Читать книгу Sugar Addicts’ Diet - Nicki Waterman - Страница 13

Answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the following statements:

• You think about sugary foods more than any other types of food. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘Every minute of the day, from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed, I’d think about sweet food, whether it was sweets, chocolate, biscuits or cakes. I’d even wake in the middle of the night thinking of it.’

• You’ve attempted to cut down on sweet food in your diet before. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve said, “Right, that’s it – from today I’m giving up sugary foods” and succeeded for a couple of days, only to be drawn back in by blinding headaches, grumpiness and sheer desire for sugar.’

• You find yourself eating more and more sugar as time goes by. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘I ate a lot of sugar as a child and somehow managed to kid myself that I didn’t eat as much as an adult, but I definitely did. Back then it was a treat – as an adult you can make it part of your everyday life and no one will question you.’

• You lie about how much sugary food you eat. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘I’ve lied so many times to friends, family and colleagues about how much sugar I’ve eaten. There’s direct lying, like “I haven’t eaten any sugar today” when I have, and indirect lying where I haven’t corrected people when they assume I never waver from a healthy diet.’

• If you miss out on regular sugar, you feel terrible. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘If I didn’t eat sugar regularly enough, I was like a monster – irritable, grumpy, headachy and unable to sit still. It was as if I’d been possessed and the only thing that would put it right was a sugar fix.’

• You’ve altered your routine to get sweet foods. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘When I needed sugar and didn’t have the right foods in the house, I’d make special arrangements to get it, whether it was leaving home half an hour early to ensure I could stop for it or ringing friends and asking them to pick it up on the way to see me.’

• The thought of getting sugar makes you focused and tunnel-visioned. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘I know all the newsagents near me that sell pick ’n’ mix – and I used to use them as landmarks. If I knew I was going near one and had the opportunity for a “fix”, it was as if my senses were on red alert and my concentration was at its peak.’

• You’ve experienced what feels like a sugar ‘hangover’. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘I’ve had some memorable alcohol hangovers in my time but my worst hangovers have definitely been after sugar binges. I felt nauseous, headachy and struggled to get out of bed.’

• You often feel sugar is ruling you. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘Anyone who doesn’t have a thing about sugar probably thinks it’s strange to say this, but it really can feel as though sugar is controlling your life, from your hunger levels and taste buds through to your emotions. My idea of freedom is being able to say “no” to sugar without a second thought.’

• You often binge on sweet foods or white-flour foods such as biscuits or cakes. YES/NO

Nicki says, ‘I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve binged on biscuits, freshly toasted white bread, pick ’n’ mix or cakes. When you love sugar, it becomes an intrinsic part of your life.’

If you’ve said ‘yes’ to two or more of these, you have a problem with sugar. Don’t worry – we’re going to try and help you. Even if this isn’t you, this book will still be of interest, not least in helping you to understand the behaviour of others around you – perhaps friends or relatives who struggle with weight issues or ill health and don’t even realize that sugar could be to blame.