We are DETOXING & Quitting Sugar!!!

[Gladiola]

Based on our very similar compulsion with sugar - VeggieLifterChick & I have teamed up as "Sponsors" of one another for a 6 Week detox! Special Thanks to Temple01 for helping me believe this is possible & a TOTAL detox is better than 1X per week 'cheat' dessert.

What we are committing to:
6 Weeks of NO processed sugar or sweets
Started yesterday, so we have till May 2.

Rules of the game:
~No excuses. Don't eat the crap.

~No binges. If you slip - get a hold of yourself ASAP - hell, SPIT IT OUT if you can make yourself. If you eat a sweet, NO saying, "May as well eat a ton more" NO - no binges.

~Cheat meals are accepted & encouraged on weekends - in the form of fats & 'bad' carbs that aren't sugar (pizza, beer, etc.)

~Alcohol is permitted!

~Natural sugars are fine as well - fruit & dairy/lactose - although I personally am trying to avoid them.

~Artificial sweetner is fine (But should be used sparingly)

Why I'm doing this:
Sugar has had this CONTROL & POWER over me for YEARS. I'm going to beat it for at least this 6 weeks & hopefully then after that time period I'll continue to be stronger than the sugar & only eat when I want, rather than feeling like I can't stop.

Reasons to stop the pattern of using junk as comfort when I'm stressed:
1. Eating junk just becomes ANOTHER stress in my life
2. What I eat should be something I have control over to keep stability in my life
3. Eating junk messes with my moods & takes away the energy & emotional strength/stability that I need to deal with stress
4. Makes existing stress harder to handle
5. Eating sweets causes me to not want to eat my protein & veggies: & we know what a massive detriment that is to my health, physique, & energy level.
6. Lots of sweets often gives me a headache, makes me not sleep well, & makes me sluggish.

 

[muskles]

ME 2!!!

i'm liking this commitment thread.. sign me up 2!!! i've already told my fiance that i'm detoxing, but now i can join the sugar detox club

i'm also going to try and avoid the natural sugars - figure it'll help absolve the craving even more.

i stocked up on low carb protein bars last night for when i get that URGE.

 

[KEL]

Good luck ladies!
It's a tough road (been there before) but you can do it!

 

[oicu812 - chargeback]

SUGAR is my biggest weakness!!!! I am trying to quit eating it, but it is SO hard!!! me and my boyfriend have started this low carb/high protein diet, but it is killing me!! i am totally addicted to sugar... good luck girls!!!!!!!

 

[muskles]

a tip ::

they have wintergreen mouth wash in the restrooms where i work, and i used some today. sweeties would be pretty gross after rinsing with that stuff.

oh, i also had a pickle with one of my meals thanks to temple's advice :: that helps, too

 

[Gladiola]

LOBO - HELP! If you lived through withdrawl, were you then able in the future to have some sweets on occasion without feeling addicted again (like a normal person)?

Muskles - THANKS!

Keep the tips coming!

 

[Temple]

Congratulation Girls!!!!! You can do this. And yes, at some point way down the road - I would say a few months you can test the waters and see how you do. Today I went with my girlfriends to get our faces sandblasted and I did a good bit of sugar. Tomorrow I will feel like hell and will know why and will easily go back to my clean diet.

I would use ALA while you detox - it seems to help and oatmeal as often as you want it.

 

[KEL]

If you haven't read this do it now!

white death

 

[new@gettinbig]

I used to eat candy like crazy..that was well over 2 1/2 yrs ago..now I can't tell you the last time I had stuff like that...your first few weeks are the worst..you will crave and feel like crap...your body is just wantin it..dont give in to it..keep busy..eat good clean food and drink lots of water..if you dont give in..it goes away in a few weeks...but dont fall for just a lil bite...it will turn into many other bites..and keep it out of your house..if it isnt there you wont eat it.....reward yourself in other ways..clothes..cds...whatever...GOODLUCK

We will be prepared as future posts shall reflect this end of sugar for you gals!!!!

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

Hey Muskles, I tried the pickle thing. Good suggestion!

Temple, why would you go with ALA? Just curious. I'm not too familiar with its benefits - all I really know is that it drops your blood sugar.

I've only been doing this 2 days now, and no cravings so far...of course, there's also no sugar in my house to crave. It's awesome to know that you all are so supportive, thank you for all of your encouragement and coping tips! It strengthens my resolve.

