Beating Sugar Addiction For Dummies
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If you’re an Exhausted Addict, you’re the epitome of someone who runs herself too hard. You don’t know the meaning of the word downtime, and fatigue is almost constant. There never seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, and you pressure yourself to try to be the one who does everything for everyone except yourself.

Exhausted Addicts are generally perfectionists who can’t accept anything except the best from themselves. They see themselves as the go-to person when a crisis arises, and they create an unhealthy sense of pride by ignoring their own self-care and putting everyone else’s needs before theirs.

Exhausted Addicts regularly have sore muscles, trigger points, and areas that stay tight and painful. Stress and poor breathing habits keep muscles tight and turned on when they shouldn’t be. Painful knots and trigger points develop, and with an overactive nervous system, this can progress to a chronic pain condition known as fibromyalgia.

Due to stresses (both external and self-created), marginal diet, and lack of sleep, the Exhausted Addict’s adrenal function becomes impaired. This is referred to as adrenal fatigue, and it results in chronic fatigue, low thyroid function, and low blood sugar that triggers sugar cravings.

Exhausted Addicts tend to eat poorly because they think planning their eating requires too much time and attention. Instead of sitting down for a healthy meal, these types of addicts grab whatever’s handy, often turning to sugar or other junk food to give them the energy boost they desperately need.

The stress from the Exhausted Addict’s punishing schedule causes insomnia and restless sleep. Lack of sleep disrupts the normal production of appetite-suppressing hormones, so the Exhausted Addict is prone to hunger and cravings. If you reach for the sugar when this happens, you’ll find that, like most other addicts of this type, you can no longer fit in your skinny jeans.

In addition to weaning yourself off sugar, you can benefit from learning to plan instead of react. Because your life feels so out of control and pressured, any amount of preplanned control helps reduce your stress levels and improve your eating.

About This Article

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Dan DeFigio is one of the most respected names in the fitness and nutrition industry. His articles have appeared in numerous professional journals, and his workshops have been presented in many cities across the United States. He has appeared on the Dr. Phil show and was featured in SELF Magazine, MD News, Personal Fitness Professional, and a host of other publications.

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