10 Days

Last Sunday, I decided it would be swell to wake up early on Monday morning before work (not a difficult feat as I work at 10:30) and go for a brisk run. Fearing winter is closing in on me, I want to enjoy the outside as much as I can. Additionally, I plan on hibernating the entire winter so I thought I should lose a few pounds before I embarked on my hibernation adventure of eating everything I could then sleeping for 12 hours - under lots and lots of down blankets.
Well Monday morning arrives, my alarm clock sounds loudly, and I just stare at it for a moment. Then turn it off. And lay in bed. Watching the sunlight make pretty designs on the wall. I did not go running. Far from it. I didn't even go back to sleep. I hit a new peak of laziness, and actually just laid in bed. Something had to be done. I was clearly getting out of hand. This was not the ambitious person I always wanted to be. Midway through work, a thought struck me. I remember a talk (or something similar) about a man who was in medical school (I think) and he was having problems being dedicated and following through. So he gave up sugar. He found that by denying sugar, he learned to focus more and became more disciplined. He also found that he could change his habits easier this way. I may have made this story up. I don't know. I can't find it anywhere.
But the moral of my story was that I was seriously lacking in self discipline and needed some help. I needed to change a habit I have been forming (excessive laziness) and correct it with some serious self discipline. I have never met a more dessert happy person than myself. So I decided to go 10 days without partaking of any deliciously sweetened substance. No sugar - for 10 days.
Day 1 and 2 went okay. Nothing to brag about. I love, love, love having sweets. So it was quite a difference for me to not have a snack after dinner. And before dinner. And after lunch. And for breakfast. And late at night. And when I'm on the phone. Or the computer. I went to FHE- and they had Marshmallow fluff and Nutella sandwiches. First of all, REALLY? Second of all, there was not a single item there I could partake of. And it was lamesauce.
I'm on day 7, with 3 days to go. Here are some thing that have nearly broken me: Pumpkin pie! Milk Duds after Institute. A pound of dark chocolate. And oh, yea. The fact that it is Halloween!! I did not even think about that as I made my firm resolution. And yet, here I am. During Halloween weekend - sugar free! Eeeep! If that isn't scary, I don't know what is.
But there have been a lot of benefits as well. One, I'm learning that I can do it. I haven't had a single treat. Not a single one, in over a week now (by like an hour). Two. I did go running on Tuesday. And Wednesday. And Thursday. And I took a cue from Erika and started a Jillian Michaels work-out dvd. And I'm sure my teeth are healthier! ;)
I am really looking forward to Wednesday night though! When my flight lands in Salt Lake City, all bets are off and a delightful pumpkin shake will be mine. Second thing, it also snowed - twice. This is my not amused face whilst on the T trying to go to Stake Conference this weekend.