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my bad boyfriend (aka sugar)

 


Are you struggling with sugar?  You know it's bad for you, but you just can't give it up? You stop eating it for a few days, and then your daughter decides to make brownies, or your friends bring over cookies, or you go to a birthday party where, of course, there is plenty of cake.  And boom! You're back on the sugar train. Sound familiar?

Sugar is like a bad boyfriend.  You know the one.  He's bad news, but is oh, so charming!  You break up with him and swear that this time it's forever, until he shows up at a party and you have a great time together, rehashing old memories. Of course, the next morning you feel terrible and regret letting him back into your life.  Then he shows up again when you are feeling a little down, he smiles at you with those adorable crinkles at the corners of his eyes, and yes!  You're gone again. Prey to the knowledge that he will make you feel better--if only for a little while.

Sugar gives us a dopamine rush, similar to cocaine, or skydiving.  I don't recommend either of those alternatives, (although I've always wanted to try skydiving!)  It boosts our serotonin levels and makes us feel good temporarily.  Unfortunately it also lowers our dopamine and serotonin levels a short while later, leading us to look for the next "hit" to perpetuate the cycle.  In addition to that, our pancreas releases insulin to take the sugar where it might be needed (I call it the insulin Uber), but when we overwhelm the system with too much sugar our insulin Ubers can't do the job they were hired to do and end up depositing all the excess sugar in the liver where it is converted to fat.  At the same time, our hunger hormone, ghrelin, is confused by the constant supply of sugar and goes into overdrive, while our satiety hormone, leptin, gives up and goes into hiding. 

Sounds chaotic, right?  That's why it's so important to break its grip on us and get back to a place where our blood sugar levels are on an even keel and our hormones can do what they were designed to do.  You can't do that when the bad-news boyfriend is always hanging around, tempting you with his charms.

When you break up with sugar there is a definite mourning period.  It's like losing your best friend--the one you shared so many memories with growing up.  The one that always made you feel better when you had a bad day.  The one you celebrated with when things went well.  What are you left with?  How will you cope now that your friend is gone?  What will you do without the boyfriend who took your mind off life for a while? 

You will have to work through some emotions when you break up with this bad boy--sadness about the things you'll miss, anger that other people don't seem to have a problem, denial that there really is a problem, bargaining (if I eat this now, I promise to stop tomorrow), depression, and finally, acceptance and understanding (wow--look how much better I feel!  I'm better off without it!)

It's easy to stop eating something for a few days, but what do you do when the going gets tough and your old way of coping is off the table (literally!)?  You have to find other things that make you feel good--walking, yoga, talking to friends, reading a book, sorting through photos, taking a bath, doing your nails, taking a nap, watching a movie, journaling, meditating, listening to music, playing an instrument, doing a craft, cleaning out a drawer...you may even just need a good cry.  Hugs help too.

Most of all, you have to remember WHY you are doing this.  I promise you will feel better, maybe in ways you never imagined when you started.  It's not an easy journey, but you are worth it, you are strong, and most of all--you are lovable (without that bad boy!)


If you'd like to talk to me more about creating a nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you!  I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life.  We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.

I'd love to talk to you about the program, so book a free consultation with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking to you!


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