HomedietHow To Stop Eating Sugar Without Losing Your Mind

How To Stop Eating Sugar Without Losing Your Mind

How To Stop Eating Sugar Without Losing Your Mind

See the full video How To Stop Eating Sugar Without Losing Your Mind

And see the companion video: Is It Possible To Never Eat Sugar?

Transcript:

So in this video, I’m talking about

how do you avoid eating sugary foods

without losing your mind?

And I’ll preface it by saying

that I do not consume any sugary foods.

Now, many have said that Kevin

is some sort of superhuman being,

and as much as I liked being called a superhero,

it’s actually not the case at all.

There are some very concrete steps

that I took over the years to be where I am today.

It didn’t happen overnight

and I’m going to share it with you because I think that

in a world where type 2 diabetes is so prevalent,

and a world also where so many people struggle

with trying to stop eating sugary foods

that to whom much is given much is expected

and I’ve been really blessed by finding a way

and a path to stop eating sugary foods,

a way that I’ve been able to share with my clients

and help them, many of them stop eating sugary foods.

Stay tuned and I look forward to sharing this with you.

So in today’s video,

we’re talking about how do you stop eating sugary foods

without losing your mind?

Now I’m going to start by thanking everyone for tuning in

and do be sure to like and subscribe.

We’ve had a tremendous amount of support

for this channel so far,

and I really appreciate being able to share

all that I’ve learned over the past 30 years of my career

helping others with you.

So getting onto it.

How do you stop eating sugary foods

without losing your mind?

The first step is to be in a place

where you’re not beating yourself up.

The Addictive Effects Of Sugar On Our Pleasure Centers & Why There Is Nothing Wrong With Craving Sugar

HPA Axis and sugar addiction

Understand you are surrounded, completely surrounded

by what are called hyper-palatable foods.

We figured out through technology

how to take the fiber out of the natural foods that we eat

and create, by adding certain concentrations of sugar,

salts and fats to create products

that are almost addictive.

Keep in mind, the part of your brain

that responds to sugary foods is the same part your brain

that responds when someone uses opioids

or someone uses a drug like cocaine,

it’s called the HPA axis.

It’s a very powerful part of our body

related to what’s called our pleasure centers.

Now that pleasure response

can sometimes make us, as you very well know,

do things that we don’t necessarily always want to do.

It can make us have cravings for things that

intellectually we know we shouldn’t be eating,

but physically it’s almost like

there’s an irresistible force

that makes us keep on eating all these sweet things.

you can overcome sugar cravings but there is nothing wrong with you

And the important part, to start,

is that there’s nothing wrong with you.

The most important thing of this entire video

is for you to start with the perspective of

there is nothing wrong with you,

and it’s perfectly human for you to crave sweet things.

I want you to even say to yourself,

it’s perfectly normal and human to crave sweet foods.

Now, there’s a reason for that.

And if you understand the reason,

it’s going to stop you from beating yourself up,

and the first thing you want to do

is get to a place where you’re not beating yourself up.

how our craving for sugar keeps us alive

How Our Desire For Sugar Keeps Us Alive

Now, every single one of us have come

from an ancestral background where

if we didn’t have that pleasure center response to sugars,

we would not exist.

How could that be?

Think about it.

An infant, when an infant is suckling,

when an infant is drinking breast milk,

the only reason why that infant knows

that it should be drinking breast milk

is because of an HPA axis response.

When a baby or an infant mammal of any type,

has its first taste of milk,

there are sugars in the milk, not much sugar,

but there are sugars in that milk along with some fats

that really stimulate the HPA axis.

Those pleasure centers fire up and because of it,

the baby keeps on drinking.

Now understand this, before the 20th century,

and the advent of things like baby formulas,

any human baby that didn’t have access

to human breast milk would perish.

There’s no other food that a human baby,

a newborn human baby can consume. [In A Natural Environment]

And so, for our very survival,

we are hard wired with that attachment

to pleasure being associated with sweet foods.

in nature wild fruits are not high in sugar

How We Evolved With Foods That Are Not Very Sweet & Why That Makes Us Overreact To Highly Sugared Foods

Now, you may think to yourself that breast milk

or milk in general isn’t that sweet,

but understand in nature,

nothing in nature is sweeter than let’s say a carrot.

What I say in nature, I’m talking about wild foods.

If you were consuming fruits

that have not been agriculturally developed by humans,

you’re not going to find the sweetness

that we’re so used to in our regular fruits.

Some argue that honey is sweet,

and therefore there are very sweet

naturally occurring foods.

But the problem is that we only have evidence of humans

consuming honey going back to about 8,000 years.

