Yes, I'm aware that I decided to give up sugars...or at least work on giving up sugars this year. However, I've upped the ante just a bit and decided to do it not only for myself but for God.
For Lent I gave up ALL sweets.
Yea, things just got serious.
Feel free to linkup below and join me with this button so that we can work on our sugar addiction together! ;)
To back up just a bit, I'm a non-denominational Christian, not Catholic, so I'm choosing to do Lent for myself and my path with God to lead up to Easter. I did the same thing last year - giving up the same addiction last year, and it was a great time of focus and realigning priorities.
Unlike last year, though, I won't hoard Easter candy under my bed and eat it for breakfast the day after Lent is over. Promise.
This weekend was tough, at Beth's birthday tea there were scones....and mini cupcakes...and white bread...everywhere. I scooped out the chicken salad from the sandwich and ate that ....along with tea. I've avoided bread and all sweets including candy, cookies, pastries ... my poor husband was a trooper the first week. Now, I think I'm ok!
What I ate post-tea party. Boy were those scones hard to pass up!
Honestly, it's not as hard now, like I thought it'd be. I'm more accustomed to making sure that I stick to my plan to take on Lent so that I can keep these habits going afterwards.
I make sure to:
* eat every 2 hours
* have no sweets around me at all
* include a healthy amount of 7-8 servings of fruit/veggies a day
* drink water ALL day so I'm never 'hungry'
* carry fruit-flavored gum to nosh on (love it - mint is icky to me)
Benefits noticed so far?
* I'd gained weight from crossfit (muscle) and am back down a lb. under my "after" weight, I feel more 'toned' too - my clothes just fit 'better'
* More energy! I'm never super tired
* More energy = better performance! I work harder and more efficient when I run
and workout from how I feel
* More focus, especially between work, working out, and study time
* Better skin - water works miracles there
Awesome training improvements - due to diet?
Good going in = great outcomes!
Do you sacrifice for Lent?
Do you notice better workouts and energy when you have a good day of healthy eats?
I gave up sweets for Lent, too!! It hasn't been that bad. I even made cookies for the kids and I'm not even tempted to eat one. That's saying a lot, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that I have a lot more energy and I'm not needing as much coffee to get me through the day.
Haha year reading my CPT book makes me avoid it even when it's right there!
DeleteThat's awesome Kat!!! I'm so glad this is working out so well for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mindy!
DeleteI try to limit my sweets intake, and it definitely shows in my training and results. Sounds like the same is happening for you. Good luck this weekend, and have a great race!
ReplyDeleteThanks you ladies too! Hope to see you!
DeleteHoarding Easter candy--love it! When my eats are as clean as they should me, my body and workouts definitely suffer--I feel slow and lethargic and don't recover as quickly. I do "relax" my eating on the weekends, which works well because I complete the majority of my tough workouts during the week.
ReplyDeleteHaha I almost threw up last year...but those peeps were SO worth it ;)
DeleteI gave up candy & diet coke for lent -- I figured between that and my paleo challenge with my friend, I should be good to go. I can't wait for a Reeces Egg though on Easter morning haha :) But I am with you -- I feel a LOT better after my workouts when I am eating better! Ps is that a cute pug on the floor? I LOVE pugs & bostons!
ReplyDeleteHaha that's Jaeden, the super pug :)
DeleteGood luck, Kat!!!
ReplyDeleteMy parents raised us Catholic, and we were told Lent is not always about giving something up, but more on doing something to make yourself better.
Kicking your sugar habit definitely will be good for you!! Awesome plan!
Thanks Jen!
Deletegood for you - so glad you are seeing the benefits already
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteYes, absolutely!
ReplyDeleteYou should come over and check out my *CaNdY* box lol
girl, you eat so clean for competitions that I'm sure you deserve it!
DeleteHey girl hey! Your doing awesome on your sugar rehab. Keep it up, ROCKSTAR!
ReplyDeleteheyyyyy, thanks L! ;)
DeleteYou can totally do this, Kat! You've been doing fabulous so far. :) And who knows, maybe this will become a permanent change for you. Two years ago I gave up fast food for lent (I'm non-denominational, too, but wanted to sacrifice something) and I'm proud to say that I haven't eaten, except the occasional swiped french fry, any fast food since then. Good luck, I'm cheering you on!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for a permanent change too! With all of the info I've learned through my CPT learnings I don't WANT to eat it knowing what it can anatomically do! ;)
DeleteHey HOTNESS! :) If you ever need help, encouragement, tips & tricks, don't hesitate to ask me - I kicked sugar 10 years ago... YUP, 10, and I haven't had ANY at ALL!!!!! And not even a tiny taste. Sugar is completely toxic to me. Luckily I wasn't really born a sweets person - I love salt over sugar ANY DAY!
ReplyDelete*Ha! I just read my above statement about you needing encouragement and uh, I have a feel EVERYONE who follows your blog (including me of course) will be ROOTING for you all the way! :D
I wish I was a savory-craver instead! And thanks for cheering me on GIGI! :)
DeleteI need to give up sugar! I notice when I don't have it as much-I don't crave it as much.
ReplyDeleteJoin me girl! :)
DeleteNice Job Kat! I love those splits. On the average 1LB=12sec per minute/per mile running. This does not take into affect increasing leg muscle to increase speed. Of course usually running efficiently means you are not really using your legs, but that is a different story. Awesome results!
ReplyDeletehaha my CPT book scares me out of eating crappy enough as it is!
Deletewater definitely means better skin, yeah water!
ReplyDeleteYay water, and yay for Nuun added TO water ;)
DeleteWay to go, Kat! I've given up chocolate or sweets for lent many times (Protestant like you, so it's optional) and this year didn't, but it's the only thing I struggle with... so maybe I still will... :)
ReplyDeleteWith our powers combined, we can do it! :)
DeleteAwesome job so far! Sweets are definitely something I struggle with ... I have definitely noticed benefits when I do give them up. Maybe it's time to do it again.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jina! Hop on board!
DeleteI gave up sweets on year for lent...and never did it again, ha. Good for you! And I am glad you are doing it for God, it is important to remember what lent is all about. It bothers me when ppl say they gave something up for lent but dont believe in God, just say you gave it up for yourself then!
ReplyDeleteAmen sister! :)
DeleteNice work Kat! Such dedication!! I'm so impressed and cheering for you! Sugar is my weakness!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support Jess! Xo
DeleteHoly crap you are a stronger woman than I. I'd probably get the shakes and go through withdraw. Easter is actually my favorite sweet time of year, not Christmas like most people, in my dreams jelly beans rain upon me.
ReplyDeleteLittle by little the angry shakes are going away! Yahoo!
DeleteAnd"supposed" to at races awwwww man!
DeleteWay to go! Sugar is difficult to do since it's in SO many things :)
ReplyDeleteI try to get my sweet tooth fix with fruits - especially berries.
Water has helped me so so so much with my skin! I try to drink as close to 100oz a day as possible, and like you, stay away from the sugars. I almost without fail get a pimple now if I'm eating too much sugar.
Energy and better workouts are the best side effect of eating healthy I think. If I eat bad on a Saturday and Sunday, I feel like complete crap come Monday morning. You go girl with the no-sweets! I gave up chocolate one year and it was the hardest thing ever. This year I gave up beer!
ReplyDeleteThis is really awesome! I have done Lent before (I'm a non-denom Christian like you) but I normally give up something non food related (last year I gave up reading blogs!). I DO need a sugar detox though! Do you use honey or agave or completely off all sugars?
ReplyDelete