 

[Brishen]

All right, girls! I think this is a great idea. I did it about three years ago, myself. I eat sugar now, but not excessively. We'll see how it goes in the future. Be prepared for the withdrawals. You will probably be one bitchy mo'fo. The great part, however, is that after a few weeks, you don't even want to eat sugar. I know I didn't. I felt the healthiest I had been in a long time when I went off sugar. Just a word of caution, though: Deprivation breeds gluttony. Don't beat the lord lovin' Jesus outta yourselves if you do slip up. But do your best! The physical cravings will go away, but you will have to work hard on your mental cravings!

Hey, one interesting Q for you: Take note of your eye colour. Let us know if your iris becomes more clear and vibrant. This happened to me when I was detoxing - my eyes are generally a bizarre blue-grey-green-hazelish colour, but one time ("at band camp," she overused the cliche to collective groans) they cleared up so much they were almost back to blue!

Shit, now you're going to be one of those healthy, glow-y people. Gaaaaaaaaawd, I hate those corn-fed, freckled, wholesome types....

 

[Gladiola]

I set up a Yahoo Group!

I posted about this detox thing on my aerobics instructor bulletin board & got some members there interested as well. So to bring us all together I started a Yahoo Group. Those not familiar with Yahoo groups, you can either receive e-mails when anyone posts a message, or not get e-mails & then go visit the site just like any discussion forum.

Maybe some others can pair up with one "Sponsor" as VLC & I have.

Shoot me a PM if you're interested & I'll sent you an invite!

 

[NubianBeauty]

That was a great idea Gladi

 

[Hannibal]

Once you get off of it you can partake of a little something now and then. The thing is, it will be SOOOO sweet that you might not actully like it. I remember I let lose last year and ate like five donuts (I love donuts - and please no Homer!). Good lord, I couldn't keep out of the head for more than 20 min.

MMMMMMMMM...donuts

Seriously once you get used to things like Diet Pepsi...if you happen to get a regular pepsi it will taste like f/n syrup.

 

[SheHuLK]

I am also a sugar addict, trying to recover. I used to add sugar to everything, and eat tons and tons of chocolate (Godiva was my personal favorite ) It was such a vicious cycle, when I moved back home with my parents I was sad b/c I missed my friends so I ate chocolate to make me feel better, then I'd get depressed b/c I was eating chocolate and felt addicted, which would lead me to get upset and eat more this went on and on for a while. It was really bad I even had a 'chocolate stash' under my bed!! hershey's kisses, godiva bars, etc. Things have gotten much better in the past year. NOW, in recent times I have been trying to clean up my diet, for the past month or so I've been doing great, but sugar keeps calling my name. The temptation is still there. I haven't been eating any 'real' sugar (white powdery stuff), or any chocolates, candy, ice-cream, etc. Now I've gotta work on cutting down on fruits. Detox with a sponsor sounds like an awesome idea, it's a tough road but I'm sure we will make it!!!

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

SheHulk,
It's awesome that you're detoxing too! Just one question. Why give up fruits? Assuming that you're eating like one or two pieces a day and not 10, fruits are good for you and are generally low GI. I'm giving up the powdery white stuff, the candy, the chocolate, the syrups, the ice cream, the bread (though I will indulge in 12 grain bread now and then). I'm giving up the fake processed stuff basically. Congratulations for making it this far! I hope you'll join the yahoo group and find a sponsor, it does help. Good luck on your detoxing, I know you'll succeed.

 

[muskles]

how'd everyone do this weekend?

i had a carbo-lite chocolate almond bar and a couple protein bars throughout the weekend, but no sugar. it's wierd, i still felt guilty like i ate sugar when i ate those things... i guess because it's still processed, and i ate more cals than i should've.

now i'm back in my weekday mode, and i'm going to cut out the fake sweets, too, since they're really not doing anything for me. this week i'm concentrating on keeping my cals down and eating clean. my one triple threat chocolate shake after the workout or before bed will have to be my only indulgence.

 

[SheHuLK]

VLC... I don't want to give up fruit all together, just cut down a bit. eat more green leafy veggies, and good fat, even though IMO flax oil is just yucky I loooooooooove fruit, I was just having a little too much, too often, and neglecting other important stuff. I was eating like a bowl of fruit pretty much with every meal, and then some!! I'm not giving it up just eat it in moderation. Good luck with your detox too!! and everyone else who is fighting this sugary addiction. We will all beat it!!

