This is  week of firsts.
Well, one big one…
I’m going to Vegas for the first time! It’s also my first time playing in a softball World Series (the reason for the trip). Â And I play first base! Â It’s going to be a marvelous week.
I have a couple of fun things planned for the blog while I’m gone (stay tuned for an awesome giveaway Wednesday!).  Today is the first treat – my friend Kenny and I met in grad school.  As class clowns devastatingly beautiful straight A students, we were instant friends. 😉
Kenny came to me asking for help with a sugar addiction and I instantly identified with the struggle. Â If you’ve been reading for a while (or since last week), you might have noticed I have a ridiculous sweet tooth myself. Â I’ve posted tips IÂ use for managing it:
Another BIG tip is accountability.  Tell someone who can help you.  For me, having trainers and gym friends helps a lot… and so does blogging!  It’s a great way to interact with like-minded people.  YOU inspire me everyday with your creative ideas, dedication to health, and supportive comments.
Which brings me back to Kenny. Â He’s asking for your help as well – both for accountability and support. Â Today mark the first in a series he will be doing on his journey to breaking his sugar addiction. Â Read on for his story!
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Kenny here.  As one of Laura’s favorite man friends, and her potential future husband (at least that’s what I keep telling myself), I am truly honored to become a guest blogger on Sprint 2 the Table!  The idea came recently when Laura and I were discussing my massive sugar addiction.
(Editor’s note: I will only marry Kenny if he agrees to quit cheating on me with Tori.)
Basically, the only things I love more than Laura herself are chocolate ice cream, M&Ms, and my puppy Paxton Amos (yes, he is named after Goddess Tori).  And the former two, in extremes, are really bad for my future six-pack.  I absolutely LOVE desserts and chocolate.  The problem is, I am tempted throughout the entire day – when I’m at Starbucks deciding between green tea and a salted caramel mocha; when I’m at dinner with friends and they all want to move the party to the local frozen yogurt shop; or when I’m on my way home, and the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is screaming my name from the Publix near my house.
Nearly each time, I give into the temptation, and once I start, I have trouble stopping.  I don’t just eat a handful of M&Ms … I’ll eat an entire king-size bag (at least) sprinkled over an entire pint of ice cream.  I really take these things to extremes!  (Editor’s note: Extreme.  Much like your love for Tori.  She is breaking us apart!)
To make matters worse, I am one of those people who have started and stopped fitness and diet routines, over and over and over again, for about 14 years. Â My issue is not just an addiction to sugar, but a lack of trust in myself that I can beat the cycle after SO many failed attempts!
How am I ever going to look like my fitness hero Joe Manganiello if I do not get this addiction under control??  I’m 32 years old, and the time has come to get this down once and for all.
So, here is where Sprint 2 the Table comes in, because I need Laura’s help and the public to hold me accountable.  We heard that it takes 21 days to form a new habit (there are various opinions on this, but 21 seems like a good starting point).  As an initial but very important step to achieving all of my fitness and nutritional goals, can I at least cut out the bad sugar for 21 days, and then see how I feel?  This seems like a pretty manageable goal, doesn’t it?
My guest blogging over the next few weeks will focus on this 21 campaign – in particular, the techniques, thought processes, and mindsets I learn to help me break my sugar habit once and for all.  How will I deal with sudden cravings, especially during Halloween month?  What happens if my friends are all chowing down dessert around me?  What am I doing differently this time, unlike all the previous times I’ve tried to cut back on sugar?  If I do good job for 21 days, then what’s next?  What are both the physical and mental aspects I am learning to make this work?
With Laura’s help, the accountability of blogging, and your feedback, I hope to make this a great learning experience for all of us.  And Laura has me off to a great start – I’m already on Day 5, and so far so good.  More details to come…
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I hope we can help Kenny (and each other!) during this holiday season. Â I know I’ll be reflecting on this as I try to enjoy all Vegas has to offer in a (mostly) responsible way.
Does anyone have words of wisdom for Kenny? Â
How do keep the sweet tooth in check?
You got this, Kenny! I find that my sweet tooth revs up on the days I haven’t eaten proper meals! Make sure you are eating enough complex carbs & lean protein to keep your sugar levels under control!
I so need this too especially since my training has been derailed for the past 2 weeks. I’m drowning my sorrows in dark chocolate chips!
Ohhhh… those get me. In popcorn… mmmm…
Good luck everyone!! I need this, but I’m soooo not ready to give up sugar. The first step is admitting you have a problem. (check) One of the other steps has to actually be wanting to change, right? (girl loves her ice cream)
Me and you, my friend…
LOVE this post from Kenny
And, while I dont have any tips, Im waving the pompoms and CHEERING HIM ON from NoCal!
Good luck omg! This is beyond a brave step, I think I would collapse or something – you are inspiring and I have total belief in your determination 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
WATER WATER! and find healthy alternatives!
Yes! Chugging water is a huge helper.
