Lenten fast

I've decided to give up sugar this year for Lent. Well, that's not exactly how it went. It went something like this:

"What should I give up for Lent?"

Sugar. Duh.

"What else could I give up for Lent? What could be a real sacrifice that would bring me closer to God and make me a better person? Television? Facebook? Ironing?"

...

"So...Sugar, huh?"

Yup.

"Dammit."

I've given up "desserts" before - a nebulous description that pretty much meant I could have candy or treats during the day, but not as the finisher to a meal. (I wasn't trying to give myself a loophole, but to break a very specific habit I developed in the dining hall of always expecting something sweet to finish a meal.) But "sugar" can be nebulous as well, and I want to be smart about it, so here are my personal (not prescriptive) guidelines:

1. No obviously sugary things (cake, ice cream, etc.). Duh.
2. No artificial sweeteners (excepting diet soda - yes, I know, aspartame will kill me blah blah)
3. No "fake-out" desserts where they just replace the sugar with banana and sweet potato. These will just make me want real brownies more, both during the fast and after it's over.
4. Honey and Date Syrup can be used sparingly (to sweeten coffee, etc.) but no baklava, etc. (see #1) Anything I cook that I usually add sugar to (cornbread, spaghetti sauce, etc) must be cooked with only half the usual amount, if I can't eliminate it entirely (optimal).
5. Sugar is in everything, and I don't have the time or inclination to make everything from scratch. If I am shopping for bread and there is one bread with sugar and one without, I must choose the one without. Even if it costs more. If there are no options without sugar, I can choose to buy it or do without.
6. When I am a guest, non-sugary foods pass without close examination of packaging. Desserts are still off-limits, though.
7. My mind is already reeling with all the "allowed" sweet things - pitted dates dipped in unsweetened chocolate, for example. I can only have one of these treats a day. Even though they're technically legal, eating seven of them will not help curb my sugar addiction.

I'm posting a few days early, so hopefully my loyal readership can help me point out any additional loopholes in the rules. I don't like to get legalistic about it, but I like to figure out the loopholes in advance so that I can make decisions based on what I actually think is right, not what I feel like doing at the time. I know myself, and myself won't last a day without trying to bend the rules a little.

Jonny is being really nice and volunteered not to eat any sugar in front of me for the whole season. I'm helping him with his fast a little too, in return. I'm not sure I could do it if he chowed down on ice cream every night!

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some sugar cookies to frost...

Love,

Katie