Friday, April 02, 2010

An Easter Without Sugar

Last year this time, I was blogging about my adoration of Easter candy. Peeps, Cadbury Creme Eggs, Robin's Eggs, Marshmellow Eggs, Reeces Peanut Butter Eggs... you name it, I'm there. LOOOOVEEE Easter Candy.

And that is why, this year, I'm mildly depressed. I started with a personal trainer about two weeks ago. For purposes of anonymity (and alliteration) I'll be calling her Wendy the Wicked on the blog. I prepaid 7 months of sessions, so I'm certain there will be a great many more blogs about the wackiness that ensues when Wendy the Wicked comes after me with that damned medicine ball.

Anyway, along with the training was a diet she recommended. No beef, no pork, no sugar. I'm limited to one potato a day (which can be french fries!) but I can have unlimited fruit, vegetables and whole wheat products. No beef, no pork has been easy enough. There's a couple things I'll miss, but I'm not much of a meat eater anyway. But the sugar.... oh, the sugar!

To prepare myself, I went to the store and scoured the shelves for my sugar free options. Russell Stovers and Hershey both make quite a few types of candy. I got a couple little bags, some SF chocolate chips to make my own cookies if I need to (I didn't even know they made these), SF creamcicles and some Murray's cookies. Normally I wouldn't bring home bags of candy, cookies and ice cream, but its not like I can pop over to the vending machine and get it, so I have to have stuff on hand to avert diet disaster. Doing okay so far. I don't mind the taste and you can't eat a lot of it cause it will make you sick. Instant portion control.

My only problem is Easter. Despite how much I've looked, they just don't make much in the way of sugar free Easter candy. Even Russell Stover's doesn't make a SF Bunny or coconut egg or anything. I haven't done a bunch of internet searching, just perusing the stores so far. My only shining discovery has been finding Sugar Free Peeps at Walmart. The idea of a marshmellow rolled in sugar that is sugar free boggles my mind. I have no idea what it is I'll actually be eating, but my choices are limited, so there is my Easter indulgence.

I can't say that I won't break down and have a Cadbury egg before Monday rolls around, but I'm trying to be good. Any of you guys have diets colliding with your holiday plans? Seen any sugar free Easter candy in your neck of the woods?

SP

11 comments:

Linda Winstead Jones said...

I just started a new program (and I have sore muscles this morning to prove it!) yesterday, but it's exercise and counting calories. Back to sparkpeople. I haven't given up sugar, but I have given up wheat -- which means when we go to a relative's house on Sunday, I'll be taking my own homemade rice bread.

No wheat means no cookies, cake, rolls -- so there's a nice decrease in calories right there. :-) But I have some small squares of dark chocolate, and I'm letting myself have one a day. I'll also have some light ice cream now and then, if I have the calories left. Other than that, my diet right now is very healthy. I'm hoping I don't get tempted on Sunday. There's just something about a Russell Stover Strawberry Cream Egg. :-/

LJ

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I was already tempted when I went to the Walmart aisle at lunch yesterday. See my problem is the tradition. Some of this candy you can only get at Easter so if I don't get a little bit now I can't have any more for another year. It just isn't Easter without jelly beans and peeps.

I did slim down my purchases but I still ended up with several bags of candy and a couple chocolate bunnies. I am attempting to not eat it though. I did purchase myself a big Reese's egg and I'm hoping that if I allow myself that one thing on Sunday then I can resist the rest of the time. We'll see.

Instigator

Playground Monitor said...

Be veeeeeeeeery careful of those sugar-free candies. Many are made with sugar alcohol, which can create havoc in your digestive track. I speak from experience.

So far I've resisted the call of the Reese's peanut butter eggs but I'm not sure how much longer I can last.

Angel said...

My diet went to hell in a handbasket this week when PMS struck. I'd been doing really well, but this week I HAD to HAVE COOKIES!!! So we made some. Oddly enough, one day of indulgence and I was done. I haven't been tempted by the Easter Candy at all.

And you were right about Wendy the Wicked... once she found out what I was capable of, she toughened up on me. Last week I worked out on Monday and hurt until Thursday. And she does it all with the sweetest smile...

Angel

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

That's the beauty of it, PM. I can have a piece, maybe 2, but then that's it unless I want to suffer mightily. It makes my sweet tooth happy without letting me overindulge.

Sherry Werth said...

I don't have a sweet tooth so I'm safe with the Easter candy. We usually end up throwing most of it away. But....I do crave salty stuff. I will go half way around the store to stay away from the chip aisle. I joined WW several weeks back and so far I've been pretty good. The salt cravings have minimized a bit now. Thank Goodness.

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

And a way to enjoy peeps without eating them - the annual Washington Post Peep Show!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/03/29/ST2010032904380.html?sid=ST2010032904380

mslizalou said...

I'm doing Weight Watchers right now. I can have Easter candy, but the point count for most of it is so high, I don't get to eat much that day if I eat the candy. I haven't had my Reese's egg yet, but plan on having just one tomorrow(my weigh in day is my only real "cheat" day). I have really missed peeps, but might just buy one small package tomorrow when I get my Reese's egg.

Christine said...

I've decided that tent dresses might be the happening thing for me--my hormones are so messed up, I can't lose weight even when I TRY. So I just eat as healthy as I can, workout religiously, and try not to sweat it too much.

I'm kind of like Paul that way: that which I want not to do, I do. So if I tell myself I can't have something, I end up wanting it MORE. Meh.

Good luck with the personal Trainer. Sounds like fun.

catslady said...

I tried to find some dark chocolate easter candy but didn't see any so I passed it by. At least I justify it by saying it's good for me lol.

Cheryl said...

I don't really crave the candy but...marshmallow peeps have always been my downfall. I love them and try to avoid walking within ten feet of any display that has them.

After listening to LJ's talk at a meeting, I got the book "The Brain Chemistry Plan." I have started following his suggestions and, low and behold Christine, the tiredness and lethargy from lack of hormones has almost disappeared! I feel better even though I can't have sugar. (Sigh... marshmallow peeps)

Anyway, Happy Easter to the Playground!