Health
- June 13, 2008
Change 5 - Giving Up Candy
I have decided to give up candy. I love candy, but I eat too much of it. I will no longer eat chips, candy bars, sweets, or sugary foods.
Just like I did with the sodas - I’m going ‘cold turkey’. I’ll replace the candy with fruits and nuts. Clearly, for someone who likes to eat while he drives, giving up candy will be a challenge. But, I want to protect my teeth, lose weight, and avoid diabetes, I need to get rid of the candy.
The only exceptions I’ll make will be cakes and other deserts during the holiday season or during a birthday celebration.
7 Responses to “Change 5 - Giving Up Candy”
Congrats on another healthy change! I’ll bet you find your weight loss really takes off with the elimination of sugar. Good luck and stay strong, but don’t beat yourself up either.
By Clean Simple on Jun 17, 2008
Wow, you really are hitting these big ticket items quick! Have you considered doing something more like a limit the complete cold turkey? If you tell yourself you can have one piece a week or something along those lines it is like having a little room in your budget for those little things.
Kris’ guest post over on GRS today has a good idea to follow also.
By philip on Jun 17, 2008
@philip - I find that I do much better when I go ‘cold turkey’. When I allow myself to nibble - just a bit here and just a bit there - I find that my nibbles turn in to huge bites, rather quickly. Just like I did w/ credit cards, I gotta go big - or go home!
By NCN on Jun 17, 2008
NCN I am just like you. Cold Turkey usually works for me the best. Every time I have lost weight it has been cold turkey. When I quit smoking after years of trying to cut back, it happened cold turkey. Maybe it’s because of my all or nothing personality. Great changes!!
By Brad on Jun 18, 2008
@Brad… It sounds like it has not worked being that you state “Every time I have lost weight” indicating that it was temporary and that you then had to do it all again.
My thoughts on changes like this is to make a change that I can have as permanent. I don’t feel that it is reasonable to give up candy forever. However, reducing the intake I could do for my life without reverting back to old ways and crashing out on the plan.
I just want to see life changes come from this rather than 1 time fixer uppers. Best of luck to both of you on this
By philip on Jun 19, 2008
Hey Phillip, you are absolutely right. Cold Turkey doesn’t really solve the problem but that is how I have been able to get the process started. Now I just have to work on the part that makes me give up. I have quit smoking for good but I know that I can not EVER pick up another cigarette unless i want to start smoking again. I could NEVER quit gradually on smoking but the weight loss thing is a completely different problem. I just need to change my habits over time just like NCN is doing. I would agree that cold turkey doesn’t work for everything but it sure helped me quit smoking many times. It was then up to me to realize what always made me start again. It wasn’t because I quit cold turkey it was because I forgot how easy it was to start back. It always started with just one. For instance an alcoholic cannot do gradual to kick such an addiction.
It is hard for someone who struggles with weight loss to have a half a gallon of ice cream in the fridge when the urge to scarf it up is so great. Therefore it easier to change your habits when you remove all temptation, and when you gain control of your habits, then you may consider giving that half a gallon of ice cream a shot.
I have to ask, have you ever struggled with an addiction?
By Brad on Jun 28, 2008