Self-Sabotage
It’s ok, we all do it!
Don’t stay stuck. Learn and move on.
While I was lying on my back, recovering from my back injury, my life felt out of control. At the time, there were few things I could control and one of them was food. I was unable to drive or walk very far. I relied on my husband for almost everything. Over the next two months, periodically, I asked him to go and get me potato chips, chocolate bars and pastries from our local bakery. He wanted to help, accommodated me and without question bought or made whatever food I wanted.
I was using this food as a comfort. The problem was these foods all contained refined or simple sugars. I was diagnosed with a severe spinal injury. I not only needed rest, but I also required healthy food that would support my body in healing.
Sugar causes inflammation, and my injury had caused severe inflammation. I had self-sabotaged my healing process, and I knew it!
I have spent the last five years learning how to bake with Monk fruit sugar. Monk fruit sugar is from a fruit found in China. I would create recipes and do the research to determine the health benefits of the ingredients. One of my favourites is Pumpkin Gingerbread Loaf. Pumpkin is a superfood. Aids in weight loss, good for the skin, and reduce the risk of cancer. Ginger is another superfood. Its an anti-inflammatory lowers blood sugar and cholesterol. I have the knowledge; I had experienced the benefits, and yet I was making unhealthy choices.
Christmas came, and I justified eating foods that contained refined sugar. I’d say tomorrow I will change and won’t eat this unhealthy food. We all know the saying, “tomorrow never comes,” and it never came for me. Almost three months after the back injury, my patterns are changing. I am physically and emotionally healthier. With help from my husband, I was once again able to bake using Monk fruit sugar. I am choosing healthier food, limiting sugar and desire to remove sugar from my daily food intake.
Researchers and nutritionists are in agreement that sugar has addictive properties.
I still crave sugar, that will go away in time. I have been down this road before and have experienced the withdrawals from sugar.
Once again, I have changed. It is a new beginning and lessons learned. I am so grateful for the miraculous way my body is healing. Our bodies forgive us for not always taking care of them. They are resilient, and it doesn’t take much to make them happy. All they really need is healthy nutritious food, emotional connectedness and movement.
