Here’s a scary fact. When scientists took MRI images of the brains of people consuming sugar and highly addictive drugs like cocaine, the same pleasure centers in the brain started lighting up. Sugar and gluten stimulate those same receptors, and so that is why the best opiod clinics will focus on eliminating those from the diet. Sounds pretty, scary, doesn’t it? But what does it actually mean to your brain and your overall health?

In fact, many of those living with addiction are likely to have underlying acidosis. This is where the pH of the body is too acidic. Being overly acidic causes inflammation inside our stomach and GI track, near our heart and brain, and it causes an increase of various chronic health conditions. Drinking your alkaline water in the morning during this challenge, which is water that is left overnight with lemon slices in it, can be a good beverage option to help as you are working through this overwhelming brain chemistry. You can also use raw apple cider vinegar in your water and do the same, let it sit in the water overnight, stir in the morning and drink. If you are doing intermittent fasting, I have found that both of these items in the morning actually enhance the effects of your fast.

Sugar is truly addictive. That means that it will alter your brain chemistry and over time you start to crave more and more sugar. The urge for your next sweet fix comes more frequently and you need to consume it in larger quantities and like any other drug, it comes with some pretty scary side effects. Not being able to fit into your favorite pair of jeans because of your "seasonal" sugar addiction is going to be the least of your problems.

Yes, there will be weight gain, but with it, and particularly because this weight gain is brought on by consuming too much sugar, you’ll increase your risk of developing Type II Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and with it, an increased risk of stroke. Add to that the extra stress the added weight puts on your joints and tendons and how much harder it is to get enough oxygen pumping through your body, it’s no wonder you feel crappy as you put on weight. All these various health conditions are referred to as metabolic syndrome and it’s just one of the things you can look forward to as you continue to feed your sugar addiction.

But like with a cocaine addiction, harming your body and compromising your health doesn’t really matter all that much when you’re faced with a box of donuts. That’s a serious problem. Then, as with any highly addictive drug, there will be unpleasant withdrawal symptoms as you start to wean your body off of sugar. Don’t believe me? Give it a try.

Cut out all added sugar for a couple of days. No more soda, no more sugar in your coffee, no candy, no cookies, no donuts. That’s just the beginning.  You’ll also want to avoid all foods with added sugars like bread, most salad dressings, ketchup etc. Cut all those foods out and don’t eat anything without checking the label for added sugars. See how you feel after a few hours.

It will start with a little headache and then the headaches will begin.  You’ll start craving something sweet. We’re talking serious cravings. Next, that little headache will start to grow into a full blown pounding head along with joint aches. You may also experience some nausea and don’t be surprised to experience mood swings, too.  Some people will even have flu like symptoms and start to shake a day into their sugar detox.

Doesn't that sound a lot like the withdrawal symptoms of a “serious” drug addiction? That’s because sugar addiction is just that. A serious addiction.

However researchers have shown that overconsumption of highly palatable foods (high fat and high sugar) enhances opioids in the brain. Opioid system dysregulation has been observed in both genetic and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced models of obesity.  So that means that even though very high fat can replace the sugar in your craving brain, too high fat long term isn't great for you either. There is a balancing act of micronutrients and macronutrients that so many factors play into.

When was the last time you went keto? Did you fall back into sugar when you stopped eating high high fat? When was the last time you did a sugar detox? Was is completely miserable?



So today I want you to make sure you eat enough olives, olive oil, avocado, any of those healthy monounsaturated fats and see if it makes a difference.

Family health history is often called the first genetic test. Genetic disorders typically involve the inheritance of a particular mutated disease-causing gene. Generally we’ve thought of this in terms of a mutated gene that is passed down through a family, and each generation of children can inherit the gene that causes the disease. Most are just carriers and every now and then someone is affected by that gene.

New research claims that environmental factors affect not just your individual genes ..but those of your offspring too. Diabetes, obesity – even certain phobias – may all be influenced by the behavior of our parents and grandparents.  I talk about epigenetics all the time.  Childhood Obesity is a very serious epidemic in North America, as well as around the globe. Disease that has never been seen in children before are starting to pop up across the nation. And overweight child will become an overweight adult. Even if the epigenetics started at the grandparent stage.

