A Personal Update (My Year of No Sugar, Weight Loss, Castor Oil, Etc.)
Last year, I shared quite a few personal updates throughout the year, but while I was very good at posting monthly updates during the first part of the year, I kind of slacked off during the second half of the year. So for those of you who have been asking for updates, let me get you caught up.
A Year Without Sugar? Almost!
As most of you know, I made a personal resolution at the beginning of 2024 to go a whole year without eating sugar with the exception of six free days. So how did I do?
Well, I did better than I thought I would, but not as good as I wanted to do. The fact is that I did great for most of the year, and I came so close to accomplishing my goal. But for some reason, when December rolled around, all bets were off.
You may have noticed in pictures of our living room and my studio that I keep Starbursts around. I love having sweet treats for guests (and they do enjoy them, which I love to see!), and I love Starbursts particularly because they’re pretty and colorful in the bowl. I keep a bowl on the coffee table in the living room…
And I keep a bowl on the corner of my desk in the studio…
For most of the year, I was able to walk right by the bowl without any temptation at all. In my mind, they were more of a colorful little decoration than a treat for me to enjoy. So I had all kinds of self-control for eleven months.
But for some reason, once December hit, all bets were off. It started off with me allowing one or two Starbursts a day, thinking to myself, “It’s fine! I have self-control now!” Then that increased to five a day. The next thing I knew, I was grabbing Starbursts every time I’d walk past the bowl. And before I knew it, I had plowed through half of a three-pound bag of Starbursts all by myself in a matter of about 2.5 weeks.
I don’t know why I started doing that. I went the whole year with Starbursts in the candy bowl, and I never touched them. They were for guests only. But December brought the “it’s the holidays” mindset, and I let my guard down. And then a few days before Christmas, that “it’s the holidays” mindset that I used to justify the Starbursts consumption also told me that it was okay to indulge in other sweets. So I completely blew it in December. I made it eleven months, and lost all control during the last month.
It’s fine, though. I’m still very proud of myself. At least I made it for eleven months, and I learned that I really could have a whole lot of self-control and determination when it comes to sugar. Before last year, I felt helpless and out of control when it came to sugar. I felt like it was an impossibility for me to say no to dessert when it was available, or to pass up sweet treats in the checkout line at the grocery store. But saying no to those things for eleven months made me realize that I really am in control. And I can say that since Christmas, I’ve regained most of that control back. I did have a few bits of carrot cake that my brother bought and shared with us during lunch on Wednesday, but for the most part, I’m back to saying no to sugary treats.
I won’t be making the same resolution for 2025, but I do plan to keep the sweet treats to a minimum this year, and I feel like my very strict 2024 has shown me that I can continue on without much sugar in my diet without feeling like I’m missing out. But this year, I won’t try to limit myself to only six “cheat” days for the whole year. I’ll allow myself to have the cake on birthdays and special occasions, while aiming to keep my normal daily diet sugar-free.
I feel like I can and will do that going forward. About ten years ago, my New Year’s resolution was to give up Dr. Pepper for a year. I went from drinking only Dr. Pepper all day every day to having none for almost an entire year. But I never went back to that Dr. Pepper habit. Ever since then, I’ll have the occasional small Dr. Pepper, but it’s not really part of my life anymore. And all it took was that one year of strict no-Dr. Pepper to break me of that habit. I plan to have that same result from my almost-year of no sugar.
My Weight Loss Progress
I ended the year 20 pounds down from where I started on January 1, 2024, and 30 pounds down from where I was in the summer of 2023. And just like my no sugar resolution, I’m both proud of myself, and a little disappointed in myself.
A twenty-pound loss (or a thirty-pound loss since mid-2023) is something to be proud of. At the same time, I feel like I could have done so much better had I really stuck with an exercise program. I stopped doing my kettle bell workouts at some point during the summer. And then once I packed up our home gym to have the floor and subfloor replaced, and all of our gym equipment got stashed in the corner of the sunroom, I seriously don’t think I worked out a single time for the rest of the year. I didn’t even so much as go for a walk or pick up a kettle bell.
