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No good can come of this

Fancy sending this home with my kids. What a mean thing to do. Ok, I may have fist pumped and written “YES thank you” on twitter last night.

They’ll be gone in a week if they sit at my house.

The fights have already started. No good can come of this AT ALL.

We’ve already had one each (I may have had 2 shhhh…).

Its a viscious cycle…

Kids are whinging and crying for a chocolate and I give in saying “ok, eat the stupid chocolate – eat it all until you are sick!”

They eat the stupid chocolate, then they race around screaming and punching and fighting each other.

Our house resembled a wild bunch of untamed animals at the zoo last night. So much sugar and screaming.

I’ve been reading all the fuss about Quitting Sugar lately. I know deep down we, as a family, eat far too much of it. I know I do. I love lollies. In fact I think I am addicted to lollies. Yes, I know sugar is not good for me at all.

I don’t think I want my house to be ‘sugar free’, I’m not really interested in that. But I do think we could eat a lot less.

It’s like when you need to go on a diet, or quit smoking… you’ve got to want to do it. I’m almost there, but not quite. 😉

I quit alcohol last year. So I know I can quit stuff. I could rave on and on about the benefits I’ve found in giving up alcohol. Until you do these things, you have no idea what you’ve been missing out on (or putting yourself through)!

So, we’ll just finish this big $50 box of chocolates and then I’ll think about quitting sugar…

Have you quit sugar?

Next on the agenda today…

I’ve drawn the winner of the $100 voucher to spend at The Media Maid (my business). Thank you all for entering!

The winner is Anna!

Now don’t forget I am also giving away 70 tickets to The Block Live Show here.

Today I’m having photos taken to show my support for a new social media website about to be launched by Fairfax called Connect Pink – it’s an online community for women who live in regional areas. It’s big launch this Friday. The website is here and follow them on twitter here.

Have a great day!

43 comments

  • A-M

    Ha,ha,ha.. “we’ll just finish this big $50 box of chocolates”… ha,ha… any minute now! I love it. I quit alcohol 9 months ago, along with caffeine and have not missed it… have not missed the calories or the caffeine fix. I didn’t realise how dependent I was on caffeine. Now when I am tired, I am tired. I sleep so much better and the grog? Have. Not. Missed. It. … even socially. So I join your club. Great company. A-M xx PS I see you’re going to BlogHer!

    • Katrina (author)

      Going and can’t wait! We’ll organise our ‘tours’ soon! X

  • Kirsty

    Yep. Had one of those boxes in my house last week. Got all excited for the peppermint freddo’s till I realised they had swapped them out for pineapple ones! Ugh!!!!

    • Katrina (author)

      Pineapple ones? What a waste of chocolate!! HA!

  • Liz from Meals and More

    I have been sugar free for three weeks. A massive feat when I had three in every cup of coffee and gorged on cakes and desserts just about every day. I’m loving the new me but can’t get the other half and Mr15 to partake.

  • Nik

    So are you completely alcohol free? Not a drop? What about socially? I used to have a glass (or two) every night while cooking dinner but quit that habit about three years ago. I do drink socially though. I have given up coffee as well … I only have one rule … if I’m having a really good dessert then I allow myself a really good coffee … therefore I only have coffee about three times a year.

    • Katrina (author)

      Hi Nik, mostly I have not had a drop. I had 1 drink about a month ago on a Sunday arvo and I had 1 drink at The Logies. I have become the designated driver! I am happy to not drink socially and even happier with myself the next day! I still have a good time, dance and carry on when I’m out – just without the alcohol 🙂

  • Michelle Hayward

    Did you just say ‘Have you quit sugar!?’ Are you kidding me!??! Hell no! I’m addicted to that damn magic chocolate as I call it – that snap, crackle and pop stuff…that stupid cadbury creations chocolate – damn you cadbury! And fundraising chocolate, in fact ANY chocolate doesn’t end well in our house AT ALL! It’s a mosh pit of screaming hoards. My second eldest who no longer lives at home delights in photographing his shopping trolley every week, full of chocolate…I offered to bring some food around, since he didn’t seem to HAVE any! I’ve since learnt he removes the real food and just takes a pic of the junk! Disturbing! What have I done!??!

