Monday, November 7, 2011

No Candy November

My declaration and my goal...why?
  • Two bags of candy corn purchased and consumed last month (Jeff helped, but still...)
  • Candy toppings on my frozen yogurt - yummy, but I never used to do that
  •  I've found myself eating candy, without hesitation, over the last couple of months - I used to at least consider it before shoving it into my mouth!
  •  Self-preservation - I'm starting work today at James Avery and there is a big candy bowl in the staff area.  I didn't get into it last year, and I need to make sure that I don't do it again this year.
While I do think that occasional treats are fine, both in dieting and maintenance, lately for me it's gotten to be more automatic than occasional - and I need to rein it in, especially as we head toward the holidays. Notice I did not say "no sugar November" - I'm not crazy!  I like my pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving too much to not have a piece...and my homemade granola, which I eat just about every day, contains both brown sugar and honey.

I know that if I tried something as stringent as no sugar, I'd fail - but no candy?  I can do this. In fact, I am doing this - the morning of November 1st, I put up my container of Dove dark chocolate Promises for the month, and even though I usually have one or two pieces in the evening, I've been OK without.  And in case you're wondering, I did help myself to several many a bunch of pieces of Halloween candy...so I kinda went into this on candy overload.  I look at this as hitting the reset button - getting back to the healthier side of eating that I prefer to be on.  Overall, it's not a huge thing, but it was becoming significant enough that I needed to do something about it.

By the way, I got this idea after watching Merry do 30 days of no sugar in October (how much do I love that she timed it to end so she could eat Halloween candy?) - she made it look easy, and that was giving up ALL sugar.  I'm just giving up candy, so it should be a piece of cake.  Which I can have, because it's not candy!  All kidding aside, I'm not gonna have cake.  Now pie?  That's another story...but hey, it's not candy!

25 comments:

  1. I am in with you!! I have been falling into the same unthinking traps with candy, at work and at home. No Candy November begins today for me, too!

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  2. This is a great goal. Awhile you back you wrote about how you were done dieting. This goal fits right in with that - esp. bc you make it clear that you aren't saying "no sugar" just "no candy," which is a type of food every type of person could take a break from for awhile. Go Shelley!

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  3. This is a good idea. I've let a few foods creep back into my diet in an invasive way when they should only be occasional treats. The idea of a 1-month reset sounds perfect for getting back on track!

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  4. This is an idea I need to apply to my entire household. It's been a free-for-all since Halloween.

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  5. I think it's a great challenge especially in these 2 months where there's more candy than the rest of the year.

    Personally I don't believe in No sugar things, I don't believe in any challenges where No is the first word. I believe in moderation and that's what you are doing and I like it.

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  6. Me too! But of course that's because I started my Zero Excuses Challenge today :D

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  7. That's a really good goal for you to have. I think I'd have to do the No sugar thing, b/c I've actually been eating more baked goods, than candy!

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  8. I too have started looking for the mini candy bars in the room instead of purposely looking past them. I'll take this challenge under consideration...

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  9. I'm all in on No Candy November! I think that's a great idea actually. It's good to stop and think about what kind of choices we're making. Eating candy without thinking about it isn't good. Great that you're doing something about it :)

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  10. I like it. I saw No Excuses November on Facebook as well. No Excuses and No Candy, this could be a long month...

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  11. This is just what I've needed! November is "no sweets at the shop" for me. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  12. Yep, its easy to fall back into old habits, isn't it?

    Glad you are reigning in it and recognizing it! And pie is definitely NOT candy! :D

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  13. Great idea! I'm not a hugeeee candy eater, but I've had more than my fair share of JUNK this last month!

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  14. Cute post! I especially liked your line "I'm just giving up candy, so it should be a piece of cake."

    I eat carrots which are probably too sweet (the "baby" peeled ones) and an occasional grape which are always too sweet.

    Good thing you don't have any See's!

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  15. You will do great - it is just candy and I think once you get past the habit of wanting it for your daily snack, it will be a lot easier. The habit part is really the hardest part of any challenge.

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  16. You can give up candy. If you want to. I suggest removing all candy from your reach though.

    For almost a year I had been candy-free then for some reason this Halloween I decided to taste some of the little, itty bitty, teeney tiny, itsy witsy, chocolate bars sitting at the door. Suddenly my sugar lobe was stimulated beyond belief, and I ate more than I intended. I am stunned that my carb (make that sugar) addiction is so strong. All the remaining candy went to sweetie's job. The hospital staff can always use a burst of carbs.

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  17. Shelley

    Heaps of people I know via Forums and Twitter etc are doing some no-sugar in November thing. (It does have a name, but I can't recall what it is!)

    But - good luck with the no candy plan!

    Deb

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  18. Oh girl. I should join you. I found two bags of Reese cups in the pantry. Two.bags.

    It's just so easy to pop the darn things in your mouth! Is there a candy diet? I'm thinking I would do pretty good on it. ;)

    You can do it!

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  19. Totally doable...I like grape-nuts on yogurt to help out there...sometimes have that as a dessert. You've got this.

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  20. I have a terrible sweet tooth as well, but being on this latest diet the cravings have stopped. My sugar comes in form of fruit,and honestly I don't miss it.
    You are going to do great Shelley! Looking forward to following along.

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  21. oh and P.S. did you and Fran get together and plan a "let's drive Syl crazy day"?? Just for you two pics of the boots are up ;-)

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  22. Way to go Shelley....candy? What's that??? Take care, hope your Tuesday has gone well.

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  23. Ok, I am doing this!!! 30 days NO CANDY!!!

    Today is 11/9/11

    30 days.... I can do it!!! (in my best Arnold voice)

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  24. It does do something to your taste buds! Last week, the office was filled with after-Halloween candy. I picked up a pack of Smarties.I had to throw it away after the first one. It tasted completely artificial.

    I doubt that they've suddenly changed the recipe in the last month, so probably I've changed. Be prepared!

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