Project 7:15 - New Year's Update

As a quick review, my reputation as an uncertified life coach basically hinges on my ability to successfully complete an A.I.T., otherwise known as an Amazing and/or Inspiring Transformation.  As mentioned on day one of this process, “I need to change myself in a very obvious and public way over the course of a set amount of time.  I need to begin as person ‘A’, and then, by a combination of ‘B,’ ‘C,’ and even ‘D,’ become the person I was always meant to be:  ‘E.’” 

To become person ‘E,’ then, I began a very arduous regimen of not eating cookies after going to bed. This might sound stupid and perhaps even useless, but to put into context, I had a problem. I would wake up in the middle of the night numerous times throughout the week and gorge on milk and cookies like an off-season Santa Claus. It was gross. My pants would not fit, the intense sugar-rush played havoc on my sleep schedule, and, of course, the rest of my family was furious at me for basically ruining their lives by eating dessert in the middle of the night.

Thus, on July 15^th this past summer, (hence the catchy name of my endeavor, “Project 7:15,”) I gave up midnight cookie binging. Cold turkey, I just quit, and the effects were almost immediate. For starters, by family liked me more and within a few weeks my pants also started treating me with more respect. I slept better, which cleared my head, which lead me to the next step of Project 7:15: forgoing random sweets.

The modifier “random” was attached to distinguish the 99% of processed sugar we come into contact with on a daily basis with the 1% of desserts that actually do make our lives better: your mom’s homemade dessert she spent hours making just for you, for example, or the sugary gift offered by the young person who needs to feel some self-worth.

Things went quite well for the first few months. Before long I was fitting into clothes I hadn’t worn in years and much of the sluggishness that comes from sugar was no longer part of my day. (I still had the sluggishness that comes from parenting three young children, of course, as well as the fatigue that originates from teaching high school English, but one must tackle the opponent that one can catch.)

Then, however, as often happens in life, a parade rained on my success. What happened was this: I was sitting at the homecoming parade in early October, enjoying the gorgeous fall evening, catching stray bits of candy thrown toward my children, when I had a moment of weakness. I can’t even remember what it was, likely a cherry Starburst, but it tasted so good, I thought, ‘Hey, it’s the homecoming parade. This sugar has social merit, right? I’m being sociable.  How about another?”

So I ate another. And then another. Soon my dinner was ruined and the old, unwelcome lethargy had returned. What is unfortunate about sugar, like any addiction, is that once you return to your fix, it becomes that much easier to return again. And again.

Halloween showed up, along with trick or treating, and, yes, I ate more of my kids’ candy than I should have.  Thanksgiving showed up, and, yes, I enjoyed some pumpkin pies. Plural.

And we won’t even mention Christmas.

Today is a new day, however. It is a new year, in fact, and with it, we see new opportunities for amazing and inspiring transformations. My pantry has no Oreos in it, and that is a good place to start.