The Fizzy-O-Logy of Sugar Addiction Pt: II
Simple Steps to Break Psychological Sugar Addiction
Hello, my friends! I hope you are treating life well and reaping the rewards! In my last post, I discussed both the physiology and the “whys” of sugar addiction. In this post, we will further explore the specifics of sugar addiction, and I will also give you some simple steps that you can take to curb and/or eliminate a dependence on sugar.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to sugar elimination; however, it does offer a few critical steps that will get you headed in the right direction. For a complete text on this subject, please check out my e-book, Sugar Freedom: Breaking the Bonds of Sugar Addiction. It is loaded with a holistic approach to get you off of sugar once and for all.
If you are addicted to sugar, please know that you are addicted to it in two ways: Physiologically and psychologically. I gave you a primer of physiological addiction in my last post; so if you have not read it, please do so that you know what you are up against. Without further adieu, let’s address some simple steps that will help put a stop to a psychological sugar addiction.
Psychological Sugar Addiction
“You are guilty by association!” Ever heard the phrase? This phrase perfectly illustrates our mental addiction to the Sweet Evil. In essence, we become psychologically addicted to sugar because we ASSOCIATE it with pleasure! Of course, we know that sugar tastes good, but I am not talking about the physical pleasure that we feel when we consume it. Rather, I am speaking about the “state” that it invokes. For example, when you are with friends and having a good time, chances are good that you are in a positive “state” of mind.
In essence, here is the equation: You are having a good time with your friends, which your brain interprets as pleasure, albeit psychological not physiological. During this moment of pleasure, you take in sugar, which adds an element of physiological pleasure as well. With this double whammy, you begin to link sugar with pleasure in your nervous system. It is like Pavlov’s dogs salivating because they ASSOCIATE the ring of the bell with food. In your case, you subconsciously associate the pleasure of your friends with sugar, thereby, compounding your addiction to it.
What To Do About It!
With sugar addiction, you must begin to associate pain to consuming sugar and pleasure to being sugar- free or sugar-limited. For example, if you are overweight, you can take a picture of yourself (preferably of an area that you are not pleased with, like thighs or your gut), and you can vividly imagine how sugar is contributing to what you are looking at! I know this sounds harsh, but this is exactly what you need because you are now starting to link sugar with PAIN instead of sugar.
Other ways of linking sugar with pain is thinking of how it is destroying your health. Watch a video about how diabetes destroys your health, and see what it can do first hand. If you witness the devastating effects of excessive sugar intake first-hand, you are more likely to associate it emotionally with pain rather than pleasure. Witness loved ones that are functionally disabled because of their poor nutritional habits, and see how it has affected their lives in a negative manner.
It is these kinds of activities that will help you begin to associate sugar intake with pain, and, thereby, help your nervous system link it with pain, too. This is key. It is only when you link sugar with pain at the “gut” level or neural level that you will begin to make change. In other words, your nervous system will begin to associate sugar with pain whether it is physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, or otherwise. So your job is to be creative and to make sugar as undesirable as possible by linking it with undesirable consequences in your life.
Here are some simple ideas to get you started:
- Associate sugar with disease, disability, and degeneration, which, in reality, is exactly what it will lead to, so you don’t even have to lie to yourself!
- Associate excessive sugar intake with gluttony. Become a third-person bystander and watch yourself indulge in sugary treat after sugary treat. Ask yourself, “Why can’t this person control himself/herself?” The point of this exercise is to see you indulging in behavior that disgusts you.
- Imagine what your life would look like if you continued in this path of addiction. How would it affect your health, relationships, economic potential, spirituality, and so forth?
In short, you want to make it PAINFUL! I know that this flies against the face of conventional and politically correct wisdom, but it is only when the pain of NOT changing is greater than the status quo that you will actually make change.
In my next post, I will conclude with the second step of psychological addiction and give you some insights on how to permanently change your mind set. Good luck my friends and always remember,
Life is good!