    • Katrina (author)

      Hahaha hilarious! I am laughing so much!

      • Michelle Hayward

        LOL! Glad I could make you laugh! :))) Well…if you think that’s funny, you should read my latest post! (I have linked back to you!) Love to share the love! xx

  • Kek

    Whilst cutting WAY down on sugar is a good thing, the whole “quitting sugar” movement is full of inaccuracies and inconsistencies. The recent spate of current affairs stories and blog posts just make me roll my eyes…

    I love my healthy food, but cake, chocolate and dessert are welcome treats in my house. The point is that a treat is not an everyday thing. Once or twice a week keeps me happy, much more tends to cause cravings and then I just want to eat it all the time. Blah.

    As for the fundraiser chocolates – I always sent them to work with my husband, to get the damn things out of my house and out of my (and the kids’) sight. Way too tempting.

    • Katrina (author)

      I know, I need to send these chocolates out of the house!

  • Penny

    Gosh what a huge box of chocolates, glad they are at your place!
    Enjoy the shoot today.
    Pen x

  • Karen

    I faced this dilemma a few months ago with my three and I came up with a strategy that’s working really well for us.

    First, I showed the kids how much sugar was in their food. We got out the cereal, some lollies, tomato sauce etc and the kitchen scales. I’d pour a serve of cereal and then spoon out the corresponding number of grams of sugar it contained. Cue the cartoonish dropping of little jaws and bulging of little eyes!

    After that, the kids and I came up with a system. We agreed that every week they’d aim for 3 ‘sometimes foods’ a week. We made up a little card for the pantry and they have a marker to keep track. The deal is they can have a ‘sometimes food’ any time they like, but when they get to 3 they have to wait until the next Monday before the marker is reset at zero.

    It means they’re watching what they’re eating without being fanatical about it, and they have a bit of control too. Hopefully it’s something that will pay off in the long run!

    • Cathy

      This sounds great Karen, although I don’t know if my three would have the self control to pull it off! How old are your kids?

      • Karen

        I have a 10yo daughter, and two sons 7 and 5.

        I wondered myself if they’d stick to it, and there are definitely moments where they lament their poor choices!

        But overall, we talk pretty frequently about what a healthy diet is all about (all things in moderation). We don’t talk about ‘good’ or ‘bad’ food but we do talk about food that helps us grow and food that just takes up room. So in that context, the kids are pretty content to manage the 3-per-week system. I do ease up for special occasions though, as the goal isn’t to be meticulously correct, but rather to make them mindful of what’s going in.

        Hope that helps!

        • Katrina (author)

          I’m so impressed with this Karen. Really, you do have the right approach. I have a lot to think about. Thanks for sharing this.

          • Karen

            Thanks, and my pleasure!

  • Cathy

    Lmao omg that could have been a scene out of my house on any given night…eat the stupid chocolate (I give in) and then fighting and screaming lol. Like you, I know we are all addicted to sugar but I’m not ready to give it up…

  • Rachael

    haha! we have just done the chocolate fundraiser and no good came from it in my castle either… sold none… ate all….:-(

  • Anne Dunstan

    I can solve you problem with the box of chocolates. Our first year of school my prep child come home on the bus (as usual) with an empty box of chocolates. I say where there chocolates in this box. “yes mum, I shared them with my friends on the bus” So I had to pay $50 for chocolates that we didn’t get to eat. The school forgot to tell my son that you had to pay/sell the chocolates. He was just being nice. The positive side to this was my waist line didn’t get any bigger and no fighting between the kids. I hate the fact that the schools send home chocolates when the rest of the year they really push healthy eating. Its a double standard!

  • Laney @ Crash Test Mummy

    I quit sugar in January and felt fantastic. It creeps in from time to time, but what I’ve realised is that I don’t always enjoy it and I hardly ever crave it which is nice. The best thing about getting it out of your system is the appetite control. I don’t really get that hungry between meals.
    As for schools sending home fundraising chocolate? I’ll be sending it back!

