4/6... Your Brain On Drugs

Total Calories: 1320
Day 84…                                                                   Days till Weigh-In:  3

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Here’s another interesting discovery I recently made. Steadily reducing sugars and fats from my diet over these past few weeks has dramatically cut the cravings for them.  As incredible as it seems, it’s true, I do not crave sugar and fat the way I use too. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s actually science to support it.

Your Brain on Sugar

Sugar fuels every cell in the brain. When you overload on sugary foods, it may alter the parts of the brain that control how much you eat. In lab studies, rats that binged on sugar had brain changes like those of getting off drugs. In humans, just seeing pictures of milkshakes triggered brain effects like those seen in drug addicts. It was strongest in women whose answers showed they were more hooked on eating.

So my first question was “does overloading on vegetables counteract the need for sugar”? Not in my personal experience – but what has apparently happened is over time my blood and brain has stopped needing a sugar fix – why? For the same reason the ex-drug addict eventually stops wanting or needing drugs. The addiction breaks. And even more amazingly – there are days that I get to the midday snack and realize I still have nearly a thousand calories left in the bank. I’m not as ‘controlled’ by food as I use to be. It’s not driving me through the day. I now make a conscience decision to eat rather than reacting to a false sense of need. I must tell you it’s very empowering.    

There are many studies investigating sugar as a possible habit forming substance. The overwhelming conclusion is yes, there are strong similarities between binge eating and drug addiction. Sugar does meet the criteria for substance abuse and may be ‘addictive’ for some individuals when consumed in a binge-like manner. This conclusion is reinforced by changes in limbic system neurochemistry that resembles drug addiction.

So while eating fruits, vegetables, grains and fiber won’t override an intense need for sugar and carbohydrates, apparently removing them from the diet will.

Personal Thoughts:
Went walking with friends at my favorite WW mall - shopping for spring jackets. After a great walk we decided to play Xbox Virtual Bowling – first time for all of us. We got a 5 minute lesson and then proceeded to have an unbelievable workout –we played teams for approx.45 min. I will definitely be doing that again. J

Daily Tracker
[42]		Sunday  4/6/14
Time	Qty	Food Item	Calories	Sub
9:30a	Breakfast
	1	English Muffin w/PB2 & Strawberry Preserves	230
	1	Hazelnut Crème Decaf	60
	1	Bowl Organic Mixed Greens	0
		Breakfast Calories:	290
	Snack
	1	McIntosh Apple	60
	1oz	Mixed Nuts	160
		Snack Calories:	220
1:30 AM	Lunch
	1	Southwestern Wrap w/Grilled chicken, fresh spinich, seasoned tomatoes, onions and coleslaw	600
	4	bites of sugar free apple pie	125
	2	Unsweetened Iced Tea w/lemon	0
		Lunch Calories:	725	1235
	Snack
		Snack Calories
	Dinner
	1.5c	Crunchy Raisin Bran	285
	3/4c	Skim Plus	85
	1	Large Bowl Mixed Greens	0
		Dinner Calories	370	1605
	Snack
	1	Hazelnut Crème Decaf	60
	1	Hard Boiled Egg	75
		Snack Calories	135	1740
		Total Calories Burned	<420>
		Total:	1320	√
		***Daily Caloric Goal:	1900
Water (1 cup per circle)
O  O  O  O  O  O  O  O  O  O  O  O   O  O  O			12
1 cup = 8 fluid oz = 0.24 liters
Time	Activity		Burned
60 min	Walking		<240>
45 min	Virtual Bowling - Xbox		<180>
	Total Calories Burned:		<420>
*Calorie/Activity calculation:  20 or 30 Calories for every 5 minutes (depending on exertion)

http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-sugar-addiction

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2235907/

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