Hi, my name is Jennie and I’m a sugarholic – Hive and Nest

I’m starting to really appreciate the body I’ve been given. Not in a foxy-sense (although, thank you genetics for long legs!) but in a health-sense. As I get older and more of my friends struggle with bad knees, bad eyesight, diabetes, and cancer, I am really starting to hand it to myself, physically. Yay, body, for not having food allergies! Yay for boobs for just being big and not cancerous! Yay, uterus for doing your job without giving me too much trouble! Yay, hormones for not freaking out and ruining my happy mood most of the time!

But I feel like my body is a time-bomb. It’s only a matter of time until things start getting ugly, literally and figuratively. My diet certainly is not helping all. Again, I credit my body for taking all of the abuse I’ve dished out over the years by eating poorly (Five fruits and vegetables PER DAY?? I thought it was five per month!)

I actually had a spiritual experience several weeks ago where a voice truly spoke to me and told me to stop worrying about losing weight and worry about becoming healthy. Whether it was God or my subconcious, I don’t know. I just know it wasn’t me because I would never tell myself that. I’m rather proud of being able to eat anything without feeling sluggish or terrible. Good ol’ body just takes it in stride and keeps humming along.

So when That Voice spoke I had to listen. I was in denial for a long time. Baking is my favorite! What am I supposed to do now? Sugar isn’t bad for me like it is for other people! Blah, blah, blah.

Maybe it’s hereditary like alcoholism (thanks, Mom!). Or not.

I just know sugar can’t be the sun my planet revolves around anymore. So I have given up all soda (even diet), white flour, and most refined sugars (which is, like, everything in the universe that I love). I didn’t want to mention this on my blog for a while–nothing like bombing in front of everyone–but it’s been almost two months now and I think the change to a healthier diet is becoming permanent.

I also didn’t want to be one of those people who snidely announces to anyone nearby they don’t eat [fill in the blank]. As if avoiding certain foods like meat or gluten or non-organic produce is somehow more noble. I was at Whole Foods last week and I wanted to scream, “I’m not like you people! I eat Pringles and Nutter Butters!” But I hung my head in shame, realizing that I am now a Healthy Eater too.

The question I get most often is, “Don’t you feel so much better now?” No, actually I do not. I felt perfectly healthy before so there is really no difference. If anything, I get more tired since I can’t buoy myself with caffeine every afternoon when I hit the wall at 3:30.

I haven’t lost much weight (hey, nuts and avacados are healthy!) but I am very proud of myself for doing something I’ve never had the courage to before.* I know that I’m treating my body well finally, and as I get older it’s going to matter and more.

*I do let myself have two cheats per week. I know that I will totally flake out and go on a binge if I don’t get to splurge at all.