Hello....My Name is Chrystal...

and I'm addicted to sugar.

I've been fighting an uphill/downhill battle with my diet and exercise since the holidays and it dawned on me yesterday that what's been occurring is more than meets the eye. It's been a slippery slope as it relates to my resolve. What had gotten so easy before the holidays has become increasingly more difficult to manage. My exercise is good but my diet is ALL OVER THE PLACE. My main problem. SUGAR....

I checked out addiction at www.dictionary.com and this is what I found for a definition: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

Let's see...eating sugar is a habit. I always need something sweet to end a meal, even if it is only a mint. I hit lows and will eat healthy things like veggies, and protein to stave the specific hunger, but nothing besides an Oreo will do the trick. And let's be real. You can't just eat one. I'd gotten a $50 gift certificate to Starbucks for Christmas that has led me to believe that, since it was free, frequent drive-bys were OK. I would throw in the Milk Chocolate Graham Crackers just because.

What about "cessation causes severe trauma". Well, let's just say that I've detoxed before. The first couple of days is MADNESS. I'm crabby, I get headaches, and just overall feel like something isn't right. If I'm not loopy, that sounds like drug rehab. Truth be told, I've probably had my share of the shakes...

I've been fighting this Romans 7 battle for my whole life and I'm SO tired of it. Granted, I've been losing weight gradually but my true desire is not to be double-minded about my commitment to nutrition and health. Sugar makes me double-minded.

I can decide NOT to have any cake....until my sister orders some. So, my response?...I'll just have one bite. You know where that leads....TO DESTRUCTION!

I have self-control in more than a few areas of my life but when it comes to sugar, I'm just a basketcase.

I've been studying Romans in my BSF class and chapter 12 hit me like a ton of bricks.

Romans 12:1-2 (New International Version) On Living Sacrifices Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

My body doesn't belong to me.

Some people trash their bodies with alcohol, some with drugs, some with tobacco. Trashing with sugar (or overeating) does not put me in some higher class.

So...I'm a sugar addict. I'm probably a carb addict too but one thing at a time.

From what I understand, an addict always has to go through a period of withdrawal and once habit-free will always have to know their limitations. For the rest of their lives, they will have to choose to be addiction-free.

I'm committed to going 7 days without refined sugar. I might stretch it to 14 days and then to 21 but right now I can't think that far. I'm avoiding "sweets", allowing myself natural sweetener on occasion (honey in tea for example). No oreos, no ice cream, no brownies, no sweet tea, no candy bars, no chocolate chip cookies (Lord help me), no Starbucks, etc.. None of these things I'm consume everday now but the problem is that when I know I SHOULDN'T eat them. I STILL DO.

So no sugar...even if I burn 600 calories at the gym.

Anybody want to join me?