 

[evilqueen]

for me, peanut butter is the devil. I can eat a half-jar in one sitting--and have. About a month ago, I started Xenadrine and just didn't buy the shit. I haven't had peanut butter in a month--I dassn't have it again.

For me, no eat = no crave = no binge.

 

[MS]

You are all very brave women. Giving up sugar is no easier than any other addiction IMHO. I many ways it's much tougher because, unlike alcohol, crack or cigs, sugar is not considered a socially unacceptable in any context, and it's constantly pushed on you via advertizing, family, friends etc...

Stay strong and be fit.

 

[Temple]

So, everyone - how's it going??????

 

[Ceebs]

Count me in on the sugar hate testimonials - when you haven't had any for a long time, then you have a sizable amount in one sitting, it truly has druglike effects. Your brain chemistry changes, and you say and do things you normally wouldn't. Unfortunately, unlike consuming hard drugs - a less socially acceptable "addiction" - you need to eat to live.

One caveat: watch your fructose consumption. I once read that your body only has enough phosfructokinase to convert ~50 grams of fructose a day to glucose, and anything other that limit is made into triglyceride. Even if this isn't true, keeping fruit minimal, and opting for lower-GI, fibrous fruits like berries and apricots is a better choice than high-GI fruits like mangoes and bananas, especially if part of your aim is to train your body not to crave "sweet".

Best of luck to everyone who's detoxing... you'll thank yourself for it in the long run.

 

[starfish]

Fruits!!! I love fruit. That will be hard. I love watermelon

 

[Gladiola]

So, everyone - how's it going??????

Tonight it'll be one week. So far tempted, & tempted numerous times by some of my absolute fav sweets. But have eaten NO refined sugar & minimal other treats (Had a few pretzels here & there, that's it).

I just thought of my 'sponsor' - VeggieLifterChick - I am thinking, "If she can do it, I can" & she's thinking that too - the group as well. It's not worth the guilt I'd feel for letting ppl down so I pass it up.

I had a frozen berry with a little fat free yogurt smoothie the other day & could not BELIEVE how sweet it was!

 

[Ceebs]

Aww, starfish - I'm sorry! You can still eat fruit, it was only a suggestion. The best diet is one you can stick to, not one that leaves you feeling deprived, and therefore more succeptable to falling off the wagon.

Hey, is there a smiley for falling off the wagon? If not, we need one.

 

[wonderstanding]

I must be wierd... I hate sugar... and I love flax seed oil...

my weakness is beer... I generally keep it down below a six pack a week...

but I HATE refined sugar... it's such a bunk substance... I don't really crave sweets at all... meal replacement shakes curb what little sweet tooth I do have... if I'm looking for a little energy boost, give me caffeine!! thick, oily black coffee... but sugar? that's just dirty...

I guess I'm lucky, but I hate the stuff... seeing people eat candy makes me almost naseous... same goes with sodas... I drink my whiskey over ice, but IF I have a whiskey and coke, it's usually 50/50 or better!

Forrest

 

[muskles]

So, everyone - how's it going??????

i had 2 protein bars last night, and am not going to buy any more of those now. i figure if i'm going to cut out the sweeties, i don't want to rely on ANY crutches.

my weakness is beer... I generally keep it down below a six pack a week...

i think i have that weakness, too but i only have one like every few weeks. a six pack 4 a six pec

 

[MS]

Hmmm, even though I don't usually crave sweets, when I DO get a sweet craving I find alcohol stops it dead in it's tracks. The down side of that is that I then crave salty, greasy foods Heck, what's a few beers or whiskeys without some salted peanuts, pretzels or potato chips?????

 

[wonderstanding]

I recently went two months with no refined sugar, no alcohol, and no caffeine... I've done it for over a year before, but man... there comes a point where you say "ok, look, I'm a man, not a machine!!!"

I have an addictive personality, so it's tough to find a "happy medium" on ANYTHING... it requires me to actually THINK about what I'm doing (which is fucking annoying! LOL!)

Forrest

 

[Gladiola]

Having read what you posted here on this thread:

but I HATE refined sugar... it's such a bunk substance... I don't really crave sweets at all
... seeing people eat candy makes me almost naseous

Do you have any idea how bad I want to


Oh man, how I would kill to feel that way sometimes.