So while I started off the year strong with my workouts, that only lasted about six months. Had I stuck with that, I feel like I could have made a whole lot more progress on my health goals during 2024. I am proud of my progress, but I’m also a little disappointed that I didn’t stay committed.
But I’m not going to get too down on myself for it. Twenty pounds for the year (and 30 pounds in the last 18 months) is still great progress. I still have a long way to go (about 70 more pounds) to meet my ultimate weight loss and health goals, but the beginning of a new year is a great time to get refocused and make a renewed plan.
To reach that goal, I do need to find a place to set up my little treadmill, and I need to dig my kettle bells out of the corner of the sunroom and place them in an area where I’ll see them and use them every day.
Castor Oil Update
Last year, I started having serious trouble with my skin. Not only was I dealing with dry, itchy, discolored patches of skin on my face and neck, but I was also noticing that my skin (especially around my eyes) just looked so old and wrinkled. I started using castor oil on my face every night before bed, and it made a huge difference!
But then my bonus sister started making a castor oil/tallow balm and asked us to try it out. Once I tried it, I stuck with it and never went back to the plain castor oil. So now, I use her castor oil/tallow balm every day on my face and neck, and I find it works beautifully underneath my makeup.
But when I started having issues around my chin area that the castor oil/tallow balm wasn’t helping, so I went in search of something to help those areas, and that’s when I came across this Rescue Balm. It has done a wonderful job at helping to soothe those problem areas (again, it was dry, itchy, rough patches), and it’s also incredibly moisturizing. So now my routine is to use the Repair Balm on my face and neck at night while I sleep, and then I use the castor oil/tallow balm during the day.
I’ve noticed a huge difference in my skin with this new routine. At the beginning of the year, I was so discouraged with the dry, wrinkled skin that I was seeing on my face. I know that wrinkles come with age, but I plan to fight them until the day I die. 😀 My new routine has made a huge difference, and I’m still seeing those fine lines and wrinkles minimized with these products. Here is a picture I took just this morning, right out of bed. No makeup, no filters, no retouching, no editing.
So again, here’s me in January of 2024 compared to this morning.
Side note: Please ignore my lips. That’s my new problem area. I used a new-to-me product (that lip stain that goes on bright blue or purple and then wipes off to reveal a beautiful, long-lasting color) that I had an allergic reaction to, and my lips have been swollen, painful, and peeling for the last couple of months. They’re finally feeling normal again, but they look like a complete mess.
I do still use castor oil straight out of the bottle when I use my castor oil pack on aches and pains. Castor oil is magic in a bottle, and I’ll always keep some around. I’m just no longer using it straight out of the bottle on my face because I love the mixture of the castor oil with the tallow for my face.
I think those are all of the updates y’all asked for, but if I missed something, let me know! I’m looking forward to continuing my health and weight loss journey this year, and I’ll keep y’all updated along the way.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Sounds like great progress to me! I guess it is all about the “little changes” that we make – in either a positive or negative direction. Yours have been positive… mine? Meh, not so much 😉
I am starting no sugar today! You did so great, I am worried about withdrawal! 30 lbs is so great, that 1/2 a week and that is the way to take it off to keep if off forever!
Also, your skin! So fabulous!
Love to see your life and thanks for the update!
You look amazing, as usual. I was never one for the sweets, so giving up sugar has been pretty easy for me, now if donuts were filled with sausage and cheese, let’s just say I’d have a problem. I think you are doing great, and the whole thing is about progress, not perfection. We are all allowed to fall off the wagon at the holidays, I made some very wholesome treats that were sugar free and gluten free, and according to my husband, taste free for the holidays and they were still here afterwards, although the chickens thought they were amazing. You’ve done an amazing job, keep up the good work and nothing happens overnight in the health department. Slow and steady wins the race. Get a few chickens, and chase them around every day, it is literally impossible for a human to catch a chicken, this I know well. But you’ll feel like you ran a marathon when you get back into the house.
I grew up in Colorado and have been using Carmex on my lips since it was in a little milk glass jar with a metal lid, that’s a long time ago. I use it every day, all day long, and for 58, almost 59 years of age, my lips look good for being an outdoor girl. Keep going, we’re all here with you on your journey.
