mommies. (Thanks, Jen...you didn't have to say that! Hee hee...) My name is Jen and I’m posting mostly because I’m diabetic and I thought I’d offer a few tips for how to go sugar-free, or low-carb. A little about me to introduce myself to the readers… I’m 28 and have 2 kids. I’ve had diabetes for coming up on 8 years. I have type 1 diabetes which means that I am insulin resistant (ie, I have to take insulin to control my sugars and essentially stay alive). Because I was diagnosed as an adult (20 years old) I was basically expected to figure things out for myself. At the time of my diagnosis, I pretty much went information crazy. I looked up everything I could find about diabetes and learned a lot. I continue to read a lot about the condition and find it very fascinating. I love to talk about diabetes and how it affects my life. I also blog about my diabetes occasionally. You can check out those posts on my blog by clicking on the diabetes label link.

Life post-diagnosis has changed in some ways greatly and in other ways very minimally. I can still eat like pretty much every one else, I just have to monitor all of my carbohydrates. As a diabetic, I’m concerned with all sugars: glucose, fructose, and lactose. But what I have to pay attention to most on a food label or food item that I’m eating is the total number of carbohydrates. I count carbs in everything I eat and drink so that I know how much insulin to take. My diet is not completely carbohydrate-free and I don’t really recommend that sort of an approach.

Having children is one way that diabetes greatly impacted my life. I have to monitor my sugars extremely carefully and work really hard at keeping them within a very normal range. I’ve had two healthy baby boys and they both weighed about 8.5 pounds. Their lungs were fully developed and neither boy suffered any post-birth effects from my diabetes. These are my greatest diabetic accomplishments. While living with diabetes can be difficult, there are even days when I forget that I am diabetic, and for that, I am very thankful. It wouldn’t be possible without the help of all of the wonderful diabetic advancements and improvements science has brought us.

Here are my tips for going sugar free! (Very timely for me, with my not-very-successful-so-far-sugar-fast!)

1. Decide what kind of carbs you want to cut, and then set some goals.
2. Cut the unnecessary carbs. Desserts and things high in sugar often have an alternative. Be aware that some things that say "sugar-free" or "no sugar added" on the labels actually do have some carbs, so you’ll want to check the label to find out how many. If you compare it with a regular product, you usually notice at least a 20% decrease in total carbohydrates.
3. Just because it’s "sugar free" doesn’t mean it tastes like cardboard! There are a lot of really good "sugar-free," or "no-sugar-added" products that taste pretty good. Some of my favorites are: Jell-O sugar free pudding, light Dannon yogurt, Smuckers no sugar added jelly, light maple syrup, and Dryer’s slow-churned no-sugar-added ice-cream.
4. Choose a favorite sugar-free treat...and stock up! There are actually treats out there that have very few carbs, and some have none. 7-11 has a great Crystal Light Slurpee with only 5 calories per 8 ounces and zero carbs. The Cheese Cake Factory sells a "Carb Free" cheesecake that only has 6 carbs! My suggestion is to take it home and add some sugar free cherry pie filling on top!
5. Eat the good carbs! Fruit and fruit juices are good carbohydrate choices that often satisfy your sweet-tooth!
6. Try to never drink carbs or calories! There are so many great diet drinks out there…drinking empty calories or carbs really doesn’t make sense. My one exception to this rule is while working out…a good sports drink with some electrolytes can be an excellent choice.
7. Keep a back up for when you’re feeling you may cave! Gum works really well. Apparently the ever-so-obvious people from product placement at the Biggest Loser think so too!
8. Choose a day to cheat. Sometimes it’s okay to cheat. Set aside a cheat-day for yourself. One day a week (or less, if you’re brave) is good enough. A friend of mine eats whatever she pleases on Sundays. She doesn’t count calories or carbs on this day, and she’s been able to maintain an 80 pound weigh-loss for 8 years!
9. Remember how good you feel. Going low-carb can be a difficult thing to do. However, it does make you feel great. My sugars get much more level, and overall I feel so much better. Remember that when you’re about have some leftover birthday cake.
10. Do it with a buddy. Having support makes things much easier!