    • Katrina (author)

      I remember you were off sugar when we hung out. You’re still going strong! Good on you!

  • Anna

    Holy Moly! I’m pretty sure this is the first thing of significance I have ever won!

    Thanks so much Katrina – it’s much needed for our little (but precious) business. So generous of you and we can’t wait to get started. anna x

  • Sheryn

    we have the exact same box in our house currently and I have only had a few unlike my husband who has 2 or 3 a night, he actually gets stressed when my son tries to sell them to people (isn’t this the point?)Yep, hubby is a true alcoholic!! I too am cutting down on sugar and food with preservaties, noticed a big difference with the kids, nowhere near as many tantrums!!

    • Sheryn

      ummm, just read this again and it should say chocoholic, not alcoholic, he doesn’t even drink, oops 😉

      • Katrina (author)

        You know, I did wonder what you meant – I was a little stressed yesterday when I read this?! hahahahaha!!!!!

  • Anna

    I can’t wait for Connect Pink to launch, I think it is an amazing initiative, just went and followed them on twitter!

  • Rinniez

    If you think giving up alcohol changed your life you should definately consider giving up sugar!
    When you really make the decision to get serious about sugar you quickly realise it is in EVERYTHING! People think if they dont eat chocolate or cake they are avoiding sugar, but they dont think about whats in their sauce, bread or other household staples.
    I quit sugar earlier this year and while ive had moments of weakness ive mostly stuck to it. I no longer crave sugar and i eat much less. I feel full after i eat, I havent gotten even the slightest hint of a cold this winter, my skin looks great, ive lost weight, i have more energy and ive got my fingers crossed that ive lowered my cholesterol and blood pressure (getting both checked soon).
    At only 22 and living on campus at university, many people around me dont understand what i’m doing, but im staying strong and loving the benefits that a sugar free lifestyle is bringing me!
    🙂
    xx

    • Katrina (author)

      I’ve been thinking about you all arvo. Well done to you!

  • Rinniez

    I just read back through comments and noticed one about how it should be eatten in moderation and treats twice or three times a week. I disagree, as i said above there is already enough ‘moderate’ sugar in the non sweet foods we all eat. Also if you quit suagr (i only eat packaged foods with under 3g sugar per 100g), you will no longer get any sugar cravings – i know from experience.
    I know this isnt for everyone, but i think people need to do some research and educate themselves from a range of sources before they judge the idea.

  • littlemissairgap

    Fructose does not agree with me so I’ve given up a lot of that kind of sugar. I can no longer drink coke or other soft drinks. I don’t eat apples, dried fruit, a lot of honey and onion, of any kind, is the ultimate devil … you wouldn’t think onion has “sugar” in it, but it does. I’m going to try the “I Quit Sugar” ebook of Sarah Wilson’s https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Wilson/109005959162818
    She also has a cook book out too which I want to try. Maybe you can quit sugar with me? 😉

    • Katrina (author)

      Well that’s unfortunate. I see people are doing the quit sugar thing in groups. Good stuff. I’m still unsure…. hahaha! #weak

      • littlemissairgap

        Oh gosh! I don’t want to quit sugar fully (I love pastries, cakes, chocolate, etc) too much for that but I do want to try and substitute the sugar component in my cooking for “better sugars”. I still, once and awhile, crave that taste of an “icy cold can of coke” (can you tell I worked in a radio promo dept) on a hot summer’s day, but the after effects for me are not worth it. It’s now soda water or Krazy Lemon for me now.

  • le_third

    we are gluten free and sugar free and of course the kids and MIC are alcohol free too … I am one glass each Friday nite wine girl … so we are already an odd family 🙂 I save my sugar treats for coffee out … we don’t keep it in the house as like your kids our kids go nuts and the wee one also gets skin rashes.

    I am a much nicer person off sugar … I find that week with PMT the hardest and do often collapse with a secret chocolate during that week 🙂 but then I get back on and go again 🙂

    good luck with the big box – can’t you send them to work with Mr C for all the staff to buy … hee hee le xox

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