Sugar

If we do not utilize the sugar in our bodies by expending energy, it turns to fat. This is a fitness fact that most of us know. What many do not know is how sugar causes us to age prematurely, as well. This is why so many alcoholics look older. Not only does an overload of sugar weather your face, but it is also toxic for your liver.

Sugars are: fructose, Lactose, sucrose

Fruit sugars (fructose) are seen as helpful because of the vitamins and antioxidants they have. However, sugar is sugar and if again, not utilized it turns to fat. This is the same for lactose (dairy products) and simple sugars or starchy and whole grain carbs. Sugar is a gut wrencher that loves to posses the midesection of the body and is the culprit for those who acquire diabetes, in most cases.

When glycation occurs sugar will attack collagen and elastin, which are key elements that lead to preservation of the fountain of youth. When this process occurs it mutates and creates more by products aside from lines and wrinkles. It creates advanced glycation (AGE)s. Further damage occurs. The best way to counteract this is to stick with clean foods. This means keeping food in it's most organic form - no sauces, salts, chemicals, additives or sugars.

Many people do not realize that they even have what is called low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. There is so much attention now around high blood sugar or Type 1 and 2 Diabetes. Low blood sugar is dangerous and can lead to a coma. Symptoms include:  chronic fatigue, weight gain, slow metabolism, irritability, cravings, PMS, yeast infections and damage to organs. You can go through bouts of low blood sugar, which may not always give you a diagnosis of having this disease. It happens often with bodybuilding, figure or fitness competitor diets and is a big contributor why many gain so much weight after restrictive meal plans that have the absence of whole grain carbs. Whole grain carbs and fiber are helpful in balancing sugar levels. Also eating every 2.5 -3 hours will keep them balanced. 

Many people do not realize the direct link between sugar and their immune system. Sugar also directly effects our brain and ability to concentrate. When your blood sugar is low, it can actually impair your memory. Your body cannot adapt to a quick jolt of sugar without side effects. High glycemic index sugars weigh heavily on your body and your brain. After a workout, your body has low blood sugar, so adding something that has a high glycemic index, such as a piece of fruit (fructose) is okay and will restore sugar levels to a point of balance. Just by eating differently and timing how you eat your carbohydrates can make all the difference is whether your brain shrinks and you age more quickly.

Obviously, it can cause you also to crash and feel tired. Using a low glycemic carb, such as oats or some form of a fibrous carb has a time released effect on the body. The sugar comes into the body and metabolizes more slowly so you have sustained energy throughout the day. This is ideal if you are going to do an endurance activity over a long period of time. Ideally, you should begin to inspect labels. Five grams of sugars is all you should get per serving, unless you are approaching some form of activity that will have utilizing a lot of energy. Sugars are beneficial at this time. However, getting a nutritious source of sugar over something like a donut that lacks substance, is never your best bet. Empty calories can cause you to crave foods because your body in actuality is craving something nutritious. This is only a signal that your body is off balance not only because of sugar, but due to vital nutrients.

A mistake people often makes is with Breakfast. The most common breakfast is cereal and juice. Let's look at the labels on your cereal. It is no surprise that this leads to a major sugar crash early in the day and is directly what causes people to fatigue faster at work. Concentration becomes harder and productivity lessens. There are misconceptions about oatmeal, for instance. It's healthy right? Not if it is in a packet and has apples and cinnamon or other additives. That will up the sugar significantly. What we are giving our kids for breakfast is a huge contributor of ADD and hyperactivity. Kids actually are having trouble learning because of low sugar levels within a few hours after breakfast. Many breakfast cereals Jackie Warner states in her book, Why You're Fat is the same as "candy". Some kids eat so much cereal it is a staple for them. It does not have protein and if it does not have fiber than it is straight up sugar, add milk (lactose) and you have a big sugar cocktail. Breads and bagels are the same, if they are not a whole grain or wheat than again, Jackie Warner states, "it is the same as a piece of chocolate cake". It's scary what we feed our children at parties with this perspective, no wonder they are bouncing off walls, crank, fatigued, hyperactive and bouncing off walls. You can see the effects on kids shortly after they have candy, they become somewhat brain dead like they are zoned out or just outright goofy.

