The time has come to part ways with an old friend foe.

Sugar has always been my Achilles’ heel.  Sometimes the two of us can live in harmony.  Sometimes we can not. Currently, we can not.  I have been consuming said friend like the world is going to end at any given moment.  I know better.  I know way better.  The problem with sugar is it is addictive.  The more you eat sir sugar, the more you crave it, which makes for an all around thrilling cycle.  Well I am breaking that cycle and walking away from sir sugs.  As part of being a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition you work with a health coach and after speaking with my health coach yesterday, I became increasingly aware of the havoc Mr. sugar is having on my life. My health Coach gently reminded me that sugar not only takes a toll on your physiological health, but on your emotional health as well. Over consumption of sugar can lead to heightened feelings of depression and anxiety as well as disrupting one’s sleep (which heightens the previous conditions). Nobody wins in the above scenario.  Crazily enough, my sugar consumption has been accelerated in the past couple of weeks and so has my less than happy emotions and anxiety.  Not to mention, my sleep has been at an all time low.  In summary, I have been a moody beast and while I am uncomfortable with the physiological implications of sugar on one’s health, I am even more motivated to ax sugar due to the emotional implications of it. Here’s is my plan of attack:

Take out all refined sugar.

Avoid to the best of my ability all other sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, molasses, agave & brown rice syrup. I know sweeteners are in everything, so I am not planning on running a hard-and-fast rule on all sweeteners. However, stevia is still permitted

Add in more of the good fats to cancel out sugar cravings.  This has worked in the past, I am giving it a- go again

unrefined coconut oil, sunflower butter (unsweetened), evoo, ground flaxseed

eat more protein

Metagenic's Ultra Clear PH protein powder

up the probiotics to feed the good bacteria, which will help cancel out the bad bacteria that so badly want me to eat sugar

Wallaby's Organic Greek Yogurt

if consuming a food for probiotic purposes you want to make sure it states "live and active cultures"

a supplement is always helpful

minimize wine- this one may be hard this weekend given the ladies’ trip to Seattle I have planned this weekend.

minimize coffee- I usually only drink one cup a day, so I am cool with this.

I am going to keep processed food to a bare minimum and eliminate wheat & gluten to see if this helps as well.

I am halfway through day 1 and I could really use a cookie.  Spoken like a true junkie…

Happy Thursday.