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Addicted to Sugar

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This post contains no solutions or suggestions, just a freaky analogy and some sugar-free food for thought.

“Would you like a cinnamon sugar scone?”

This was the refrain from the United flight attendant as she strolled up and down my plane’s aisle. The smell was intoxicating. The man next to me couldn’t resist. He gobbled it up in about 14 seconds as he sipped his complimentary Coke and perused the comic section of the Los Angeles Times.

Frankly, the dude was high. Envision with me the same sweet (see?) voice uttering different words to a plane full of cocaine addicts.

“Would you like a line of blow?” she sings in my daydream, proudly displaying a mirror, a rolled up hundred and a freshly cut line.

I know, this is an extreme parallel, but fairly appropriate. From Dr. Mark Hyman:

You are hooked — a junkie mainlining some of the worst, deadliest drugs on the planet: sugar and anything that turns to sugar in your body. We now know — because it has been scientifically proven — that sugar is more powerfully addictive than alcohol, cocaine or even heroin.

The sugar pusher wears a sly smile. He knows that suggesting to you that you are dependent on his drug won’t hurt his business. Ask your crack dealer, he’ll tell you the stuff kills, then break out a rock and trade you for your crisp ducketts. From huffingtonpost.com:

Twenty years later, as an artisan candy maker, I am always left feeling dismayed by a trip to my local supermarket. Even when you put aside the dizzying array of brightly-colored, artificially-sweetened bags of candy in the candy aisle, there is no doubt that we are a nation addicted to sugar.

We all sell drugs and break the cardinal rule of the game in the process. Never get high on your own supply.

Have you not invited loved ones into your home and broken out a spread of bagels and coffee? “How do you take it, one lump, or two?”

If this gets serious enough, I’ll stage an intervention at the local Y. You bring the refreshments. We’ll party together.

Kap

  • Jason K

    I am 100% addicted. I justify it in numerous ways, every day. Help?

    • The Al

      Justification is just “resistance’s” way of tricking you into or out of doing what you ought to. Read “The War of Art” by Stephen Pressfield. He defines and identifies the force known as “resistance”, and the many ways in which it can act to prevent you from doing what you know you should be doing. Learning to consciously be aware of your internal justifications, and having the ability to understand and control them is a pivotal step.

    • Gabe Kapler

      I’ll think this through, Jason. Perhaps I’ll write a post on it. Thanks to you, TA.

  • Ryan Ross

    Hi Kap

    Great post, when do you think the FDA and other organizations will come out and state that Fat is okay and Sugar is really causing the obesity epidemic? There definitely is an addiction factor here without a question.

    Cheers
    Ryan

    • The Al

      If you’re waiting on the government for something like that you’ll probably be waiting a long time. Especially with the way lobbying works. Might as well start taking matters into your own hands. Educate people. Spread the knowledge. Get active and get the information out there. It’s our only chance. Be the change you want to see in society.

      • Gabe Kapler

        Like this back and forth, Ryan and TA.

        Kap

  • Boojie Maw

    In my humble opinion, coffee is meant to be enjoyed black and unadulterated!!

    • Gabe Kapler

      I appreciate it the same way, BM. Thanks for stopping by.

  • Michelle

    I’m addicted to this blog. When is the intervention for that?

    • Richie Ernst

      I agree! I cured my Facebook addiction, now I need an intervention here too!

    • Gabe Kapler

      Michelle and Richie,

      This is a healthy addiction, or so I tell myself.

      Kap

  • Chris

    Kap,

    100% agree! Not one for fad diets but a 12 dollar book on Amazon was a good read and very ensightful to the damage that sugar has done to us as a nation and a race!! The 100. I am now avoiding sugar as much as possible!! Hard to pass on my Captian & Coke tho!! UGGGHHHH

    Go Tigers!

  • Chester

    For those interested in learning about a “no sugar” diet, see (try googling) NBA player “Steve Nash no sugar.” In 2009 or 2010 while in his 30s stopped eating white sugar and wrote about how he feels it helped his health and career.

    • Gabe Kapler

      Thanks for chiming in, Chester.

  • Dave

    I place blame solely on Def Leppard. Hope your hip is improving. Keep up the great posts.

    • Mike L.

      ^ Like!

    • http://kbeyazdancer.wordpress.com kbeyazdancer

      Agreed! All Def Leopard’s fault

    • Gabe Kapler

      There y’all go, playing with words. Nice.

  • Richie Ernst

    Sugar is the devil’s poison, right up there with diet soda!

    • Gabe Kapler

      Indeed, Richie.