Cheers!
Lori Ann…you made me laugh out loud with the Chicken comments…they probably thought it was an amazing new kind of chicken food! 🤣 And chasing chickens…I would love to try, and to hold them! Thank you for making my day…good luck for 2025 for your journey too. I hope by December 2025 we can all brag about our progress!!! 💜
Wow, before and after castor oil took 10 years off your face. I was doing it every night and it had started to make a difference but somehow I let it slide. I will definitely go back to it now. You look awesome.
Thanks for the update, Kristy, I’ve been looking forward to it!
Great job overall and your face and skin look amazing!
Best wishes for the new year.
You have so much willpower. Your face looked so much tighter than from a year ago. Keep at it. If you lost 70 lbs there would be no you. Don’t go overboard.
When you used the oil right out of the bottle which brand/kind did you use? I want to try this out, you look great. I always enjoy your blog. I have followed you for well over 14 years and tried new things because of you. I am even in building trades school because why not?
I, too, would like to know which brand of castor oil. I dont have extreme dry skin, so I may be able to just use the castor oil…but will def check out the other products too!!!
This is the one I use: https://a.co/d/2ZfjKQj
This is the one I use: https://a.co/d/2ZfjKQj
I absolutely refuse to make resolutions, because I know I will fail! The only things I have been able to EVER give up were Pepsi and smoking! Gave up Pepsi due to gall bladder issues, and when I tried to drink one about 6 mos. later, I found it so sweet even this sweet lover couldn’t stand it! Haven’t had one since 1990! And gave up a 50 year habit of smoking in 2019 when I had a heart attack. I always told my doctor if he would put me in the hospital for 2 days, I could quit. Well, I put myself in there, and I did it! Not saying it wasn’t the hardest thing I ever did, but recalling the whole heart attack and recovery, plus how much money I was now accumulating by not buying cigarettes was my motivation!!! I’m not making a resolution, but am hoping that this year I will push myself to regain muscle mass that I have lost. Having two serious injuries since August has shown me that my age is quickly taking away needed muscles to move adequately through the day. You have done some serious work on better health, and even though you have detoured a bit, you got back on track and and didn’t lose your focus! Good job, and you look great! (I bought the castor oil, but it was so gooey and sticky and smelly, I never did it again!)
Wow! What a difference! Some of that may have been the benefit of your skin and the lack of sugar all year, too. Sugar is so aging. That’s something I need to work on. I had a note on my counter at home to “Bring candy” to work with me today :/ I’ve marked the Tallow Balm and the Rescue Balm. I have the same issues. I think it’s eczema, but it really bugs me when it’s around my eyes (I look like someone has punched me in the eyes from the brown-ish dry patches under them). It picks such weird places to show up and it’s always on my face! Except the time it was on my upper back. I think you get lots of workout that you don’t realize you’re getting with all of the moving of flooring materials and equipment and pulling up of boards, etc. That all counts. The extra is just the icing. 2024 brought some health issues for my husband, too, and he’s requiring much more care than before. I can empathize with you better about your caregiving role with your husband now (I have a daughter with MS, but she’s handling it well with diet and exercise and just refused to try any more of the medications that always caused relapses. But it’s very different in men than in women). Happy New Year and looking forward to seeing your progress – personal and design-wise – through 2025.
Kristi, the sugar thing is so humbling. I cannot even have decorative bowls of it around. To control it I try to buy just one or two pieces so I can have only that. You can find Russell Stover single pieces at Publix sometimes or buy just a tiny bag at the bulk candy at Fresh Market. At a fancy restaurant I’m just going to have the dessert I want, it’s only a couple times a year. And of course someone’s homemade creation. I try to keep it to that. Amazing that you had 11 months, I have never done that! Don’t sweat December!
Join the sugar club. I’m addicted to it, I know that but with Thanksgiving and Christmas baking and all the treats, carbs and me not drinking my water,I gained 12 lbs. Really… how does one do that? Me I guess. Anyway on the 27th I went back to my no sugar, low carb and water and lost 7 lbs the first week. I know most of that is water weight but it feels so good to feel good again and be back in control. You’ve got this and I’ve got this!
