About what, you ask? The amount of sugar in the food we eat.

At the urging of my aunt Philisia, I was invited to watch the trailer for Fed Up, a new documentary which exposes sugar as a factor for the obesity crisis in America. The information is eye-opening.

Now, nearly 20 family members and I are embarking on the #FedUpChallenge, a 10 day sugar-free fast. We’re checking labels for and avoiding products with added sugar (there are 56 words used for labeling sugar!), sharing daily menus and keeping each other encouraged in an effort to lessen the amount of sugar in our diets. Hey – we’re sweet enough already! But more beyond that, what we put IN our bodies is more important than what we put ON them.

It’s not easy, but this is a test of mind over matter…and I’m committed to making better choices for my health. I will share Day 1 and Day 10 observations in case you’re interested in trying the challenge yourself.

Yesterday was Day 1 for me, and I really should have emptied my pantry, fridge and freezer before beginning. EVERYTHING has sugar in it, and the sodas I thrive on seem to be taunting me! But I soldiered on, having spiced coffee at breakfast and a huge Greek salad from Zoe’s Kitchen for lunch. I did use Zoe’s Dressing (no sugar! Awesome!). At dinnertime I began fantasizing about chocolate cake and M&Ms but had barbecued chicken (no sauce), half of a baked sweet potato and tomato and cucumber salad with a splash of vinegar instead. I drank a glass of 100% cranberry juice and went to bed. (And no visions of sugar plums danced in my head.)

I will admit that along with extreme sugar cravings, I’ve had extreme headaches which I’m attributing to not drinking sodas (one of the biggest sources of sugar consumption for me). After I read that the FDA advises 6 teaspoons of sugar (about 24 grams) a day for women – but bottled sodas can have 65 grams, and I was drinking more than a bottle a day! – I tried SmartWater instead. I’m not a water drinker, but maybe this challenge will change that. I’ll also be using these tips for the rest of the challenge, and I’m hoping I don’t cave in! I miss biscuits and honey! 😦