Saturday, February 6, 2010

Sugar makes the world go round

I found out why I have a hard time getting up in the morning. I know part of it is that I stay up too late, but when I go to bed earlier I am often as slow as before. So this could be another reason:

I eat too much sugar before bed. Over the years I've tried skipping that gigantic bowl of ice cream after dinner. But I get the biggest craving for it. We always got the kids when they were little to change into their pajamas by offering them a snack after they changed. It was their "jammie snack."

Years later, I figure I crave it because I need it. I was talking to a doctor recently who said she thought evening eating was just a habit. She's switched to graham crackers and milk.

I go through sugary phases. Lately it's chocolate ice cream or its various forms, such as Ben and Jerry's chocolate brownie sundae.

Of course there is a line of thinking that you shouldn't have any sugar at all, especially when cancer is involved.

I read a little piece in the March issue of "Runner's World" saying the culprit is too many carbohyrdrates in your last meal at night.

"If you skipped dinner or ate fast-digesting foods like rice, bread or sugar desserts, your glycogen levels will be depleted, making it even harder to muster the energy to get up.

"Prep for an early-morning run the night before. Eat slow-digesting carbs like broccoli, beans and lentils," the unnamed columnist writes. Set your coffee-maker to brew before you wake (you need to get as much sleep as possible). Also turn off your computer and TV at least 30 minutes before bed.

I told Katie we were having broccoli and lentils for dessert. (The other possibility is to skip dessert. Ouch!) I went to the store seeking lentils.

I couldn't find them, so I bought a bag of Oreos.

10 comments:

Julie in Boston said...

So glad you are doing well. I am just a blog friend--we have never met--but I have been rooting for you for more than a year now. (you are such a great writer that you drew me in for keeps).

I just wanted to note that if you are still taking prednisone, that could be why you are craving sugar--and everything else under the sun. My daughter had to be on prednisone, and was always hungry--and moody.

Naqvee said...

HI there.. this is something similar to me.. as I also crave for sweeter things just before going to bed, i left eating chewing gums, because once my filling got stuck in the gum and was out of my teeth and then outta my mouth.. but I started taking ice creams after this... so to freeze everything that could possibly come out of mouth... lol :D

well, i learnt, that eating anything sweeter is as harmful as eating something very fried and heavy. just b4 going to bed.. otherwise also because im one who has hypo thyroid and weight gain as one of the results...so I prefer staying away from all these but i succumb to the pleasure of sweetness and give myself a rest from restricted diet once in a week !.

Love Naqvee

Ann said...

You are a woman after my own heart.
P.S. The lentils are all in my pantry, collecting dust.

Susan C said...

A bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream with a side of Oreos is my favorite "jammie snack."

PJ said...

Ronni, come to my house for a hot fudge sundae anytime. I'm partial to coffee ice cream flavors, heaped with hot fudge, whipped cream and peanuts. I just made myself hungry.

Ronni Gordon said...

Seems like many of us feel the same way. Ah, good old comfort food! PJ, I probably really could come to your house. It would be a do-able day trip. We could sit around and have dessert and admire our matching sneakers.

PJ said...

Ronni, let's do it. Maybe next time you're at DF you could drive here for dinner and stay over. I'll get plenty of goodies. As for lentils, I found half a bag you can have.

pamela perkins said...

How Sweet it is! Sugar Pie Honey...

Runder-Woman, lentils and broccoli for dessert? no way! You of all people know what your body needs, craves, and your psyche...

your piece just brought back powerful long-ago memories: eating Schraft's Vanilla Fudge -- did you like Schraft's, blue and white carton, also ice cream shop on third avenue and forty-something,...replete with blue-haired ladies with pink and blue-haired poodles!
ever the dogger, xop

Jonny said...

Matt's dad during WWII aboard the USS Savannah was appointed "morale officer" for a week. The sailors were griping about only having vanilla ice cream for desert. So one day he added a new "red colored" ice cream. When the crew nearly mutinied, he told them that it was "ketchup ice cream". They stopped complaining about vanilla after that.

Broccoli would work just as well, though. Nice green tint to your evening snack...add some "lentil sprinkles" -- might cut down the quantity of late night intake.

You could start a new line next to the Ben & Jerry's in the health food section: "Ronni's Yuck Cream": 'The More You Eat, The Less You Want!'

Good Luck...sleep tight. Jonny

Nelle said...

Have you thought about the caffeine in the chocolate? Rob used to have trouble sleeping and he switched to vanilla ice cream and is doing so much better. I have a cup of chamomile tea and I can have a small sugary something with that. They also make low sugar ice cream. In the hospital they do give graham crackers and milk as the evening snack.