The numbers and the mirrors don't lie. We're fat.
According to the CDC, 34 percent of adults age 20 and over are obese, and
34 percent of adults age 20 and over are overweight.
Are you doing the math? Sixty-eight percent of the adult population is at minimum, overweight. And it's costing us. The Los Angeles Times reports that obesity accounts for 17 percent of all U.S. medical costs each year to the tune of $170 billion per year. No matter who's paying for health care--the government, employers or individuals--these costs cannot be sustained.
Weight is a complicated beast, but what if we did one thing? What if we made it simple and got crazy intense about reducing daily sugar intake? The average person consumes 21. 4 teaspoons of 'added' sugar per day (sugar, corn syrup, honey, etc). That is more than double the daily USDA recommendations and according to the Journal of the American Medical Association is a major player in obesity, type 2 diabetes and even cholesterol.
Given the insidious way sugar works its way into our day (some naturally, but most unnaturally), walking away from it can seem impossible. But by targeting 'added' sugar, giving up the white stuff isn't as hard as you'd think. Take a peek:
WATCH:
Follow Kathleen Slattery-Moschkau on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KathleenShow
In the past I've played with giving up cokes but it never really stuck. This summer I got super serious and restricted all sugar and loosely followed the zone method of eating. It has made a big difference. My sense of taste has altered and I notice more flavors than I used to. Fruit is almost too sweet, especially grapes and watermelon. I've started favoring more bitter foods, like kale and grapefruit. And I can more easily see how I was actually addicted to sugar. I've had a few "treats" since the summer and once I have a taste I begin craving more of it.
It's hard but it's worth breaking free of our American lull of sugar.
The only quibble I have with the video is where Kathleen says "of the 10 you're supposed to have in a day". We can live well with far less than 10 per day, since other carbohydrates break down to sugar anyway.
I don't think Kathleen was intending to support the belief that we need sugar, but it could be taken that way.
That's why it was just a quibble--semantics more than anything.
But I should have started with the statement that I really liked the video & what you're working toward. :)
~ Caroline
And it's worth it. Saving my eyes, my kidneys, my feet and extremities from the damage of diabetes is worth the craving, worth the little bit of effort it takes to say no. The first week was the worst but, like cigarettes, once past that first 7 day mark it's all downhill to the finish.
Do I own this body or am I letting the mass marketers rule what I consume?
That's the only question I ask to keep me on the straight and narrow diet required now. I loved my fresh veggies before and love them even more now. Whole grain bread, brown rice or wild rice and I'm OK with it.
The worst is friends or family wanting to feed me what they are still consuming and that's been a major challenge. I've gotten the eating out thing down pat and my favorite restaurant is very cooperative too.
Just do it. Set your sights on 30 days and make it happen. It's amazing the change.
An excellent book enumerating healthful eating is "Eat for Health" by Joel Fuhrman MD
www.diseaseproof.com
I'm just now starting the no added sugar thing. I'm even giving up all kinds of bread rice and starches...for now.
I think i may EASE my way to those lower sugar fruits. but for now, i have to have the good stuff. i wish i had your resolve.
It's much better to eat an orange.
Here's another great resource for information about sugars:
http://www.PursueAHealthyYou.com/sugar
http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=16717
Thanks...it's the info I get from the people here that keeps me comin' back!