When Fitness is a Lifestyle

One of the things that really bothers me is the notion that fat people are lazy, stupid and if only they would stop eating they would be skinny. Some people believe that being fat is a character flaw, and if only they had some “willpower” they could turn things around. Do you see an alcoholic or a drug user and think “if only they would just quit drinking, doing drugs etc….” Addicts can stop drinking alcohol and using drugs. Have you ever thought how hard it is to stop eating food? Let me make one thing clear I am not saying that weight loss is impossible for anyone. What I am saying is that it is one of the hardest things to overcome when the addiction is food. The purpose in this newsletter is to explain what happens in the brain that drives people to eat more than they need to. By doing so, I hope that you will look at people with a weight problem in a different light.

Out of all the foods that trigger a powerful response from the brain, sugar would be the gold winner and in first place by a mile. When I see a new client during the assessment process one of the questions I ask is, “Do you crave sugar?” 90% of the time, the answer is “Oh, yeah!”.

The reason sugar is so powerful is that it has an easy path to the beta-endorphin and dopamine receptors in the brain. Beta-endorphins increase the threshold for pain (think of it as a way to cope with uneasy feelings). Dopamine is a “feeling good” neurotransmitter that is enhanced by stimulants. Because glucose (sugar) is the brain's preferred source of fuel, sugar can easily pass through the blood brain barrier. The blood brain barrier is VERY selective on what gets into the brain.

So, dopamine and beta-endorphin receptor sites are the ones that drive the brain to seek things such as sugar, alcohol, and other types of stimulants. It is the “Go” system. The problem is that the more stimulation they get, the more they want. When people start smoking cigarettes they do not start smoking a pack a day. Eventually, the brain adapts and wants more of the stimulant. Same problem with sugar.  You may have only meant to eat one piece of cake, but now one piece is not enough. Not everybody has the same sensitivity in their brain. I am an "all or nothing" kind of person. Either I am a personal trainer or I am smoking two packs of cigarettes per day, plus a few 20 oz bottles of Mountain Dew. And just to stay on top of my “high” I would chew tobacco at the same time!!!

Scientists are now studying cross addiction theories. I see this all the time! Someone will give up one habit, and quickly replace it with another. For some people they stop eating junk food, but then start spending more money on shopping. Go to an AA meeting, and see how many people are smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee...and talk about sweets!!! Do you see a common pattern here? The common denominator in the pattern is stimulation of the brain. Gambling, shopping, pornography, drugs, compulsive sex, alcohol and, yes, food are all triggers of addiction.

Why can’t you just stop? Serotonin is the hormone that is supposed to tell the brain to slow down or stop. Dopamine and beta-endorphins are the “Go” hormones. The problem with serotonin is that the “Go” message in people with addiction problems gets all the attention of the brain. Think of yelling in a crowd of people. You are cheering for the Raiders at a Bronco game. Not too many people are going to hear you. Nor will they want to. Drugs like Paxil take the serotonin back to the receptor sites over and over again and hopefully the receptor site will let it in. I am not saying people with addiction problems should take prescription medication. That decision is best left to you and your health care provider.

In my opinion, the best way to work through addiction is to work with a professional that understands addiction of all types. As far as food addiction, the best thing to do is to stay away from white sugar and white flour ingredient foods. These ingredients create havoc in your system, and make you fat and feel like crap.

One way to overcome sugar craving is to increase your protein. I am not talking “Atkins”, but protein does not affect blood sugar and it gives you more of a feeling of being full than simple carbohydrates. A sweet tooth is nothing more than volatile blood sugar level. If you have low blood sugar, the body will naturally crave more sugar. "Will power" has nothing to do with it.

Last, but not least, exercise everyday. This will increase the beta-endorphins and help you to feel better naturally. I have noticed when my exercise is consistent, my food choices are much better. When I am not exercising, my food choices are crappy.

By no means am I a scientist. Hopefully, you have learned some insight as to why people struggle with addiction. Thus empowering you to take a different look at someone overweight and not judge them. We all have our struggles, and for some people it shows up on the outside.

If you are interested in learning more about addiction, HBO has a great series on the subject at http://www.hbo.com/addiction/. If you do not have HBO, I have the series on DVD and would be happy to loan it to you.

Clients of the Month

Troy and Jenn have done such an outstanding job! I will let Troy tell you about their success:

"Just thought I’d let you know that things are going really well! Jenn’s nearing (or possibly below) the weight she was before having kids. But more importantly, she feels stronger and healthier than I think she ever has! Thanks so much for your help! I’m also doing really well! I’m down to about 200 and feeling great! The lowest I’ve been in 10+ years. I’ve also become MUCH better at knowing how many calories I’m eating, and being able to control eating out, and eating on weekends. That’s been huge for me! Thanks again for your encouragement and assistance!"                                 Troy

They are a wonderful couple to work with. I am very proud of them!!!!