If you ever decided to kick the sugar habit you probably noticed how incredibly easy it is to make that decision and how hard it is to stick with it. The late afternoon siren song of a chocolate chip cookie, a croissant or even some embarrassingly low quality candy that you can’t resist at the office, seems to be more powerful than your best intentions. Why is this so difficult and what can you do about it?
The answer is complicated and simple at the same time. Sugar is addictive and you are an addict. That is the “tell it to you straight” answer. At the same time, it helps to understand the details behind the problem so you can know what you need to do to get rid of your sugar addiction.
Even more important than understanding the problem is having solution. So before we get into the details of the problem, here are two easy solutions:
Solution #1: Beginning on Tuesday, May 8, I will be offering a 6-week online Meditation for Weight Loss and Wellness program. This program will benefit you if you want to kick the sugar habit and/or make big changes with any weight or health goal. You can go to my Events page to learn more and register.
Solution #2: Beginning on Monday, May 14, I will be offering my popular 7-day “Spring into Summer Cleanse” program. If you want to get serious, take action and lose the sugar cravings and weight quickly, this program is for you. In just 7 days you will look and feel like a new and improved version of yourself. You can learn more about this program on my Events page as well.
Why do you need a program at all? Sugar is more addictive than cocaine and it is everywhere and in everything. It’s in desserts, bagels and breads, oatmeal, granola, ketchup, yogurt, salad dressing, cereals, protein bars and more. Understanding what you are up against helps you choose a solution that will work for you. Here are the 5 ways that sugar traps you:
Trap #1 – Sugar activates the pleasure center in the brain, the “nucleus accumbens.” The goal of any human is to activate the pleasure center as often as possible. If you think about why you do any of the things that you do, inevitably it comes down to “if I do it, I will feel good.” You may have a fancier, more elaborate answer, but underlying it all, is the simple motivation to experience pleasure and avoid pain. Sugar is one of the easiest and fastest paths to that feeling.
Of course, once you eat the sugar, pain is sure to follow in the form of weight gain, jitteriness, fatigue and frustration. This is why, despite the pleasure hit, you often feel desperate to get off the sugar rollercoaster. The sugar “hit” comes at a very high price.
Trap #2 – Sugar gives you instant energy. If you are like most people, your daily schedule is packed. Do you notice that you are almost always starting the day with more things to do than you can ever complete? Sugar can be the crutch that helps you push through some of the tougher and more tedious tasks.
Once you are free from sugar cravings it is easier to make a healthier choice to boost your energy and stamina. However, when you are in the clutches of addiction, it’s hard to keep from reaching for that instant sugar treat.
Trap #3 – Sugar boosts your mood. Since sugar stimulates your brain’s pleasure center, you will get a nice mood boost as you chomp away on your cookies, chocolate or other treats. In our endlessly stressful lives, a mood boost is always welcome. The problem is that this boost is really a false friend. It is short lived and leaves you craving more. When you quit sugar you may experience withdrawal symptoms like feeling cranky, annoyed or even depressed. You may not even realize how much of a mood boost you were getting until you do a cleanse or a mindfulness meditation practice. This is when you can see clearly what the sugar was really doing to you. I know I was surprised when I noticed how much a little sugar each day was actually affecting me.
Trap # 4 – Sugar is a quick fix for hunger. Are you cutting corners by refusing to sit down and take time for a relaxed healthy meal? Everyone knows it is easier to grab a candy bar instead of a salad when you are in a rush. With your hunger out of the way, you can power on with your busy agenda.
The problem is that when you use sugar as a way to eliminate hunger you are depriving your body of the nutrients and energy it needs. This shortcut will haunt you later in the form of extra pounds where you don’t want them (think flabby tummy or thunder thighs) and reduced immunity to colds, flus and other health issues. This quick fix is really no shortcut if you care about how you look and how you feel.
Trap #5 – Sugar is the food of choice of an out-of-balance microbiome. Many people have heard the term microbiome, the complex ecosystem of bacteria that lives within our bodies. There are trillion of microbes, that make up the microbiome in your body. Most of the microbes that live in your body are located in your digestive system. The balance of different microbes in your microbiome will play a critical role in your health. A microbiome that is out of balance can lead to weight gain, slow metabolism, digestive problems, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, dementia and more. When you have a favorable balance of microbes, meaning that you have a predominance of good bacteria, you will experience good health and an ideal metabolism. When your bad bacteria are running the show you may experience uncontrollable sugar cravings as well as low immunity, poor digestion and other health problems. A sugar addiction paves the way to building the community of bad bacteria that inevitably leads to weight gain and poor health.
When you know the 5 sugar traps, you realize how important it is to do something about them sooner rather than later. Summer is coming up and we all want to look and feel our best. As I mentioned, I have two amazing programs coming up in just 2 weeks that can free you from your sugar cravings and give you the slim summer body you deserve. After completing these programs you will love how you look in your favorite summer outfits.
Which program is best for you?
If you are looking for the “do it quick and make it stick” approach, I would suggest my “Spring into Summer Cleanse” program. In just 7 days you will lose weight, be free of sugar cravings and experience many other benefits such as restorative sleep and youthful energy. Click here to learn more and register for the Spring into Summer Cleanse.
If you are looking to get to the bottom of your bad habits and understand why you keep falling into the same sugar traps time after time, my 6-week Meditation for Weight Loss and Wellness program is an incredible opportunity to shift out of those habits and make permanent lasting changes. The meditation experience that this program provides will make a huge difference in your daily ability to make good eating choices, minimize sugar and drastically reduce your daily stress levels. Click here to learn more and register for the Meditation for Weight Loss and Wellness program.
Don’t know which program is better for you? Do both! Both of these programs are fantastic. They are an amazing opportunity to learn what you need to know to uplevel your appearance and well-being. I hope you join me!