Sarafina's Story

Over the next few months, I'll be sharing client stories from time to time about their health challenges and experiences working with The Healthy Plate.  My first featured client is actress, model and owner of Art of Pilates, Sarafina King.  Here's her story....

A little about me and WHY in the world I’d want to give up Sugar!!! The reaction from most is: You’re in great shape, you work out, and you eat healthy (really for the average American I do eat SUPER healthy), Why would I want to do this….

Reason number 1 - I do eat healthy, and workout… A LOT.  But I find myself with a little gut. Great arms, great legs, and a little belly. I have no excuses or answers  for my belly, I don’t drink, I’m gluten free, I’ve never had a baby… there’s no reason for the fat around the middle.  I was stumped. 

Reason number 2 – I am an actress and fitness model. Being under the scrutiny of people on a daily basis is all par for the course in what I’m trying to do. I was fine with the rejection and brutal honesty up until a few days ago when someone told me, “You’re face is horrible (acne), if you think you’re going to work in this town what THAT skin, you’ve got another thing coming” And to be honest my skin is not really that bad. I have flare ups like everyone else, but it is something that I have struggled with as an adult.

Reason number 3 – I’ve tried EVERYTHING else, I was Vegan, Vegetarian, I AM gluten free.  I had always been a sweets after I eat person, but it wasn’t until I went gluten free that my addiction to sugar grew. Most gluten free foods are pumped with sugar to make them taste better.  Little did I know that although my stomach felt better without the gluten it grew with the added sugar.

Alas – I was venting one day to a client, (insert Jen), who is an amazing Organic Chef, Holistic Health Coach and most importantly a great friend.  Over the years she’s listened to my ups and downs, my woes, and knew what I ate, where my struggles were etc.  I asked her if she could help me fine tune what is going on with my diet. And that’s where the Sugar Detox began.   

Jen has been amazing from the meal plan she’s given me, the knowledge, the patience (I’m not a great cook) and I don’t efficiently know my way around a grocery store either.  I’m on day 2, technically 1.5. I’ve already sent numerous emails with questions, cravings, overall support and she promptly responds and has the BEST suggestions for ME. Not some generic “eat these snacks” kind of response.   Something that I realistically LIKE to eat.  I feel fantastic, the food tastes AMAZING, so far so good… yes I know it’s day 2… Let’s see how I like it day 5 :)

 

Keep you posted,

Sarafina 

***As Sarafina mentioned, I have actually been a client of hers for years.  She helped me get in shape for my wedding, during my pregnancy and now post-baby.  If you're in the Los Angeles area and are looking for a Pilates trainer who customizes workouts to your needs, send her an email.  For more information on her services, check out the links below.

www.sarafinaking.com

www.artofpilatesinc.com

What are your reasons for quitting sugar?  Did you kick the habit or are you still facing challenges?  Share with us!

The Power of Sugar

I recently attended a health conference in Long Beach where I was absolutely shocked to learn from one of the speakers that sugar is actually 4 times as addictive as cocaine.  What?  Four times more addictive than what!?!  I couldn't believe it but the proof literally is in the pudding.  With Diabetes escalating every day and waistlines ever expanding, it is not only clear in research experiments but also to the naked eye, that we have an addiction to sugar in the U.S.  

One of the quickest ways to get control of your weight and balance your body's blood sugar/insulin processes again is by cutting sugar out of your diet.  Even if you only eat "natural" sugars from fruit, honey, agave nectar, etc., you could be ingesting an enormous amount of sugar per day.  Now, I am not saying to cut sugar out of your diet forever.  Fruits definitely have some health benefits as does raw honey but by eliminating sugar from your diet for a short period of time, you let your body learn to regulate your blood sugar levels, get a better sense of when you're actually hungry, increase your immune system's ability to fight off illness and ward off Candida infections. 

Sugar is pervasive in our American diet.  All kinds of foods that you would not associate with sugar have been processed with this other "white powder." Did you know that taco seasoning and tomato sauce contain added sugars?  Can you see the hidden sugar in the picture above? In her step-by-step e-book, "I Quit Sugar," Sarah Wilson surprises herself by discovering how much sugar she actually consumed in a day.

A year ago, I quit sugar.  My health improved immediately.  Once you quit sugar, you don't crave sweets as much and when you do take a bite of dessert, a bite is all you actually need to feel satiated.  However, Valentine's Day was just a few weeks ago.  My husband wanted to be sweet and brought home a small tub of coconut macaroons for me.  It's really the only treat I can eat without having a reaction due to all of my food sensitivities.  It started out as one bite of one macaroon.  At first I thought they were too sweet.  I went back for another bite then another macaroon and then another. 

During the next few days, I was exhausted.  I started adding caffeine and more sugar to my diet to cope.  Within the week, my face had broken out with acne, I was severely dehydrated and I had a systemic Candida infection.  All of this from one bite of an ultra sugary macaroon.  Can you say addictive?  That's right, say it with me again - "4 times as addictive as cocaine!"  I was addicted.  And like most addictions, I had withdrawal symptoms for days after I decided to stop the sugar roller-coaster madness.  I've now been sugar-free for a week.  My acne and Candida have subsided, I'm able to sleep better and I'm full of energy.  Plus, I lost a few pounds off of the tummy tire I had acquired during my sugar binge.  

Well, I learned my lesson!  I'm not perfect.  I'm a Health Coach who fell prey to the siren call of sugar but at least I had the tools and knowledge to reign it back in quickly.  It's amazing the power sugar can have over your mind. Want to come out of your sugar fog?  Try my 30-day kick sugar program at The Healthy Plate. 

Have you ever quit sugar before?  Are you still sugar-free?  What were the results?  Join the discussion below.  I'd love to hear from you!