sugar

How To Break Your Sugar Addiction

We’re going straight to the point here.

 We live in a country where sugar addiction is rampant. In fact, I think more people are experiencing it than not.

 There are all kinds of supplements and tricks available for purchase to help with this.

 From tongue numbing agents to pills and everything in between, there’s no shortage of companies trying to make money off of the addiction that most people fail to conquer.

 So, how do you do it you may ask?

 Here’s the real answer…

 Stop giving into your cravings.

 Ouch. Not what you wanted to hear – I know.

 But the truth is that we’re adults, and we can choose whether or not we give into cravings.

 Just remember cravings are just hormonal signals in the brain and they always come in waves.

The magic about not giving into sugar cravings is that they almost always pass.

 With time, they dissipate dramatically. It just takes practice and healthy habit forming.

 Most people simply don’t make it long enough to feel it.

 To make this a little easier on you, I have a challenge for you.

 The next time you feel a sugar craving coming on, give yourself 20 minutes. If after 20 minutes you still want the sweet thing, let yourself have it.

 I can almost guarantee the craving will pass if you give it the chance.

 Give it a shot and let me know how it works!

Simple > Complex

Have you ever noticed that there is more information available to us than EVER before about fitness, nutrition, fat loss, and really everything health-related but somehow people are struggling more than ever to gain control of their health, weight, and fitness?

 There are a few reasons for this.

 First, I think it’s because people want there to be the “one magic way” that’ll get them a result. So, we end up spending time and effort looking for the magic solution that doesn’t really exist.

 This is why fad diets exist.

 Second, we’re just plain confused! And it’s no wonder!

 It’s incredibly challenging to navigate thousands upon thousands of pieces of information about what you should do for your health and fitness…especially because they’re often very contradictory.

 So today, I’m breaking it down for you in the simplest way possible, and I guarantee if you do these things, you’ll be lean, healthy, and incredibly proud of your body.

 

1.     Exercise

a.   Perform 30 minutes of resistance training 3 times a week (specific for your body’s needs)

b.    Incorporate circuit workouts that elevate your heart rate to create a cardiovascular effect

c.     Walk every day, or Be Active for at least 30 minutes a day.

2.     Food

a.    Eat more veggies than anything else

b.    Then healthy fats . Americans undoubtedly get enough protein already, so focus on healthy fats like nuts, oils, and avocados. ( Try to reach for 50-70% fats of your total calories per day)

c.     Limit: alcohol, sugar, processed foods + snacking

3.     Lifestyle

a.    Sleep 7-9 hours a night

b.    Drink mostly water

c. Incorporate Intermittent Fasting into you daily routine (8 hour eating windows are the best, or 2 meals a day to start)

 Could we add to this list and increase its complexity? Of course! But there’s no need.

 Complexity is the reason so many people struggle. Keep it simple and you’ll start seeing results in no time.

 

Sugar: A Loving Tribute

It’s no secret that sugar is bad for us. It feeds disease, impacts your brain, messes with your energy, and makes people fat. It rots your teeth and can affect your skin.

 

Aside from the short bursts of energy it gives and the way it sets off the pleasure sensors in your brain, there are really no good things about consuming sugar.

 

But I’m not here to tell you to stop eating it.

 

Because seriously… you’re not going to and neither am I.

 

Not only is sugar added to far more foods than you even realize, but it’s also delicious.

 

And if you know me at all, you know I’m about making fitness and health as easy as possible.

 

If I tell you to stop having sugar, it’s all you’re going to think about (like any other food you’ve ever tried to eliminate from your diet).

 

Is it possible to give it up and go sugar-free? For the small few, sure. But for most, it’s just not realistic in the world we live in today.

 

And since we know it’s really not great for us, and I’m assuming you’d prefer to avoid cancer, diabetes, etc. at all costs, I want to help you set some parameters for yourself today that will enable you to continue enjoying sugar with balance.

 

Here are my top tips for maintaining a loving relationship with sugar in the healthiest way possible:

 

1.     Drink only sugar-free beverages

2.     Avoid artificial sweeteners – you should do this for a variety of reasons. The one I’m addressing here is the fact that artificial sweeteners actually increase sugar cravings, making it harder to maintain moderation.

3.     Avoid UNNECESSARY sugars – if you think salad dressings and tomato sauces, for example, require sugar to taste good, you’re so wrong! Look for or create sugar-free options where it’s obviously unneeded.

4.     Try fruit before dessert. I’m not going to lie to you and say fruit is the same as dessert, because I know there’s a big difference between a strawberry and a slice of chocolate cake. But see if you can use fruit to kill your dessert cravings before you dive into indulgence.

5.     Clean up your environment. It’s common for many homes and offices to have bowls of single pieces of candy lying around or a cabinet stocked with “treats for the kids.” We mindlessly reach for them multiple times per day…and you know how fast that adds up! So, get rid of ‘em!

6.     Plan for massive sugar indulgences. Maybe your mom is making your favorite pie, or it’s your birthday, or a special trip/holiday are coming up. Those are the times to go all in and overdo it. Not a random Saturday on a whim.