And before that, before the dawn of human agriculture

and our ability to stay in one place

and not have a hunter-gatherer type existence,

humans didn’t really have access to honey.

honey is not a part of our ancestral diet

Even under those circumstances,

going back 8,000 years

and to the dawn of agriculture as well,

honey is used primarily for medicinal purposes

and the amount of honey that you would have available

to our ancestors really isn’t enough to say that

we have evolved alongside with it

to be able to consume really sweet things

and not have any problems, because that’s just not the case.

Modern fruits are higher in sugar but still high in fiberModern fruits are higher in sugar but still high in fiber

Our fruits have been modified over centuries of agriculture

to be as sweet as possible.

If you ever have the good fortune, for example,

to eat a fruit that hasn’t been touched by agriculture,

by any type of human intervention whatsoever

and they do exist, not in many places,

but places like, for example, the Amazon,

some parts of Africa as well, you’ll find that like I said,

they aren’t any sweeter than a carrot.

And they also are very high in fiber and very high in bulk.

Now modern fruits are much higher in sugars

because we’ve altered them to be as sweet as possible,

but we’ve evolved eating these fruits and vegetables,

in fairly large quantities.

And so our bodies are adapted to [consuming] them.

And because they are high in fiber

and because they are also high in bulk,

there’s only so much you can eat.

I always give the example of apples.

None of us can eat that many apples,

but all of us can consume a dozen apples easily

by drinking a glass of apple juice.

modern processed foods cause extreme sugar cravings

So processing is all about taking the fiber out

and by taking the fiber out and adding sugar,

we can eat more and the sugar makes us want more

and companies in the food manufacturing sector

spend millions of dollars to create foods

that have that exact “bliss point”

that’s going to make your brain completely overreact.

Now again, our brains and

our bodies are designed to react

only to very small amounts sugar.

So imagine how much of a unstoppable force it can be

when you consume something very sweet.

beating sugar addiction naturally with decompression dieting

Kevin’s Decompression Model For Beating Sugar Addiction

Now I say all this to say that

you should not at all be beating yourself up

if you find yourself failing,

because the path that I’m describing is one of

I would say decompression.

So think of it in terms of a diver

who is deep underwater

and needs to get back to the surface.

And I say get back to the surface because taking sweet foods

and sugary foods out of your diet

is actually going more towards your natural self,

eating more like the way that your body

was designed for it to eat.

And so, in keeping with that decompression model

that I’m describing,

as you take one thing out of your diet,

you don’t want to have any extreme adverse effects

so you need to put something back in.

Why You Should Avoid A Keto Diet If You Are Trying To Quit Eating Sugar

So it’s very important

if you’re stopping eating sugary foods

to make sure that you’re not on a low carbohydrate diet.

It’s a huge mistake to try to take sugary foods

out of your diet and at the same time,

restrict your carbohydrate intake.

In fact, we talked earlier about the importance of fiber.

how to stop sugar cravings naturally with high fiber foods

 Using High Fiber Complex Carbohydrates & Food Timing To Stop Sugar Cravings

That’s going to be very important

that all your carbohydrate sources are very high in fiber

and the timing is important as well.

Many people who find themselves craving sugar

tend to crave sugar and sugary foods

sometime around three, four o’clock

way over into the evening into the night.

And as the day goes by,

those cravings get stronger and stronger and stronger.

One of the best ways to help deal with those cravings

and not have sugary foods in your life

is to front load your carbohydrates earlier in the day,

and front load was really high fiber carbohydrates.

my high fiber breakfast to stop sugar cravings naturally

If you have a good breakfast,

a big breakfast with high fibrous sources,

such as oatmeal or oat bran cereal,

which is one of my personal favorites,

that’s what I eat every day,

along with some [lean] protein,

it’s going to go a long way

because of the high fiber content to fill you up

and also because your body had carbohydrates

earlier in the day,

you’re not going to have the same dramatic response

of a need, an almost addictive need for carbohydrates

later in the day.

Now you will feel it,

but it will be not anywhere near as extreme.

It’s going to blunt that pleasure seeking response

that usually happens to most of us later in the day.

So very important, like I said, first,

make sure you have carbohydrates in your diet

and also make sure you have a good high fiber breakfast.

Another thing that’s important is to note

that you need to eat carbohydrates

for what you’re about to do.

how to stop sugar cravings naturally with high fiber foods

So, if you’re going to be active more than normal,

you need to have some carbohydrates and again,

always and only naturally occurring high fiber carbohydrates

like yams, sweet potatoes.

and if you’re going to have rice,

try to get that fibrous as possible

by choosing brown rice, if possible,

and think of it as your fuel,

but think of it as your fuel and think of the fiber

as a backup that’s going to help you

deal with any sugar cravings that you get later on.

