Reasons You Should Eat Sugar

[Dreamliner]

(1) It's yummy.

(2) You know it's yummy and if you don't eat it now, you're going to eat it later ... possibly in greater quantities due to what one might call 'rebound effect.' This is to say that tasty foods carry with them a sort of reward factor which, when deferred, tends to reassert itself with a vengeance.

(3) Apparently, the brain has a sort of 'food memory.' That is, it is keenly aware of the foods you enjoy and it won't let you forget.

(4) Have you ever noticed that overweight people are typically people who have bounced from one deprivation-based diet to another ? Shouldn't this provide a clue that deprivation doesn't work ? By all means eat your veggies. And learn to enjoy one bagel instead of the whole freaking bag.

(5) People who eliminate sugar altogether typically report that sugar cravings NEVER go away, that they simply have to resist them by dint of will. So, if sugar cravings are going to be a permanent fixture in our lives, why not satisfy them, albeit in moderate fashion ?

(6) Sugar in moderate quantities, regardless the type of sugar, causes neither weight gain nor does it negatively impact health markers. See the 'tired of dieting' thread for the study.

(7) The food manufacturers are people too.

[jdrgator]

Sugars are just short chained carbs. But I think there is a difference in types of sugar and of course quantity. Funny, but when I worked in the industry, I used to counsel people not completely give up sugar/sweets if they really enjoy them. Obviously, it's learning to control ones intake. If you eat healthy generally, than having some sugar each day (beyond fruit) shouldn't be much of a problem.

But if you are polishing off a dozen krispy kremes a day, well then....

[Dreamliner]

Sugars are just short chained carbs. But I think there is a difference in types of sugar and of course quantity. Funny, but when I worked in the industry, I used to counsel people not completely give up sugar/sweets if they really enjoy them. Obviously, it's learning to control ones intake. If you eat healthy generally, than having some sugar each day (beyond fruit) shouldn't be much of a problem.

But if you are polishing off a dozen krispy kremes a day, well then....

I typically limit my trainees to no more than a half-dozen Krispy Kremes a day. So, I'm fairly stringent in that regard. :wink:

[FANEVER]

I agree with Dreamliner. I am in no way connected to any sugar interest entity. I believe the best diet is a low calorie diet. Why? You minimize fats and therefore eat more fruits and vegetables. I used sugar when I dieted --- in moderate amounts of course. The reasons sugar is a good choice on a calorie diet: 1. Only 18 calories per tsp. 2. No fat. 3. It takes away hunger. For instance, a couple of teaspoons in a glass of ice tea compliments a low calorie meal. Disregard the above if you have a medical condition which disallows sugar.

[Dreamliner]

I agree with Dreamliner. I am in no way connected to any sugar interest entity. I believe the best diet is a low calorie diet. Why? You minimize fats and therefore eat more fruits and vegetables. I used sugar when I dieted --- in moderate amounts of course. The reasons sugar is a good choice on a calorie diet: 1. Only 18 calories per tsp. 2. No fat. 3. It takes away hunger. For instance, a couple of teaspoons in a glass of ice tea compliments a low calorie meal. Disregard the above if you have a medical condition which disallows sugar.

Yep, I think it's safe to say that we're always looking for a scapegoat and sugar has recently supplanted fat as the reigning bad boy.

Although can you think of a medical condition which would outright preclude sugar ? Even with Diabetes the general impression is that it is weight control which is the best strategy and not so much outright elimination of certain foods.

[vertigo0923]

i use it. i put it in my coffee, to start the day it's gotta be a great cup. so its fresh ground kenya aa beans, and two heaping spoons of sugar, sometimes the brownish natural sugar, and cream. no 'creamer' no 'non dairy cofee creamer' no 'splenda' etc. and its a yummy way to start the day.

[your_perfect_enemy]

I don't disagree at all and love sugar but I have to ask... Doesnt number 5 somewhat go against don't give into hunger pains?

