I once coached a sugar addict whom I shall call Mike. Mike was the classic, mid-level corporate manager addicted to soda pop, chips, ice cream, and anything sweet! I used to tease him about his sugar addiction as I tried to persuade him to try my sugar cleansing program that I now teach in my Sugar Extinction Course. Every time I offered to help Mike, he would sneer at me, get a “here we go again” look on his face, and calmly but firmly tell me “sugar addiction does not exist.”
He would tell me for years that he was not addicted to sugar and that he was in full control of his health. I always found his bold proclamations interesting because he easily took in over 130 grams of sugar per day and ate processed foods like they were going out of style. He was also pre-diabetic, had high blood pressure, and suffered from acid reflux.
Like Mike, there are those who say that sugar addiction does not exist. Are you among the naysayers? The critics often say that the “science is not there to support the claim” and that it is, therefore, not proven. Now, if you are a sugar addict reading this, I can personally guarantee that you want to jump out of your seat and scream right now because you KNOW that sugar addiction is real!
Can you believe that this is even a debate? If you are a naysayer, please take a look around you. Go to any sporting event and observe what is being served at the concessions. Go to a baptism, a Bar Mitzvah, a political rally, a birthday, an anniversary, or even a lunch break, and I think that you will agree that there is NO debate! Sugar is EVERYWHERE and EVERYBODY is eating it!
If this does not convince you, then please take a look at the graph below. You don’t see a parallel increase in broccoli intake now do you?
In addition to common sense, experts, such as Dr. Robert Lustig, have conclusively shown that increased sugar consumption leads to sugar dependency and a plethora of nasty related diseases, such as heart disease and type II diabetes. Palmer et al. shows us how sugar addiction leads to increased levels of type II diabetes (Palmer et al.). Mounds of research now link processed food addiction with more hardcore addictions, such as alcohol and recreational drugs.(1) We KNOW without any doubt that human beings are fully capable of becoming physiologically addicted to sugar and processed food. This is FACT. But is there more to this puzzle? Why is it that 70% of us Americans are guzzling sugar and pounding processed foods? (See www.sugarscience.org )
Are You an Addict?
Let’s go a little deeper here. Do you find yourself incapable of saying “no” to the temptations of of your favorite treats? Do you find yourself repeatedly sinking your teeth into that bar of chocolate despite all of your will-power and good intentions? If the answer to this question is “yes,” then please read on because in this mini-series we are going to explore one of the hidden WHYs behind your sugar addiction.
Just to be clear, I am not here to pretend that my article is going to solve all of your sugar addiction problems; however, I can tell you with certainty that it will give you some insights that you have not considered, and it will help you get started on your personal road to recovery.
The Two Headed Snake of Sugar Addiction
Most people do not understand that sugar addiction exists on two levels. One is physical or physiological, and the other is mental or psychological. If you hop onto the Internet and search for “sugar addiction recovery programs,” you will quickly discover that over 90% of the blog articles, addiction programs, and strategies used to battle sugar/food addiction only focus on the PHYSICAL element of sugar addiction. It is almost certain that you will be told that you have to exercise more, eat less, take caffeine out of your diet, and make sugar very scarce in your diet. You are also likely to be told that eating whole foods will help starve your cravings.
While I agree with all of these tips and strategies and use them in my coaching practice and in my sugar extinction course, I have yet to see somebody truly rid themselves of a sugar addiction without first addressing the MENTAL element of sugar addiction. Be my guest; go to any blog, forum or Sub Reddit, and you will likely find that 90% of the discussion is centered on physical techniques and tactics. You will also find that those who have succeeded using these techniques have done two things: 1) knowingly used the strategy that you will learn in this mini-series, or 2) unknowingly used the strategy that you will learn here!
When you read the blog comments, you will find the same pattern repeating over and over again. You will hear stories of people trying to go cold turkey only to crash and burn later. You will see people yearning for more physical strategies, and, sadly, you will find hopelessness. Do any of these people sound like you? If so, my motivation is to offer you some hope.
Are You Hungering For Something More?
Let’s now address one of the most powerful mental/emotional elements of sugar addiction that may surprise you. I speak of your calling or your PURPOSE of life! Say what? Are you serious Griff? Make no mistake about it; if you do not know your purpose, you will not “live on purpose,” and without a purpose, you are essentially begging for sugar/food addiction.
Take a moment to think of the most successful people in your own life and those who are more universally known. What do they all have in common? If you were to do your homework on them, you would find without exception that they all foster an extraordinary sense of purpose. In other words, they are all driven by something far greater than the temptations of the moment. You will RARELY find a highly successful person in any walk of life that is dominated by addiction.
Where Is Your FOCUS?
As hard as it may be to admit, sugar addiction boils down to a lack of FOCUS. I know this may sound weird and possibly harsh, but hang with me. What do all of your successful friends have in common? They all have a PURPOSE to FOCUS on! They have something in their lives to live for and to aim for, and they do not need the distraction that sugar or junk food provides. Their purpose drives them, inspires them, motivates them, and gives them the energy to push past any obstacle in their path. These people would literally die for their purpose, and they will gladly tell you so. Paul Chek has beautifully summarized this by stating “When you have a dream or a purpose big enough, you don’t need a crisis.”
You may ask yourself, “Are these purpose driven people just lucky or the pick of the draw? Are they a rare breed that God has specifically anointed?” To answer your question gently: HELL NO! The sobering and liberating reality is this–YOU have the same opportunity to find your own purpose! It is your purpose/focus that will drive you out of the confines of sugar addiction, and I am excited to show you how in this mini-series.
What Excites You?
For now, I am going easy on you and simply asking you to contemplate what EXCITES you in your life!? Ask yourself the question: WHY am I here, and what inspires me more than anything? In other words, what is your WHY? What are you here to accomplish and contribute? What drives you? Get ready to dig deep!
Thanks for reading, my friend, and please stay tuned for Part II coming shortly! Remember, my friend, to never excuse away your inner greatness and always remember:
Life is Good!
Griff
References:
1- K.j Harmon, “Addicted to Fat: Overeating May Alter the Brain as Much as Hard Drugs,” Scientific American, March 28, 2010. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=addicted-to-fat-eating