Friday, March 30, 2012

ARE YOU AN ADDICT?

What is 4x more addictive than cocaine and heroin?
 Has an opiate effect like heroin?  
Causes loss of control?  
Addicts will continue use despite adverse consequence? 
 Has a 97% relapse rate (higher than any other drug)!! 
 Certain types will cause liver damage equal to that of alcohol? 
Withdrawal symptoms include:
HEADACHES
TIREDNESS
FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS
CRABBINESS
MOODINESS
AND IS SOLD ON EVERY STREET CORNER IN THE USA?

SUGAR

Sugar comes hidden in many forms:

Brown sugar 91% to 96% sucrose.  Confectioner’s sugar, or powdered sugar.  Corn syrups Three major producers’ contain 42%, 55% and 90% fructose. Dextrose comprises most of the remainder.  Dextrose, or glucose, is also known as corn sugar.  High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) twice as sweet as sucrose, twice as addictive and can damage the liver like alcohol  Honey. Invert sugar.  Lactose, or milk sugar. Levulose, or fructose, is a commercial sugar much sweeter than sucrose. Its sweetness actually depends on its physical form and how it’s used in cooking. Fructose, known as a fruit sugar, occurs naturally in many fruits.  Raw sugar consists of coarse, granulated crystals formed from the evaporation of sugar cane juice. Raw sugar contains impurities and cannot be sold in grocery stores due to FDA regulations.  Sorbitol, mannitol, malitol and xylitol are sugar alcohols or polyols. They occur naturally in fruits and are produced commercially from such sources as dextrose. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol made from a part of birch trees. Sorbitol, mannitol and malitol are about half as sweet as sucrose. Xylitol has a sweetness equal to sucrose.  Sucrose, or table sugar, from sugar cane or sugar beets consists of two simple sugars, glucose and fructose. It is about 99.9% pure and sold in either granulated or powdered form.  Turbinado sugar.  Breads, muffins, crackers, cereals, bars, protein shakes, yogurt, milk, canned foods, sodas, sports drinks, health drinks, energy drinks all contain added sugar.  There is virtually no processed product that does not contain added sugar anymore!



Starches, Sugars, Processed Chocolate, Gluten and casein containing foods all have the same effect and were are high calorie drugs manufactured for addiction.  Julia Ross talks candidly about the sugar-drug addiction and it's impact on the world in The Diet Cure.

In 2006 The World Health Organization stated "Our only recommendation for ending the world-wide physical and mental health crisis is to cut all sweetened foods to below 10% of calories (less than 250 calories per day)." 35 million people have degenerative diseases linked to sugar consumption. Every year this substance KILLS more people than TOBACCO and ALCOHOL combined!

So what causes this addiction?  Dr. Fuhrman explains:


The science on food addiction has now established that highly palatable foods (low-nutrient, high-calorie, intensely sweet, salty, and/or fatty foods - those that make up the majority of the Standard American Diet) produces the exact biochemical effects in the brain that are characteristic of substance abuse.
Junk food is ubiquitously available, legal, cheap, and socially accepted; therefore, it becomes the drug of choice for many of us.
The following are some characteristics of addiction to a substance or behavior:1 
  • Compulsive use of the substance despite negative health and social consequences
  • Tolerance - over time, progressively greater amounts of the substance are needed to reach and maintain the “high”
  • Withdrawal symptoms (link toxic hunger) when the substance is discontinued
  • Activation of reward pathways (including the dopamine system) in the brain
Many of us have had the experience of tasting a junk food or dessert, and then feeling the intense demand from our brain: “MORE!” We feel a complete lack of control, and our commitment to excellent health all of a sudden doesn’t matter. These feelings originate from the dopamine reward system – dopamine is a neurochemical that regulates motivation, pleasure, and reinforcement related to certain stimuli – such as food. The amount of pleasure we derive from eating a food correlates with the amount of dopamine released in the brain.2
Recent research suggests that overeating and obesity create greater desire for palatable food, but reduce the pleasure derived from consuming these foods – resulting in a progressively worsening addiction.


Need help with your sugar or food addiction?  My Health Coaching programs will support you in finding freedom from food and living a balanced and healthy life.  





References1Taylor VH, Curtis CM, Davis C: The obesity epidemic: the role of addiction. CMAJ 2010;182:327-328.
2Small DM, Jones-Gotman M, Dagher A: Feeding-induced dopamine release in dorsal striatum correlates with meal pleasantness ratings in healthy human volunteers. Neuroimage 2003;19:1709-1715.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Insanity: The Asylum Week 1 and Primal





So I survived the first week of Insanity: The Asylum.  The week consisted of Speed and Agility (twice), Strength (twice), Back to Core, and Vertical Plyos oh yeah and one day of rest.
When I began the week with Speed and Agility my seemingly uncoordinated butt couldn't get the jump rope to do anything I wanted.  Who actually jumps and squats at the same time, or jumps and criss-crosses their feet!  I have jumped roped my whole life and though I was pretty agile!  I was WRONG!  I felt like I had two left feet!  I thought the worst was over when I came through day 2 (Strength) and day 3 (Back to Core) with a little less difficulty.

Then came Day 4, VERTICAL PLYOS!  I have never really stopped during a workout and haven't felt like I was going to puke during one in years.  Well Shaun T. taught me something, I can still get my ass handed to me and I had to push the stop button.  I didn't wear my heart rate monitor, but I'm sure my heart was at least 190 bpm or more.  Here is a short clip of my post workout.  Happy to say I made it through, but not looking forward to that again.



I completed the week with a day of rest and another go at Speed and Agility and then strength.  I don't know what happened between days 1 and 6, but on day 6 I was able to do all the jump rope moves!!!

I also started my primal diet in conjunction with The Asylum.  After nine months of eating vegan feeling fantastic I had decided to try a vegetarian version of the primal diet.  I have added eggs, raw butter, and some occasional fish back into my diet.  The ins and outs of this diet are for another post. My first weeks results:  I lost 3.8 lbs.  I'll check in next week with another recap!  You can become part of the challenge and do Insanity:  The Asylum too!  Visit TAKE THE CHALLENGE to sign up!

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

What's with all the Insanity?

I have decided to take the 30 day Insanity: The Asylum challenge.What is this challenge?  To become a World-Class Athlete and get back in shape after my injury that put me down for a while!  I'm going to document my journey and see how I feel.  The equipment used for this 30 days include a jump rope (yeah i'm good at that!), an agility ladder (hmmm not so much) and a couple bands.
I have prided myself on being athletic, but after months of slower workouts and less training I feel like an overstuffed couch potato.  Although most that know me know that my version of a coach potato is not the same as the rest of America's. Watch this clip of Insanity to get an idea of what i'll be putting myself through for the next 30 days!


Yesterday Shaun T. my new "coach" sent me through a grueling fit test called the "Athletic Performance Test".  I realized I have my work cut out for me but my numbers stayed in stride with the female on the video!  I realized I have agility but need more speed and absolutely lacking in hand- eye coordination!

Want to follow my progress?
Here are my Athletic Performance Test results for Day 1:


  • Agility Heisman: 8.5
  • Ab progression In and outs: 42
  • Lat pushups- 21
  • Mt Climber Switch Kicks: 44
  • Agility Shoulder Taps- 6
  • X Jump- 29
  • Moving Pushups- 3.5
  • Agility Ladder Shuffle- 13
  • Agility Bear Crawl- 7 
I'll PUSH Play and keep you posted to DAY #1 workout : Speed and Agility