But if you’re really active

and you don’t add complex carbohydrates

that are high in fiber,

and you’re taking out sugary foods that you were

eating before, it’s going to be too much for you.

You have to balance it off.

As one thing comes out, you have to add something in.

That’s the way it works.

If you want to have a smooth transition

from eating sugary foods to not eating sugary foods.

don't beat yourself up if you fail

The Importance Of Not Beating Yourself Up If You Fail From Time To Time

Sounds simple and in practice,

it can be, if you stick with it,

but sticking with it means sticking with it when you fail,

which goes back to my first point and an important point.

You will fail from time to time,

but it’s important to understand that just like someone

who is dealing with a drug addiction,

if you fail and keep on beating yourself up

about your failure,

what you’re doing is you’re reliving the experience

of doing an activity and a behavior

that you want to get out of your life.

The way that you go forward is about forgetting about it.

So the more you’re beating yourself up

is the more you’re actually unconsciously retaining

the experience and thus,

making yourself more likely to repeat the experience.

If you constantly think about that piece of cake

that you had and “messed up” with,

that piece of cake is going to come back into your life

because you’re constantly thinking about it.

You need to forget, you need to let go, and letting go

means forgiving yourself when you “mess up”,

get right back up and keep on going

and what’s going to happen, as well, is that

you’re going to get to a point where it’s not so much

a matter of you’re going to see all these desserts

and use your willpower

and say, “I’m not going to have them anymore”,

but over time when not eating high sugar foods,

that pleasure response get blunted,

and you no longer have the same sensations,

you no longer have the same cravings that you did before.

And our body will always go towards what’s pleasurable.

That’s part of what causes the problems in the first place.

healthy eating without sugar in your diet

Getting To A Sustainable Place Where Willpower Is No Longer An Issue

And without sugary foods,

you’re going to feel the pleasure of being healthy

and it’s going to feel good

and you’re going to want more of it.

And you’re going to get to a point, which I define

as healthy eating,

which is where you’re eating foods that are good for you

but they are also the foods that you actually want.

You’re not doing it out of willpower,

you’re getting to that place

that very few are able to get to because

most people don’t believe they can, but you can!

And where what you want

and what you should be eating is the same.

Again, like I said at the beginning,

there’s nothing super human about me.

It’s just consistency and anything that I can do,

you can do too.

Thanks so much for tuning it and Excelsior.

 

Related Articles & Videos:

How I Lost 30lbs And Got Ripped Permanently- A Step By Step Guide

How To Stop Food Cravings

Keto vs Low Carb Diets For Fat Loss

Is It Possible To Never Eat Sugar?

My Budget Home Gym Setup Recommendations

Anyone following along knows that I have a pretty impressive home gym setup, but as nice as it is to have all this equipment, the fact is that you don't need very much in order to make progress if you are training at home.

Which is why my number one recommendation is a pair of dumbbells. Maybe a barbell as well, but that's really all you need.

I trained for about a year during the lockdowns with just a pair of dumbbells and a barbell and was able to make tremendous progress, and to this day I universally recommend and provide dumbbells to my online training clients and they have made some great gains as well.

So if you are thinking about training at home, start small and keep it simple. Thanks as always for watching and as always, Excelsior!!! #naturallyintense

#homegymsetup #dumbbells #trainathome #trainingathome #naturalbodybuilding #naturalbodybuilder #naturalbodybuildingvideos #homegymlife #homegymequipment #homegymrat #homegymideas #homegym #personaltrainer
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This was my last set and my training partner and Naturally Intense Personal Training Senior Trainer @egcitrin is pushing down as I lower the weight and (and is it just me or is she pushing more and more as I go along?)

But I don't stop there.

On the 12th rep I execute an isometric hold for a count of 5 seconds with Erika actively pushing down before ending with nine punishing final reps!

I think I was sore for at least a full week after this but still training and hope you are too!

And as always, Excelsior!!! #naturallyintense

#naturalbodybuilding #naturalbodybuilder #highintensitytraining #highintensitytrainingtips #hometraining #homeworkout #fitover40 #naturalbodybuildingvideos #naturalbodybuildingtraining #naturalbodybuildingtips #naturalbodybuildingmotivation #legextensions #legday #legworkout #powertec #legdayworkout
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That being said, most people, when something hurts, just power through it, as there is this misplaced belief that there are some exercises that you need to do.

Squats, deadlifts, barbell bench presses and the like may be excellent exercises, but if it hurts, don't do it.

