Have you ever accidentally eaten a mini piece of candy for breakfast? Perhaps your one piece of chocolate for after lunch multiplied by 10 (again) or your promise of no dessert was swept away when the waiter cleared the dishes. Remember that little pang in your stomach you felt when you realized that entire box of cookies was gone?
OK, now imagine feeling a little spacey, shaky and hungry when you just
ate an hour earlier. Did that pang just get a bit more intense? (Ouch!)
When several Nutrition and Health Gurus were asked the question, “If your body was
breaking down and you could do one thing, what would it be?”
The unanimous answer among all of them was, “NO SUGAR”!
Your body is your goldmine. It’s your main tool of productivity and activity
that you’ve taken advantage of and pushed to the limit to have it work for you. It’s
your ticket to a steady stream of energy.
It can take years to build a relationship with your body that has you feeling steady
stamina. And it can disappear in a flash if it is not protected.
So, are YOU sugaring up on a regular basis? (Be honest!) If yes, let’s get you on your
way to “burning clean” today.
If Dessert Is A Must Have …
If you spend your meals waiting and yearning for what comes “after”, you MUST
recognize your sugar-fix is a daily habit. And by “daily habit” I mean sugar is your
need, your constant craving. For example, you must have sugar:
1) after you eat
2) in your drinks
3) it’s part of every grocery shopping trip.
I currently still wrestle with the “sugar habit”. Most days are better than not, but
there is that “Chocolate Chip Cookie Need” that tugs at me every once in awhile.
And because this is so EASY to give in to, I’m constantly checking with myself about
what I want to feeeeel like!
I also like taking care of myself and that “habit” for traveling, as I can easily blame a
rebellious choice on being on the road. This way I bring my food with me and then I
am in still in charge of me.
What to DO If You Use Sugar on a Regular Basis …
Even if you “eat well” most of the day but must have sugar on a regular basis it is a
situation to be looked at! Start by exploring replacements. A “copy-cat”
of your sugar habit is pretty easy to find, but you really want to make sure it is a
substitute that is serving you. This approach varies depending on what replacement
you use, so see if it helps or makes a difference, but don’t give up; keep trying.
Here are some options to look for:
Barley Malt
Brown Rice Syrup
Date Sugar
Florida Crystals
Fructose
Honey
Maple Syrup
Molasses
Stevia
Sucanat
Turbinado Sugar
Consider Creating a Sugar Backup System
I’ve heard more accounts of late-night freezer raids or deli trips than I care to
repeat. So I started working with my clients on a “backup sugar system”. It’s about
finding another action TO DO as well as the actual sugar replacementTO HAVE.
Sometime having something instead of sugar only goes so far. It’s the habit beneath
the habit that is really the “gremlin”. This gives plenty of time to back up from
your current action, re-think the situation and make another choice. It also
functions as a protector to keep you safe from just going for the “quick fix”. You can
put numerous systems in place. Here are a few that I’ve used in the past:
o share your action with someone else, power is gone when you take away the
“secret”
o make a vow to share your new “sugar free” habit with someone every day – why
not? It’s only cool to eat sugar because it is made cool. Start your own trend.
o make “letting sugar go” a game with your kids, your partner or a friend. The
“winner” (which WILL BE both of you) gets a brand new [you fill in the blank]
o write yourself a letter or journal entry that is a reminder of everything you get with
no sugar. Here are a few to start you off:
o a boosted immune system
o decrease in anxiety and depression
o less drowsiness
o decrease in menstrual difficulties
o stronger sex drive
Don’t Put It Off Any Longer!
I know that giving-up sugar seems like another irritating addition to your life and
to-do list. But remember that you’ve worked hard to build your health … and your
energy. So take just a few minutes each day to protect that investment.
I now keep three alternatives of sugar with me and I could not be happier and
richer, by the way. (I like my money Mr. St*rb$cks, thank you very much!) This may
seem extreme, but when you consider the hundreds of dollars a year spent on “little
sugar splurges”, it makes sense.
TIP: Pick a certain day of the week to be your “no sugar day” to
start. For example, start with Sunday. See how it feels. See if you can go to Monday.
If not right now, then you have next Sunday to try again.
Energy~Nutrition Specialist Heather M. Dominick, “The Energy Expert,” is author of the information packed ‘EnergyRICH Lifestyle’ weekly ezine. If you’re ready to jump- start your energy, make effective changes, and have more fun in your life, get your FREE subscription and more EnergyRICH Tips at http://www.individual-health.net [http://www.individual- health.net]