Eh, I should count my blessings - I have NO problem passing up beer or any alcohol, fries & burgers, I don't even really like potato chips, I have coffee on occasion (but not addicted) - so I have it easy some ways I suppose.

 

[wonderstanding]

yeah, we all have our different vices...

my main three are: problems with authority figures with lower IQ's (I'm getting better at maintaining this one), alcohol (this helps with the first one sometimes! LOL! but I am a LOT better than I used to be... I used to drink to the point of passing out EVERY NIGHT... now I just have a beer here and there and I get tanked about once every 4-5 weeks), and adrenaline (mainly from cars... this one has probably caused more problems than the alcohol!!! (ok, not really, but it's a tough addiction to feed!)

I'm lucky that I can't stand sugar, but I LOVE pizza... I usually pass on the fries by concious effort... don't have cravings for them or anything, but I don't hate them the way I hate sugar... I get pretty hepped up on caffeine a couple times a week... not really big on chips unless I'm eating mexican and there's GOOD hot sauce!

I DO like good chocolate, but I like REALLY dark chocolate... so protein shakes, super-black coffee or Guiness take care of any chocolate cravings!

interesting topic... nothing but good luck wished your way on your quest!!! it really is an addiction... you'll find that your cravings subside... perhaps I just never got "re-addicted" after my year off...

it's like quitting anything... if you're quitting smoking and you "cheat" once a week when you go to the bars, you'll never lose the craving... but if you quit for 6 months or so, the smell of smoke will make you want to retch... it's like that for me with sugar now...

the ONLY times I have refined sugar these days are post workout (creatine and gatoraide or creatine and glucose) and the occasional DARK chocolate...

once again, GOOD LUCK! stick with it, you'll feel MUCH better!!!

I'll drink a beer for ya!

Forrest

 

[sheez_ripped]

I'm with ya gals...

prepping for a show and really being strict on diet...carb cycling...and no junk....no sugar....

but Splenda has been the answer for me...it's great on oatmeal with a little cinnamon....and I have cut out all meal replacements...but do get to use just protein powder....so add water, ice, a little Splenda and cinnamon and put in blender....and VOILA! my "milkshake" treat!

But, I feel soooo much better without the sugar, junk, process foods in my system....

 

[SteelWeaver]

it's like quitting anything... if you're quitting smoking and you "cheat" once a week when you go to the bars, you'll never lose the craving... but if you quit for 6 months or so, the smell of smoke will make you want to retch... it's like that for me with sugar now...

Tell me about it! I quit smoking just under a year ago, and ever since then (well, since before then) the smell of smoke near me makes me sick to my stomach - I'm a thousand times worse than my gf used to be when I smoked. Unfortunately, we're kind of in the Dark Ages here, and people are allowed to smoke in the office before 9, from 12-1 and after 5. One guy who sits right near me is a FUCKING chain-smoker - the bell hasn't even finished ringing at 12 and he's lit up ... Great, the pleasant waft of smoke whilst I eat my oatmeal pancake

At least when I used to smoke I was a considerate smoker ...

As for sugar - well, I wish you ladies (and men) good luck. Me, I don't care for sweet things WHEN I'M NOT ON DIET! I'm on diet now, so I know exactly how you feel, although I only give in to the cravings once a week, on carb-up day. Let's see, this Saturday I'm going to have crunchy granola cereal, jelly bellies, Graham crackers, pancakes with Hershey's choc syrup ...

Bwwaaahah ha ha haaaa

(sorry, that was mean, but maybe this'll harden you ...)

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

I've been "clean" this week, had a few chocolate pb protein bars when I needed em. But tonight, it really got tough. I am all stressed out from midterms and I was walking past Au Bon Pain and god I wanted an oatmeal raisin cookie and a hot chocolate with whipped cream on top soooooooooooooooooooo bad. Its kind of a comfort thing I guess. But I kept thinking of Gladiola, how I promised her I wouldn't cheat for 6 weeks. And I thought of how it has been a whole week already, only 5 more to go, so I don't wanna ruin it tonight. But I'm going to go to the cafe down the street a little later and I'm going to have to have something sweet. *Any suggestions as to what would be legal? Coffee type drinks?* I'd love a vanilla chai but I'm pretty sure that's very very sugar filled.

