Natalie Scott, Health & Fitness Coach: Food Addiction

Most people's biggest fear about getting healthy is changing their eating habits. No one really wants to give up their favorite indulgences. My opinion on this, after diligent research, is simple... Food is a drug. We are not taught how addicting sugar can be, or how it sets off the same connections in our brains as heroin and morphine! We interpret this dopamine signal as “pleasure” and the programming in our brain changes to make us want to perform that behavior again. Is that not the very definition of an addictive substance?

And it's not just sugar, MANY foods and additives do this us.

Now, I'm not here to be a sugar sergeant... I told you all that so you know, I get it... I know how hard it is to cut back on some of the foods we eat that are not so healthy for us. Just like in my previous blog post, I believe in baby steps... Don't go all crazy and say you're cutting out all sugar... Because, while this is a wonderful endeavor, it is unrealistic. How many people are successful in quitting smoking cold turkey with no help? How many recovering addicts or alcoholics are successful in stopping immediately without help? Not many. We don't want to start a journey of fad dieting and deprivation... We want to create a lifelong healthy lifestyle.

So start small... Instead of that soda, get a flavored water... instead of that candy bar, grab some dried fruit.... instead of chips, nab a bag of salted nuts. I was WILDLY addicted to Cherry Coke and BBQ Chips and any candy I was craving that week. I did baby steps and cut back, only allowing myself 1 per week... then I switched to an all natural soda... then to a juice with low sugar.... now, the taste of Cherry Coke grosses me out... It TASTES like chemicals to me and I have no want of it. Same with Chips.... OR if I do have that feeling of wanting some, I take a small handful and put it in a bowl and put the bag away, so I don't OVER munch. And for the sweets... dried fruit...I started with dried fruits that were lightly sugared... then just dehydrated fruit with nothing added. And I LOVE salted cashews... now.

Another baby step is cutting back, as I mentioned above... If you can't find a healthier substitute and you just have to have it... it's ok... just cut back. Instead of two helpings, have one. Limit yourself... Not only will you become healthier, BUT it will be even more of a treat then, and that dopamine push you get from it will be even more potent. Just don't overdo it.

Everything in life is a choice. Love. Happiness. Fitness. Eating. What choices are you making? Are you making healthy choices to be the best version of you or are you letting the pressures of life overwhelm you and making excuses as to why you can't take care of yourself? Trust me, if you answered the last one, I was there with you. I made ALL KINDS of excuses. ESPECIALLY as a mom... I used my kids as an excuse to not take care of me... until I realized that by not taking care of me, I was doing a disservice to them. Now, they see me making healthy choices to take care of me, and not only does that make me a better mom, but its instilling in them to do the same as they grow.

This is NOT about physical perfection... This is about being the best you inside and out.

Make your choice wisely!