Breaking the Sugar Addiction - Step 3
Published on Jun 13th, 2008 in Sugar Addiction with
If you’ve just arrived, or you’d like a review, check out my posts about sugar addiction and the solution to sugar addiction. I’m following the 7 steps outlined in Potatoes, Not Prozac.
I feel it’s time for me to officially start the next step in breaking the sugar addiction, and according to the plan for sugar addiction outlined in Potatoes, Not Prozac, Step 3 involves:
- eating three meals a day
- at regular intervals
- with sufficient protein.
Eat Three Meals a Day
Why just three meals and not little meals throughout the day?
For sugar addicts, stopping a meal can be difficult. Having three meals a day trains the body to start and, more importantly, end a meal.
It’s easy to turn those little meals into an entire day of constant grazing and snacking. That’s not necessarily because the sugar sensitive individual is undisciplined. No, brain chemistry may be more to blame in this instance. A true sugar addict is thought to have the short end of the stick when it comes to brain chemicals such as serotonin and beta endorphin levels. These neurotransmitters help you have better impulse control and the ability to turn down sweets, among other things. Sugar sensitive individuals may have low levels of these chemicals.
Having three meals a day also teaches impulse control, which can be difficult for a sugar addict, especially in regards to sweets.
You can still eat sweets on Step 3; just move them to an official mealtime. In fact, moving sweets to meals decreases sugar’s effect. Having sugar after eating protein, rather than eating the sweet by itself, will diminish that crazy sugar high and subsequent nasty crash.
Exceptions to the three meals a day rule are those who are very active and those who are pregnant or nursing. These individuals will need what is called a “planned snack” of protein and a complex carbohydrate. The snack is planned for a certain time of day with foods chosen ahead of time. A planned snack involves being mindful of the foods you choose and eat instead of spontaneously grabbing junk food without thinking. Learning to start, stop, and pay attention can still play a role with planned snacks.
Eat at Regular Intervals
Why? To keep blood glucose levels steady, reduce cravings, and keep you from feeling irritable, shaky, and lethargic. Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons suggests aiming for about 5-6 hours between meals, but not longer than 6 hours (except between dinner and breakfast the next day). Going without eating for more than 6 hours can lead to a big drop in blood glucose levels, and that’s something we want to avoid!
Eating at regular intervals also requires you to pay attention to your body and the foods you put in it, both of which are important in healing from a sugar addiction.
Eat Sufficient Protein at Every Meal
Protein is essential in helping the sugar addict’s brain and body heal. Protein also keeps blood glucose levels steady. And it aides in the production of serotonin, one of those chemicals that is usually low in sugar sensitive persons. Serotonin is what contributes to feeling calm, in control, and able to say no to sweets.
Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons recommends a daily protein intake for the sugar addict to be between 0.4 and 0.6 grams per pound of body weight, depending on the individual, health conditions, and the extent of healing that is needed.
Generally speaking…
| Food | Quantity | Protein |
| chicken breast | 3 ounces | 20 gms |
| egg | 1 large | 6 gms |
| beans | 1/2 cup cooked | 7-9 gms |
| beef sirloin | 3 ounces | 26 gms |
| pork tenderloin | 3 ounces | 22 gms |
| tofu | 3 ounces | 12 gms |
| mozzarella, part skim | 1 ounce | 7 gms |
| almonds | 1 ounce, raw | 6 gms |
| peanut butter | 2 tbsp | 8 gms |
.
It Takes Time
Step 3 is stated to be one of the hardest steps in Dr. DesMaison’s program. It’s hard because each part of this step is sometimes the very opposite of what the sugar addict prefers! Therefore, it’s also important to take your time while on this step and not expect perfection right from the start. Good advice for me!
Step 3 has a lot of behavioral healing woven into it… Don’t be fooled into thinking that this part is so easy you don’t have to work on it. If you are sugar sensitive, Step 3 is the key to getting your body chemistry in balance. Give yourself as much time as you need to master it (Potatoes, Not Prozac, pp. 137,138).
The good news is that mastering Step 3 will provide noticeable, positive changes. The sugar fog will begin to lift, and the need and desire for sugar will slowly grow weaker. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe, just maybe it really is possible to be free of the sugar monster forever!
Photo credit: WordRidden
I find the three meals a day part especially interesting- I’m a TOTAL grazer. My breakfast is spread out across a couple hours and then I eat small amounts couple hours throughout the day. The only real “meal” I usually eat is dinner, because I’ll eat it with other people. But it totally makes sense to learn when to stop eating! I’ll have to experiment with it a bit.
That’s interesting, I’ve never heard that b4 about only 3 meals.
I think I need to implement a “no eating after this time” at night.
Sagan and Darla,
Sure, try it out for a while and see if the 3 meals a day works better for you.
Now some may argue that eating small meals throughout the day is better, and this does work for many people. It’s a valid point.
But the purpose the 3 meals a day recommendation in this instance focuses on the sugar sensitive person and what works better for these individuals. The purpose is to help the sugar addict get stable, steady, heal, and ultimately break free of the addiction.
So if you know you’re addicted to the white stuff, I say it’s worth considering. I mean, what have you got to lose, right?!
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Lately Ive been eating 3 big meals instead of my usual 5-6 small ones, and while my hunger and the nutrition i recieve hasnt really chnaged i have noticed that i just dont think baout food as much. realistically, im thinking about it half as much, because im eating half as often. i think you gotta just do whats right for you instead of listening to all the magazines and new “research.”
I definitely need to work on the sugar thing…ugh! It is a challenge no question.
Mark,
It definitely is! But conquering the sugar addiction is something I feel strongly about, something I feel is worth the time and effort!
Step 3 is my favourite step - with a little time and effort it becomes a habit and it’s so doable. And this program works - big time . I’ve been detoxed for a year now and I don’t miss sugar one little bit.
If someone had told me I would feel this good I would have laughed my socks off. Keep doing what you’re doing - radiance is just around the corner!
And if
If you need any further info look at Kathleen’s website Radiant Recovery.
Selena,
So good to meet another who has gone through the program AND to hear how successful it was for you! It’s very encouraging and just reinforces my commitment to stick with this!
Hopefully I will continue to progress and write about my experiences on every step. Even more importantly, I hope my experiences will help another in return.
Thanks.