If you’ve read a few of my recent blog posts, you are fully aware that I’ve been having trouble lately controlling my portion sizes and choosing healthy items to nosh on in general. I am always quick to push the blame onto sugar rather than my own weak will-power. But now, this article lends a little more weight (no pun intended) to my justification:
“Neuroscientists increasingly report that fat-and-sugar combinations in particular light up the brain's dopamine pathway — its pleasure-sensing spot — the same pathway that conditions people to alcohol or drugs.”
It turns out that I have a ‘condition’ called “hypereating” and it’s not so much my faulty will-power at all!
“Kessler's research suggests millions share what he calls "conditioned hypereating" — a willpower-sapping drive to eat high-fat, high-sugar foods even when they're not hungry.”
Ha! I can’t really blame it all on the fact that I’m addicted to food because like most addictions, I have the power to fight it and control it (which the article also points out). But along those lines and as a result of my Easter free-for-all and the 10 extra pounds I’ve been hefting around these days, I decided to declare war on my enemy: Sugar. It seems to me that every time I allow myself to indulge in some sort of sugary treat, I not only crave more and more of it but I also begin to crave other equally horrible food items. I also find that once I’m on the sugar train I have a harder time keeping my portion sizes reasonable. In an effort to get off that delightful train, I’m going cold turkey. (I’ve always been an all-or-nothing kind of girl.) So today is Day 8 of No Processed Sugars.
5 comments:
Wow. I could never do it cold turkey. You're my hero. Good luck!
Good for you!
I guess I'll unwrap the package I had all ready to send you of cookies, snacks, and truffles, and just have to eat them myself. I'd hate to be an enabler in your addiction.
Bummer.
You GO GIRL! I'm a cold turkey kinda girl too--and I'm with you every mouthful of the way. . .
Hang in there--it will get easier. I don't even crave chocolate anymore (which was my all time favorite indulgence)
You just have to be STRONG and whip that sugar devil into shape and turn him into a full-fledged wimp--then kick him to the curb.
Good luck!
If my sister's and I wanted to stop eating or drinking something like pop or candy than we would always have contests to see who could go the longest. The winner would always get something. It gives you a partner and competitor at the same time. Really what I am saying is any time you are up for some friendly competition, I'm game!! I need to lose 10 pounds as well but have no will power right now with the food and exercising is just not cutting it.
You still must have will-power to go cold-turkey. I on the other hand and binging on the last of the Easter candy hoping that when it goes away my problems will be solved. And really truffles are so freaking yummy!
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