Is that tantalizing chocolate candy bar over there is calling out to you? Does
that decadent dessert in the window beckon you? Is that donut saying, “Eat me!”
These are descriptions I often hear from people plagued by sugar addiction.
Indeed, folks worldwide often feel that sugary treats are luring them in. Of
course, advertisements galore don’t make passing up on sweets any easier. But
the sad reality is that sugar addiction or what I call “over attachment” to
sweets and simple carbs is an affliction that confronts about half—if not
more—of us.
While I empathize with this kind of sugar frustration and sugar agony—I’m an
ex-sugar addict myself—it really is preposterous to believe that sugary foods
have you enslaved or that they have your name on them! Whoa! It's time to squash
those desperate sugar desires right now!
Here are 4 simple, sure-fire techniques to squash temptation immediately, just
as it confronts you. When sugary foods "call out" to you:
1. Get the scoop on why you’re “hungry.”
Ask yourself if you’re really famished for nutrient-lacking red licorice or
hard candies? Of course not! Do you instead really long for love,
tenderness, joy, friendship, laughter, sympathy, a good workout, a dose of
spirituality, a better job, or improved communication with your significant
other? In other words, are you completely malnourished because your heart
and soul aren't getting the things you most cherish and need? When I kicked
sugar back in 1998, asking myself questions such as these helped me to turn
away from sweets time and time again until proudly saying “no” became a
wonderful, ingrained habit. So I invite you to become conscious in the
moment as to the reason(s) for your so-called "hunger." That powerful
knowledge can lead you to better, healthier actions. Or, think of this in
another way, as the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (where I studied),
suggests. When sweet temptations are about to get the better of you, ask
yourself: “Do I want that sugary `treat because I’m hungry or am I really
yearning for `primary foods’ such as relationships, exercise, spirituality,
etc.?”
2. Get angry at your destructive habit!
Now it’s time to have some fun. Get furious at your pitiful reliance on
sugary and processed carbs. Of course, I'm NOT suggesting that you hate
yourself. Just become outraged at your behavior and the fact that you lean
on these culprit carbs when you're blue, lonely, moody, etc. Now go
ahead—get repulsed by your heinous, potentially health-damaging actions.
Become revolted by the fact that you let sweets strip you of your dignity
and force you to do demeaning things like digging uneaten candies out of
your garbage can. (Sound familiar?) Get livid at just how low you’ve sunk.
(I'm not a therapist, but tapping into your fury – as I once did – can have
a potent, effective, life-affirming result.)
3. Claim your power.
Realize that YOU alone are in control—not those stupid desserts. It's
entirely up to you what you put into your mouth and stomach. You can
consciously make better selections as to what you'll feed yourself and how
you'll spend your time. Stand in your own corner. Stick up for yourself.
Choose to treat your body and soul with respect, dignity, admiration and
even encouragement.
4. Grab nourishment instead.
Now that you’re armed with valuable insights, gotten angry at your stupid
habit and tapped into your inner strength, you can choose something more
healthy and fun. How about a strenuous workout instead? Why not get together
with a friend and go for a walk in the park? Or maybe you could plan a
romantic evening—complete with massage and cute love notes—with your
significant other? Begin to make better, more positive, healthier choices.
Instead of mindlessly cramming quickie carbs into your mouth, pick
activities that nurture and feed your soul. Now go do it!
Remember, if you’ve been habitually turning to sweets for solace, at times
you may still feel that you’re a hopeless sugar addict. Just remind yourself
that sugary foods are NOT calling out to you. You alone have the final say as to
whether or not you’ll treat your body like a garbage dumpster or a temple. You
alone can politely turn down desserts from your sugar-pushing relatives or
insensitive, sugar-addicted friends or loved ones. So delight in taking charge
now now. Decide that temptation does NOT rule you. Choose to nourish yourself in
healthy ways instead.
Know in your gut that you can stomp your sugar habit to smithereens. All you
need to do is put into action simple tips and tactics such as I’ve outlined to
break free from your sugar habit so that you get more energy, better
concentration and maybe even increased libido.
Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C. is the author of Sugar Shock! (Berkley Books).
She is a former sugar addict and “Ex-Sugar Shrew, who is now a “Sugar Liberator”
and certified holistic health counselor. She has helped thousands of people
worldwide to break free of their debilitating sugar habits through her
www.SugarShockBlog, her 21-Day, Stop Sugar Shock! Countdown Diet™ and other
programs. Connie also is an experienced journalist, who has contributed to
eDiets.com, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune and many other media
outlets. To get more simple strategies to squash sugar's temptations, grab a
sneak peek at Connie’s book Sugar Shock! at www.SugarShock.com.
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