Sugar? Good or bad? These questions will open up much debate. Personally, I am not a fan of labels, so “good” or “bad” is less important than the question of “how much?”.
I am coming off a week of birthdays, an anniversary, Mother’s Day, and a family visit. Sugar was inevitable. The reality is that, for most of us, living a life of “clean eating” and/or “keto-friendly” diets is impractical, if not impossible. Should we be worried that our diets don’t fit the latest fitness trends? Simple answer: “No.”
Look, if you want to walk around looking like a physique competitor, then sacrifices will have to be made. If you want to (or have to) live in ketosis, then sacrifices will have to be made. For the rest us? “Let them eat cake!” (on very limited occasions).
We tend to be all-or-nothing when it comes to desserts. One is unhealthy. The other is not sustainable. Manage your sweet-tooth so you can still work toward your goals.
Americans definitely eat too much sugar—about 60 pounds of added sugar (plus another roughly hundred pounds of sugar naturally occurring in our diet)—so, taking steps to reduce sugar consumption is imperative. But, if we strive to get the rest of our diet and physical activity right, a little indulgence won’t be destructive.
There is sugar that should absolutely be removed from the diet. This begins with sugared drinks and processed snack foods. If you want to “eat your cake”, it has to be reserved for special occasions. Regular consumption of empty calories will make you fat and contribute to a host of health problems. Focus on eating right and allow for the occasion indulgence.
When you indulge, make darn sure it was worth it. There are worse feelings, but the remorse of eating a disappointing treat ranks pretty low. I have come to a point where donuts are no longer tempting because for all the presentation on the outside they never taste as good as they look—even the one’s in fancy boxes from bakeries with iconic names (hint: I live near Portland, OR). Packaged sweets are also less than desirable. If I am going to detour from my diet, I want an experience. Ice cream is the same. I can pass on the Neapolitan in a box, but, on occasion, I will wait in line for gourmet ice cream. We work hard for those extra calories, why waste them on guilt?
When weighing the decisions we make about food. It is important to remember that caloric balance is most important when it comes to weight management. Second to total calories is macro balance. Get your quality foods first—emphasize quality protein and vegetables first. Manage these well and exercise/be physically active, and there is room for some indulgence. (Pink Floyd taught us: “How can you have any pudding, if you don’t eat your meat?”)
Life is about balance. It is to be experienced. Consider the quality of the experience. Ask yourself: “What are these 60 pounds of added sugar giving me?” My guess is that is giving us little more than body fat, disease, and disappointment.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!