[Dreamliner]

I don't disagree at all and love sugar but I have to ask... Doesnt number 5 somewhat go against don't give into hunger pains?

That's a fair question and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify. I advise ignoring hunger pangs that bid us to, say, snack and graze apart from our normally scheduled feedings. Here, I'm simply saying that it is okay and even advisable to eat the sorts of foods we enjoy when we do eat.

[Dreamliner]

(8) Also, sugar makes you happy as it produces endorphins and dopamine and also the hormone glucocorticoid which reduces stress.

Remember though: moderate amounts. And in fact I'd say the same thing about exercise. Would anyone say that exercise is bad ? It certainly can be if you overdo it. It can, in fact, potentially kill you if abused.

[malscott]

The only problem is if you have cancer ...cancer loves sugar! Personally, cake is my sugar of choice!

[Dreamliner]

The only problem is if you have cancer ...cancer loves sugar! Personally, cake is my sugar of choice!

You can have your cake and eat it too!

And even if it does kill you, what a way to go!

[chrisleakfan4life]

Right now i can lose weight eating the food i like so long as i create a deficit.

There's no special diet, no special exercises, just cut calories.

Sure i dont go out and eat big macs and chocolate shakes everday but that doesnt mean i cant enjoy a burger.

As long as i stick to my calorie counts i am losing weight.

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[Dreamliner]

Right now i can lose weight eating the food i like so long as i create a deficit.

There's no special diet, no special exercises, just cut calories.

Sure i dont go out and eat big macs and chocolate shakes everday but that doesnt mean i cant enjoy a burger.

As long as i stick to my calorie counts i am losing weight.

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

Heresy!

[chrisleakfan4life]

Heresy!

When you still have plenty of weight to go, its much easier.

When i get into lower weights im sure it will be much much tougher.

[Dreamliner]

When you still have plenty of weight to go, its much easier.

When i get into lower weights im sure it will be much much tougher.

Yep, the lighter you are the fewer calories you need and the fewer calories you burn. So, if you want to keep going you need to recalibrate.

It's a happy problem to have though. And the flipside is that when you do achieve your target weight ... you'll probably have to increase calories to stop losing weight.

[fubar1]

When you still have plenty of weight to go, its much easier.

When i get into lower weights im sure it will be much much tougher.

Dude, a little overkill on the signature???


Was this thread sponsored by the sugar industry?

Refined sugar is one of the enemies of good health. Avoid it at all costs. Eat more fruits and if you have to use sugar, start using Agave Extract. It's made from the agave plant and comes in a liquid you can buy at any Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or Health Food store.

It's a slow release sugar as well which prevents sugar "spiking" in your body when you eat refined or processed sugars.

[Dreamliner]

Dude, a little overkill on the signature???


Was this thread sponsored by the sugar industry?

Refined sugar is one of the enemies of good health. Avoid it at all costs. Eat more fruits and if you have to use sugar, start using Agave Extract. It's made from the agave plant and comes in a liquid you can buy at any Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or Health Food store.

It's a slow release sugar as well which prevents sugar "spiking" in your body when you eat refined or processed sugars.

My science for your emotionalism ?

http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/122/21_MeetingAbstracts/A10906

[chrisleakfan4life]

Speaking of sugar we had a BBQ last night and i snuck in a small piece of spice cake.

Cutting 200 calories extra today to make up for it just in case

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[Dreamliner]

Speaking of sugar we had a BBQ last night and i snuck in a small piece of spice cake.

Cutting 200 calories extra today to make up for it just in case

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

You ate sugar ?! YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!!! IT'S POISON!!! YOU'LL BE FIVE POUNDS HEAVIER IN THE MORNING AND YOU'LL HAVE TYPE II DIABETES THIS TIME NEXT WEEK!!!

[Dreamliner]

Fructophobes are the New Puritans. They are people who are beset by the twin fears that:

(A) someone somewhere is enjoying their food and is

(B) leaner, fitter and healthier than they are while doing it.

