Sunset Eat Fresh Day 3: Let’s talk about last night

Alternate titles: Wake me up when it’s Friday. Does dark chocolate really count? Whose idea was this? 

Who: Joanna Linberg, home editorI’m giving up: Alcohol, red meat, refined and natural sugars, caffeineMy biggest challenge today: Faltering willpower. Low energy. A shattering realization of how messed up my relationship with sugar is.My biggest temptation to cheat: Yesterday felt easy. I went home, roasted broccoli and salmon for dinner, and then it started. I couldn’t stay settled on the couch. I did some drive-by browsing of the refrigerator. I ate a few pickles. I got a glass of water. Something didn’t feel right. Then I realized: Dinner didn’t feel over to me because I hadn’t had something sweet. Once I realized that, it was worse. At one point I gripped my husband’s arm and cried, “Chocolate! My kingdom for some chocolate!”Coping mechanisms: I went to bed early.I feel: Kind of surprised by how distracted I felt without dessert and hoping tonight isn’t so bad. I have no game plan if it is.

Is it any surprise I’m already planning some post-challenge weekend baking? The chocolate cookies pictured above are topping my list. (photo: Peden & Munk)