New Years Resolutions. A great idea? Or some kind of ancient, barbaric compulsion slated for January 1 that is actually just setting yourself up for a torturous emotional disaster??? Hmmm. The jury is still out on this one.
It is always great to think of getting a fresh start, starting over, rebirthing ourselves in whatever way we feel most compelled. But setting ourselves up for failure can be a devastating beginning to the new year. So instead of making lofty and probably unreachable goals, I am actually just aiming to get myself back to where I was BEFORE the holidays started. Ha!
The holidays can be a recipe for binge eating stuff (and other vices of course) that we know are not good for us…yes? the temptations are everywhere, habits of old, oh it’s ok…. it’s the HOLIDAYS, right?? Parties with kitchens filled with plates of brownies and cookies, chocolates, and Aunty Myrtles homemade whatever pie, can upend any conscious eater’s self-discipline. All this is a lovely and comfortable way for me to confess that I fell off the [sugar-free] wagon. Actually…while I am confessing…I did it more than once… like, three days in a row. Ugh. There I said it. I feel better already. Out of denial, and back into a place of accountability. Phew!
I have created a relationship with food over the years that I am very happy and proud of. Having dealt with numerous health issues over the past few years…and some pretty serious ones at that, I have a new appreciation for feeling good…physically and mentally. I have overcome some pretty serious addictions in my life, but food related/sugar addictions have a difficulty factor all of their own. It makes it seem easy to give up something when you can go “cold turkey” and not run the risk of running into such item, (say anywhere you might be eating…food???). For instance, It has been a while since they put cocaine in sodas! But sugar??? It is pervasive and omnipresent. I mean absofreakinlutely EVERYWHERE…and even worse, it is hidden by fake names in stuff you would never dream would have sugar in it (canned kidney beans…I mean, really? wth?!?)
Well, it wasn’t the damn canned kidney beans that got me. (Wouldn’t that be hysterical…I got whacked by freakin’ Green Giant!) It was one of those [apparently] irresistible, smooth, little chocolatey, “Lindt” balls…My intention was to only have ONE. You know, a treat, right???? HAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAA!
So, 4 or 5 later (and some other things I won’t even mention…haven’t I done enough confessing already today?), I was in a full-on sugar binge for the first time in a year or two. Of course, I have plenty of excuses that I could use… “I was really stressed,” or “It’s the holidays!” or even “A little won’t hurt me…..”
But it did! It hurt me a lot. It made me flat out crazy, for one thing. I felt angry and warped for like two whole days. And puffy! Eek. That’s not pretty at ALL. But that wasn’t even the worst part. I realized my whole body was in total resistance. On day three of aforementioned overindulgence, I could hardly walk up the mountain without stopping to rest. The same mountain I typically glide up- nearly every day…effortlessly. I felt pain and fatigue like I was trying to climb Everest with a really bad flu! I could not believe how shitty I felt. And all I could think about was how sad it was that most of the years I did the hardest and longest hiking and backpacking, I was regularly eating sugary foods (erroneously thinking I was giving myself quick energy!) Seriously… I fueled my entire Appalachian thru-hike practically on sugar alone…I was even proud of my “Whoopie pie” induced sprints up mountains! How amazing could I have felt if I had been actually nourishing my body with real, whole foods and not Snickers bars and Little Debbies???? I wonder…
So what is the point of this self-disparaging rant? Well, other than being SO happy to have that vile toxin out of my system…(it takes me 3 full days to recover from the effects of sugar), I am so happy to have my nonresistant mountain climbing juju back! I am more grateful than ever to have had this experience to truly understand in such a physical and mental way, how what I eat affects my performance on a daily basis.
So, I am simply suggesting that if you want more energy….to feel vibrantly alive, eliminate disease, lose weight and have mental clarity, please consider removing sugar (Sorry….that means ALL sugar) out of your life. Your body will absolutely be all the healthier and happier for it. Not to mention sugar is what grows all the yucky things we are so desperately trying to avoid…cancer, parasites, candida…etc.
It starts with reading labels. Ween yourself off by not having it in the home. Keep snacks that you actually like around, so if you have a craving, there is something to reach for instead of the Oreos. It is a habit like anything, and I promise it gets easier. I can’t speak for the holidays (obviously! HA!) but please know you are not alone. I am happy to help anytime if you want to talk about it.
Happy New Year and Namaste!