The even greater surprise is the recent discovery that epigenetic signals from the environment can be passed on from one generation to the next, sometimes for several generations, without changing a single gene sequence. It's well established, of course, that environmental effects like radiation, which alter the genetic sequences in a sex cell's DNA, can leave a mark on subsequent generations.

Likewise, it's known that the environment in a mother's womb can alter the development of a fetus. What's eye-opening is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the epigenetic changes wrought by one's diet, behavior, or surroundings can work their way into the germ line and echo far into the future. Put simply, and as bizarre as it may sound, what you eat or smoke today could affect the health and behavior of your great-grandchildren. Methylation patterns also hold promise as diagnostic tools, and there is one of my podcasts where I go into a little more detail on this issue.

Remove, Repair, Restore, Reduce, Re-establish… the priorities of health. So we need to remove the toxins, and start to repair our health. When we remove toxic foods {IE junk, processed, pesticides, chemicals}, toxic personal care products and toxic cleaning chemicals out of our homes, we remove the largest impact of epigenetic impactors and that is where I generally get started when working with a new client. Changing food purchasing habits, meal planning, organic fruits and vegetables, and if you aren't vegan using wild caught or pastured raised foods. As well you should be looking for and using nontoxic cleaners or making cleaners with essential oils. This is the practice that could reduce the impact on the future generations of children.

Changing our epigenetics doesn't change something like having the MTHFR mutation. Epigenetic changes offer support with gene expression, and what genes we pass on to our children and their children. If you think of this in terms of digestive enzymes. If you are lactose intolerant you have an enzyme you can take to allow you to digest milk. There is no supplement that will, at this time, give you the support with the missing methylation enzyme you do not have. That is why we eliminate those foods and supplements that have the unmethylated versions, and instead use foods and supplements that are body can readily use.

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research did research into how the Moringa Leaf Extract Prevents In Vitro Oxidative DNA Damage. What they found was that this extract has a strong potential as curative and therapeutic agent against oxidative stress originating from any source. So what is oxidative dna damage (besides being a part of that whole epigenetics cycle).. Well oxidative stress damages DNA.  Oxidative stress is essentially an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through neutralization by antioxidants. When we over exercise, we create oxidative damage. With someone like myself with the MTHFR mutation, when you have oxidative stress it impairs methylation and our overall health. While I don't want to stop working out, I know that I can use fruits and vegetables to neutralize free radicals through their antioxidants. This is why I supplement every day with whole foods both as my main sources of diet, but also my main sources of supplementation as it has been proven to change over 1600 genes in just eight weeks of supplementation.

Oxidative stress is what happens as a result of an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defenses. This is why supplementation is so highly called for by integrative practice. As well, meditation can cause hundreds of genes to turn off or on including involved in cellular metabolism and in the body's response to 'oxidative stress'. Meditation can be the best sources to start using to offer your body brain-focused strategies. Our cells when they are out of balance, it is sort of like a game of tag, where one cell steals from another cell via electron robbery. Although the cell is once again complete, it will never be the same. Stress is the biggest generator of this imbalance in the body. Stress does so much to us, and impacts so many different areas of our biology. Glutathione, which I have talked a lot about over the years, and other major antioxidants are the cellular shields. Meditation raises your levels of glutathione, and along with your rich antioxidant foods and supplementation, can be a huge step in this Season of Becoming challenge.

- 

moringa oleifera leaf extract prevents in vitro oxidative dna damage
www.ajpcr.com/Vol6Suppl2/1708.pdf

Harvard Study finds that Meditation Impacts DNA | David R Hamilton ...
http://drdavidhamilton.com/harvard-study-finds-that-meditation-impacts-dna/ 

Day one for many or our resetters, and so as we continue this Becoming challenge, realize that there is a grand relationship between courage and self-confidence. One aspect of that was that we can use courage and doing things that scare us a little to boost our feeling of self-worth and confidence. This challenge will do that by increasing self-confidence because doing something like this takes a little courage along the way.

Why is this such great news? Because courage is a habit. It’s something that’s completely in our control and a habit we can cultivate. All it takes is a little awareness and the drive to make it happen. We just need to get the ball rolling for a little while. Over the course of this challenge, regardless of if you are doing the shred or the ketolicious program, is a great time to do that. If you can take small steps towards courage every single day for the remainder of this challenge, you’ll be well on your way to creating this new positive habit.

