Surely it was my pants not me…
I knew my pants were fitting a little tighter than usual, but it had to be the pants, not me ….right? A casual step onto the old scale sadly revealed otherwise! Somehow I had gained an extra 25 lbs. How could I have gained 25 lbs? The simple answer is – SUGAR!
Not feeling well? Always tired? Constantly dealing with one health issue or another? If you live in America then you have got it – not necessarily by choice, but you’ve got it nevertheless. You most likely consume an exorbitant amount of sugar every day – most of it unknowingly! You might be surprised where it hides.
My initial quest was to feel energized and alive rather than exhausted. How can I live a healthier life? This Google search led me to Dr. Stephen Gundry.
His book, Diet Evolution, was just what I needed to wake up and decide that my general health is worth investing in. If you had asked me to eliminate refined sugar and complex carbs from my diet prior to reading this book, I would have laughed in your face. I was drinking soda all the time. I loved me a big bag of Sour Patch Kids or a midnight helping of ice cream. I needed the science and knowledge Dr. Gundry provided to make an educated choice about my health.
How much added sugar does the average American consume in a year? Sugarscience.org suggests that it is around 66 lbs of sugar a year…..YIKES! So how much sugar are you consuming every day? Here is a simple way to find out. 4 grams of sugar are equivalent to 1 teaspoon. Beware of sugary beverages – they will kill you….literally! Even natural fruit juices are an overload of sugar. The average 12 oz. can of soda has 39 grams of sugar in it, almost 10 teaspoons. If you have more than one a day the sugar adds up fast.
Where I am now
I am now going on six months with a severely reduced intake of sugar and carbs. The result – a much healthier me. I sleep better at night. I have more energy during the day. My mind is sharper. I am usually in a better mood. Also, a nice side effect is that the troubling 25lbs have disappeared along with an extra 5lbs.
3 Things You Can Do
First – Get a rough idea of how much sugar you consume in a day. The recommendation from the American Heart Association is no more than 25 grams (women) or 35 grams (men) per day. Keep track for a day. Read every label or check the nutrition facts on what you are eating and calculate it.
Next – Figure out what you can eliminate to lower your sugar intake. You needn’t drop sugar cold turkey. Some suggest it is as addicting as Cocaine, so cold turkey might give you some serious withdrawal symptoms – like irritability and headaches.
DO IT – Make a change, any change be it small or large, your general health will thank you.
If you are like me, and want to know exactly why and how sugar is killing you, read the above mentioned book. It is a great read and makes a lot of sense (to me). Whether you are all in, or just make some smaller changes you will absolutely feel a difference. Who knows, you may finally be able to lose those stubborn pounds that have troubled you for years. It really is a nice side effect!
Share below in the comments ONE thing you are doing to make a change in your health!