Plan Ahead To Eliminate or Weaken Any Triggers

A trigger is something that seems like the reason for you using sugar when you would not like to.

Whatever your deeper seated reasons for overusing sugar are, at this stage we need to identify the triggers - the thing that seemingly made you give in - because these may be easier to deal with.

Examples of triggers

Uncomfortable emotions - anger, grief, loneliness, boredom and more

Junk in your environment - the office cookie jar, your family's biscuit barrel, the deli you pass everyday, TV advertising and more

Habit - you always have junk food/drink X after your workout or to help you work when you really do not want to 

Tiredness - no need for examples! I think we all know how this one works.

Some triggers are quite possible to remove, others less so. 

What I have noticed is that many of my clients could remove triggers, but refuse to. They tell me things like:

"Well I have to buy biscuits for the biscuit jar" (as if it was a member of their family).

"My wife wouldn't like it if I suggested throwing out all the ice cream".

"I have to go past the deli to get to work. Otherwise I would need to take a route which means a 15 minute diversion."

What I can see in their eyes when they come up with these justifications for continuing their sugar enslavement is a need for me to stamp my approval on the "it's so inconvenient" complaint.

Of course it is inconvenient. 

The problem is that there is no special dispensation for you. Your body simultaneously craves the junk and makes you pay the price.

I gave up sugar because  I was in a PMT fuelled hell. The doctor looked down her know-it-all medical nose at me and sniffed "Well, you can certainly try giving up sugar". I was furious with her, and it was this that powered me through the inconvenience, the social awkwardness and past the endless shop windows trying to draw me back to the junk. 

There is no easy answer here. You have to make a choice - do you kowtow to others' acceptance of sugar, or do you stand up for what you know is right? 

ACTION STEPS

In your journal, write a list of your personal triggers. 

Now brainstorm what you can do to minimisse the effect of, or remove those triggers over the coming two weeks. 

Imagine a doctor had told you you had to do this for your health. 

Now, decide if you have to talk to anyone else about removing particular triggers. 

Remember it is only for two weeks. You can review the situation in a fortnight. You may find people are more receptive if you present any change as a trial period.

You could always start the conversation with "What would you say if I told you my doctor has told me that I absolutely have to cut out ......... for the next two weeks?"

Fun game: see how long the conversation can run with you letting them believe the doctor HAD ordered this?