Sweet sweet success!

 The first of May I committed to giving up sugar (cookies, candy, cake, pie, ice cream, and the like) for 30 days. Last night at 10:00 p.m. that goal was accomplished. Big deal? Maybe not, but I learned a few things along the way that relate to making other kinds of changes. Changes that many of us struggle with as we try to create new and better habits.

It was a very small change. I know that sugar is hidden in a lot of things and I didn't start reading every label to make certain no sugar of any kind was in the ingredients. I cut out the obvious stuff like what is mentioned above. Also, no stealing bowls of my son's Lucky Charms. Though they are not technically a dessert, calling them anything other than a "sweet" would be pushing it. So it was a manageable change, not something that was going to require massive amounts of new behavior. If you have a new habit you want to create, start very small.

I had good substitutes readily available. I ate more than my fair share of grapes, apples, oranges, and berries -- all natural alternatives to sweets. When temptation hits have a plan for how you are going to address it. In this case I just needed to grab for an alternative sweet. If you are trying to eat more vegetables, have prepared ones ready. If you are trying to stop procrastinating, have one small task you can complete quickly to get yourself in motion.

I had good people around me when I started to weaken. On two occasions I almost caved but one time I had a friend, Terry Honeyball, to talk me out of that unbelievably delicious-looking piece of cake and another time my brother Kevin coached me through a rough spot. It's really important to have people around who will help you when your own resolve starts to wane.

People who tempted me earned my contempt (at least in the short term). When people said "this doesn't really count as a sweet" or "I won't tell anyone you had this one bite" it made me realize that tempting me was more about them than me. If I failed at it, perhaps they could feel better about their own doubts about themselves. So I'm rather joking when I say they earned my contempt, but it did strengthen my resolve. Do not listen to the people who say you'll fail or follow those who want to put you on that path.

The goal had an end. 30 days was difficult but do-able. Sure it was all or nothing but it was only for 30 days. Starting out telling yourself you are making a change "forever" is so daunting. Even saying you'll make the change for a year is overwhelming. Look at how many New Years Resolutions fail! Small steps will get you where you want to be.

Focus.  On one occasion I literally had to tell myself every few minutes to "avoid the ice cream for just the next minute." It looked so good!! Focusing on the goal, (I was 10 days into it at the time and didn't want to start over) made the difference. Get quiet and focus. Clear your head and focus. Breathe and focus.

30 days is enough time for something to become a habit. Even though I plan to eat sweets again, I doubt I'll go back to the mindless munching that prompted this effort in the first place. My brain is different and therefore my habit is different.

Whatever it is you want to accomplish, you can do it. When I look back, it doesn't seem like it was such a long time. The time went by and soon the goal was met. The next 30 days is going to fly by whether you choose to spend it changing a habit or not. But how cool would it be if you could share your success story on July 1st?!