That was my reality. I laugh today because people are always telling me, you started a diet before the holidays? Why?? Because there was no way I was going to feel worse. On October 5th, I was only thinking one thing. Where am I going to be a month from now if I wait? Where will I be three months from now if I wait? I feel awful right now and I want it to go away right now. I didn’t care about holidays or treats, I just wanted to feel better.
So, I teach school as my day profession, middle school and of course, you have to have a Halloween celebration. I have never been a big sweet eater, but there are certain things I enjoy. And this was going to be a challenge. I scheduled the kids’ party for after lunch and I got out of bed and thought, the thing is that I have to walk into that party FULL. I had been bringing really good salads for lunch, loads of greens, all kinds of veggies and really good olive oil dressing that I made at home. But I needed to be more full.
I looked in the cupboard and found a foil packet of tuna. I emailed Dr. Jack quickly in the morning and threw it in my lunch bag. I had not tried that before and had not asked him about that. For the last few weeks, everything I ate was either fresh or I had cooked it, but I needed something now. He emailed me back and told me that the tuna packet was fine and that he often ate that for lunch.
I ate my lunch, the whole salad and the whole tuna packet. I could barely get it all down. But I was determined that not a cookie or a fancy cupcake would tempt me, not a candy bar, nothing. I said all in and I meant ALL IN.
We set up the party. My goodness, they had brought enough food for five classrooms. Name the ooey gooey treat and it was there. There were all kinds of sweet things and so much I had to give them bags to take home what they could not eat. We got it all passed out and the kids were happily munching away. They kept asking me if I wanted any and I said to leave it on my desk, with my intention to take it home for my son. I didn’t want them to be hurt that I didn’t want their treat. They kept asking me why I wasn’t having any, so I told them I gave up eating sugar.
At my desk it was impossible not to smell it, and I could hear it calling me, so I thought, I have to keep busy. I got my camera out started snapping pictures and talking with the kids. Then I got some games out to play and we had fun and before I knew it the bell rang and it was time to clean up and go home.
When I got home, I started doing some research online about sugar. Did you know that sugar makes your immune system weak? What is Hashimoto’s Disease? It is an autoimmune disorder? So what I am trying to cure, I would hinder by just taxing it with a candy bar? Suddenly, the taste didn’t seem as important any more. Look it up! Found that fact on WebMD. After I started reading more about its effects, I just didn’t want it.
I was so proud of myself that day…… SO PROUD….. Was it easy? No…. but again it keeps coming back to the same thing. What do you want more? I minute with a Peanut Butter Cup or a lifetime of feeling better. I was finally losing my symptoms and it just never seemed worth it to give that up. Never going backwards….. never…