It doesn’t have to be anything big. Small acts of courage will work just fine to build this habit. Remember that as you take each next step your self-confidence will increase.  That bravery will make it easier to take another courageous move. Remember, it will become easier with each day as you practice this new habit.

You may be wondering how you can start to cultivate this new habit. Habits take practice so try not to let 24 hours go by without doing something that scares you. Sometimes you need a reminder, and sometimes it can be as simple as letting on thing go, and adding one item in. What if you let go of your sugary coffee treat through the drive through, and made some coffee or turmeric tea that would help you in more ways than just waking you up?



We’re creatures of habit and comfort and we don’t like venture outside of our comfort zone unless we’re forced to. To make courage a habit, you have to actively look for daily opportunities to practice. What can you do to make that happen?

Share your journey. Sit down right now and start making a list of things you can share in the group or with your close family and friends to be courageous over the next ten days. Start by thinking of things that scare you or challenge you. When was that last time you took a full body photo? When was the last time you shared how you felt? Keep adding to this list as you go along. Refer back to it often and use the items on the list to keep you moving forward and connecting with others.

Start paying attention as you go about your busy day. Get in the habit of not shying away from challenges but embracing them and doing things anyway. You’re probably encountering a lot more challenges throughout your day than you realize.

Step out of your comfort zone and make friends, or spend time with people who will challenge you. We have an entire group of people looking to connect with you. As well, you can also encourage your loved ones to help you face your fears and step out of your area of comfort on a more regular basis. Ask for their assistance to help you fight the fear.

Last but not least, you can get a coach. Sometimes it takes something more. When you order your Ketolicious Reset this month, and get on the whole food capsules or gummies, you will get in addition a full month of weekly coaching with me through the month of November, both one-on-one and in an online video setting with a group. We will talk about life, nutrition, fitness or anything else you can think of needing support with. Having a coach forces you to test your limits, face your fears and help you to find your inner courage.

The truth is simple. Nutrition is power in your life. There is no short cut, there is no secret path to go around this truth. You will learn it when it's your time, and until then realize it will be a journey. When you get to the destination of wellness... I'll be here with pom poms at the finish line!!

If you aren't addicted to sugar, there is no need to fear. What if you gave it up for three days... what could possibly happen?

Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re doing fine and think you’re just about ready to prove me wrong about this sugar addiction. Sure, a bowl of cereal would be nice and that cup of coffee tastes better with flavored creamer, but you’re doing just fine without it.

Then those sugar cravings start to get a little stronger and you’re feeling a headache come on. This is getting a little uncomfortable but manageable. Maybe there is such a thing as sugar detox, but you’re sure you’re only having a mild case of it and will get through this in no time.

A few more hours pass and things start to get a lot harder. You’re starting to feel the real detox side effects including body and joint aches, chills, nausea and that headache is getting a lot worse. It’s hard to focus on anything. That’s when it hits you that there may be something to this whole sugar addiction thing.

Here’s the thing; consuming that much added sugar isn’t natural for us. A hundred years ago, we consumed a small fraction of the sugar we eat today. Our food wasn’t as sweet and sugar was a rare treat. Today, it creeps into everything we eat including a lot of foods we don’t think of as sweet like bread and salad dressing for example.

Sugar used to be an occasional treat. People would eat ripe fruit or use it to make jelly or the occasional cake. The human body could handle the occasional bit of sugar just fine. What it can’t handle well is the 160+ pounds of sugar the average American now consumes.

We’re addicted to the sweet stuff and average consumption is still going up. And as it goes up we see more cases of obesity, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. And each of those bring with them a bunch of other health conditions. Sugar is making us fat and sick (and dead) and since it’s so addictive, it’s hard to quit it. The only way is to realize and truly understand just how bad it is for you. That will give you the willpower to break free from your sugar addiction, say no to that cookie and opt for a healthier choice instead.

When you start order and start the Ketolicious Reset you will start to see just how much of your being is relying on those carbohydrates and driving the sugar need. Just don't forget to order your JP to make sure that you get all of the dense nutrition your body needs.

Today's challenge was about figuring out the who, what, where of this body journey - and having gratitude for your gift.

