I don’t know about you guys, but January was both the LONGEST month ever but also the shortest last few weeks. Does that even make sense?

I found this sugar free January to be 15x easier than 2019’s challenge. There are a few factors that I think played a role in the ease of 2020.

1. I was SO freaking busy
2. I got rid of ALL the sweets in our house, gave them to family or put them in the freezer (my true go to)
3. The honey that I baked with was really satisfying
4. My Sugar-Free Chocolate chip cookies
5. I am really happy this year!

A few weeks ago, I announced on my instagram that I started graduate school. I wish I could say I have the luxury of going back to school full time, but alas Drew and I have jobs, and I run a business so we are going to school full time online. Between taking care of our amazing puppy (she will forever be my puppy although she is 4.5 years old), my full time job, my pretty much full time business that I run and school, we don’t have time to mindlessly snack during the day or night. Which has helped a lot.

When I say I got rid of all our sweets, I really did. All Christmas cookies and treats that were gifted to us or I made either made a cozy life in the freezer or my parents got them (yay for them living close)! This is my go to trick an honestly a question I get asked a ton on Instagram. I really love an active lifestyle. I love to walk my dog, workout and keep myself moving. I blame this on 18 years of ballet and 12 of those dancing 6-7 days a week. I literally can’t sit still. I am also a recipe developer for my job so I eat a lot of sweets. But I don’t eat slices on slices, I truly believe in balance and not over doing the sugar. When I am working on a recipe for my company or a client, I have to taste it. It is truly the job. BUT, I don’t need the whole cake. If the recipe turns out, I test and test and test. Those tasty tests either go to friends or right into my freezer for a later date to thaw. I have a process I shared over on this recipe on how I prep my cakes ahead of time and also keep them fresh.

The honey! Guys! This honey is unreal. It is sweet, but fresh and so light on the tongue that I really find it satisfying drizzled over frozen berries or on some biscuits! GO buy it and go try it!

My sugar-free chocolate chip cookies that are gluten-free and vegan. Go try them now. That is all I am saying. They are low carb, high fiber (so low net carbs) and just so freaking satisfying!

And lastly, I am really freaking happy. A lot happened in 2019, go read about it here, and I am just happy to be near family. Happy in the way my life has turned out, and happy in how I have been able to achieve my goals. I am really proud of my life and how I have moved the needle for work and my life. Those are the little things that really make the whole picture of happiness glow!

The big step for me is how do I move forward keeping all these amazing learnings from January? Well, balance. That is how I like to do it. The challenge, like I mentioned in this post, isn’t about a diet or restrictive eating, it is about getting down the core on what makes me feel better about my eating and allowing myself to truly savor the meals, the food and the sweets that I make. Changing your mind and your tastebuds after the gluttony that falls in the holidays.