The Blood Sugar Solution 10-Day Detox Diet: Activate Your Body's Natural Ability to Burn Fat and Lose Weight Fast (25 page)

FOLLOW THE PROGRAM, to the letter.
The combination of carefully selected foods, schedules, protocols, and special lifestyle practices is scientifically designed to eliminate your cravings.

Go cold turkey.
Any little bit of a drug will trigger your brain chemistry. That one cigarette… that one drink… What we’re dealing with here is an addiction, and even a small amount of what’s controlling you will put you right back in its grasp. Sugar, flour, processed food, alcohol, and addictive additives like MSG all stimulate the pleasure center in the brain. They increase dopamine, which makes us feel happy and alert and energetic. We all love that feeling. It’s what cocaine does. It’s also what sugar does. Those pleasure centers get stimulated, and that makes you want more of that feeling. And more… and more… and more…

Avoid your temptation zones.
Be careful to control your environment and where you go during those first critical days. If you were an alcoholic, you wouldn’t go into a bar those first few days (or weeks) after quitting. Until you’re in the clear from your initial withdrawal period, just steer around your trigger spots: the vending machines, the convenience stores or fast-food places you pass on your way home, the coworker’s desk loaded with candy, the cocktail party table loaded with hors d’oeuvres, etc. Even if this means lying low and postponing some social plans for now, that’s okay; this is a temporary hiatus you’re taking that will soon allow you to embrace life fully and joyfully, liberated from food tyranny.

Power up your day with the right combination of foods.
Eat early and eat right. The right breakfast is key. The reason your Breakfast Detox Shake works is that it’s nutrient-dense. It’s high in protein, fiber, and healthy fat, all of which change your hormones in a way that cuts cravings. The seeds and nuts contain protein, fat, and fiber, and they are also rich in magnesium, zinc, and selenium. Coconut butter provides sustained fuel that makes you feel full. If you want to beef up your shake even more, you can add a scoop of good protein powder made from hemp, chia, rice, pea, or non-GMO whole soy powder. I drink a shake at 7 a.m. and I’m not hungry until noon.

PGX before every meal
absorbs water, makes you feel full, reduces your appetite, and reduces the insulin spike. It’s a quick way to shut off those appetite-generating hormones. Remember to always drink it with a full glass of water.

Keep the daily rhythm of eating
on roughly the same schedule each day. This keeps your blood sugar and insulin levels more even. Blood sugar highs and lows drive primitive food cravings. If you get famished between meals, that’s a sign that your blood sugar is crashing. When blood sugar is low, you’ll eat anything. Don’t wait until you are starved to eat. Incorporate the optional snacks listed in the meal plan to keep your blood sugar even.

Prioritize sleep.
When you don’t sleep, the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin goes up and the appetite-suppressing hormone PYY goes down. Then you start to use food, instead of sleep, to shore up your energy. Think about it: If you’re tired, you’re instinctively driven to eat to help you stay awake.

How am I feeling physically today?

What thoughts and emotions are present for me today?

What are my beliefs about my relationship to food? Am I in control?

What false beliefs might I have about my cravings?

What would my life look like if I were not addicted to sugar, caffeine, flour?

How does envisioning that make me feel?

How can I create new habits that will sustain me?