My addiction to sugar began very early with one of my first sentences as a toddler being, “Candy Mum, PLEASE!”
As my father grew up with parents who worked at a bakery, dessert at the end of each meal became a tradition that he carried into our family as well.
By the time I was a late teen, I was heavily addicted to sugar, dairy, and carbs and was suffering from IBS, lactose intolerance, and recurring yeast infections due to high sugar and flour intake.
My “health journey” has spanned the last 25 years, mostly inspired by the birth of my first child and the desire to not only address some of my own health issues but to give my son a chance to train his palate to enjoy healthier options from the start.
Of course, my commitment to consuming healthier foods has ebbed and flowed over the last two-plus decades, trying different eating plans: from vegetarian, pescatarian, paleo, Whole 30, Braggs, Low Fodmap, Anti-inflammatory, as well as the plant-based Dr. Furhman’s Nutritarian, and Dr. Malkmus’ Hallelujah diet systems.
I have learned so much over the years and have discovered a good balance, especially in the last two years with my commitment to consume high-protein, healthy fats, lean pasture-raised, grass-fed meats and eggs, as much non-GMO and organic produce as possible, no chemicals, no dyes, no “natural flavors” (which can be a combination of hundreds of chemicals and are lab created with the sole purpose of causing addiction to junk foods!) no seed oils, no refined sugar or refined flour.
Reading labels is necessary, but at times overwhelming. I honestly hardly purchase many “packaged” foods at all anymore, which makes label reading less daunting and time-consuming. One thing that has helped me so much is the Bobby Approved app. Health advocate Bobby Parrish, ie FlavCity, and his team continually study labels and the foods at grocery stores and post videos about how to shop for the healthiest ingredients for you and your family. The app has a barcode scanner so you can scan any item you are unsure about and it will highlight the offensive ingredients you may have missed making it easier to reject.
For me personally, balance is always the key to my consistency. I do allow myself one or two guilt-free “cheat days” per month. That way if there is a holiday, party, or we are eating at someone else’s house I can indulge if I want without falling off the wagon completely. And I feel fine because I am not over-consuming causing my body to work so hard to recalibrate.
But honestly, to my own surprise, it has gotten easier for me to say “no, thank you” when at a party and I don’t really miss sweets at all. I feel much better being in control of when I want a treat or not.
It’s not just mere willpower and self-control!
Doing the work of renewing my mind and processing my emotions has been THE KEY to this healthier way of life finally “sticking” for me!
Whenever I am craving a treat, I have learned to stop and ask myself why? Am I looking for a quick hit of dopamine? Am I avoiding an uncomfortable emotion that can be processed instead of stuffing it down with the temporary pleasure of consuming sugar or carbs?
I want to enjoy the LONG TERM pleasure of feeling healthy, more than the SHORT TERM pleasure of eating junk. Because I ❤ me!
And feeling good FEELS SO GOOD!
I keep this sentence on a sticky note on my bathroom mirror to remind myself of how GOOD it feels to KEEP MY COMMITMENTS TO MYSELF!
When I’m sitting down watching YouTube and I remember that I didn’t go for a walk today and my commitment to myself was to simply “move my body” for at least 30 minutes per day, it helps to tell myself, I LOVE ME, I LOVE this incredible body God has given me and I keep my promise to myself and it motivates me to GET UP and GET MOVING! I can even watch a 30-minute video WHILE I exercise 🙂
If you would like to learn how to process YOUR emotions, keep YOUR promises to yourself to eat healthier and make healthier choices so YOU can become the best version of yourself and create a life YOU are proud of living, hit the COACH WITH ME link or reach out with a message today! I’ve been right where you are and I’d love to come alongside you in your journey to FREEDOM! ~Be Blessed, Jenny xoxo
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~JENNY RIEFLIN MINISTRIES~ 