August 17, 2014, I had coffee with a friend who’d stopped eating sugar 15 years earlier. She did it just 1 day at a time.No epic plans, diets or formulas. Just a simple 12-step program and God.

She’d dropped 55 pounds but not quickly. I listened intently as she shared her experience, strength and hope.
I drove away thinking there’s no way I could do that.
Who knew the beauty that radiates from the gift of powerlessness? I am truly powerless to try to control my relationship with food.

On a short-term basis, I can. But for a long period of a year or more? No way, no how.
I humbly asked God to help me eat no sweets for the rest of that day only on August 17, 2014.
No hoopla or promises or premises. Just overwhelming humility as I asked God to do for me what I was powerless to do for myself.

I can hardly believe that was over two years ago!
I didn’t think I ate much sugar,and felt it was one of the few things that lupus hadn’t stolen from me.
At first the journey felt like climbing a mountain. I learned the value of reaching out. Texts and phone calls and calling out to God.
I didn’t think I could survive Thanksgiving or Christmas. But just one day at a time, with God’s help,he took away the cravings.

My mother-in-law used to say I had radar for chocolate. 😉 She was right. I’ve got a built-in Chocolate-O-meter. 😉
Yet now it’s gone. Such a miracle!
I didn’t feel better at first, but now I realize I’ve slowly recovered some energy.
Much of the life I used to live and love had been eclipsed by auto-immune issues.
I rarely attended social events with family or friends. We almost never had people over. If We did, I would be wiped out for 2-3 weeks easily. My social life suffered greatly, as did all other aspects of life. I’d work, then go home and rest.
I used to push myself super hard, but am fascinated by how many people with lupus are over-achievers. So I’ve given up over-achievement, as it ate me from the inside out.
Drivenness is a heart-wrenching slave. Such a dark tunnel of despair. Always, always raising the bar.

Where does it end?
Working out is a big part of fighting auto-immune disorders. So I’d work out, then take a shower, relax and go to bed.
I absolutely love my work, but couldn’t do much else if I worked a particular part of a day.

For the first time in years, after a year and a half off of sugar, I’ve been able to regularly attend a Bible study.
I’d almost fall asleep while doing different activities, especially when the sun was out. A common problem with lupus people.
So my life had been on hold in many ways.
Since I used to run 6 miles s day and swim competitively, this feeling like I’d been drugged due to fatigue was disheartening.

For more on my story, read my book:

Tooshie: Defeating the Body Image Bandit

Thank the Lord for a kind, understanding and supporting husband.
I used to push myself brutally, but that made things worse.

Now I have more energy and have re-joined life, to some extent.
I feel somewhat more energetic, as long as the sun isn’t out. Good thing I live under the big black cloud called Washington state LOL 😉 !
All this to say that God has done for me what I couldn’t do for myself.
Sugar is more addicting than cocaine, and most Americans are addicted to it. My husband’s cardiologist team doctor asked us to watch a documentary about sugar.
I was fascinated by how it’s one of the most – if not the most – inflammatory substances known to man.

Sugar is a factor in most diseases, including heart disease. This physician was in charge of the University of Washington’s Medical School residency at one time.
I was surprised to hear this, and the movie radically changed my beliefs about the process of disease.
One day at a time, I am feeling more like my old, real self.
Please, please don’t lecture any friends or relatives to try to force them to eat no sweets.

They probably feel like they’ve lost their passions, hobbies and quality of life as it is. Sugar is one of the few things they have left, in some ways.

Granted, sugar is a thief but it’s their story, not yours.

Nagging doesn’t work. Remember how annoyed you felt the last time someone hounded you for something? Uh huh LOL So please stay off their case, be kind, and pray for them.
I drink tons of water now, eat lots of fresh veggies and fruits. Most days I don’t eat flour, and I’m slowly feeling better.
I went off my injectable medication 8 weeks ago. The half-life of the med is such that at the ten week point I’ll see how I do. On the days I eat carbs, I feel some inflammation. Otherwise, not so much.

.

Thank you to this wonderful person who inspired me with your story. You know who you are.
I am eternally grateful. ~