jakorte's blog

My bathing suit is fitting better, or slightly worse, depending on the point of view. It was a tad snug at the end of May, or maybe I just wasn’t used to the confining feel, and it really fit fine. Neither really matters, because now, it’s a little loose. I’ve tied the shoulder straps in top knots, to raise up neckline, hoping to keep my diminishing cleavage where it should be, especially while I’m swimming.

Whatever I’m doing is working, sort of. As referenced above, my shirts are now loose, and my seasonal pants fit, as opposed to not fitting well, which was where my summer wardrobe started. The scale argues, though. It should be amusing, but it’s not, that six weeks’ worth of daily exercise and strict adherence to consuming all the calories, carbs, fat and protein it has been dictated that I need, has debited me only 2.7 pounds.

So, unnaturally, I jumped at the chance to ramp up my efforts with the Sparkspeople Sugar Challenge. The intention is to observe, then modify sugar intake. The first five days went well. I excluded sugar from my coffee and tea. Read all the labels of everything in my minimal pantry, fridge, and freezer. With the exception of canned tuna and frozen veggies, nearly everything had some sort of sugar, in some sort of form. I really had no idea there were so many forms. Some of these forms excel in masquerading as seemingly innocuous ingredients. Some of which, are worse for you than the real, straight, white-stuff.

Some labeling code words for “sugar” designed to distract: Agave nectar, Agave syrup, Barley malt, Beet sugar, Brown rice syrup, Brown sugar, Buttered syrup, Cane sugar, Cane juice, Cane juice crystals, Carob syrup, Confectioner’s sugar, Corn syrup, High fructose corn syrup, Corn sugar, Corn sweetener, Corn syrup solids, Crystalized fructose, Date sugar, Dextran, Dextrose, Diatase, Diastatic malt, Evaporated cane juice, Fructose, Fruit juice, Fruit juice concentrate, Glucose, Glucose solids, Golden sugar, Golden syrup, Grape sugar, Honey, Invert sugar, Lactose, Malt, Maltodextrin, Maltose, Maple syrup, Molasses, Raw sugar, Refiner's syrup, Sorghum syrup, Sucanat, Sucrose, Sugar, Turbinado sugar, Yellow sugar.

The first five days were a complete immersion in observation and modification as I tried to decide on a course of action. It was a little stupefying trying to delete sugar in it’s entirely, in one fell swoop. I ended up not giving up salad dressing, salsa or the packaged yogurts and fruit cups I had already invested in. The thrift gene apparently runs strong in me. I could not (would not) throw away perfectly good food which I had purchased within my new budget. But, I have since decided the plan is to further eliminate those items, as well, eventually. When my sugar enhanced stock is depleted, it will not be re-upped.