Thank you for the update, I can also vouch for the Thunderbird rescue balm. It was the only thing that solved a massive eczema flair up for me that even the steroids wasn’t touching.
Way to go getting back ‘on the horse’ I think think that is a huge thing. Just because we ‘fell off the horse’ we shouldnt beat ourselves up so bad, as we many times do. We are human, not perfect!!! Keep up the good work at getting back to what you know works for u!!!
I am a member of the “Zero Sugar” club. I joined in April 2023 when I first went carnivore. Despite trying every diet under the sun (Paleo, Keto, Low-Carb, plant-based, etc) for over 20 years, carnivore has been the only diet that has worked to help me lose and maintain a weight loss of 70 pounds. Here’s something that I learned about myself: I am not good at moderation. I do far better with abstinence. For me, sugar is an addiction. And like any addict, a little bit sends me into a craving for lots of it. When I have none, I don’t crave it; a small amount of anything sweet causes me to crave it, and my resistance dwindles to nothing. “Moderation” simply doesn’t work well for many, many people. No one would advise a recovering alcholic to have just one glass of wine, nor advise a smoker to just have one cigarette, nor advise a cocaine addict to snort just one line. Sugar addiction is real for many people, and can be very harmful over time. A very helpful book for me to learn this about myself was “Never Binge Again” by Glenn Livingston, Ph.D. And learning about fasting INSULIN (“Why We Get Sick” by Benjamin Bikman) was supremely motivating for me.
Thank you for this. I always thought that moderation would be better for me, but maybe Im fooling myself. Lol. Im going to get this book and read it!!!
I tried carnivore for about 4 days and couldn’t face another piece of red meat again. And I’m a steak lover! I just couldn’t get the variety of eating I was used to. Funny thing is, I did feel different physically but it did a number on my head…
Your skin does look amazing.
I think you should be very proud of your weight loss. Don’t beat yourself up over a little set back in December.
I want to try the castor oil and tallow balm just wondering if it leaves a greasy feeling.on your face or is it absorbed quickly.
Looking forward to the New Year.
I have dry skin, so it absorbs quickly for me. It’s much lighter than the Repair Balm, so I love to use it when I want to wear makeup. I put it on, wait about ten minutes, and then do my makeup, and it feels so good and nourishing on my face.
Thanks I will try it.
After you said you were using castor oil on your face I bought a bottle. The liquid was very thick and sticky and wondered if this is what you meant. I only tried to use it once and washed it off thinking it would be all over my pillow and my hair. Is this what you bought, the liquid in the bottle? Did you dilute it or anything?
Yes, that’s what I used. I used it straight out of the bottle. I sleep on my back, though, so I didn’t have an issue with it getting on my pillow.
As you build muscle, the weight may/may not change much. Begin recording your measurements.
I did the no sugar plan starting 3 weeks ago. Lost 10 pounds and the arthritis improved aches n pains decreased about 50% . I looked it up, sugar is an inflammatory. Now when I look at a label I look at grams of sugar first.
Kristi, just a brief note today to say I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished — and yet, much more to come.
I think you are doing great with your weight loss effort: slow but sure. Ditto for the face resources you have listed. Such a difference in your face!
I don’t have dry skin, if anything it is slightly oily, which is odd for someone my age. I purchased some castor oil so now I am going to launch my own campaign and see what happens.
Thank you for including us in the various parts of your life. You are so generous and inspiring to your readers. I send warm hugs to you and Matt from Ecuador.
Thanks for this post. I’m about the same as you including the itchy patches. I’m going to try the Rescue Balm.
Feel great about your weight lose. It is nice and slow which is a good thing if you don’t want to end up with saggy skin. I also had a hard time in Dec with keeping to 1136 calories a day. It’s hard.
Congratulations on your weight loss journey; you’ve made great progress. It’s a journey. Like any journey, there are bends in the road, stalls and switchbacks along with an occasional flat tire, but with perseverance you will reach your destination. ;D
Your skin looks amazing and I thought your lips looked nice.
