So, everyone - how did you do on our challenge to lose 5 pounds by the 12th?
I fell short, landing at 166 pounds. I'll take the three pounds lost, though, and not cry any tears over it.
A few entries ago, the gorgeous Tracy of Picture This suggested that I take a look at a couple of books about sugar addiction. I've been waiting to read several Low-GI books (library waiting queues, a missed email and suddenly I've got another week or so before it is my turn again. Sigh...) but I gladly picked up a copy of Potatoes, Not Prozac
on Tracy's recommendation.
Whoa.
Have you ever taken one of those tests in a magazine or book that says "If you have 5 or more of these symptoms, you may actually be a monkey?"
I really like sweet foods.
I eat a lot of sweets.
I am very fond of bread, cereal, popcorn or pasta.
I now have or have had a problem with alcohol or drugs.
One or both of my parents are/were alcoholic.
One or both of my parents are/were especially fond of sugar.
I am overweight and don't seem to be able to easily lose the extra pounds.
I continue to be depressed no matter what I do.
I often find myself overreacting to stress.
I have a history of anger that sometimes surprises even me.
I've bolded the statements that apply to me. It seemed like uncanny timing that I picked this book up on Sunday and started reading.
See, Saturday night, my husband and I got a little silly, and each had a few glasses of mead after the kids had gone to bed. Mead, for those of you who don't know, is a wine made from honey.
Sunday morning, I woke up fit to kill. I was angry at everyone and everything. I couldn't inhale without my exhale sounding like a growl. It was bizarre, and frightening.
At one point, I told my husband that I had to leave the room, or I was going to start punching things. Over nothing. NOTHING.
I retreated to my bedroom and cracked open this book. And I recognized myself again and again as I turned the pages.
I put the book aside, and picked up another book by the same author- Little Sugar Addicts, focusing on children and sugar sensitivities. Again with the Whoa.
Let's
look first at your child's behavior
Does your child ask for sweet foods all the time?
Does your child have unexpected meltdowns that turn
into tantrums or tears?
Is
your child impulsive?
Does
your child have a very short fuse?
Is your
child wildly dramatic and goofy?
Is your
child restless and in motion all the time?
Is your child known as a motor mouth?
Does your
child have a hard time paying attention?
Does your child lock into a task for a long time and
forget to do anything else?
And check your child's health:
Does your
child have lots of allergies?
Does your
child still wet the bed?
Does your
child have persistent ear infections?
Is your
child overweight?
Does your child come home from school exhausted?
Has your
child been diagnosed with diabetes?
Has your child been diagnosed with
ADD or ODD?
And
finally, and perhaps most important are the emotional clues:
Does your child cry at the drop
of a hat?
Does your child go from being
absolutely charming to pouting and moody?
Does your child have low
self-esteem even though he or she is smart, skilled, and capable?
Does your child feel alone,
isolated, not a part of the in-crowd at school or in the playground?
If
you checked three or more boxes, you are in the right place. Your child will
benefit from a change in diet. If you checked many boxes, do not be alarmed.
The more boxes you checked, the more dramatic the results you are going to get
by changing what and when your child eats. You may have simply assumed that you
have a moody child, or a little goofball who bounces around with motor mouth
turned on. You may have just figured these things were a part of your childπs
personality or personal style and never considered that there was a biochemical
basis and that they are connected. The truth is, all of these symptoms can be rooted in your child's
biochemistry. The degree to which your child displays them is very connected to
what and when she eats. You may be stunned at the positive changes in your
child's behavior as you change the food.
From Little
Sugar Addicts, ©Kathleen
DesMaisons 2004
Hi! Hello! These are my kids! All three of them! This doesn't make me happy. I'm not done reading these books yet, but I can tell you that the information inside isn't news to me. I've had the knowledge all along, but I haven't applied it faithfully, because I tend to think I'm special, and don't have to follow dietary rules unless they are convenient. I mean, I'll make good choices most of the time, but when I'm presented with an "easy" choice, I'll often leap at it. Especially when it comes to the kids.
After my temper tantrums on Sunday, and a frank discussion with my husband and kids, we are going to have to make even more drastic changes to our eating. I'll post this week's menu late this afternoon.