 

[VeggieLifterChick]

Thanks Spatts! I am going to try that. I have some chocolate protein powder and splenda at my dorm, though no sugar free hot chocolate powder. I'm sure itll taste good in coffee with some skim milk, or non dairy, whichever. Is there an advantage to non-dairy creamer over skim milk?

 

[Temple]

Oatmeal Treats
you may have to do this a few times to get it right, I experimented a long time ago with this and don't remember exactly what worked best and don't go crazy eating these either but they aren't half bad

2 c splenda
1/4c cocoa powder
5 scoops chocolate protein powder
Splenda - just a bit don't remember how much so improvise, you just want the splenda and cocoa to melt together
heat all this to bubbling in a sauce pan

in mixer
4c old fashioned oats
1/2 c natural peanut butter

Pour chocolate mixt over oats and peanut butter and mix well, drop spoonfuls onto wax paper and refrigerate.

That is the rough version - if anyone perfects it let me know

 

[Brishen]

So, everyone - how's it going??????

Err... not that I had committed to a militant no-sugar diet, but I am trying to choose more nutritious foods over sucrose-y quick-fixes. Let me just say this:

P is for peanut butter, which I ate in abundance, as it was inside the chocolate shell of my Reese peanut butter cups.
M is for Mike, the guy behind the counter at Husky who sold me both the Kit Kats....
S is for soda, which I drank way too much of, as it was somehow beyond me to refill the Brita with water and Pepsi was the only liquid in my roomate's fridge.

D'oh! :homersimpson: Would you believe I actually work at a nutrition store? Sheesh. The shame! The hypocrisy! The - hey, is that a Ferrero Rocher I spy behind the couch? Gottagobye!

 

[Brishen]

Don't you love it though, a few days after you start, when all that water goes away and you look like a million bucks despite your binge? Ah.....

Say what? OK, so how 'bout that no-sugar bandwagon?

 

[vixenbabe]

Hmmmmm.. suppose this means no white chocolate Easter Bunny on Sunday? (sorry, I been smelling my lil girl's Easter Bunny I have hidden in my desk drawer- I'm gonna cave in and bite the lil bastard's ears off yet)

I wish you much luck to your goal!!

 

[SheHuLK]

I'm glad to hear you girls are doing good. Me? I'm pretty proud of myself too!! I have had no real sugar (white powdery junk), No chocolate, no marshmellow peeps!! It's been tuff, this whole sugar detoxing thing, specially around Easter time. I swear those pink marshmellow peeps are haunting me. I was at Walmart the other day with my fiance (who is my sponsor) and when I glanced up, there was like a mountain of peeps, (ok so maybe not a mountain, but a BIG stacked display thingie)...all sorts of colors.. pink, yellow, purple.. bunnies and chicks... i could hear them calling my name!! but i was strong and resisted the temptation. No peeps for me! My fiance was really proud of me, and i was too Now when I have fruit, it tastes so sweet to me. My protein shakes taste really sweet now too, almost like a treat! I have had peanut butter, but only for the protein ofcourse Overall I'd say I've been good

 

[Torchy]

BEST OF LUCK, GIRLS. I GIVE YOU MY LOVE!!!

 

[Gladiola]

BUMP

Update - 2.5 weeks & still sugar free, although I've cheated plenty with tortilla chips & some bagels (whole grain or plain) but still no 'sweets'. Don't even really miss them unless they are under my nose literally (sitting out at the office) - otherwise no biggie. Maybe I'll just stay off forever.

The Yahoo group has grown to 21 members - I get e-mails every day of ppl wanting info. Plenty of ppl are MIA tho.

Great Article on Sugar Addiction from NY Times (I cut & pasted cuz you have to register to access it).

April 2, 2002
Sweet Taste of Kicking Sugar Habit

By HUBERT B. HERRING

"My name is Hubert, and I'm a sugar addict."

No meetings exist where I could stand up and say that, no local chapters of "Chocoholics Anonymous," but maybe there should be.

To call a dessert "addictive," in fact, is the highest compliment. Alcohol and drug addiction are starker threats, but with the dismayingly sharp rise in obesity and related maladies, sugar abuse is no joke.