Or better yet, do something else to build yourself up to a point where you can do them, but there are times when some of those mainstay movements simply might not be for you.

Now for some, saying everyone can't squat or deadlift is heresy punishable by ridicule, but they won't be with you at the physical therapy sessions, and they will still be training while you are out.

If it hurts, don't do it, even if your favorite influencer swears it's a necessity. There are hundreds of alternatives, and your job is to find what doesn't hurt while recruiting the most muscular activation and sticking with it.

Do that and you'll save yourself a lot of pain and you'll realize your goals much faster as well. Stay safe while training and as always, Excelsior!!! #naturallyintense

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I don't do any direct exercises for my abs and haven't since the mid to early 1990's because I already had a foundation from years of truly grueling ab work and having a six pack is directly proportional to what I eat, not what exercises I do.

My abs get plenty of work from the squats, rows, deadlifts and other compound movements that I do and I can prove, having not done crunches, leg raises, planks and any of that for the past 28 years or so that it's 100% diet.

If you want to have great abs, the exercise you need to master is walking away from the foods you shouldn't be eating.

My diet is and has been one of precision for a very long time, and it's what I eat and how I eat that allows me to always have a six pack, nothing else.

The good news is that everyone already has a six pack, you just have to get rid of the fat deposits above it for them to show, and if you put your mind to it, stay disciplined and avoid processed foods entirely, it can certainly happen.

So watch what you eat and focus on your diet if you really want that six pack and Excelsior!!! #naturallyintense

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I Only Train Three Days a Week.

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The biggest problem in training is a lack of dedicated experimenting.

Everyone goes along with the training programs espoused by the most popular, without questioning the fact that the top figures in the fitness industry are all on steroids, and as such their methods may not always be best for natural athletes.

There are many reasons to consider low volume training but most importantly is that it allows for training sustainability.

Three days a week is far more doable long term than 4, 5, 6 or 7 days a week.

And I can tell you for a fact that it has been tested time and time again, and it works if you work it.

So give training less some consideration and as always, Excelsior!!! #naturallyintense

#train3xaweek #highintensityworkouts #naturalbodybuilder #trainlessexcelmore #trainsmart #sustainabletraining #competeatthehighestlevels #nosteroids #naturalbodybuilding #naturalbodybuildingvideos #naturalbodybuildingtips #excelsior #highintensitytraining
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High Intensity Home Training.

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I don't think I ever got this many reps in before but I felt strong at the start and what I do know is that I was unnaturally sore for at least a full week afterwards!!!

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New Video: Why I Stopped Training In Public Gyms!

Click on my bio link to find out why!

In March 2020 after 31 years of training in gyms, I began training at home and have been training here ever since. Which is surprising for someone like me given how much I benefited from training in a gym environment, but over the years things have changed and not necessarily for the best.

Commercial gyms are a far cry from what they used to be and I began to feel over time that training in a public gym was starting to be detrimental to my overall progress.

Yes, it's more convenient to train at home.

Yes, there's no commute involved.

And yes, I can collapse on the floor after a workout and not have to move (which is really nice, by the way!!!)

But that's not the main reason why I stopped going to gyms and I can honestly say that I may never set foot in a commercial gym again.

Click on my bio link to see the full video and find out why!

Thanks as always for taking the time to look at my work and Excelsior!!! #naturallyintense

#gymlife #homeworkouts #fitness #trainathome #gymalternative #nomoregyms #gainsathome #naturalbodybuilding #naturalbodybuilder #naturalbodybuildingtips #fitover40 #naturalbodybuildingmotivation #homegym #hometraining #homegymlife #homegymsetup
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You don't need drugs, you don't need supplements, you just need dedication and consistency.

But you have to keep in mind the fact that it won't happen overnight.

So, as I always say focus on the process. do the work and Excelsior! #naturallyintense

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Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardsonhttps://www.naturallyintense.net
Featured everywhere from the Wall Street Journal to CBS News, celebrity Personal Trainer NYC and with over 2.6 million readers of his blog, Kevin Richardson is the creator of Naturally Intense High Intensity Training, one of the top lifetime drug free bodybuilders of his time, the first International Fitness & Nutrition Consultant for UNICEF, 2020 and 8 Time Winner of the Best of Manhattan Awards for Personal Training and a world recognized authority on high intensity training. Kevin has helped thousands, from celebrities to CEO's over the past 30 years achieve their fitness goals with his 10 minute high-intensity workouts done just three times a week in conjunction with his holistic nutrition approach. You can learn more about about his diet and training services at www.naturallyintense.net
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