GUEST SPEAKER: Rebekkah Finnigan – Registered Health & Life Coach
Topic: Kick The Sugar Habit
Rebekkah introduced herself and many of us knew her already. She is married to Greg Finnigan, Al’s son, for 25 years. They have the two twin teen aged boys, Josh and William. She climbed up the corporate ladder, always prioritizing her kids, family, then job. Lots of stress and figured out that she was a sugar addict. Something had to change.
Sugar messes with the brain, the mood, and makes one fat. She went from stress and anxiety to calm. Very remarkable in a relatively short period of time. She has helped over 100 people kick the sugar habit and turn their life around , in the last 6 months.
She talked about 3 challenges: why we crave sugar; no one wants to stop eating sugar; and there must be something else that make sus feel unhappy.
CRAVING SUGAR:
She talked about the polarity of food and how the energetic quality of food might be creating our cravings.
When we eat red meat, eggs , salt, protein, we fell grounded, focused , and aggressive. This contracted tension.
When we eat sugar, dairy, caffeine, and fruits, we feel happy relaxed, light, and energized. If we eat too much sugar we feel drowsy. This is expansive bliss.
If we have one of these extremes (i.e contracted tension ) we try to compensate by eating foods that make us feel like the expansive bliss. One pole to the other.
Same with activities: One pole is contracted tension = exercise , work and stress. The other pole Expansive bliss = nap. Hot tub, watching TV , reading. If we do too much atone pole, we crave to the activity at the other pole.
NO ONE WANTS TO STOP EATING SUGAR:
It feels good to eat sugar (the expansive bliss). As we eat too much sugar, our pancreas works overtime to bring down the blood sugar readings. Too much work, then not enough work when we don’t get enough sugar. We need to control our sugar.
She suggested we research glycogen and find food that contain glycogen. The body breaks down most carbohydrates from the foods we eat and converts them to a type of sugar called glucose. Glucose is the main source of fuel for our cells. When the body doesn't need to use the glucose for energy, it stores it in the liver and muscles. This stored form of glucose is made up of many connected glucose molecules and is called glycogen. When the body needs a quick boost of energy or when the body isn't getting glucose from food, glycogen is broken down to release glucose into the bloodstream to be used as fuel for the cells.
Since glycogen is your body's backup source of fuel, it is essential to eat certain foods to keep adequate levels of glycogen in your system. Because glycogen is easier for your body to use as energy, it's used before fat, so if your glycogen stores are full, your body doesn't burn fat. To start burning fat, you need to diminish your glycogen stores so your body has no other choice than to use stored fat for energy.
SEVEN SOLUTIONS TO SUGAR CRAVINGS:
# 1 - Check what you are drinking. Sometimes sweet cravings are a sign id dehydration. So pound a glass of water , wait 5 minutes and see if the craving still exists. Too much caffeine mimics a blood sugar crash – you are high for a bit and then come crashing down and crave SUGAR.
# 2 – Satisfy you sweet tooth with sweet veggies , fruit and spices. Your tongue has sweet taste buds that need tio be satisfied. Don’t hold back. Add naturally sweet foods and spices like squash, yams, carrots , beets, berries, figs, apples, cinnamon, coriander, and cloves.
# 3 – Sleep. If you are constantly tired, your body is going to look for energy, usually in the form of sugar or caffeine. Power down an hour earlier than usual and notice how your cravings disappear.
# 4 – Check your protein. Watch how much protein and what kind of protein you’re eating, especially animal protein. Eating too little animal protein can lead to massive sweet cravings. Eating too much can lead to sweet cravings. We must find the right spot for protein intake so you are satisfied.
# 5 – Sniff out low fat and fat free foods. When food manufacturers take fat out of foods, they put in sugar.
# 6 – Get Moving. Movement is another kind of food for your body. It releases stress, makes you feel great and look great. When you do not get enough, your body starts to look for other ways to blow off steam, like bringing on Snickers bars.
# 7 – Create New Post Meal Routines. If you are a dessert after your meal person, one of the things you might love about that is the ritual of it. Do something else after the meal. Like go for a walk.
Rebekkah offered everyone in our Rotary Club, 30 to 45 minutes of her time as a coach , no obligation, to put us on the right track.
Rebekkah was thanked by past President Mike McLaren.
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, MAKE UP: Go online at www.rotary.org go to the club locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Secretary Robbie Larocque, or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting.