I can remember growing up how I loved that cup of hot chocolate in the morning or on a cold wintery night! Rich, tasty, sugar-sweet with that deep-rich chocolaty flavor. Boy that satisfied my sweet tooth…at least for a while. It never surprises me any more when my diet is filled with sugary carbs…my waist size has always bulged a bit. My blood sugar surges upward and I am no longer burning fat at the cellular level like I would be ordinarily. I am now accumulating fat around my belly just like all the guys who eat too much and rarely exercise. Your diet, including your daily calorie intake, and your exercise make a huge difference determining your body size.
Getting back to your food choices…how many people do you know that are addicted to or affixed to carbohydrates? You can include me in that group because the more bad carbs (refined and sugar added) I eat…the more I crave and it makes me feel lethargic and uninspired. When I limit my sugars and I am so much more balanced. (at least I would like to think so <smiling>) I just finished reading an article where the author Ryan Andrews stopped eating desserts and “extra sugar” for an entire year. That’s pretty amazing! I’m not sure I would want to do that, but I respect the fact that someone could resist desserts and added sugar for an entire year. Fruits and vegetables are good, but would you really want to go an entire year being so disciplined or restrained?
Needless to say, Ryan Andrews who wrote: Sugar Daddy: A Year Without Desserts says after the 1st month he wasn’t even missing desserts. So Ryan stayed on his path for 11 more months and turned down desserts for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. Mr. Andrews also walked away with quite a few powerful lessons for saying “no” to desserts. The obvious lesson is that desserts are addictive. (Could have taken a wild guess on this one) But some of the other interesting take homes include: 1) We don’t eat sugar “in moderation.” Our society takes in primarily “processed garbage.” The majority is in the form of refined flour/sugar. Ryan says “nearly 90% of the carb-dense foods we consume are highly processed.” Not only do we eat crap…we are full of crap!
Another lesson Ryan shared is 2) “it’s hard to get fat on whole foods, particularly plant foods.” In fact after going a couple of months without desserts Ryan lost weight unintentionally. Ryan says he just wasn’t as hungry, so you might be surprised how your appetite changes if you’re giving up desserts for a while. Sugar is well-known to drive and stimulate appetite; I think we can all recognize that. When we open up the flood gates to sugar, we usually crave and desire more, right?
3) Ryan also noticed that some foods just became too sweet for him. His taste buds “re-calibrated” and Ryan didn’t want sweet food as much. I notice this myself when I curb sweets. Foods with “added sugar” tasted like candy, but his friends who were still eating desserts couldn’t tell the difference. “Sugar added” foods tasted perfectly normal to his sugar eating friends. Ryan’s point is that if you eat sugar all the time that is what you will become accustom to. On the contrary, if you eat fruits and vegetables all the time (for a month without desserts and “added sugar” like Ryan did) that is what you will desire.
Of course there are always exceptions for a few of us. Some people just don’t have any desire to eat sweets, but the large majority of the population love to indulge in decadent fashion. If you are taking the time to read this post, I imagine sweets and sugars might or could be addictions for you. I know carbs are my fuel of choice, but I have to admit I am so much more satisfied by protein. It takes those hunger pains away and I feel like I have sustained energy. I think it’s important to recognize our “weak links” and apply strategies that improve our current situation. Are simple and refined carbohydrates in control of your eating?
Every one of us can make improvements in our lives and hopefully you are practicing a lifestyle that is constantly evolving and improving. Sugar cravings and addictions along with excessive calorie intake is the reason so many Americans are fat and overweight. Most of us don’t learn how to eat properly from childhood, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn and apply new strategies as we grow up. There is an abundance of good information at your fingertips, but you have to put down the milk chocolate. It’s processed anyway…no wonder it tastes so good! Sugar and chemicals is a potent combination…wouldn’t you say?
If your ready to take back control of your life and achieve the lifestyle and body you know you desire click here: http://personaltraininginmarin.com/personal-training-in-marin-consult.html
Fiber rich
“I used to be athletic! Well, after almost 20 years of starting and building two businesses and also raising twins, the combination of stress, lack of exercise, and “eating without thinking” had caught up to me. The result? My body was tight, weak, and most problematic was my lower back. About twice a year without any prior warning it would “go out on me” simply by me reaching for something or bending down, and for up to a week I couldn’t move!
The hardest part of getting fit involves taking the first step. You must be ready to challenge yourself. While most people think exercising is hard and getting a routine together is difficult, the simple reality is that neither of these things are true. Working out doesn’t have to be tough, boring or impossible. Getting fit should be fun and energizing, so don’t let fear stand in the way and your path to improved health and fitness will easily open up for you.
Marin health and fitness expert, John Spongberg is the founder of Personal Training in Marin as well as an accomplished author, speaker and life coach. He is dedicated to helping people reach their optimum level of fitness, health and body satisfaction through a unique, comprehensive whole-person approach, customized to each client.
I haven’t heard any New Year’s Resolutions talk lately. It’s not even February yet, but I bet a lot of us are already disregarding or having a hard time implementing our resolutions. Things tend to change quickly in our lives…don’t they? No worries because this is exactly the right time to get serious with your goals for the next 12 months. All the hype for 2012 is now being trivialized. The serious people are now going to rise to the top if they haven’t already. Where do you stand? Well, lets get down to the basics…did you even bother to write your 2012 goals down? If you didn’t… take the first step towards real change. I’m not surprised if you’re feeling frustrated or complacent about earning some real life results in the upcoming 12 months. You have to outline what you want, right? What is the life you want for yourself in the upcoming year? Remember, only about 5% of the population writes down their goals. You have to make your commitment…you have to write down your goals…NOW!
You’ve been working out almost every day since the beginning of 2012. You’re latest trip to the scale and the way that your clothes are fitting is showing the results you’ve been looking for. Now it’s time to dive into a great big slice of chocolate cake as a reward for getting the job done, right?
Serves 2
Your best friend works out six days a week, looks great and is almost ready for that upcoming marathon. You’re ready to start working out, but that routine sounds too intense to meet your tastes. How can you select a fitness routine that fits you, your lifestyle and your personal physical abilities?