If you really need to get this under control, I suggest you go to your fridge and cabinet and begin to remove everything that has over five grams per serving of sugar. Look  for hidden sugars, especially sugar alcohols:

Maltitol

mannitol 

sorbitol  

, which are terrible for your body and can cause disease in the gut.

Look for:

beet sugar

brown sugar

cane sugar

confectioner's sugar

corn syrup

 dextrose

fructose

high fructose corn -syrup

invert sugar

lactose

maltodextrin

sucrose

Source: Why You're Fat

One of the biggest scams when it comes to hidden sugars is products that say they are fat free. We are talking not only about all those lovely looking safe cakes, cookies and salad dressings. What people don't realize is that SUGAR WILL MAKE YOU FAT, all forms of it. Fat doesn't even really make you as fat as sugar will. Avoid all and any forms of diet products. Weight Watchers should be ashamed of themselves even putting their brand on these misleading labels.  Instead of fat free, go for low calorie. Even what we hope is going to be a great meal substitute like a protein bar, can hoard loads of sugar. Not all bars or even shakes are the same. Pay attention to what they use for fillers. Sugar is a big one. We also need to pay attention to the sauces and condiments we use. They too, like ketchup are mostly sugar and another reason to use only herbs on our food.

Sodas actually cause our brain to crave bad foods. This is because of the effect the sugar has on our brain and how that response signals our hormones. Can you imagine how much sugar is in a Dunkin Donuts coffee when we say cream and sugar. Cream (lactose) and however many tablespoons of sugar are a double whammy. Add some caffeine and we are seriously buzzing.

With all this information in mind, the formula for success is simple: eliminate sugar and you won't want sugar. Sugar causes you to want more sugar. With this in mind:

1) Eat fibrous and complex carbs

2) Clear out your cabinets and refrigerator

3) Truvia is a good sweetener to try and avail at Whole Foods & Health Markets

4) Exercise is good to prevent cravings for sugar. The endorphins make you feel good, which is what your body associates that sugar will do for it.

5) Eat healthy snacks throughout the day and it is wise to make sure you have them around. It is worth investing in a small car cooler or insulated lunch pack.

6) Avoid a lot of caffeine, it actually causes your blood sugar to fall.

7) When you get healthy nutritious balanced meals, you will notice your desire for sugar subsides. 

Just like me, you can walk by your favorite old vices and not have to reach, grab and eat and eat and eat. You will see how quickly you are in the clear. I just smile at the bad stuff now and walk away. Where you go your brain will follow, just try not to even look at it, if you are still weak, eventually this will be more natural and sugary, non nutritious foods will not even taste good to you when you do crack on occasion.

Non-Judgement & Acceptance

"In his heart a man plans his course, but God determines his steps"....Proverbs 16:9

I love the moments when there is a breakthrough with people. The people who trigger us the most wind up being our greatest teachers. They teach us who we want or do not want to be. They can create movement in our lives out of sheer envy or a source of inspiration that makes us realize we too can be "this or that".

Today, an email came through from an African American woman who is a participant in a spiritual workshop I am an assistant for. How ironic! The very woman who was now reaching out to me was the woman in the group who I triggered the most. During our first workshop I assisted (which I had been a participant of in the past) thought she and I would "compete" with one another. She wasn't sure she trusted me, etc. She didn't value what I had to say because I was "not the teacher". She expressed this during some exercises we did on our judgments of others.

The exercise goes like this:

We sit in a group and go around the circle confronting one another about our judgment of them. "I experience you as ______and it makes me feel _______? (emotive/emotional word).

When people initially do this exercise they believe these judgments are accurate. However, in time through the workshops you learn, our judgments and perceptions of others come from OUR REALITY/PERCEPTION of things. "One man's fruit is another man's poison" is what is revealed through this exercise. Not everyone sees someone the way you do. While in the workshop, all of this on the surface information becomes so transparent. At the end, we all read our life story. It takes 3 days to get through them all. Everyone is blown away by others stories. It explains so much about how a person now operates and their perceptions, values, etc. The shift in the group is one of non-judgment, but into a place of compassion.  It is easier to recognize that we can all serve eachother through non-judgment and compassion in such profound ways.

