SUGAR ADDICT CONFESSES

One happy recovering sugar addict on her way to a Christmas Party. Forgive the fake Hollywood smile please--we were in a rush and I had to pose quickly. It's good for a chuckle anyway!

I am out of denial. I am a self-confessed sugar addict. It was easy to live in denial for so many years--my entire life to date! You see, I always prided myself on my sweet tooth. Believing it to be the secret to being thin. I can give up any food except sweets. Thus, I thought being a sugar addict actually kept me thin. However, soon I do give up on meals. Soon I am only wanting homemade peanut butter-marshmallow squares and ice cream--nutrition be damned! I gave up on grains--only eating sprouted whole grains and whole grain pasta, brown rice , etc., yet I refused to let go of sugar. If there were no grains in it: i.e. ice cream and my peanut butter-marshmallow squares, then eat away!

Here I am, on a low-sugar diet and loving it. How? Well, I developed adult acne, mood swings and exhaustion and strong hormonal responses during my cycle. I am so sensitive to the sugar high that I start to crave more and ore sugar to keep the high going all day long and soon I am eating nothing but a treat for lunch and a treat after a tiny supper. My nutrition sucked and I was on sugar highs and lows all day long.

Now, I eat protein, dairy, veggies, fruit and feel so much better for it. I have replaced sugar with dark chocolate (85%). Now I substitute the sugar high my a chocolate high. It is much better for me. I don't have insulin rushes and drops. I allow myself 2 squares of 85% chocolate each day along with my healthy meals and unlimited tea ( I am the worlds biggest tea drinker. I drink it without milk or sugar: green, black, oolong,white, hot, iced) Once in a long while I will have a small treat but I make sure it is as low in sugar as possible and if it is full of sugar I only have a small piece after a meal so as to not get an insulin rush.

All is well and as a recovering sugar addict, I've never felt better! I am full and alert all day long and I believe my acne will vanish for good and no more hormonal bloating each month. YAY!

Now, after saying all of that, guess what I'm off to do? That's right! Make Mistaya's Birthday cake. She wants a pumpkin pie/ice cream cake. I made up the recipe and boy oh boy, watch out sugar addicts, this is going to be the best cake ever.

I'll let you know the size of the piece I take after my meal (of course)   ;)

Frozen Desert

Pip and I.
I spent a few hours this morning Christmas shopping for my darling girls while Pip was at preschool. I took Juliette (Miranda's new nanny from Bristol England) so she could explore the mall. It is  an unusual cold snap in Kelowna, -17 oC. We have no snow and bright sunshine yet bitterly cold temps from an arctic front. It is too bad about the no snow as Crystal Ski hill is dry. I am waiting for them to get snow and open because it is so much closer and less expensive than Big White.
Hopefully the whether returns to normal (+1 oC), as poor Fernando couldn't do our run this morning. I ran with him for about 10 minutes and then had to bring him home because he kept trying to hop on three paws. I headed out alone and was fine except my toes started to freeze after about 15 min. I willed the blood to pump into them and after a few minutes they were warm. I have never experienced such a cold snap in Kelowna like this one. We sometimes get one or two nights that dip this low in January but never December!
Tonight we have Tabi's dance and then Mist's band concert. Thursday is the Grad/faculty Christmas social at the campus pub. I am looking forward to it as Peter, Miranda, John, Miranda's PhD candidate Brian (he's great fun) and perhaps a few friends of mine from class will be attending.
Big trips for this new year all still pending--there are a few in the cards for me (I hope at least one comes to fruition!): Malaysia, Tibet, Mayan Riviera.
BTW, Fantastic Mr. Fox was very cute and clever--just like a fox. Low tech stop-action with witty dialogue.
I loved the scene where the fox saluted the wolf with his fist in the air and the wolf returned the fist.

Zenning for Freaks

Peter and I before the Christmas UBC party in our rather messy, 50's inspired family room. The mess is from the twins and their endless fort building that involves removing all cushions from the furniture and piling them on the floor.
The party was the best one I've attended since I started going three years ago. This one had dancing, kareokee and various dancing lessons: Hawaiian, Bollywood, Square etc. I love to dance and I love to sing so I was very happy. Also, my friend from class, Anne-Marie, was there which made it more fun.
Bikram's this AM was exhausting considering I had partied last night. But I made it. There are a few poses which are hard on me--they can cause dizziness, nausea etc. I have learned not to push myself during those poses (the camel, the rabbit) and I am able to enjoy the class more.
I helped with Tabi's class hot lunch today. Some dad (he lives up the street from me) was such a control freak! He refused to let me see the class list because "he had this class"--the guy was clueless as to how to work as a team. No matter how many parents show up to help the class, we all have to cooperate and work as a team. Not him. He was so irritated by my presence that he scrambled to find a new class to take over so he could be Mr. Lunch-Guy :P
This weekend it is ZENNING the house yet again. I must down size and get rid of tons of stuff--we have simply too much and I cannot keep the house karma flowing in a positive way unless I simplify.
The girls are all well--Mist has recovered from her teeth extractions. This weekend the girls and I are going to "Fantastic Mr. Fox." Aside from that I plan on a good mountain run, hike and skating on Sunday. Here's to a good weekend!