I’ve figured something out about myself recently.  I have an “all-or-nothing” attitude.  And I’ve got it bad.

When I blog, for example, it’s all or nothing.  Either I blog everyday or I don’t blog ever.

I show loyalty towards brands and stores in the same fashion.  I’m very into Leapfrog and will trust (and want!) anything they throw my way.  I only shop at Old Navy.  I know I can get good sale prices there, use great coupons there, find great styles there, and I don’t need to try anything on before buying.

Either I cook everything from scratch or I give up and eat out entirely too much.

When we first switched to cloth diapers, woe to the person who suggested using a disposable for any reason.  (I’m better now.  Four years later.)

And when I eat.  When I eat?  I eat it ALL.

Especially sweets.  If there are any sweets in the house, I can come up with the best reasons on why I deserve to eat them.  Every five minutes.

To reward myself for some mundane task.  To compensate myself for some child-related frustration.  To soothe myself when my husband is working overtime.  To entertain myself when I can’t find anyone online to talk to.

I can’t find the line to draw when it comes to sweets.

And if I’m going to get into a swimsuit come April 2nd, when we arrive in HAWAII for Josh’s sister’s wedding, I’m going to need to find a line.

So, since “all” got me into the mess, I’m leaning on “nothing” to get me out.

That’s right, I’ve given up sweets.  I gave them up on January 1st and it’s been easier than I expected.

I passed out the remainder of the holiday treats I slaved over without partaking of any.  I helped a friend make cupcakes for her birthday party and I didn’t lick a single spoon.  I then went to that birthday party, picked out cupcakes for my children and Josh and delivered them completely intact.  I’ve watched Josh dish up Edy’s ice cream to the children more times in the past month than I care to count, but the most I ever had was yogurt.  And not the frozen kind.

And I think the biggest reason I’ve been successful thus far is pure stubbornness.  I told myself I wasn’t having any sweets ever.  Not one.  And like cloth diapers, I won’t let myself go back.  I know that having one piece of candy won’t hurt me, but it will destroy my will.

Also, I thought through the entire year before making the decision and envisioned what it would look like to live a year without sweets.  I mentally lived through every birthday that I would make a cake for, every holiday I would pass up pie at, and the wedding where I would avoid eye contact with a certain multi-tiered masterpiece.

I know it’s possible.  I’ve seen it done.  Josh’s youngest sister gave up sweets on New Years Day a few years back and after her year was up, she had defeated her sweet tooth to such an extent she has continued on to this day in that fashion.

So I’ll be sitting next to her at Melissa’s wedding, come April.  We’ll be the ones looking awesome in our dresses as the cake passes by us untouched.