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Licking Sugar Addiction
by Elizabeth Bohorquez, RN, SRN, CPH
No doubt about it - we are a nation of addicts, and sugar ranks
right at the top of the list...
 While
sugar addiction is the most prevalent, widely practiced & legally
accepted addiction in our society, few of us understand it & fewer
still know how to manage it on a life-long basis. Several books have
been published in recent years addressing this issue, a few even becoming
bestsellers, certainly letting us know that people are very concerned
about their health
This "coming out ofthe closet" is certainly a good thing for those
addicted to sugar. While many readershave gone on to experience success,
just as many have failed & many questions arestill left unanswered
relating to the long-term health aspects of these eating plans,as
well as the most asked question of "how does one go on eating like
th
A reality check tells us that while the idea of "getting in control"
is inviting, few are willing to effort or struggle for long, and once
life's stresses begin mounting, the new eating program is quickly
thrown out the window in exchange for the ever popular immediate gratification,
then buried along with the other diet books, gym membership cards
& plans for self-improvement. The failure cycle is enhanced one more
time. and although many sugar-addicted people are over-weight, just
as many are not.Sugar is well known as the underlying addiction to
all addictions, and can be seen hiding under alcoholism, caffeine,
nicotine & drug addictions of all varieties from recreational to over-the-counter,
as well as prescription medications. It is usually a part of any compulsive
behavior & is well connected to anxiety, panic disorder, phobia, and
depression & a host of other emotional
On the physical side, it plays havoc with many chronic disease states,
the most popular being hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia or pre-diabetes,
diabetes, heart & circulatory disorders, certain cancers, gastro-intestinal
disturbances including irritable bowel syndrome, GURD, as well as
PMS & menopause. We can also see it rearing its head in the area of
cognitive functioning,including memory, focus, concentration, mental
flexibility & levels of
It is not uncommon for a golfer or tennis player to have a focus issue
& find it related to dietary intake. Another vivid example is a student
having test anxiety with memory recall problems. Sugar addiction and
under-nutrition are usually screaming out for attention. While the
management of any addiction is certainly challenging, the recovery
from the sugar pest is particularly so, as it is so ingrained in our
daily lives, as well as the way w
From our children's day care center asking for freshly baked cookies,
to our office party, it is all there greeting us over and over. We
cannot sit down and watch a television program or pick up a magazine
without some sugar substancestaring us in the face. But on the bright
side, just as we can be programmed to fail, we can just as easily
program ourselves to succeed. We just have to know ho
There are certain keys to addiction management and successful people
learn to actively employ all of them. It is not enough to know what
to do, as some books would have us believe. Specialized tools are
needed to transfer all knowledge into action steps, even under high
stress situations. Just like in the field of competitive sports, one
works to gain skills, then works to develop them in practice, then
brings them to the competitive arena. As space allows, let's review
some key points about
KEY # 1
Sound knowledge of sugar addiction is a major key to long-term success
& all important aspects should be planted in the subconscious mind
to reinforce the desired
As we begin to learn the subtleties of sugar addiction, we can let
go of our guilt & confusion. We see i's physiological connections
to our family & personal and medical history, past behaviors, addictions
& our and lifestyle choices in general. We no longer see ourselves
and as lacking willpower or as a psychological weakling. As we come
to accept our birth-body physiology, our goal is to understand it
& provide the highest self- care possible. While we cannot go back
& change our and past behaviors, we now have the chance for a fresh
and start, to recover & actually benefit from our past mistakes &
indiscretions.
It is important to have a medical professional take a good history,
one that encompasses your family background. Some of the points that
need review include chronic disease states & conditions, addictions,
medications, age, female hormone issues, stress managemeandt, diet
history behaviors & exercise history. The emotional medical history
can also provide important clues & help in the design of the self-management
A medical hypnotist would also be interested in knowing a history
of your strengths, weaknesses, success, beliefs and motivational patterns.
This allows for designing and setting sensory goals for health and
personal development in relation to th
KEY # 2
A healthy, balanced nutritional
eating plan needs to be designed and planted in the library of
the mind. This plan must take into consideration the information gleaned
from the history taking. The goal is sufficient
protein for the lean body mass and exercise levels, sufficient
fat to meet the body needs, a balance of low-glycemic and high glycemic
carbohydrates to meet the individual needs. For some this may mean
cutting out all refined carbohydrates for awhile, and for others cutting
back on specific foods that are triggering sugar addiction and related
chronic problems such as yeast and/or IBS. Some common offenders include
artificial sweeteners, caffeine, white flour products, rice, corn
a
After clearance from the M.D., the medical hypnotist will often plant
suggestions for enhancing exercise levels, water
intake, compulsive and emotional eating patterns including auto-pilot
or "walk-by" eating behaviors.
Programs for individualized problem solving, including work and home
eating issues, as well as inner motivations for change will often
KEY # 3
Learning the skills of self-hypnosis is a very important key to managing
any addiction, and certainly sugar addiction. Many years ago I designed
a method of practicing self hypnosis "in the moment." I call this
"interactive self-hypnosis." The individual learns to utilize the
subconscious mind as an "inner coach", one who is always ready for
either diminishing roadblocks or enhancing goals. The subconscious
mind-coach works to wake the individual from "auto-pilot" emotions,
thoughts and behaviors that may be working against the goal at hand,
in this case suga
New images, motivations and positive thought images are then put in
place.Success is built one image or moment at a time. Each of these
moments works to enhance the next, building a resilient self. There
are many other tools that work to enhance the functioning of the subconscious
mind. As the student of high level health comes to learn, staying
healthy affects all other goals as well. The more one progresses and
works on this path, the more positive outcomes one gets to experience.
On my educational websites http://www.hypnosis-audio.com
& http://www.sugar-addiction.com
you'lll find over 400 pages of information focusing on the management
of sugar addiction with high level nutrition, carbohydrate management
and mind body tools such as interactive self-hypnosis, awareness meditation
& change tools.There are discussion groups & EZboards filled with
tools to help you design plans for healthy change.
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