[jdrgator]

Fructophobes are the New Puritans. They are people who are beset by the twin fears that:

(A) someone somewhere is enjoying their food and is

(B) leaner, fitter and healthier than they are while doing it.

Yes they are. I just joined a new health club, which has extensive nutritional courses etc...as part of their training program. Sat through one on carbs & the glycemic index just the other day. And while their info was all research based, they certainly left no room for people to even enjoy themselves or enjoy some sugar by the way the condemned it, which is a shame because that is a surefire way to get people to either

1) not change

2) fail, because they can't just cut out everything

[Dreamliner]

There is a term for people who grit their teeth and eliminate entire food-groups:

Fat People

[Dreamliner]

Here's another: new study shows women who enjoy sweets occasionally live longer than women who abstain from sugar.

[gatorpower]

(4) Have you ever noticed that overweight people are typically people who have bounced from one deprivation-based diet to another ?

Dude, I notice that people who are overweight are people who eat a lot. I have watched this before. I have studied the phenomenon. They eat a lot. I have noticed nothing else, except maybe that they also wear baggy clothes. The only thing I've seen bouncing are their fat rolls.

:hairy::hairy::hairy::hairy::hairy::hairy::hairy:: hairy::hairy::hairy:

:smoke::dog:
:hairy::hairy::hairy::hairy:

[Dreamliner]

I saw what you did with all those emoticons.

[LeafUF]

Not sure if it was the same study but I read one that basically said those who eat sweets were thinner than those who don't. But I think thin people are just more likely to admit it. Of the people I work with and travel with I am one of the thinner ones and I eat candy like it's my job on the road. While the heavier or more self conscious team members will eat really healthy the whole time we are together. This leads me to believe that they are masking their bad habits and one of my coworkers pretty much told me just that.

[Dreamliner]

Still boils down to calories. I don't even know anymore what people mean by 'eating healthy.'

[LeafUF]

Still boils down to calories. I don't even know anymore what people mean by 'eating healthy.'

Dont need to tell me that. And you are just playing dumb if you don't know what people mean by eating healthy. At least what creates the perception of a healthy diet.

[Dreamliner]

Dont need to tell me that. And you are just playing dumb if you don't know what people mean by eating healthy. At least what creates the perception of a healthy diet.

apparently my work is not done here. 'Healthy diet' lacks explanatory power. You're just going to have spell out what it means. You can eat whole grain and veggies in abundance, and if you exceed calorie balance, you'll get fat and your health markers will diminish.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Still boils down to calories. I don't even know anymore what people mean by 'eating healthy.'

I think there's some merit in the notion, though.

Eating an entire day's worth of calories in cotton candy is certainly less conducive to "overall health" than something more "balanced." Beyond the fact that you'd fairly quickly develop rickets and scurvy, I don't think it would promote a very pleasing body composition.

Obviously that's different than someone saying "oh, I can't eat this pie, it's not 'healthy'" and then consuming the same # of calories in salad and grilled chicken. But to an extent, there is healthy and unhealthy eating, at least at a threshold of quantity.

None of this is very sugar specific, of course, but the primary issue with sugar is not its nutritional makeup or that it's "evil" or a fat-promoter, but that simple sugars have very little influence on satiety. Which means, if you're the kind of person who can eat a small bowl of ice cream and be happy, no harm no foul. But a lot of people simply aren't like that. There's a pleasure response to eating sugary foods that keeps them going back, and with less natural barrier to overeating, it can be a very bad idea to even start.

Nothing in the above applies to fruit, of course, which is loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber to promote satiety. The demonization of fruit in the fitness industry is a huge headslapper.

So the question "is sugar good or bad" will always be met with the answer "neither." The follow-up question "should I eat sugar if I'm trying to lose weight" is not so simple. If you can be honest and say you're the 1 bowl of ice cream person, go for it. But otherwise, it might be prudent to find ways to limit.

"Everything in moderation" is the greatest advice ever given, but depending on the person it may need to be modified to "Everything in moderation, unless you can't handle moderation, in which case get rid of it."

