So what gives? Why do we reach for sugar when we need a boost?
Some of us do it out of habit. We have trained ourselves to believe sugar is the solution to our energy needs, even when the consequences suck. We don’t seem to know any other way.
Others use sugar to make them feel good. As I wrote a few weeks ago, sugar can be a powerful comfort food. It makes us happy. We find pleasure in chocolate or the perfect eclair.
Sugar is also sexy and fun. Or at least that is what advertisers for Dove bars and Skittles would have us believe. So if I sexily bite into a square of Dove bar, I too will be irresistible, right? Of course, unless I go through a whole bag in a sitting. That’s not so sexy.
But what about that energy?
When fatigue is your chief health complaint, sugar is not really a solution. Sure it helps in the moment. But what about the consequences? Fatigue. Inflammation. More illness.
Not only does sugar throw off our body’s balance leading to that classic crash and burn, but it leads to over a 140 health issues. Nancy Appleton, PhD. has compiled a list of the consequences of sugar. From contributing to diabetes, to causing rectal cancer, to ruining your sex life (so much for those sexy Dove bars), sugar is a dangerous substance.
Oh sure, our brain needs glucose to function. But seriously, do we need 156 pounds of it a year to keep our brain working. No.
So how can you avoid the crash and burn and keep your engines running?
First, detox from sugar. This is best way to get off the sugar roller coaster. You need to get it out of your system to interrupt your reliance and create a new pattern.
Of course, you can go cold turkey, but I don’t advise it – in my experience cold turkey is not sustainable. Instead, using a method like my Super Sugar Shake Down method, shows you how to ease out off of sugar with out evoking your inner bitch. And it’s designed for successful long-term sugar recovery. It simply works better than cold turkey. To learn how you can do your own Super Sugar Shake Down, click here.
Second, get your energy from real whole foods, instead of a chocolate bar. Once off sugar, adopting an anti-inflammatory eating plan designed to boost your energy naturally will help you keep moving. For help in starting an anti-inflammatory, super charged diet, check out my anti-inflammatory diet class.
Third, get your body moving. Lethargy begets lethargy. Movement creates energy. I don’t care if you go to the gym, the pool, the bike trail or the dance hall. Moving your body is critical for keeping your energy going.
Fourth, get some rest. I know this sounds simple, but getting 8 hours of sleep can be a huge step toward overcoming your fatigue and having more energy. Need tips on getting a better night’s sleep? Read this.
Finally, cultivate pleasure. One of the tips I shared on yesterday’s call was that you have to have something to replace the pleasure you get from chocolate. We can’t live a life devoid of pleasure. No fun in that. Yet sugar is so evil. So get your pleasure from some where else. If you need some ideas, sign up for yesterday’s call and get the Action Plan I shared. There you’ll find ideas on how to crowd out the sugar with more pleasure.
Overcoming your sugar cravings can feel daunting. I know that is the #1 concern people have when trying to improve their health. Indeed, it is the way most people use to sabotage their healthy lifestyle. So if you want more energy, follow the 5 steps above to escape that prison.
Sweetly yours,
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Such a timely post. Just as we (I) recover from the winter holidays, the Girl Scout strike! Followed by Valentine’s Day chocolates, and then my personal nightmare – Cadbury cream eggs for Easter. Seriously I’d like to hire a personal shopper and chef to keep my refrigerator (and me) stocked with sumptuous green, healthful, pleasure-inducing delights. It’s time for a sugar intervention – thank you!
Laurie – Here we are and it’s almost Valentine’s Day and I know chocolate will be involved and I’ll enjoy every bit. But other than that I’m not a big candy eater. I’m wondering where we consume the most sugar outside of candy. Is it soda? What are the other culprits that add sugar that we don’t consider? Any advice?
Aaah, ok I’ve been guilty of this: grabbing something sugary when I’m hungry and cranky. Lately, I’ve been trying to modify my diet – more greens and what has REALLY helped me was drinking way more water than before. I’ve noticed that I’m not as hungry as before, therefore reducing the temptation to grab the next chocolate bar. Hoping to increase more fruit in my diet as well!
Laurie, these are 5 great tips and techniques I use and live by as well, thank you for all you do to spread the word on healthy living!
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that I am much more susceptible to the effects of sugar. Not only does it put me on a roller coaster, it also seems to have lasting effects on how I feel physically and mentally far beyond what I would call just a “rush” and “crash.” In seeing that there are over 140 sugar-related health issues, the results I could feel make much more sense. It is so fabulous that you have a course helping women get off that roller coaster – what a huge benefit for health and wellness for them!
Jennifer Peek | Small Business Strategist
Find Your New Groove
The Freedom to Build Your Business Your Way
As a kid, I was forbidden to have sugar…the alternatives weren’t all that great either if anyone remembers sorbees candies you know what I am talking about (now I realize they were made with sorbitol!). As with any substance (food, alcohol, drugs, etc) used to pacify an emotion it will eventually have consequences. Thanks for the reminder to take small steps toward shifting away from sugar.
Laurie, great post! I’m not a big candy eater occasionally I do indulge in sugary stuff and have to admit is yummy. But, the biggest ah-a from this article was that sugar can ruin your sex life?! Was not aware of this little factoid. I will make sure my sweet tooth girlfriends become aware of this fact. Thanks for sharing this information!
WOW, once again your vast and detailed information that you share with us to become as healthy and crisp as we can has blessed my day. I love how you have challenged what our sugar habits are all about and how to handle them with ease and grace. I AM a sugar addict and eat it way too much, even tho, I have cut my habit in half and now drastically slashed it again to a place where I am so selective about it that at times I don’t even indulge in the mangos that are in robust supply here. Instead I now choose greens. I used to go through a box of “Kit Kats” when I moved overseas and just because I was homesick and it was a taste of “home” well kinda of BUT now I know better. Also, thank you so much for the Nancy’s list as well. AWESOME post!
Great Post!!!! When you say get moving and eat clean foods you are SOOO RIGHT! I don’t eat refined sugar but I still have sugar in my diet. Every now and then I get that chocolate craving and its not an actual craving for chocolate I think its the sugar to give me a “boost”. Love the healthy alternatives you suggest! Great advice!
Oh, my goodness. I am such the recovering sugar addict. Sugar has been my crack of choice almost my entire life and in the last few months I have been trying hard to wean down off of it. Doing much much better. But yes, it makes me feel terrible for the most part when I have it. Having the time off of it and then a day where I let it slip in has been eye opening because my mood and energy level are SO vastly different. My young daughter observed this one weekend when I caved to her request to go for Belgian Waffles vs. something heartier and whole grain. My mood tanked, I was cranky, mildly depressed …. didn’t want to play. And within 20 minutes of eating something nourishing and substantial that truly fueled me, I was running around playing, being fun. My daughter was like: “wow, now I see why you want us to eat better and not do so much sugar”. … slowly, slowly I am making this very important dietary change.