Alright friends!!! Just for the month of January!!! Let's start this year off with a positive change!!! As I sit here and recap on the holidays. Besides being extremely sick for most of the season. I still had to be the perfect host and mommy and wife and etc. I had numerous parties that I hosted and went to. At all of them there was an over abundance of sweet goodness!!! I am actually a bit thankful that I was not 100 percent so not to over indulge on all the goodness that surrounded me.LOL
So, how can we start this year off right? Let us say no to everything sugar!! Wow!! I know, you are thinking I am craaazzy!! Well, I might be crazy but what I do know is that our bodies mainly our panaceas need a bit of a break!! We need to level our blood sugar levels so we are not constantly putting undo stress on our bodies. Let me explain, so what happens is an influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body's blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin, which the body uses to keep blood-sugar at a constant and safe level.
Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, so that when you eat sweets high in sugar, you're making way for rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which have been linked to cardiovascular disease. Very interesting factoid!!! Complex carbohydrates(which partly are our fruits and veggies)in the body tend to be absorbed more slowly, lessening the impact on blood-sugar levels. Not as fun as refined sugars, but so much better for you...:o) Although the sudden rush of sugar into your blood stream can give you an quick energy boost(yeah baby!!) it triggers the release of insulin which lowers it and over time as you body becomes depleted of nutrients, your metabolism becomes inefficient resulting in poor energy and weight control. Your liver converts the extra sugar to triglycerides (blood fats) and bad cholesterol(actually excessive cholesterol).
Eventually this leads to a number of health problems such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, heart disease, mood swings(watch it now!!), yeast overgrowth(not so much), osteoporosis, premature aging(really), poor immunity, degenerative diseases and increased risk of cancer.
So how can we start?
Well, one day at a time!! :o) But, that doesn't mean go cold-turkey. Try reducing your sugar-intake in levels!! For example, if you are drinking a cup of tea or coffee reduce your intake by half. Then each week eliminate sugar by half or quarter until all sugar is gone!!! If you cannot live without sweets then try natural sweetener but still use very moderately. Stevia or agave are pretty good choices.:o) So let's do this together!!! Remember, it is a day in and day out process!! It is a journey. A journey for better health. One thing I always say to my clients, friends and family is as long as you are good to your insides your outsides will follow--your outsides are the gravy to all the hard work you put into your training and your taking control of your nutrition.:o) Always rememeber!! Stay fit, Have fun, and stay focused!!!! Be blessed my friends!!!
