I am delighted to have passed the halfway point in my ‘no sugar for 3 months’ challenge. It’s all downhill from here!
Having said that, the last four weeks have been much easier than I could ever have imagined. Not only do I notice benefits every week – this week I have completely bypassed the ‘afternoon slump’ that used to be the bane of my life – but I don’t miss sugar at all.
Last week I went to a community supper where there was a table groaning with desserts. I never went near it. When I was clearing up afterwards, I came across half-eaten plates of dessert left by children. Instead of thinking, “I wish I could have had some of that”, I genuinely thought, “That’s disgusting; how could I ever have wanted that?” I went home and baked for a further 2 events without fear, because I had absolutely no interest in eating cakes and muffins. Six weeks ago they would have had me drooling, and some might never have reached their destination.
One of the secrets to what I have achieved is being able to link what used to be pleasurable to my sense of disgust or dislike. Half-congealed dessert is pretty nasty; I can’t imagine anyone wanting to take those plates and pick them clean – other than maybe vermin – and who wants to eat like a rat?
I learned this lesson from my incredibly gifted teacher, Marisa Peer, who teaches that “the mind will always move us away from what we find painful (also read ‘disgusting’) to what gives us pleasure”.
By the end of this month, I shall be able to practice Marisa’s hypnotherapy as well as nutritional therapy, and I am excited by my learning journey. In truth I struggle with cynicism regarding hypnotherapy, and I have by no means accepted its validity yet. However, I am certain that, whilst I would have successfully completed this sugar challenge on my own, because I would never let my readers down, it would have been neither easy nor enjoyable without incorporating Marisa’s techniques.
Indeed, because of her methods, I no longer say, “I have given up sugar”. I can now genuinely say, “I am free of sugar, and I love being free”.
I absolutely love being free of sugar. Obviously this is not a picture of me, but it does represent how I feel!
Still, winter is coming, and the nights are drawing in, even though the temperature is unseasonably mild. Winter often precipitates comfort eating. I am giving you the following recipes as a ‘thank you’ for sticking with me this far. They provide that snuggly comfort feeling without the need for sugar or stoge. Your homework is to try one out, and let me know how you get on.
Enjoy them in very good health, and see you next time.