Last week I got a bit of unpleasant news about someone I care about deeply. When I thought about the news, I reached for my drug of choice: something sweet.
In the last year I have limited eating ice cream to Sundays only. I was proud of myself for sticking to my schedule. However, when I became upset, I had eaten ice cream and a few other sweet treats. When I was eating them, I knew it was too much sugar. I felt guilty but not guilty enough to stop forging ahead. I wish I had stopped. Later that night I started feeling a bit jittery. The next morning, I woke up early and felt “off.” I pulled out my blood pressure monitor to check my blood pressure. It was fine. However, as the day wore on, I began to crash. I got a headache and felt sick to my stomach. I knew it was the sugar.
When I shared what I had done with Teresa, I told her I am not sure how long it will take for me to not make the same unwise choices when I am upset, only to have to endure the same wretched consequences.
About four years ago I learned I developed an intolerance for shellfish. The misery I endured after eating shrimp, lobster, crab was too much for me. Once I discovered the source of my physical distress, I immediately stopped eating shellfish. When I remember what happens after I eat shellfish, I determine that the excruciating pain that I get from eating it far outweighs any potential pleasure I may get from eating it. I don’t care if everyone around me is eating shellfish I know I can’t partake and I have made peace with that reality. For my sake I hope I soon get this resolve with sugar. It took the remainder of the day for me to recover.