[Dreamliner]

I think there's some merit in the notion, though.

Eating an entire day's worth of calories in cotton candy is certainly less conducive to "overall health" than something more "balanced." Beyond the fact that you'd fairly quickly develop rickets and scurvy, I don't think it would promote a very pleasing body composition.

Obviously that's different than someone saying "oh, I can't eat this pie, it's not 'healthy'" and then consuming the same # of calories in salad and grilled chicken. But to an extent, there is healthy and unhealthy eating, at least at a threshold of quantity.

None of this is very sugar specific, of course, but the primary issue with sugar is not its nutritional makeup or that it's "evil" or a fat-promoter, but that simple sugars have very little influence on satiety. Which means, if you're the kind of person who can eat a small bowl of ice cream and be happy, no harm no foul. But a lot of people simply aren't like that. There's a pleasure response to eating sugary foods that keeps them going back, and with less natural barrier to overeating, it can be a very bad idea to even start.

Nothing in the above applies to fruit, of course, which is loaded with soluble and insoluble fiber to promote satiety. The demonization of fruit in the fitness industry is a huge headslapper.

So the question "is sugar good or bad" will always be met with the answer "neither." The follow-up question "should I eat sugar if I'm trying to lose weight" is not so simple. If you can be honest and say you're the 1 bowl of ice cream person, go for it. But otherwise, it might be prudent to find ways to limit.

"Everything in moderation" is the greatest advice ever given, but depending on the person it may need to be modified to "Everything in moderation, unless you can't handle moderation, in which case get rid of it."

I don't envision anyone being able to sustain an all-cotton candy diet for more than a day. On the other hand, University of Kansas nutrition professor Gary Haub lost 27 lbs. in 10 weeks on a Twinkie diet. Roughly 80% of his calories came from Twinkies and other sugary treats. He only added a protein shake and a can of green beans.

His health markers improved SUBSTANTIALLY across the board. So, how was his diet 'unhealthy' ?

Now, I readily grant that some foods contain more essential nutrients than others. I readily grant that some foods afford better satiety than others. And for my trainees who need to go quite low in calories, I urge them to emphasize bang-for-the-buck foods and the others in moderation.

But in my view, the thing that is most 'unhealthy' about the American diet is that it contains too many calories.

Lastly, on the subject of encouraging people to 'get rid of', say, sugar. I am reluctant to do that. Now, if they volunteer to abstain from sugar, I do not stand in their way. However, people who abstain from sugar generally report that it takes months if not years for sugar cravings to abate. And some report that they never go away. For these and the reasons already stated, I believe that moderation, not abstinence, is the better course, even for the person who needs to go extremely low in calories.

[malscott]

I cut dairy and sugar from my diet and lost 10 lbs almost immediately. As much as sugar is yummy to many, cancer loves sugar way more than us. Cancer thrives on the stuff. High oxygen content and low sugar are cancers enemies. FWIW

[Dreamliner]

I cut dairy and sugar from my diet and lost 10 lbs almost immediately. As much as sugar is yummy to many, cancer loves sugar way more than us. Cancer thrives on the stuff. High oxygen content and low sugar are cancers enemies. FWIW

Happy for you. You lost your ten pounds because eliminating dairy and sugar created a calorie deficit. But there is nothing insidious about sugar such that a donut here and there becomes a breeding ground for cancer. Look to obesity for links with diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I don't envision anyone being able to sustain an all-cotton candy diet for more than a day. On the other hand, University of Kansas nutrition professor Gary Haub lost 27 lbs. in 10 weeks on a Twinkie diet. Roughly 100% of his calories came from Twinkies and other sugary treats. He only added a protein shake and a can of green beans.

His health markers improved SUBSTANTIALLY across the board. So, how was his diet 'unhealthy' ?

10 weeks is obviously a very short time period to judge such things.

But in my view, the thing that is most 'unhealthy' about the American diet is that it contains too many calories.

