Wow, what a journey! I definitely took the long way around. You see back when I became gluten-reduced, that was in 2002, and probably even before that, I knew I needed to cut out the SUGAR. In 1993 I began building my own house. I started with a basement, and I purchased used kitchen cupboards. Hung up inside one of the cupboard doors was a list of the ailments and diseases that sugar contributed to. It was a pretty long list, 3 pages were taped inside the wall. I read the list, thinking if I left it there, it would remain as a reminder for me to cut down on my sugar intake! When I got new cupboards for my home, I even transfixed the list to a new cupboard door. I didn't take the list down until I moved out of my own house in 2008 to go live in someone else's (bad mistake, both actions, but life lessons).
Though the information was in front of me, I couldn't let go of the sweet taste of sugar. I did quit adding sugar to my tea and coffee. My weight was still on a steady increase. Not until I was beginning to feel so uncomfortable in the heaviness of my body, the aches in my joints, along with the fatty liver diagnosis, did I make some changes. In 2002, I stopped eating bread, cookies, cakes, donuts (Tim Horton's walnut crunch, was a standard, and I didn't stop at just one) and other sweet treats. Prior to that, I could not imagine life without eating these things, they were my love affair. I thought there would never come a day that I could stop eating them. I lost a bit of weight, but what I did instead was I traded them in for potatoes, rice and pasta. In 2005, I ate my last wheat pasta meal. It was a really nice restaurant in Sault St. Marie during my son's hockey tourney there. After that I lost about 40lbs. I also cut down considerably on sweetened drinks and drank water more often and had more portion control. However I still found away to have sugar in other forms. I say I was gluten reduced because I never ever checked packages, I ate the occasional slice of pie (yes gluten) and had breaded chicken the odd time. At that time I also joined a group - OverEater's Anonymous. I surely think that was a valuable support at the time.
In 2006 - 2009, I embarked on a spiritual journey that included four 4-days fasts. During these fasts, a part of my prayer included ridding my body of sugar cravings. I also thought that if I can go without food and drink for 4 days, surely I could be more successful with food overall. I didn't have any incredible visions on my fasts, but a few significant dreams and also visits by humming birds. It turns out the hummingbirds are excellent metabolizers. They are a very gentle creature, radiating their beauty and they journey far! Everyday, I also said a prayer many times over, to be able to be put on my true path, a path to utilize my gifts to help in this world. I was certainly glad when the last fast was over, - 4 days out in the woods, no food, no water, just me, the mosquitos, snakes, and other creepy crawlers.
Later on my sugar reduction journey included no white or brown sugar, and I switched to more natural options, treats with organic cane sugar, raw honey, maple syrup, dates, coconut sugar, dark cacao chocolate, etc. When I was taking my Holistic Nutrition program, I was certainly eating more whole foods, fruits and vegetables, and kept to that, but still, I enjoyed the sweet treats a wee bit too often. Diabetes is in my family on my father's side. My father has been a diabetic for 40 plus years. He is one of my greatest mentors, as he was able to make the changes to avoid insulin and only the last 10 years did he start using pills to help his Diabetes. Holistic Nutrition can help people reduce their need for these allopathic bandaids.
Once I finished the program, and begun my business, however the stress of that, the late nights, and hormones remaining out of whack, I was still in the battle with sugar! It's funny that way sometimes. Some of my colleagues often commented that being in school, stressed, with meeting deadlines, early-into-the-morning studying and assignments, other daily life tasks and stressors, that sugar cravings seemed to become an issue again. As much as I knew as a holistic nutritionist, I succumbed to those cravings. From 2005 to now I managed to hold my weight fairly constant, but over the past few months, some piled back on. So you see, I have lived many of your struggles, with body image, self acceptance, weight gain, chronic fatigue, loneliness, trying this diet and that diet. I needed my own Holistic Nutritionist!
Metabolic Balance program and coach to the rescue! 15 days of Metabolic Balance and the only sugar I am consuming is in the 2 servings of fruit a day. What is so amazing is that I eat plenty, I am full and satisfied! I have next to no cravings, no lows, no crashes. I am feeling tremendously less fatigued, I don't feel like a sloth, I have lost the inflammation causing my body and joint aches. I sleep so soundly now. I also lost the murkiness of my brain. I can't say brain fog, because it was more like brain mud. Gone, gone, gone! Oh, and not that numbers on the scale are important, however so far I did lose 8lbs. and 1 inch off my waist, and this is just the beginning! I found my way!
What is the Metabolic Balance program?
Metabolic balance® is an innovative all-natural nutrition program that brings balance to your hormones, optimizes your health, and leads to a new invigorating lifestyle resulting in successful long term weight management. It is backed by over 25 years of scientific study and is managed by dedicated physicians and nutritional scientists.
The foundation of the program is metabolic balance's unique capability to develop a truly personalized nutrition plan based upon an in-depth analysis of your unique blood values, medical history, and personal likes and dislikes. Your personalized nutrition plan acts as your “road-map”, indicating exactly which natural foods you should eat in order to orchestrate the biochemical changes needed for reaching your desirable weight and health goals.
Metabolic balance® is 100% natural! There are no prescribed injections, pills, shakes, or proprietary foods. Nor, as with some diets, are you required to keep “points” or count calories. Your local grocery store and farmers market can easily provide all of the wholesome nutrient rich foods listed on your personalized nutrition plan.
You are accompanied through the four phases of your program by a certified metabolic balance® coach. Your personal coach guides you toward reaching your ideal weight, encourages you to avoid yo-yo dieting, and helps you to embrace the amazing realization of a new healthy lifestyle and a true awareness of well-being. It is safe, healthy, economical, simple, and has all the elements needed for you to succeed. Metabolic balance® has served over half a million participants so far and looks forward to serving you.
Keeping it Real Simple, but still scrumptious!
I, myself am now certified as a Metabolic Balance Coach, available to help you on your Metabolic Balancing journey!