Time for the "Sugar Talk"

There are a few things in life that just aren't fun to talk about. I've been cruising along the weight loss road, eating my chocolate, everything is going great. As I approach my target weight, something interesting starts to happen, the weight isn't quite coming off as easily as it was. Rachel and I try to "tweak" a few things, give it a little more time but unfortunately, not making a whole lot a progress. And then it happens...the words no dessert lover wants to hear "it's time for the Sugar Talk."

Now I know that chocolate has sugar in it - I've worked it into "my plan". But here's something I hadn't thought about before, other foods with sugar in them. The other day Rachel was asking me about how much sugar I had had so far that day. I proceeded to tell her that I hadn't had much at all, just a couple of chocolate covered almonds. Within the conversation, I mentioned that I had made banana bread the night before and had a slice of that. Rachel pointed out to me that banana bread has sugar in it, so it counted as a "sugar thing". I never really thought about that before. In my mind chocolate/candy = sugar. It never really occurred to me that other foods were considered sugar foods. That was a rude awakening. So apparently I have more sugar in my diet than originally thought.

Now you might say, what's wrong with sugar? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that sugar needs to be completely cut out, but through my weight loss battle and nutritional counseling, I have learned a few things about sugar intake. Sucrose, which is table sugar, is processed differently than fruit and vegetable sugars which go to the liver first. But sugar goes directly into the blood stream, causing insulin to be released in large amounts to "clear" the blood of the sugar. But this then causes "low blood sugar" within a half hour, making you feel tired and cranky....so....you then crave more sugar...and viscous cycle begins....

Basicly, the less processed food you eat, and the more slow burning carbohydrates you can replace sugar with, the more fat you will loose and the better you will feel, because your blood sugar will stay stable.

I am working up to a day (or maybe even two) with no sugar. It's a little scary but I think would be interesting to try. I just want to see what it feels like. I'll keep you posted when it actually happens.