A Confession: Why I Broke Up With Sugar
This feels like a confession of sorts, but I know in my heart it is time to share a big truth of mine, in the hopes that it will help others find theirs.
What I want to tell you is that I was seriously addicted to sugar for many, many years. For people in the scientific community who are still debating whether in fact sugar can be “addictive”, my clients and countless men and women have drawn their own conclusions. Sugar is extremely addictive to those who are sensitive to it.
My sugar addiction started as early as I can remember– and looking back I can see that both of my parents, although they didn’t have weight issues, were sugar addicts as well. I can also see that I was in good company- my aunts on both sides of the family, one grandmother, one grandfather, and one of my brothers all had unusual relationships with anything sweet.
There are many stories and memories I can share with you around the lure of anything sweet and it’s starring role in most happy family memories for me. All of the ways sugar permeated my consciousness would take a book to enumerate.
For now, I simply want to share with you that I struggled mightily trying to manage my love/hate relationship with all things sugar. I tried every possible strategy to find ways to enjoy the foods I loved and craved in a balanced way. It never worked.
The most shattering part for me was my dual-identity as an eating disorders “expert” and professional, and as a true addict. On one hand, these experiences have made me a truly compassionate and informed therapist and writer, able to help my clients in very powerful ways.
On the other, my inability to manage my own addictive behaviors, in spite of knowing so much baffled and shamed me.
When I turned 50 almost 2 years ago (oy, still can’t quite get my mind around that number..) I decided I wanted freedom. Make that freedom and peace. Freedom, peace, and integrity. And a sense of dignity. And oh yeah, I wanted my power back. And a smaller butt. And did I mention freedom?
As with anything to do with changing crazy obsessive addictive eating- you really do need to find your deepest connection to your Higher Self, your Divine Nature, your God-given inspiration to shine your very brightest light.
I believe that is our real “job” while we are here. To be the brightest light we know how to be. And nothing dimmed mine down like the aftermath of out-of-control eating, which usually involved some form of sugar. I was done.
Was it hard? Kind of, but not in the ways I expected. It took a good 4 days of what felt like detox- cranky, exhausted, antsy and all. And about two weeks total to feel really at ease with it, where I could look at pastry and dessert type things passing by in restaurants or in store-fronts, and think, “look how pretty” with a sort of protective lens over my old craving-brain and senses- able to appreciate the beauty without wanting or needing to indulge. And it took some more time to really ease those neural-network based connections of certain places, rituals, people, and all that felt connected to eating sugary stuff.
But as when I quit smoking, and a couple other things which I will not share here, the good feelings and glow of connecting to my Higher Self and all of the good stuff that comes with that, was way more powerful. I felt really good. I looked pretty damn good. I love living in alignment with my values, my work, my love of health and wellness and all.
I like very much having no regrets when I wake each morning (well, at least around what I ate!). I like that I can look my clients in the eye and tell them they really can do this- and know it, and mean it, and have lived through it all myself.
I love that my doctor thinks I am a model of healthy eating and living (if you had known me in my 20’s……). I love that I am not doing anything to hurt myself with food or anything else that I am aware of.
These feelings fill me up and satisfy me to my core on every level that matters. All from taking my power back from sugar, and respecting my body’s sensitivities and preferences.
So much of this is about perspective. You need to find one that you can feel really good about when you are attempting to change something big in your life. To come from inspiration not deprivation is where your power and hope lie.
I want that for you!!
xox
Lisa Claudia Briggs
HEY DON’T FORGET:
New clients get an introductory “breakthrough” session with me for just $97 if purchased before Valentine’s Day. This is a serious discount from my daily pricing, and I want you to benefit.
We can get a LOT DONE IN 50-MINUTES by Phone.
Because I have 23 yrs of experience, know the eating-thing inside/out, and because of my intuitive gifts, you will get a lot out of one session.
Email me today at Lisa@IntuitiveBody.com or call me directly at (978) 772-0009.
Leave a Reply