Agreed, and sadly, simple sugars contribute to that for a lot of people, largely because of the satiety factor.

I believe that moderation, not abstinence, is the better course, even for the person who needs to go extremely low in calories.

As I said, moderation is great ... for people who can moderate. ;)

[Sir_Gibby]

Paleo

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Also, I'm sure you're aware of this, but Haub was not in fact on an all-Twinkie diet.

[Dreamliner]

10 weeks is obviously a very short time period to judge such things.



Agreed, and sadly, simple sugars contribute to that for a lot of people, largely because of the satiety factor.



As I said, moderation is great ... for people who can moderate. ;)

As to the 10 weeks, the predictable chorus was dead wrong as it would have predicted atherogenic changes in health markers simply because sugar was made the mainstay of the diet, even though hypo-caloric.

Agree on the last bit, although I have not met the first person who has not been able to moderate.

[Dreamliner]

Also, I'm sure you're aware of this, but Haub was not in fact on an all-Twinkie diet.

I didn't say he was.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

As to the 10 weeks, the predictable chorus was dead wrong as it would have predicted atherogenic changes in health markers simply because sugar was made the mainstay of the diet, even though hypo-caloric.

My contention isn't that LDL would go down and HDL would go up (or vice versa), it's that there are a host of other metabolic functions that would be impaired long-term without ample protein and quality fats.

Sugar is for short term energy ... that's its role.

Agree on the last bit, although I have not met the first person who has not been able to moderate.

Degree or will power, or call it what you will.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I didn't say he was.

I don't think you meant, to, but yes you did:

Roughly 100% of his calories came from Twinkies

[Dreamliner]

Paleo

Here's the thing. On this brief thread we've learned that we are not to eat: sugar, dairy and now grains. This leaves meat and vegetables ... which is decidedly not yummy, but presumably will enable people to live as long as the cave men did!

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Obviously no food is inherently "better" than another, but your body needs certain things to survive and for the most part simple sugars is not one of them.

Could you get lean eating solely simple sugars, or utilizing them as most of your calories? Absolutely. Calories in, calories out. Might other parts of your overall health be hampered by this? Yeah, maybe.

Should people eat sugar if they want it? Yeah, no doubt. Is "go ahead enjoy sugar" good advice for everyone? Not so sure about that.

The problem with studies is the environments are typically tightly controlled. Human behavior is not.

Eating mostly Twinkies but getting only 1400 calories is going to work for weight loss and then subsequently cholesterol readings (would be interested, however, in hormonal changes over 10 weeks). But what about the people who won't or don't stop at 1400 calories? These are the folks to whom I would be careful in imparting said advice.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

The psychological component - which is probably the most overlooked part of fitness and training - is very important here.

[Sir_Gibby]

Here's the thing. On this brief thread we've learned that we are not to eat: sugar, dairy and now grains. This leaves meat and vegetables ... which is decidedly not yummy, but presumably will enable people to live as long as the cave men did!

What's your thoughts on it? I'm trying it out and seem to be enjoying it. I've never thought myself much of a veggie guy until I actually tried and it's pretty good, the obvious enjoyment coming from the fact that they are better for me more so than the actual taste.

I think it has some legs from the literature I've read but 'tis just my opinion.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

If you enjoy the paleo diet, it's fine. If you don't, there are a billion other dietary choices you can make that will work just as well.

[Dreamliner]

My contention isn't that LDL would go down and HDL would go up (or vice versa), it's that there are a host of other metabolic functions that would be impaired long-term without ample protein and quality fats.

Sugar is for short term energy ... that's its role.



Degree or will power, or call it what you will.

But here again, I would argue that since protein requirements are wildly exaggerated, Haub got plenty of it with his one protein shake, can of green beans, and whatever very small amount found in his various sugary treats. Bear in mind that although this was intended as a short-term experiment, the results shocked a nutrition professor.