Many people do fine with the occasional dessert or candy; for others moderation seems impossible. I know it is for me. Which is why, for the second time, I have kicked sugar entirely. This time I hope it sticks.

If I have a cookie, I want another, and another. If I taste a brownie, I'd hate to confess how many I've been known to devour. I've repeatedly gorged on sweets, only to have the bottom fall out of my energy, my body left feeling sick, poisoned.

Cut down, you say? Eat less sugar? For years, I tried. That's the nature of this beast. Whenever I had some sweet, I craved more — and usually gave in.

Then, years ago, I came across "Sugar Blues," in which William Dufty spells out his theory that sugar is a drug, not a food. He calls the sugar pick-me-up "mortgaged energy," because "more and more minerals are required from deep in the body in the attempt to rectify the imbalance" in your system.

It was the push I needed. I remember the moment well: I was reading the book on a plane and, after finishing the bland, boxy little dinner, took a bite of cake. I looked at the remaining cake, put my fork down, and said, That's it. I'm stopping. Cold turkey. And I did.

Oddly, I had no withdrawal symptoms. If I have half a chocolate bar and am told I can't have the other half, I'm in agony, but having none was remarkably simple. When, a few years later, I tackled a runaway coffee addiction, I went through days of excruciating headaches. But I had no such reaction to cutting all sugar.

With a few exceptions, like a piece of my wedding cake, I stuck by it for seven years. No desserts. No sweetened cereals. No foods with more than a trace of sugar. (You'd go crazy eliminating it all.) And I felt great, as if I'd emerged from a gooey, chocolate-coated haze.

I was, I guess, a bit obnoxious about it, ostentatiously turning down desserts at friends' houses and preaching my new religion. In my apartment, I kept a jar of sugar for guests who wanted to, as I smugly put it, "ruin" their coffee, but I labeled it "poison."

It was the healthiest period of my life. Among other things, within a few years I'd run five marathons.

So why did I fall from grace? That wedding cake — I couldn't refuse that — was the start. Then, on our honeymoon in France, there were desserts I just had to taste. But what really did it, I think, was the ordeal of being a first-time parent. I gradually succumbed — and soon I was back to my bad old ways.

The candy bars. The half box of chocolates at one sitting. The seconds, maybe thirds, on desserts. Never refusing an offer of a cookie or three. That sick, poisoned feeling, over and over.

I was ready again. I knew it. Then, on a hike a few months ago, a friend told me how she'd quit sugar recently, how much better she felt, and I said, "Yes, I wish I could do it again." The next day I did.

Again, it was remarkably easy, once I'd drawn that line on the table — not one that said, This cookie and no more. But one that said, None. Period. And, again, I quickly felt better, healthier, liberated. Within months, I'd dropped 10 pounds.

To steel my resolve, I read "Lick the Sugar Habit" by Dr. Nancy Appleton. And steel it did. Sugar is "more of a pharmaceutical drug than it is a nurturing food," she writes. "Your sugar cravings are a direct indication that sugar is at work destroying your body."

She gave voice to a lesson I knew was true for me: "One common characteristic of sugar addiction is that one taste . . . leads to a craving for more, the same way certain drugs create cravings."

I should note that many experts pooh-pooh the idea of sugar addiction. It is "hard to conceive of an `addiction' to a chemical that occurs naturally in all of us," said Dr. B. Timothy Walsh, professor of psychiatry at Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons. But a sweet taste is certainly "rewarding," he said, and "the brain circuits that are involved in the recognition of reward are the same ones (or at least overlap with the ones) that are involved in addiction."

But I know how I react to sugar.

My addiction, before and after, offers some comic snapshots. Before: I hid chocolate chips around the house, in case of emergency. After: Sitting on a peak in the Adirondacks, after a climb that certainly earned me a treat, I carefully removed the few chocolate chips from the trail mix.

 

[Shak]

NO SUGAR

Congrats everyone on your accomplishments!!
I've been sugar free for 1 week and 1 day. April 2 was my birthday, so I allowed myself to pig out on Easter candy and birthday cake (German Chocolate - my favorite!). But the next day, I swore that I would not touch another sweet for the rest of the month!!!
My family hasn't been so supportive. I went to dinner at my parent's house last weekend and my mom brought out a tray of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I sat and watched my family devour the cookies and make the usual "Yum, these are sooo good" comments. It sucked, but I made it through! Stay with it everyone!!!!