Good luck to you in Vegas (have so much fun- I’ve never been either!!) and to Kenny to starting this challenge 🙂
oh i know you can do this! keep us posted… and i want you to marry laura now too! can i come to the wedding?
Linds… don’t hold your breath, Brother. 😉
This will sound crazy but one thing I find that does help a lot of people is keeping something sweet in the house, and having a little bit every day. I personally find two squares of dark chocolate work best. It’s enough so that you don’t feel deprived, yet enough to satisfy that sweet tooth. When you try to make sweets completely off-limits, your body will naturally only want them more. It’s also pretty difficult to over-eat dark chocolate! You will eventually get to a point where you won’t even want the chocolate every day.
That is a good point – I keep a bowl of candy in my house and never touch it. Not sure I could do it with cake… worth a shot!
Going cold turkey is the best way to get sugar under control! I’ve been there. 🙂 It’s amazing how much you’ll begin to notice the sweetness in natural foods, and then the candy will taste too sweet! Although when you reintroduce it, it is very easy to slip right back into old habits- sugar is so powerfully addictive!
You’re so right… I need to get back on that train.
I feel your pain! I recently dramatically cut out sugar from my diet, because I know it was wreaking havoc on my overall health. By recently, I mean 8 days ago, so I’m not far ahead of you! Last week was rough, but honestly, I feel better. All the foods I’m eating right now taste A-MA-ZING because they aren’t being overpowered by the spike I was getting from all the added sugar. I also find I’m sleeping much better as well and getting much more from my workouts! Stick with it!
It’s funny how that works. I do the same thing with salt!
Good luck Kenny! I agree with what Khushboo said above – eating regular meals with enough protein and complex carbs makes a big difference for me with keeping my sugar cravings under control.
you’ve got this Kenny! We are cheering you on. Plus, Laura is awesome… she is definitely a great coach for ya!
I have definitely been in the sugar addiction cycle as well. I can’t wait to hear how Kenny’s journey goes! Fun series … and speaking of series, GOOD LUCK! SO COOL!
Thank Megan! I totally thought of you when I was posting this one. 🙂
Such a great idea to use Laura’s blog for accountability!! Sugar is definitely a weak spot for me too. And have fun in Vegas Laura!
Good luck! You can do it!!! I will tell you from experience that it’s tough at first, but after you have rid yourself of those things for a period of time, you no longer crave it. In fact, it will not taste that good to you if you try it. My body feels it’s best when I’m not eating sugar. You won’t want to let go of that feeling once you have it.
These are great tips! It can be so hard to break a sugar addiction, but I believe small steps will carry anyone determined enough through. Thanks for sharing!
Vegas is so much fun-enjoy! I’ve really been trying to cut my sugar intake as well but sometimes you just need some chocolate!
Shhhhh… 😉
I did this very many years ago and let me tell you keep up with it, I promise you it gets EASIER + EASIER each day! Now on my birthday I have a one macaroon and am satisfied and almost always complain it is to sweet! Your body will thank you for it as well! All my love and support xo C
Oh man… I need to follow your example!
I use coconut milk in my coffee and make sure I am drinking water throughout the day to help curb my sugar cravings!
Coffee is a really good one! And coconut has such a delicious natural sweetness.
you can do it!!
we love eating lots of healthy fats to curb our sweet tooth and drinking water !
Good luck at the Softball World Series Laura!! I need to get that 21 Day Detox situation because I tried to kick this sugar addiction and failed – I LOVE baking but HATE Stevia, like seriously hate it – it makes me gag.. I’ll try that xyliol (aljfd) however it’s spelled and hope for hte best.. If I can find a healthy, sugar alternative I think I’d be more successful because I love baking too much, lol. OH and Kenny is a hunk you need to tap that. Have fun in Vegas!!!! -Iva
I got use to Stevia, but do think Xylitol is the bet sub. It’s just a bit grainier so you have to be careful where you use it. I like to go half and half.
Don’t tell him that. It goes to his head.
Kenny needs Quest Bars! And stevia maybe? Or how about Walden Farms no cal chocolate syrup? I know you (Laura) are no stranger to any of these products. I eat almost zero sugar these days with the exception of fruit sugar. I can do this (and be very happy) because I’ve found ridiculously amazing sugar alternatives. And they aren’t sub-par replacements. It’s not like replacing a wedge of cheddar with fat free cheddar shreds (which taste like rubber). Ice cream can be combatted with Arctic Zero. That one isn’t the same as B&J’s, but I think it can fill the void, especially if you add some stuff to it. You can totally recreate your fave Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, it just takes some creativity. I think you’re on the right track, Kenny. At the very least, you came to the right place. Laura is kind of the epitome of creative eats.
Thank you! These are great suggestions. Have the tried that Halo ice cream, btw? It’s the jam.
Good luck! I find having a piece of fruit or cleaning my teeth really helps 🙂
Yes – strawberries are my favorite.