And I regularly meet people who complain that when willpower was doled out that they got the short end of the stick. I tell them just to pretend that willpower doesn't exist and then we go from there.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I would argue that since protein requirements are wildly exaggerated

I'm not arguing for protein requirements.

And I regularly meet people who complain that when willpower was doled out that they got the short end of the stick. I tell them just to pretend that willpower doesn't exist and then we go from there.

And I'm sure that will work for some people. And then for others it won't.

[Dreamliner]

What's your thoughts on it? I'm trying it out and seem to be enjoying it. I've never thought myself much of a veggie guy until I actually tried and it's pretty good, the obvious enjoyment coming from the fact that they are better for me more so than the actual taste.

I think it has some legs from the literature I've read but 'tis just my opinion.

Gibby, if it's something you'd enjoy I'd say go for it. And in any case I recommend some folks moving in the direction of meat and veggies. I just don't agree with the argument that paleo in particular is necessary for health. I oppose 'nutritionism' which is the newly-minted term for people who are beset by a sort of cultish veneration of a particular diet.

My standard advice is to run from people who insist that they've found the diet for everyone and that all other diets are dangerous or sub-par.

[Dreamliner]

I'm not arguing for protein requirements.



And I'm sure that will work for some people. And then for others it won't.

I'll be sure and let you know when I've met the first person. I just think it's sad to imagine that, when human beings are born with a preference for sweets, that they are intended to wholly deny that preference. And sometimes I think that this notion that moderation is impossible for many is almost distinctly American. It reminds me of alcohol tabooism, sort of a learned helplessness.

[Sir_Gibby]

Gibby, if it's something you'd enjoy I'd say go for it. And in any case I recommend some folks moving in the direction of meat and veggies. I just don't agree with the argument that paleo in particular is necessary for health. I oppose 'nutritionism' which is the newly-minted term for people who are beset by a sort of cultish veneration of a particular diet.

My standard advice is to run from people who insist that they've found the diet for everyone and that all other diets are dangerous or sub-par.

Can't say I'm a nut about it (read: I just squashed a 50-count Dunkin Donut munchkin box over the past week) but I can't say that it's a BAD diet. I love me some bread but, after thinking about it, what am I really getting out of bread other than taste? I'd argue (perhaps in error) not much. No doubt it's lowered my calories, combine that with a 6+ mile bike ride everyday to and from work and playing an exuberant amount of sports, which I guess is the real benefit.

[Dreamliner]

I was having the sugar discussion with a fellow, just yesterday, who informed me that he had cut out sugar, lost 25 lbs. and feels much better. However, he quickly added that he replaced sugar with Splenda. So, now he's getting a lot of Splenda and will surely come under attack from the increasing hordes who insist that sweeteners are killing us.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I just think it's sad to imagine that, when human beings are born with a preference for sweets, that they are intended to wholly deny that preference.

I think you've misconstrued what I'm saying. I'm saying if you are the type of person that cannot stop eating sweets once you start, you need to work on that before you can allow some to seep through.

That's all. Just that blanket advice like "enjoy sugar" enables some people.

As for encountering a person, you're relatively new to training, no? And people willing to pay for trainers are already fairly motivated people. So we're not exactly talking about the same population. That said, if you never have a failure to go with your success stories, you'll be the first to be able to say that.

[Dreamliner]

Can't say I'm a nut about it (read: I just squashed a 50-count Dunkin Donut munchkin box over the past week) but I can't say that it's a BAD diet. I love me some bread but, after thinking about it, what am I really getting out of bread other than taste? I'd argue (perhaps in error) not much. No doubt it's lowered my calories, combine that with a 6+ mile bike ride everyday to and from work and playing an exuberant amount of sports, which I guess is the real benefit.

Well, I'd be among the first to admit that bread is probably overrated. It is certainly what I'd consider a calorie-dense food. It's nuts to think that, until recently, the FDA was recommending 7-9 servings of grains a day.