Originally, she expressed a lot of anger about her life in the group. During her life story, she shared sexual abuse by a stepfather for years, growing up in very poor areas with lots of crime, racism, etc. She learned to be a survivor and disassociate from her real feelings. White people were (IN HER WORDS) "the enemy". Men depended on women for money. She hated white men particularly (not sure why when her stepfather was black too).  Despite her upbringing she was determined to survive and make something of her life. She is now a Harvard Graduate and a very successful developer. The next workshop, we did the same judgment exercise. This time she surprised me, I was waiting for her to attack me verbally again. Although, she always asked "how is your grandfather" and was interested in hearing how I cared for my grandparents during tough times and all the family struggles around this. She looked into my eyes, "Michelle, you are someone I see as a very caring loving person. I see you like a sister and are someone I can trust, you are very intuitive." Of course, I loved it and realized she was developing more compassion and could see things from a more loving perspective. The anger must be dissipating.

Today, when I got her email, I quickly agreed to meet her at Starbucks. She was at a tipping point with her marriage. She was vulnerable to me (a new "white" friend)? This was huge that she could erase my color for a moment and see me as a helpful not hurtful (this is a very deep core issue with her).  I could not be more flattered to be there. I know I am the girl for the job because those that trigger you hold the magic key to something that needs to be addressed inside of us! Funny, how I had always judged her as a very intuitive strong woman who I would really like to get to know. A few years back, I would have held my judgments as well about her.

Her marital situation was presenting her with some complicated issues:  She is successful, he is in debt, she wants to travel, he can not afford to (he once was successful, but his spending habits and the economy changed and so did his financial situation, he is not keeping agreements they made, they do not share assets that are separated by a prenup. He wants to be on her deed and feels that she should include him in purchases - she asked him what he means, he has no answer". This triggers the hell out of her.

Remember, this lady is all about "SURVIVIAL" and anyone threatening that is going to trigger her defense mechanism. She learned not to trust her own stepfather and that men depend on women from the towns she grew up called Hustle and Battery. All her bells and whistles were going off! 

The issues are not entirely spiritual issues, but daily issues that we face as couples.  I let her know that it's like an alcoholic, if he chooses to keep spending although he is broke, let him do it on his tab. It's not your fault if he hits rock bottom. We all must take responsibility for ourselves. You can watch on the sidelines with wisdom and just keep your finances straight. What's there to argue about really? Arguing is a power struggle and all usually about control or manipulating another person to do things your way. You will ALWAYS be powerless trying to master this feat. If you clearly value different things and you can not come to some agreements or common denominators other than children,etc. You are co-existing and can 1) see it as a roommate situation, live your way and let him live his way (total acceptance - "it is what it is" or 2) take a leap of faith and stop" prostituting" yourself - yes "prostituting"!

Caroline Myss in her best selling book Sacred Contracts writes about the Prostitute Archetype: it's not about selling one's body for money, it comes into play more when our survival is threatened. How willing you are to sell yourself - morals, talents, integrity, intellect, your word, your body, your soul to survive, hang on to or please another. If you have faith in yourself, no one can buy you nor will you sell out. When you have believe in a higher power, you know you can take care of yourself and that the Divine is looking out for you. You will always be okay. Abundance comes in many forms, not just monetary. I am a testimonial to this personally.

We have a short period of time to fulfill our destiny. You can not control or change another. We all know the saying by now, “Accept the things we can not change and change the things you can". We all have our vices. So many of us are driven by our pain. When we transform ourselves we are driven by purpose that is not corrupted by our past. Let others learn for themselves what the high road for them. Some people just aren't ever going to go deeper nor are they meant to this lifetime.  It's not your job to judge or play God. Life is so much easier when we relax, let go and trust.

Then came the breakthrough today, she said in tears without any of her usual rant of anger, "you are so right, I'm putting my judgments on him because these are my fears".
The one thing she did say is the common bond that keeps them close is her step daughter (remember what I mentioned about the stepfather abusing her). How profound is it that she would be presented with this loving opportunity. Is it possible through her step daughter she is healing her checkered past?

The final tidbit of spiritual advice I had for her is that "it is what it is". Accepting someone for who they are is the greatest gift you can give. That is REAL LOVE. However, ladies, I’m a strong believe in creating your own assets and protecting them ….love will not keep your head above water in this economy!