Confessions of a Sugar Addict

I know what you're thinking.  That can't possibly be a real thing.  At least that’s what I thought before I decided to go on a 90 day, no processed sugar challenge.  An addiction can be defined by many things, namely withdrawals when you go without whatever the substance is that causes the addiction.  Sugar withdrawal is very real.  I am now at the 30 day sans sugar mark, and I can tell you that it was no easy feat for me.  The first week, I was extremely tired all the time, and I actually had the shakes sometimes.  The second week, I still had the cravings, but I stood firm in my decision not to break the goal I set for myself.  I started eating more fruit for my substitute fix.  My cravings were always strongest in the evening, a couple hours after dinner.  Strawberries are my go to.  I can’t get enough of them.  It was almost like I had never tasted strawberries before.  Seedless grapes are great too.  I plan on freezing them when the weather gets warmer. 

Before I started this, I didn't think I had a problem.  I could eat an entire bag of sour patch kids, the big bag.  I couldn't go a day without having something sweet.  I couldn't go to the store without buying cookies or ice cream, or both.  To most people, that might sound completely normal.  However, when you add in all the products that have sugar in them, it can be a mighty hefty amount at the end of the day.  Everything from sauces to juices and of course that White Chocolate Mocha that I had almost everyday, sometimes twice a day really adds up.  Drinks are the thing that most people think the very least about in terms of calories, fat and sugar.  I have been using myfitnesspal for a few years now to keep track of my calories and exercise.  The one thing that I noticed about my food intake was that I always went over in sugar.  Not a little, but a lot.  I realize that this app calculates all sugar, and not just the bad kind, but this was something I could no longer ignore. 

The decision to cut out sugar came from some articles I had recently read about the ways that sugar affects your brain.  There’s been talk about a link between high carb sugary diets with the onset of Alzheimer’s.  Since both of my grandmothers died from Alzheimer’s and they both had diabetes, I have a much higher chance of developing this disease.  I know the average person doesn’t think the way I do, thinking about the possibility of developing a disease that is years away.  Some might call me a hypochondriac.  Maybe, but, when you know that something is already bad for you, and find out that it can have long term damage on your brain and body, why would you continue to do it?  If you’ve ever known anyone with Alzheimer’s, you would know that this is a devastating disease that leaves the loved ones of a person afflicted, feeling utterly helpless.  Watching someone’s mental state deteriorate before your very eyes is heart wrenching.  This is my biggest fear.  That I will one day be the one that doesn’t remember my husband and reverts to a state of perpetual confusion.  We already know that alcohol, smoking and illicit drugs has an effect on short and long term health.  I don’t have issues with those things.  Sugar was my choice of drug.  I say “Was”, because I hope to continue this lifestyle for the long term.  I’m not saying I will never again eat a cookie, or indulge in ice cream, but I will not let it take over again.  I will not give sugar the power to change me for the worse.  

Rebecca Evers, Client Relations Manager

Exploitation in the Weight Loss Industry

It's been one of those days.  One of those days when you feel like a salmon swimming upstream.  I have heard the third advertisement for a new weight loss program in our area.  Promises of extremely rapid weight loss without much work and sustainability with no plan.  As a seasoned mental health therapist and health coach dealing with obesity and eating disorders, those promises feel like fingernails on a chalkboard.

"Clinicians" with no obesity treatment or mental health backgrounds throw open their doors for new clients. People expect vast credentials from dentists and medical doctors who take care of their bodies, but somehow require very little from people in the weight loss industry who will have their health and future in their hands.  Why is that?  Are we so desperate for a "cure" that we will do anything?

Reality is hard.  Facts are harder.  Most people are not going to eat pre-packaged "diet" foods for the rest of their lives, most people are not going to take growth hormone shots the rest of their lives and most people are not going to turn their lives upside down to accommodate "the diet" for the rest of their lives.

I understand the lure of quick weight loss.  When we are over feeling cranky, it can feel exhilarating to see the scale go down, or button those pants quickly.  However, imagine your muscles, along with your metabolism...slowly diminishing because you were told not to build muscle because it impacts the scale!  How can that be healthy and sustaining advice?