Paleo could be viewed as a sort of carb-restricted diet. Many people can eat meat and veggies ad libitum and lose weight ... because they are creating a calorie deficit. On the other hand, I'm training a woman who gained ten pounds while on a ketogenic diet. And I have a friend who gained weight on the Warrior Diet.

Hell, I've got a trainee who now tells me she wants to go back on Weight Watchers because she feels like she needs that sort of stringent calibration. I say more power to her. Let a thousand flowers bloom!

[Dreamliner]

I think you've misconstrued what I'm saying. I'm saying if you are the type of person that cannot stop eating sweets once you start, you need to work on that before you can allow some to seep through.

That's all. Just that blanket advice like "enjoy sugar" enables some people.

As for encountering a person, you're relatively new to training, no? And people willing to pay for trainers are already fairly motivated people. So we're not exactly talking about the same population. That said, if you never have a failure to go with your success stories, you'll be the first to be able to say that.

Most of my trainees (and perhaps most Americans) fall into the category of people who must learn moderation. This is just in the warp and woof of the fabric as far as I'm concerned. Americans are almost by definition over-eaters.

As a trainer, I see myself in the role of a negotiator. I'm like the accountant who tells them, "If you want to get here, you're going to have to cut this much. So, where do you want to cut ?" and "You can have this much, but you can't have any more." And to date, they seem to be able to do it, provided that they have a clear 'budget plan' going in. To date, I haven't had to tell anyone to cut out an entire food group. Now, that does not preclude asking them to cut out a food item because they simply cannot fit everything they like into a tight budget.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Most of my trainees (and perhaps most Americans) fall into the category of people who must learn moderation. This is just in the warp and woof of the fabric as far as I'm concerned. Americans are almost by definition over-eaters.

As a trainer, I see myself in the role of a negotiator. I'm like the accountant who tells them, "If you want to get here, you're going to have to cut this much. So, where do you want to cut ?" and "You can have this much, but you can't have any more." And to date, they seem to be able to do it, provided that they have a clear 'budget plan' going in. To date, I haven't had to tell anyone to cut out an entire food group. Now, that does not preclude asking them to cut out a food item because they simply cannot fit everything they like into a tight budget.

I'm sure you can understand my qualms about one-size-fits-all advice. "Go ahead, eat sugar" means something different to everyone. For some people, eating sugar can ruin a diet. People react differently to different things and are motivated by very disparate and distinct things.

[Dreamliner]

I'm sure you can understand my qualms about one-size-fits-all advice. "Go ahead, eat sugar" means something different to everyone. For some people, eating sugar can ruin a diet. People react differently to different things and are motivated by very disparate and distinct things.

And again, I'll let you know the first time I meet a person who cannot eat some sugar without ruining a diet. When I at long last meet that person, if I'm a trainer worth my salt I'll surely get behind them.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

And again, I'll let you know the first time I meet a person who cannot eat some sugar without ruining a diet. When I at long last meet that person, if I'm a trainer worth my salt I'll surely get behind them.

You're lucky. I've probably met 5 in my life.

[Dreamliner]

You're lucky. I've probably met 5 in my life.

Maybe you wound up with my five. :wink:

[Dreamliner]

Just a further comment: I very quickly learned that as a trainer, I had to also be a bit of a psychologist. In other words, I have to be able to tap into how people tick and motivate them accordingly. But apparently I also have to be a bit of a sociologist. America is a country of fanatics, tabooists and prohibitionists. I'd rather not play into any of that ... even if it costs me some business.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

That's what I was hinting at here:

The psychological component - which is probably the most overlooked part of fitness and training - is very important here.

Fitness and motivation are so highly individualized that blanket advice is sometimes useless and why the industry is so often contradictory.

[Dreamliner]

That's what I was hinting at here:



Fitness and motivation are so highly individualized that blanket advice is sometimes useless and why the industry is so often contradictory.

I agree with that. But of course I'm not giving blanket advice. I do believe everyone can eat sugar. Some can afford to eat more than others. and those who just can't seem to help themselves can help themselves ... if they want to.