  • Carol

    Hi my name is Carol and I’m addicted to sugar and wheat. I am a true addict. I remember binging at 10 years old. Food was readily available to me whenever I wanted it and no one ever told me when to stop eating. My Mom, bless her heart, was from the south so food was love. I grew up a chubby kid with all the good stuff that comes along with it like low self esteem and an aversion to team sports. I did get hooked on horseback riding, but the horse usually ends up exercising significantly more than you do! I spent many years yoyo dieting, included fad diets, regular diets and starvation diets.

    It wasn’t until I turned 30 that I found what I was good at. I had always been fascinated by bodybuilders, both male and female (Cory Everson!). Being overweight most of my life I never thought I could do that. I hired a trainer and during our first meeting I said. “I’m so sick of trying to be skinny, make me *expletive* HUGE!” But it had to be all natural no drugs (steroids). I’m 5’10” and half German. So no matter what I do I will never be petite, which is ok with me. But I needed to change my shape and my eating. I went and watched a couple amateur body building shows and it made me realize “I could do this!” We picked a show a year away I got strong fast and I committed to the eating plan. The only reason I was able to do this was because I happened to find a book called “Food Addiction: The Body Knows” by Kay Sheppard. It talks about sugar addiction and wheat addiction. She likens the processing, and the addiction, of both wheat and sugar to that of heroin. (I agree. When I’ve been clean for a while and something triggers the addiction and I give in, there is almost and euphoric feeling, a haze washes over me. After the binge there is guilt, shame and feeling physically ill. Good Times!!)

    When I finally removed every trace of refined sugar and all wheat from my diet, I no longer craved it at all. Getting rid of them wasn’t easy because it’s everywhere and in everything. This was way back in 1998, before the big gluten aversion and most people, including my trainers, thought I was nuts! A year later I had dropped 50lbs of fat and gained lots of natural muscle. I won my show and went on to compete the next year and won as well. I became a personal trainer and even opened a nutrition store. I was all in. Then it happened, I guess I got cocky, and started sneaking foods back into my diet that included wheat and sugar. Next thing I know I was out of control again. I packed on 30 lbs.

    Over the past 15 years my weight has yoyo’d. I do really well for a while and then something will happen (you know, like life) and my way of dealing with is to binge on my drug of choice. I do better when I’m clean. I know this logically, but emotionally and physically it’s a whole other story. Even with all my experience and knowledge, I struggle everyday.

    So at 47 years old and currently 50lbs overweight, I’m working on getting clean again. I do go to the gym. I love lifting heavy. It is one thing I am good at. Currently benching 50’s and curling 30’s. I have biceps that a lot of men would be jealous of, only they are covered in a layer of fat. I have decided to compete in figure for my 50th birthday. Which is in 2 years, 2 months and 13 days!! So time to get clean for good!!

    To any of you that managed to read this whole thing, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I didn’t even realize how much I needed to tell someone. It has been truly cathartic. And a Big Thank you to Kap for this Forum.

    • Richie Ernst

      Stay strong Carol!! “Do not ask for as easy life, ask for the strength to endure a difficult one” - Bruce Lee

      I have Crohn’s Disease and my son is autistic, I most definitely know that life is tough! Stay positive and start with small steps. Like Kap preaches, you are what you eat! Start eliminating one thing at a time, so you are not restricting everything at once. Good luck!

      • Carol

        Richie, thank you so much for taking the time to send me these positive an encouraging words when you have so much on your plate. I appreciate it more than you know!!

        • Gabe Kapler

          Carol,

          I’m thrilled that you found a place to get some thoughts out in writing. Hope you come back again.

          And thank you, Richie, for providing Carol with some love here.

          Kap

          • Carol

            Kap,

            I really enjoy what you and your readers share on this site. I was a little behind on my reading last week and after I wrote this, I found your Wrestling Mental Demons post. Needless to say I related. I printed out the list to carry with me and will re-read the post often.

            Thank you again,

            Carol

    • Marc

      I wish you the best, stay strong and go out and kick some ass in that bodybuilding competition!

      • Carol

        Thank you Marc! Will do!! :-)

      • Gabe Kapler

        Love this, folks. Strong work.

  • http://kbeyazdancer.wordpress.com kbeyazdancer

    Another Right on Post Kap! Tweeting and sharing with my students. You keep bringing the inspiration to us and we’ll keep reading love.
    -Kelebek

    • Gabe Kapler

      Deal.

  • Kyle G.

    Good post Kap. I definitely agree that sugar is extremely addicting in this country. I prefer eating fruits to stop my sweet tooth cravings but give me a bag of skittles I’m eating all of them…

    • Gabe Kapler

      Feel you, Kyle.

  • Mariana

    Read “Sugar Blues” if it’s still in publication. Years old, but still relevant. I know sugar’s addictive, when I take about 4 days to get over it.

    • Gabe Kapler

      Thanks, Mariana. Always good to hear of new material.

      Kap

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