I have known that me + sugar aren’t a good combo for a while now. But it’s only recently I have realised just how badly it affects me. I seriously cut down on sugar and now I only have sugary foods every now and then.
However, this means that when I do have sugar, because my body isn’t as used to having it in large amounts, I tend to react even worse than before.
People talk of a ‘sugar coma’, well, that seems like a pretty accurate description. Did you know there’s some research that suggests sugar is as addictive as cocaine?
I don’t think people should be completely cutting sugar out of their diets, I just think we should all be aware.
A particularly bad experience I had the other day has prompted me to write an open letter to sugar, to explain just how unhappy it makes me! See below…
Dear Sugar,
We’ve been friends for a long time now but it’s only just occurred to me just how toxic our relationship is. I used to need you in my life all the time, but since I’ve kept you at a distance, my life’s improved no end.
You were a bad influence on my mood, my behaviour and my relationships. You made me do things I’m not proud of. I have to admit when I first got to know you, I knew we wouldn’t get along. But I ignored my instincts and embraced you.
Now that we’ve had some time apart, it’s made me realise just how much you affected me. Now if I encounter you even briefly, I can feel myself reacting in an unhealthy way. At first you make me feel anxious. My heart beats in my chest and I feel anxiety coursing through my veins. That’s when you make me behave like a different person. I’m usually fairly chilled out, but in your presence, something switches.
Then, after I’ve spent about half an hour feeling like I need to go and jump out of a plane to get rid of the fierce energy inside me, the slump kicks in. My whole body slows and my mind goes cloudy, and all of a sudden, I want to go to sleep. So I take a nap, I give in to the fatigue and drift off, hoping that when I wake, you won’t be around me anymore.
The next thing I know I wake from what feels like the deepest sleep and feel like I’ve got some sort of weird hangover. It’s hard to get out of bed, but I force myself to crawl out from beneath the covers because I’m thirsty, so thirsty. After a few more hours I eventually feel more like my usual self again, and I forget just how bad you made me feel.
Despite knowing that our relationship is doomed and the impact you have on my life, eventually I always come back to you. It might take two days, two weeks or two months, but I will no doubt indulge you in a café or supermarket, and tell myself everything’s fine, when it’s not.
I should not be inviting you back into my life to wreak havoc with my moods. One minute you’re up, the next minute you’re down, and I just can’t deal with that kind of drama. I’m really quite mellow and chilled at heart, but when you are around I become a whole different person.
My boyfriend helped me create some space from you when I started living with him. At first I was in denial. He said you might be causing some of my problems, but you had been in my life for so long that I didn’t think twice about spending time with you, and what it might be doing to me.
Gradually, he made me see. He helped me reduce our interactions, and be mindful that when we are together, I might not feel at my best.
I’m so sorry sugar, but I’ve realised that I really don’t need you in my life, at least not every single day. The best way forward for both of us is to see each other little and often. We will appreciate each other more that way, and savour our special moments together. Trust me, it’s better this way. I will definitely savour you more.
I have to admit you taste good, you really do. But if I’m totally honest I’m more of a carb kinda girl anyways. Don’t take this the wrong way, but given the choice, I’d much rather spend my time with pasta, rice or potatoes. That’s what my heart (and stomach) really wants.
Don’t worry, this isn’t goodbye forever. We will see each other from time to time I’m sure, and reminisce over the good old times. You see, I can deal with you much better in small doses. I hope that we can continue to be friends in a healthy way.
Your sincerely,
Kiri