Kristi…As someone who also fights weight gain, I look at it this way…If you did nothing about cutting sugar or exercise last year…you could easily have gained 20, 30, 50 pounds in a year! It always comes on easier than losing…we all know that. You are DOWN 20 and 30 during that time…a huge victory. You don’t start over…you are already ahead, and ready to do more. I am proud. I did well until the candy came in the house on Halloween. Then there were Thanksgiving pies, and forget about the food and goodies around me for Christmas. SO…I have to lose 10 pounds to get back to my lowest, and then start again. We are all human…it takes years to break the thoughts, like Holiday times. Good friends, good food, and good times. It just goes along with it all! You are doing great…I can’t believe how great your skin looks…where can we all buy that mix you are using? Happy New Year to you all.
You can find the castor oil/tallow balm here: https://nonsensefarm.com/product/tallow-balm-with-organic-castor-oil/
Kristi, Kudos on your health decisions and progress. Also,
I’m impressed with your reno progress.
I too have a disabled husband who is non-functional, as am I also (50 years ago my back was severely broken in multiple places from domestic violence and from a different husband at the time).
I too am renovating a house along with the challenges of many physical limitations. I like your style and the unusual ways in which you are decoration. I will continue to follow you! Janet
You look amazing! I’m definitely going to be trying castor oil on my face. My mom was just diagnosed with type II diabetes a few weeks ago. I used her glucose meter to check my blood sugar and it was high. I don’t think I have diabetes but I really don’t want to get it (my great-grandma became diabetic in her 90’s and lost a foot to the disease). I’ve decided to go sugar free and low carb. I just started this week and it’s been both hard and easy. I haven’t really had cravings for sugar which is makes it easy to avoid sweets but I found out that there’s sugar in just about everything. I’m allowing myself 20 grams of natural sugar per day but no added sugar. Tonight, I went to make some peas as a side dish to go with my meatloaf (made with sugar free BBQ sauce) and there is 6 grams of added sugar. Why is there sugar added to peas? Aren’t they sweet enough already? It’s no wonder that over 50% of Americans have diabetes or pre-diabetes (30% don’t even know it). I ended up having lettuce with sugar free salad dressing with my meatloaf. I’m hoping that the combination of low carbs, no sugar, high protein and a good strength and cardio workout can help me lose 80 lbs this year to get to a healthy weight range.
Scarily, the latest study that I have seen found that up to 85% of all US adults may have insulin resistance. And given that many (or MOST) medical professionals are unaware of how common this is, the problems it can cause, and how to identify it, you can’t rely on your doctor to bring it up to you. I have had to learn about this on my own, and yes, I found that I was one of the vast majority of Americans. My doctor remains unaware and incurious. I am grateful to know, and I am grateful for my ability to change my future through lifestyle interventions.
Have you checked for whether you have insulin resistance by asking for a FASTING INSULIN? Fasting glucose is the common test, and insulin resistance (aka “pre-diabetes”) is only found with FASTING INSULIN testing. Insulin resistance can be present long before a person develops Type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a much, much better predictor of Type 2 diabetes than glucose, predicting the problem up to 20 years earlier. My mom had diabetes; I will do virtually anything to avoid having diabetes, having seen its effects.
I have the same problem with York peppermint patties. I keep the small ones in the freezer and for awhile I can ignore them but if I eat one I must have 3!! Try putting colorful confetti in your candy bowl😝.
I’m not sure what to put in place of my Yorks.🧐
I am curious as to why you don’t follow the carnivore/keto/Adkins plan anymore. Natalie on Myvintageporch has been doing the carnivore diet and it has cleared up her skin and other issues she’s had for years.
Anyway, you didn’t invent ‘falling off the wagon’, so begin again with a renewed sense of accomplishment. Sugar is so addictive I swear I can feel its effects in my brain!!
You did so great! No need to be down in yourself. Life is hard and it takes a real commitment to lose 30 lbs. Your face looks so much younger now, much less tired.
I’ve not been anywhere near as successful as you. But a few weeks ago I started tracking again and I’m determined to get rid of this 25lbs. I have grandbabies now and it’s hard to keep up with them, and the weight’s hard on my knees and back.
Thanks for the link to the tallow/castor oil lotion, I’m going to check it out!
Here’s to our good health! ❤️