So what is the formula for this success in life?

S=(d+g+a)p2
or
Success = (Desire+Goals+Action) Personal Development squared

Desire - You want it {success}
Goals - You are open to it {to be successful}
Actions - You live it {engage in the awareness of opportunity daily}
Personal Development - You become it {open and accept the possibilities every day}

Discovery is the first level of coaching that I go through with clients. Who are are? Where have you been and where are you now? What are you doing that's great, or needs to be changed? What are you lacking?

This is how you need to start thinking.
Who are you?

Where have you been and where are you now with this challenge of change?

What are you doing that is great (really works) and what do you need to perhaps change?

What are you lacking? Is it nutrients? Is is the right macros? Is it the support team?

Think about what it all means to you.

What do you desire?
What are your goals?
What actions are you willing to take?
What personal development can help you really increase the benefits??

Look at these words. What visual word are you going to use to move your forward today. Maybe it is one of these, and maybe it is another.

Accessible, Alive, Authentic, Calming, Connected, Desired, Dynamic, Effective, Empowering, Energizing, Enlightened, Focused, Gentle, Genuine, Grounded, Harmonious, Healthy, Healing, Holistic, Hopeful, Inspired, Intentional, Invigorating, Limitless, Mindful, Natural, Nourishing, Positive, Purposeful, Refreshing, Reliable, Safe, Serene, Strengthening, Valued, Vibrant, Vibrational, Whole, Wholesome, and WONDERFUL!!

Share your visual words and the answers to the questions below challengers. You only GET what you GIVE in this challenge.

We all have a story. Today I was so very blessed to see a video my cousin had done for Soul Pancake. The journey most of his siblings went through was very difficult. However, he not only lived through it, but he fought through it and is changing the lives of so many children as he is growing and just being his truth. So I leave you with his video, and I promise it will change how you are looking at who you are becoming. As you change, you change others. Find your moment!!

Cutting all the added sugar out of your diet is much better for your health, but while your body adjusts to your new diet; you can experience some unpleasant sugar detox side effects. They may include headaches, joint and other body aches, nausea and of course higher intensity cravings for all things highly refined and sugared. They key is not to give in and have a piece of candy. Learning this now is essential with all of the Halloween candy around the corner. Rather than beat yourself up, try these three tips to help you make it through the relatively short detox period.

First and foremost make sure you drink plenty of water and are properly hydrated. Electrolytes are so essential to our bodies, and water in general is needed to help with those water soluble nutrients. Not only will staying hydrated help alleviate many of the detox symptoms you may have, it will also help keep you full.

When you feel that detox headache coming on, grab a glass of water. Want a cookie or donut? Get a glass of water, and maybe add a tsp of olive oil to it. One of my favorite strategies when I don’t think I can make it without another sweet treat or when the plate of danishes in the break-room are calling my name is to pour myself a big glass of tea. I drink it slowly and then make myself wait 15 minutes. By then the craving has usually passed, or at the very least, I’m so full with water that I can pass on the sugary stuff. In the morning I have two cups of tea. One is my turmeric and ginger and the other is usually green matcha tea. However caffeine is either a help or a hindrance when you are releasing sugar. It may actually help the headache, or just make it worse.

Vitamin C, B vitamins, and Zinc are all known to help with cravings. Taking a good whole food supplement may be just the thing to help reduce detox side effects and make it through the few not so pleasant days of getting used to consuming a lot less sugar. When my clients shred each month, this is the key essential to make it easier. In addition, you can talk to your medical care provider about supplementing with a few of these micronutrients in higher doses, like magnesium or for those with genetic mutations B-12. However please don’t do this without medical supervision or the advice of your doctor though.




Challengers, I need you to realize that a lot of the cravings and "not feeling well" is in our head. The more we focus on negative side effects of detoxing from sugar, the worse they will get. What else is possible for you today? The best way to avoid this mindset is to stay busy. No, not with a donut in your mouth. The best way to stay busy is to connect with others. Take a walk, or a hike, visit a friend, or visit a retirement home. When we connect with others we can help ourselves in more ways than we can imagine. Sometimes, though, we sabotage ourselves by calling on our friend that we know is baking up a storm for an event. Or we meet up at a coffee shop with lots of sugary treats available. Don't set yourself up to fail because this process feels uncomfortable. This sugar release is just the first part of the equation, but it's the most important part.

