Slice of Life - Day 8

Today, I ate a double chocolate pizzookie that was freaking fabulous.  It was luxurious goodness in my mouth. A warm chocolate cookie topped with Ghirardelli chocolate ice cream. And the cookie was big! Probably 3-4 inches in diameter. Oh! It was wonderful.  Every bite was delicious and that includes the Ghirardelli chocolate square placed atop as embellishment.  

My husband says I have a "sweet mouth," and this isn't provocative slang. Anyone who knows me will agree, I do love my sugary treats.  So I shouldn't be surprised, after watching a Ted talk called "How sugar affects the brain" by Nicole Avena, to realize that I'm addicted to sweets.

In the five minute clip, Avena describes how the brain reacts to sugar.  Basically, the brain never tires of sugar just like it doesn't tire of drugs or alcohol. Once you start partaking, it is quite easy to "need" more.  Ugh. 

For years I have eaten sugar with virtually no inhibition. I do eat healthy foods as well. I love vegetables and fruit.  But a staple in my diet is sugar. 

A person once told me that once you stop eating sugar for a while, you no longer have the cravings for it.  Do I have the self-restraint, the discipline to avoid sugar long enough that I won't desire it after a meal?  I've bee addicted for so long! What if I'm like a heroin addict? After a healthy dinner, I'll break out in a cold sweat and start itching for a brownie. 

My health conscience has always known that my love of desserts is not just naughty but downright dangerous.  But my willpower has never been able to conquer my cravings. What will it take for me to get my addiction under control? For the well-being of my future, I might just have to go cold cookie.