How to Kick Sugar
Why is Sugar so Bad for You…?
Well, for starters, sugar promotes rapid fat storage. But, there’s a lot more that sugars to negatively impact your physical wellbeing:
- Sugar Weakens Your Immune System
- Sugar Causes Insulin Resistance
- Sugar is As Addictive As Hard Drugs
- Sugar Speeds Up the Aging Process
- Sugar Raises Your Risk of Disease
- Sugar Is Empty Calories
Seriously, if you want to quickly pack on a few pounds, then, eat lots of refined sugar!
Did you know we’ve been eating more and more sugar over the past 200 years?
That’s what has led to rising obesity numbers.
In 1822 the average person ate only 6.3 lbs of sugar per year, compared to 152 lbs of sugar in 2019!
That’s more than 20X as much sugar in our modern diet! Is it any wonder we have an obesity problem???
One of the biggest reasons for so much sugar consumption is today’s overly processed foods are filled with so much sugar.
Refined sugar is included in virtually every single processed food.
This why we always attempt to redirect people toward natural foods instead of processed foods.
But, cutting sugar from your menu plan is easier said than done.
Unfortunately, once sugar becomes a part of your daily eating, cravings strike, causing you to eat it even more frequently.
So, let’s take a look at a few good “Sugar Kicking” tactics:
#1 Eat More Protein
A diet rich in protein keeps you full, satisfied and less likely to crave sweets. A great way to make sure that you are getting enough is to plan each meal and snack around a protein.
Plan breakfast around eggs, lunch and dinner around chicken and make snacks to include hard boiled eggs, turkey slices or even baked meatballs.
#2 Avoid Artificial Sweeteners
One of the biggest myths is the idea that “calorie-free” artificially sweetened beverages don’t impact your fat loss results.
Not true. The truth is that the diet soda that millions of people drink every day is actually making it harder for them give it up.
While the diet soda itself doesn’t contain calories, it’s been proven to cause cravings for sugary foods. So, put down the diet soda and pick up a refreshing bottle of water.
#3 Don’t Let Friends, Family and Coworkers Sabotage You
The sad truth is that people in your life will try to sabotage your low sugar diet.
You’ll run into:
- That pushy person at the office who insists that you eat a donut
- The family member who dishes up a bowl of ice cream
- The friend who comes over with a plate of her home-baked cookies
Here’s how to address your potential saboteurs.
Just sincerely thank the sugar-pusher for his or her gift. The, simply tell him or yer you wish you could eat it, and then blame us – your fitness partners – as the “enforcers” who demand you cut back on sugar!
#4 Stick With Fruit
What’s sweet, colorful and comes in hundreds of flavors? Organic, seasonal, fresh fruit, of course!
As you remove refined sugar from your life, feel free to add in some natural sugar by way of fresh, local fruit. It’s amazing how satisfyingly sweet fruit is – it’s truly nature’s candy.
#5 Change Your Palate
As you begin to limit your intake of refined sugars, you’ll find that your tolerance for sugar decreases.
This means that something that didn’t taste sweet before – say a green apple – now has uncanny depths of sweetness. What’s happening is that your sweet receptors are becoming more finely tuned.
That’s because you are no longer overwhelming your palate with sickly-sweet refined sugar.
#6 Workout Like You Mean It
A regular, challenging exercise routine will not only get you into amazing shape, but it also reduces your cravings for sugar.
It’s true. The endorphin rush brought on by vigorous exercise is an even more powerful “feel-good” than the pleasure generated by indulging in sugary foods.
Make challenging, consistent exercise a part of your life… FOREVER!