Shame on those folks who know exactly what they are doing in order to make money from desperate people.  Maybe we can face the reality of what needs to happen regarding weight loss when the lies finally stop and reasonable, sound advice is the only option in the marketplace.  I can dream.  Chris Spears-Bartunek MS, LMHC

Do I deserve support?

Losing weight is a challenge, and even more so when you don't feel like you have support from your friends and family. Clients are always telling me that their loved ones are sabotaging their attempts to become healthier by bringing home junk food or complaining they are gone too much exercising. Giving up often ensues in response to these problems. What would happen if you calmly expressed your desire and what you needed from your friends/family to help you succeed?

Can you stand up and ask for what you need? There may be a confused look from your loved ones (especially if you have never asked anything from them before), but maybe they will surprise you by listening to what you need. Maybe the junk food can be put in a different room than the kitchen, or locked in the car. Maybe your partner can pitch in with childcare while you workout at home, or walk with you outside. Are your needs worth asking about in your relationships? Is your health important enough?

If you have been pouring support into your friends and family for years it will be hard to ask for some in return if you don't believe in your cause, or if you believe you don't deserve what you are asking for. If you are committed to yourself then stand up and tell the folks in your circle, and if you are not....pretend that you are. Over time you may believe it!

Super Bowl of Cereal

The word “addict” doesn’t usually come to mind when thinking about cereal but the other day a client of mine professed she was one. And it’s not the first time I’ve heard “I’m a cereal addict.”  There are a number of clients I've had report eating more than a bowl of cereal a day - some often having it for dinner. 

We’ve likely heard the research by now that refined sugar is just as addictive and dopamine-inducing as cocaine - and certainly there are cereals that have a ton of sugar – Fruit Loops and Captain Crunch come to mind. (When I was a kid I thought the cereal Cookie Crisp was the best invention ever.)

 

The most popular varieties I hear clients eat on a regular basis are cereals like Honey Bunches of Oats, Honey Nut or regular Cheerios, Special K, etc.  Even though these don’t have a ton of sugar it's certainly true that they’re processed and lack protein and fiber - so they do break down very fast in the bloodstream as sugar/glucose. All highly processed carbohydrates do. Luckily, when we use dairy or soy milk we add some protein to the mix, but unfortunately beverages are digested quickly too. Bottom line is that any processed cereal, no matter how "healthy" is broken down quickly and can create a rise in blood sugar and for some the dopamine-induced pleasure response. And for some this can lead to an addictive response and cravings can escalate. This can certainly make it challenging to maintain or lose weight.

 

There are other reasons cereal can be alluring. We usually have it around, and it’s an easy snack or meal. The crunch of cereal before the unfortunate sog can also be highly rewarding as we seek to chew our way out of the day’s stress.

 

I’m writing all this not because cereal is “bad” and you should avoid it. What is very bad is skipping a meal - having something is always better than nothing. But, when confronted with your next bowl of processed flakes, consider adding some whole foods that score a nutritional punch. You’ll likely feel fuller longer and avoid some of the physiological responses that lead to craving more.

 Try swapping half your bowl with the following add-ins:

- Raw rolled oats (full of fiber and protein)

- Dried fruit

- Fresh berries

- Frozen blueberries (keeps the milk cold)

- Sliced banana

- Sliced almonds or chopped nuts (full of fiber, protein and healthy fat)

If you’d like to start with a higher protein cereal, try any of the Kashi Go Lean varieties or Special K Protein Plus. (Kashi Go Lean also has added fiber.) I still think the whole food add-ins listed above are better choices as their nutrients take longer to break down and enter the bloodstream.

 

So, my advice is to experiment with ways to make your cereal less flaky. With half your bowl whole food add-ins you’ve turned your average bowl into a super bowl.