THANK YOU, JEN!!!! Leave Jen a comment here, or check out her blog for more good info! And by the way, the more I think about it...or try to fast from sugar...the more I realize that I need a designated "cheat day" to get me through the week. Good tips!

Sugar Fast Failure!

Ummm....errrr....uhhhh....I don't QUITE know how to break it to you, fit me peeps. Did I, or did I not commit myself to a sugar fast? My memory is sort of failing me, so I can't remember. You see, there I was, chugging along. If I remember correctly, I went a whole week (probably the first in my life) without chocolate. I caved for a cinnamon roll, but was right back on track.

Until Valentine's Week happened.

Why is it that holidays are no longer JUST on the actual holi-DAY anymore? They last all WEEK and even all MONTH long! After the cinnamon-roll-of-gooey-goodness was consumed last Sunday, everything sort of became a blur as the week unfolded.

First, I went to singing group on Tuesday night. After being in a grumpy, sugar-free funk all week, I went and sang. And talked. And laughed. And almost cried when my friend Michelle gave me this sweet Valentine. Cried because of the nice gesture, AND because I really wanted to eat what was inside! I gave it to my husband, but vaguely remember sneaking a bite of the last remaining bar the following morning. But I can't be held accountable...I wasn't thinking clearly.

I also have a vague memory of a church party Friday night. It was a chili and chocolate cook-off. I'm not sure, but I think I entered the chocolate competition (by mistake) with this amazing recipe from Stie. I may have tasted the brownie batter. And the cream cheese frosting. And the peanut-butter-chocolate rice crispies. I know, right?

I also may have nibbled at a few of the competing entries. Just to make sure mine was the best. And it was...I won!

So I'm almost scared to say it, because I'm a rebel against my own rules. But I'm going to say it anyway. My sugar fast continues today. Last week? Erased from memory! Gone! Did you survive sugar cookie week?

Sugar Fast Shout Out

**ATTENTION FIT-ME-READERS...BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GOING ON HERE!**

OK...it's time for a SHOUT OUT to a few of those going through (and surviving) a major breakup right now...with sugar!

First, Tina. On the fourth day of her sugar fast, she was "ready to lick her kids' faces clean from the sugar they were consuming." (Ha ha...me, too!) But now, she feels great! And has lost 8 pounds! YAY TINA!!!!

And here's another WOO-HOO for Sarah! Not only has she lost 7 pounds, but she is also considering the long term benefits of a sugar-in-moderation type life. She's steering herself away from the fate of many women in her family...diabetes! YAY SARAH!!!

Anyone else want to give yourself a shout out? Do it in the comments!

Here's mine...I haven't had chocolate in over a week! I Did It!

I NEED SUGAR!!!!!! Should I cave?

I've made it an entire week without sugar. (Well...without dessert, anyway). Our weekend has been FULL of family parties. And I have resisted the temptations. At a pre-wedding "money-tree-dinner" for my husband's cousin last night, I spoon fed Danish Dessert to my baby. I inhaled it, but differently than I normally would have. I really just smelled it. I wanted it. I resisted.

Tonight, the my-side-of-the-family party had plates full of cookies, cherry bars, and more yummy goodness. My mouth watered. I got a second helping of spinach salad, and pretended the dried cranberries were just as satisfying as that cookie would have been. They were really good, but not exactly "cookie good". But somehow I resisted. We left. And my first weekend? A success. Woo hoo!

I was feeling pretty proud of myself. We got home, and as luck would have it, the doorbell rang. One of my favorite neighbors brought us a plate of yummy, gooey, warm, homemade cinnamon rolls.

And there they still sit. On the counter, calling to me.

And I REALLY want one! Should I change my commitment to ONCE a week? Or should I hold strong through the month of February? I don't want to be such a "spur-of-the-moment-snacker." That's the reason for the sugar fast...to plan my indulgences...and to really enjoy them. I'm pretty sure I would really enjoy a cinnamon roll, though. Should I give in?