While I don’t recommend doing a sugar detox when you’re working, particularly during a busy or stressful time, staying busy is a good idea, and work happens for many people five or more days per week. Stay strong by preparing healthy food and snacks for work, and then make some plans to head out with friends into a safer space during breaks or even just step out to your car for a meditation. At home you can reorganize your closet, let go of those clothes that no longer serve you, or just settle in for a Netflix marathon. Changing your behavior plays into this season of becoming. You are becoming someone that you've always been, just hiding in plain sight.

How often do you you get too caught up in the things you don’t like? When this happens it’s easy to lose sight of your goals and the path to achieving them. Once you begin to indulge in your emotions, you quickly begin to feel worse each day by continuing to fuel all the wrong emotions, and often time then grab all the wrong foods.

If you wake up in the morning only thinking about the things you don’t like and how angry or disheartened that makes you, then you’ll live the rest of your life in a negative mindset, which is bad for your mental and physical health. Often times we start with social media... and although my Season Of Becoming challenge is being held online, it's the way we start thinking about ourselves based on social posts, pictures.... those comparisons of happiness that move us into a state of emotional imbalance and low vibrations.

Staying in a constant state of anger or sadness or any low vibrational emotion is bad for your health in many ways. You might find yourself experiencing more frequent headaches, fatigue, stomach problems, and other physically harmful feelings.

These are all side effects of stress out cells, which is always present with negative emotions. Mentally, you’ll find yourself being more irritable and upset, which can affect your loved ones.

Most importantly, you won’t be focused on the goals you want to work towards. You won’t ever feel that sense of satisfaction that you crave if all of your days are spent being upset.

If you go to bed and wake up worried that you’re not good enough to be a niche leader online, then it detracts from the happiness you could be feeling from achieving the goals you tackled that day. That confidence will lend to more success the following day, whereas anxiety will cause it to stall.

If you’re a 9-5 worker, instead of waking up thinking about how you’re going to dread seeing that one coworker of yours, think about how happy you are to have a stable job. Focus on the things that you love and the things that you need to do.

Complaining about your coworkers every day isn’t going to help you accomplish your goals. It’s absolutely useless, and it only causes you issues, not them. Instead of complaining about everything that’s wrong, focus your efforts on fixing the things that are wrong that you can fix, and spend some time focusing on the things that you enjoy or are pleased with.

When you start to spend your time and energy working towards things that you want and things that you enjoy, you’ll lose that feeling of stress. You’ll wake up feeling energized and excited to start your day rather than dreading another useless day of getting nothing done.

Get on a good sleep schedule if you’re not already on one so that you can spend more time doing the things that you love. You’ll find that your mind is more at ease and you feel much healthier.

You’ll gain a sense of satisfaction just knowing that you’re taking control of your own path, that you’re living life how you want to live it rather than letting someone (or something) else turn you into an unproductive mess.

Share how you feel when you aren't all tied up in those spaces... and if you feel an inability to break away from that.

I will be posting all of the Season Of Becoming main posts here on the blog... however if you want to get a more interactive engagement... I recommend just joining us as it's free to join.

As we are nearing October, it's the time of year that I see people that have really embraced their wellness, dive into all of the emotions, all of the sugars, all of the things that make us think a New Year's detox is needed. Although we can't break free of some of that... like dysfunctional family togetherness or holiday parties... we can change ourselves through letting go of beliefs, and letting go of some of our dietary choices .... You are a season of becoming. But what will you become?
Fall is when we start feel comfortable, and sick. It's no secret that the average person consumes 22 teaspoons of “added” sugar per day. Between parties and trick-or-treating, the average child consumed 3 cups of sugar on Halloween. Parents, how much do you have leading up to Halloween, and on Halloween, and moving into the brisk holiday season.

The time to challenge your beliefs and change your season is now. The time to become what you wish for the New Year starts now. Celebrate with this event and you will open an opportunity to challenge what celebration is truly about.

You can follow along on the blog as well if Facebook isn't your thing. I am so excited to help you unlock some of the inner emotional knots and open you up to something you crave.