Kathryn Reed, MS Certified Nutritionist

5 Ways to Make Meal Planning Easier

I often hear “I know what to do I just need to make time to do it.” It is true, meal planning is where the rubber meets the road; where our dietary intentions become a reality. It certainly does take some effort to build up a routine around meal planning. You could say it’s a bit like flossing your teeth. When you first started the habit, it was a bit of a pain. But eventually you didn’t think about it and you started to feel good about having really healthy teeth and gums. Meal planning is a bit more complicated habit to build for many reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason is that we aren’t realistic about what we’re really capable of. We might compare ourselves to previous generations. Our parents and grandparents meal planned in a way that worked with their lives – and often this is not the life we are living. We have much more on our plates with work, long commutes, busy schedules, etc. We live in a society that is time-starved and we often come home from work starved with no idea of what we’re having for dinner. Maybe you’re ready to try some new strategies to create or refine a more realistic meal planning routine. Here are some thoughts on working smarter not harder:
1. Consider themed nights.
Taco Tuesday, Soup Sunday, Meatless Monday. This will help you narrow down your choices. I think we’re often overwhelmed with all of the recipes and ingredients out there and we just need a simple idea.
2. Check out the frozen aisle at Trader Joe’s.
Stock up on frozen brown rice, frozen precooked shrimp, frozen turkey meatballs, frozen vegetable blends (they have some unique ones). You can also find some great quick and easy frozen meal-in-one options for those nights when you need dinner right now. Great value at TJs and there are no additives, preservatives, or GMOs in any product.
3. Consider meal and/or ingredient delivery.
Amazon Fresh for grocery delivery if it's in your area. Try Blue Apron for three meals worth of ingredients delivered weekly. Google "meal delivery" to see what other options may be in your area.
4. Involve the family.
Go out to dinner with your family one night a week and plan meals for the week together. Stop by the grocery store on the way home. Perhaps your kids are old enough to make tacos or fajitas one night of the week. You certainly don’t need to take on the burden of meal planning alone.
5. Use online tools and apps.
There are some great recipe and meal planning apps on your phone. Eating Well’s “Healthy in a Hurry” is free. So is “Food on the Table” and “Pepper Plate.” What I like most about the apps is the ability to scroll through recipes and generate your shopping list while you’re parked in front of the grocery store.

Kathryn Reed, MS, Certified Nutritionist

When is Now?

The words "resolutions and goals" get thrown around a lot with the start of a new year. I think we have all become a little desensitized to them..they have lost their meaning. How about looking at the things that you want and don't want in your life and not waiting to have them, or get rid of them.

There is always a push for sweeping change, like big weight loss, in January. I think the reasons why we fail are due to the grand goals that we set without any thought how to get there, and then we give up and wait for the next time to try (next January 1st). Do we have to get that special workout gear, or blender, in order to try something new...or get rid of something old? What are we waiting for?

Many people have told me they are waiting for the right time to eat better, exercise, end a toxic friendship, get a better job...and the list goes on. Often the "right" time never comes and we are still contemplating these necessary changes because we are scared, or it's hard, or in denial. Why not try now?

Pick a small thing to get going and build on your success. Just think how great it will feel when next January 1st rolls around and we have acted on the now.

Chris Spears-Bartunek, MS,LMHC,CHC

Lose Holiday Stress from Holiday Expectations

What are your expectations for the holidays? Do you need to have the perfect party, or are you steadying yourself for the annual Christmas relative fight? I think much of our stress during the holidays is our expectations about how we should be and feel at this time of year. Some folks have had impossible standards to reach from their childhood fairy tale Christmases and others' don't have any experience with happy memories from the past. We spend a lot of time being stuck in those thoughts and those days gone by.

What would happen if we chose to create a new memory, not based on the old? This could be changing a family tradition that no longer fits in our life, even though you may get some backlash for the change, or creating something new that has meaning just for us. Is there something we can let go of this month? Instead of looking at every store in a 30 mile radius for the exact spice to use in that festive dish you always make and hating every moment of it....why not find something you love to create and choose that instead of delivering on those expectations? Take a look at what you really want in your life and start paring down the stuff that just doesn't belong there. The holidays are a great place to start!