I'll let you know what happens...

Sugar Fast Update

Oh hi there, fitmepeeps. Have you missed me? Sorry...I've been sitting on the couch, humming a tune with my fingers in my ears to drown out the sounds of SUGAR calling to me from the kitchen.

I'm not gonna lie. It's been a MAJOR test of willpower. All I wanted to eat on Monday was leftover birthday cake. Why didn't I just throw it away? Not sure. But I didn't have a single bite. I've gone for three days now without even a morsel of chocolate. That's huge for me.

Normally, the first thing I think to do when my kids start screaming, is grab a handful of chocolate chips. Oh, naptime is over? Chocolate chips. You can't share that toy? Chocolate chips. You're mad because you can't watch Word World again? Chocolate chips. They're small, so they don't count, right? Wrong. It adds up.

So I've been a REALLY good girl! And my fridge is stocked chock full of fruit. I had to consciously decide to eat an apple instead of chocolate chips on Monday. It wasn't what I wanted, but it totally satisfied me. Now that I'm almost over the first week hurdle, I'm not stopping! How about you?

Let the wild sugar fast start!

Well, I loaded up yesterday on cookies, cake, and frosting. As I was preparing for my daughter's 1st birthday party, I'm pretty sure that's ALL I ate. So right now I'm feeling pretty motivated for the big fast. We'll see how I feel by the end of the week!

Here's my goal. I'm going to make it through the month of February with NO dessert (even on Valentine's Day...eeeeeek!) If, by the end of the month I decide it was too hard, I'll switch to allowing dessert once a week. Or I may decide to allow it once a month. We'll see. This sugar fast is great, because...you make your own rules! As you join in (in your own way), let us know what's working for you!

Don't forget to go out and find a readable copy of You! Being Beautiful: The Owner's Manual to Inner and Outer Beauty. I'll start reading today, so get ready to discuss in the coming weeks/days!

And stay tuned...I have a killer LEG move to post...either later today, or later this week.

Also, if you're interested in guest posting, let me know!

Food, Glorious Sugar-Free Food!

Last week I proposed a possible fasting from sugar. Some of you have tried it before. Some of you WANT to try it with me. Some of you think I'm C-C-C-Crazy! I kind of think I am, too...because let's face it...I LOOOOOOOVE my sugar! But I've never fasted from it (besides on the first Sunday of every month for two meals...ha ha). I tried a week on the South Beach Diet and was miserable. This will be different, though. Instead of focusing on what I CAN'T have, I'm going to focus on things I love that I can still have...namely:

BREAD! (100% whole grain--not multigrain or white)

FRUIT!

SUGAR-FREE snacks! (I love sugar free pudding!)

WHOLE WHEAT PASTA!

BROWN RICE!

BREAD!

OK, and lots more...I just remember being on the South Beach Diet and dreaming about carbs! Loaves of bread filled my every waking (and sleeping) thought. So this isn't a low-carb thing. THAT is definitely NOT for me. But this is a fast from sugar. Here are my rules if you want to join me.

1. The fast starts on Sunday, February 1st AFTER my daughter's 1st birthday party.
2. The fast ends on Saturday, August 1st BEFORE my birthday party. (You're all invited!)
3. I might change the rules for myself on the following occasions (but only if I'm really dying to partake...not because I feel like I have to): a) The Boy's 3rd birthday in May, and b) Post-race/long training runs.

That's it. I'm not saying I won't cheat, but I'm going to try REEEEEALLY hard not to. So who's in on this measly little 6-month sugar fast?

Another question: Are sugar fasts socially acceptable? I often do partake of desserts that I truly could've done without just because I feel like I have to. It's my personality. I have a hard time saying, "No." I'm a yesser...a people pleaser. And a social eater. Am I going to lose friends because of this? Experience? Thoughts? Advice? And PLEASE...joiners?