Miles Teller, who played Goose’s son in the new Top Gun Movie, recently commented on how he got into shirtless beach football shape for the movie. I’m sure there was lots of exercise and dieting, but, according to him, one of the elements was zero sugar.
I did a little research on movie stars, weight loss, ripped bods, etc. and nobody mentions anything about sugar. I found some references in weight loss articles here and there, but few talk about how sugar gets in the way of health, and completely wrecks things when it comes to losing weight.
Late last year, I took a month off of sugar (long story) and lost 15 pounds quicker than I ever have. It was a surprising victory, but miserable to quit something that’s such a huge part of my life. Regardless, my relationship to sugar is now much different. Sure, I’ll pound a Coke every now and again, but no more sugar in the coffee, no more orange juice in the AM; sugary treats, snacks, etc. are now, for the most part, off the list.
I also did a little research on why sugar and weight loss don’t get along. Here’s a quick rundown from healthline.com on how it works:
High blood sugar levels impair normal cell function and promote inflammation, which increases insulin resistance… Though cells become resistant to insulin’s effect on blood sugar uptake, they remain responsive to the hormone’s role in fat storing, meaning that fat storage is increased.
Sugar doesn’t simply adds calories, it causes inflammation (fluid retention) and increased fat storage, like no other chemical, all adding up to extra weight, requiring a level of exercise and diet that would burn the best of us out.
Carbs are bad too, they say, allegedly turning into sugar, having the same weight gain effect. I’m no dietician, but I’ve never lost this much weight in so little time from my many attempts at a carb-free diet.
Ultimately, I’m not suggesting that diet and exercise aren’t important, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve given up because I couldn’t lost those last 10 pounds, then gained 10 more in protest, all because I didn’t reign in the sugar pony.
If weight loss has you discouraged, as it does so many in my age department, quit sugar for a few weeks. If you’re ingesting the average American’s sugar ration, it’ll suck. The first thing you’ll notice is that there’s nothing fun to eat, and eating fun things is a big part of your life. I’ve skipped so many meals simply because I didn’t want to eat another vegetable. I love meat and carbs, but they get boring too. And when everyone around you is partying with the donuts and the ice cream things can get a little depressing.
You’ll also have to contend with the dark side of addiction. Quitting cold-turkey will feel like breaking up with a bad girlfriend. I’ve written about addiction before, so I won’t bore you with any re-runs, save that your ability to be happy will get stronger as you journey away from any happiness substitute.
In time, we’ll be happier without sugar, but the journey will take awhile.
The best place to start, odd as this will sound, is to get a little scared of sugar. I don’t think we have to get rid of it altogether, but it certainly shouldn’t be a staple food.
If you’re interested, below is a quick, relatively straightforward discussion on how sugar makes us huger than other foods, and why it might be time to rethink our relationship with it.
