There was a day last week in which I ate one butter cookie approximately every twenty minutes. All day. That kind of sugar consumption is simply not sustainable. Even if I could afford it, there are not enough Pilates classes in the world to excavate a waist out of that diet.

I enjoyed it while it lasted, but it is time to cut back to a normal human number of cookies. Or peppermint bark. Or chocolates. Or whatever delicious sugary thing you have stashed around your house. I’m not saying that we’re not going to have cookies anymore. I’m not even arguing that we should stop having breakfast cookies, because those are wonderful. But, you know, let’s bring some moderation to this here game.

It’s just really hard. Here’s my advice:

1. First, I don’t go cold turkey. I don’t have it in me. I just do not. I suspect that if you are the kind of person who can go cold turkey on this, you are also not the kind of person who needs tips on weaning yourself off the cookies. Moving on.

2. Cookies cannot live on the counter. They need to be out of sight.

3. Things get easier once you’ve eaten all the good cookies. I mean, harder, when you realize there are no good cookies left, but then easier.

4. My fill-in Pilates teacher was telling us about how this year she threw away the cookies. I mean, I guess that works. But, again, if you have that kind of self-restraint you’re probably not finding this post particularly useful. And you probably have committed to a fitness regime, such as Pilates, in a serious way. Good for you. The rest of us are going to keep going here.

5. Medjool dates. There’s something about the richness and sweetness and chewiness of dates that sort of fulfills a sugar craving.

6. Dried apricots. Not as good as dates, but pretty good. Use caution, too many can give you some GI-related grief.

7. I cut out the sugar from at least my first cup of tea.

8. Real breakfast. I know, everyone is always telling you to eat a real breakfast but seriously, it is very helpful if you are not hungry mid-morning. Eggs are good here, as are steel cut oats. Something hearty that’s not super sweet.

9. Tea helps in mid-afternoon, as does drinking a lot of water.

10. Magazines are always telling me to eat fruit, and you can try that, but I just don’t find it particularly satisfying when I want a butter cookie. I really like green pears, though, so I bought a bunch and we’re going to see how it works.

Godspeed, friends! We’re going to get through this!