THE LAST TEN POUNDS – Episode 7
I like listening to Brenda Lomeli. I watch my weight, and it fluctuates probably 5 pounds, this way or that way. And it’s not a big concern to me. But I like to watch my weight as a rough indication of how I am treating my body. And, though I am not aiming to lose ten pounds, the principles Brenda teaches in her Last Ten Pounds podcast are principles that are helpful in other areas of my life as well.
Today, for example, in episode 7, she teaches us how to tell ourselves the truth about our circumstance and about our options, and how to really own our progress in that way. And I want to talk about that principle primarily, but first, in case any of us have forgotten (not likely), here are the reasons, from Brenda, to stay away from sugar:
- it messes with your hormones
- it messes with your blood sugar levels
- it throws out your hunger signals completely
- it causes inflammation
- it is a toxin and a poison in our body
- it’s actually an anti-nutrient
- it activates the reward system meaning that it’s going to reinforce that behavior, causing cravings and
- that just leads to that vicious cycle
Brenda doesn’t even mention half of the reasons sugar is bad for our bodies. And we know that sugar is bad for us! I preach it to my husband and my children. I am trying to get the grandparents on board. Ha ha ha.
So why are we still consuming it?
“When your body ingests sugar, your blood sugar spikes and your body releases insulin to lower it to a safer level. If the insulin brings your blood sugar level a bit too low, as often happens, your body craves foods that will raise it and increase your energy. Sugar. You’re on a blood sugar roller coaster, and it’s hard to get off it.”
The Washington Post
As a life coach, Brenda is a student and a teacher of the model. And in the model, sugar or the sugar cravings that we experience, would be found on which line? The C line, right? Our craving for sugar is just a neutral circumstance.
What gives it real power are our thoughts around that sugar craving.
“What do you want more: To have your favorite treat or get to your goal weight?
If your answer is that you want to get to your goal weight, then remind yourself of that.”
Right. And here is the crux of the message I wanted to share today:
“A lot of women say to themselves constantly that they can’t have sugar, they can’t have chocolate. And if you think that way, that’s your problem. The reason you feel deprived is because you’re telling yourself you can’t have it when you want it.
The truth is not that you can’t have sugar or that you can’t have chocolate. The truth is that you’re choosing not to.
The truth is you can have anything you want at any given moment, but you’re choosing not to have sugar so you can get to your goal.
If you allow yourself to think that you can’t have it, that’s when you feel deprived and restricted. That is also when people end up sabotaging their goals and binging. Remind yourself that you’re choosing not to, and feel empowered.”
Do see the difference – can you feel the difference? How would we approach education differently: I have to homeschool my kids because the schools aren’t in full-time VERSUS I am choosing to homeschool my kids because the schools aren’t in full-time, and they deserve more than just a part-time education.
“You are excited, focused, committed and determined. Notice how different this kind of thinking is.
If you truly want it and it works for you and your goal, then have it, love it and enjoy it. But if (it conflicts with your goals and) you are more excited about your goal, own your choice.
That is how you start being the boss of your results. You always have a choice. So remember that choice is up to you!”
“ And we know that sugar is bad for us! I preach it to my husband and my children. I am trying to get the grandparents on board. Ha ha ha.”
LOL