Sex & Sugar

I read a blog post the other day about sugar.  It literally called sugar 'the devil.'  It mentioned violence and mental illness.  It touted that sugar is one atom away from cocaine.  WHOA!

Clearly I should be scared into never eating sugar again.  But instead I'm left a little annoyed. 

Attempting to scare people into righteousness isn't a new tactic.  Its a very old one. An although often the intentions are in the right place FEAR based persuasion does more to hurt then help in the long run (at least in my humble opinion). 

I started thinking.....Sex is like sugar. 

I like metaphor.

Sex is natural. Sex is beautiful. Sex is pleasurable. 

And sex can be abused....badly....in horrific ways. 

Some have decided that since sex can be bad....it is bad.  It's not to be talked about. Its not to be enjoyed.  In fact the most holy people, will choose to abstain from it all together. 

 In comes the guilt...in comes the shame...in comes the dysfunction.

 The puritanical  ideas about sex that seem to exist in this country haven't lead to purity.  They have led to child pornography, To Catch a Predator and rape.

 Sex is the most glorious of human experiences, it is not inherently bad and neither is sugar.

 Sugar is just Sugar...and it is pretty freaking awesome. 

 Sure sugar can be abused. Sure too much of it isn't good for us. But a moderate amount of sugar in our diets is fine.  It's probably even essential. 

 But I'm not that nutrition/science person...I'm going down that rabbit hole.  But I do know something about feelings and human behavior especially in relationship to food.    

 FEAR and GUILT don't keep people away from too much sugar.  In fact they probably often cause a cycle of binge and purge.  A period of restriction (No sugar!), followed by gluttonous abandon that leaves one feeling ill...emotionally and physically. 

 What if we just told people to pay attention to their own experience of sugar, in their own bodies....rather than try to scare them?  They might be able to experience that one cookie is enough, that they don't have to eat the whole bag.  They might be able to have a scoop of ice cream once a week, instead of for breakfast lunch and dinner for two weeks straight.

Sugar isn't the bad guy, anymore than sex is.  No food is "bad". Food is just food.  Sex is Sex.  The stuff of life. 

 

 

Warning: If You Lift Weights You May Get Bulky!

If you lift weights you may get bulky. 

You might develop biceps that are way bigger than any girl in a magazine (or the one in your head.)

Your quads may get too big to fit into regular jeans and you'll have to buy  the special kinds for gals with curves. 

or

If you lift weights you may stay skinny.

You might deadlift more than double body weight in the gym but still not sport a six pack.

Your legs might still look like pencils, even though you know the difference between a high bar and low bar back squat and have done Wendler, Westside and a linear progression.

Welcome to the amazing and wondrous world of your genetics. 

Some of our bodies get 'bulky' aka muscular with the slightest of ease.

Some of us can work our asses off in the gym and have very little visible proof. 

 And the rest of us are somewhere in the infinite possibility of the space in between. 

 AND IT MEANS NOTHING!

 You know what matters?

 

(I ask, but I know that you do...even if you have to dig deep.)

 You being strong and well and enjoying the hell out of the way in which you choose to train.

 I don't know what your body is going to look like if you lift weights.  I don't know how much you will weigh or if you'll have 'abs'. 

 But I do know you'll be happy and healthy.

That you will be strong and capable.

You will be your own unique version of extraordinaire when you make peace with the body that comes with the type of strength training that speaks to your heart and stimulates your mind. (Regardless of what it happens to look like.)

 

 

My 'bulky' and beautiful friend, Cheri.

No More Mean Girl Pledge

Women, can be downright horrible to each other.  Tearing each other down, harshly judging, being two faced and generally awful even to our friends. 

 Luckily I know this has nothing to do with an  inherent part of being a women.  I have been blessed to be with groups of women in my life that support each other. So this behavior is something we learn, not carry in our genes.

I'm no sociologist.  I'm sure there are actual theories on this topic, I don't know them...I don't need to.  What I know is that it doesn't have to be this way...and my post today is a call to action for whomever reads it.  

Ladies, we need to start treating each other better.  We need to support and love each other. 

And guess what...its not just about her....its about us.  What we put out into the world is what comes back.  If we judge and  tear down her....guess what we are doing to ourselves?

I am just as guilty of mean girl behavior as the next one.  I wish I could say I was 100% of the time in alignment with supporting my fellow womankind.  I need a reminder too.  So today I'm going to reaffirm, and hope you will with me.

No More Mean Girl Pledge

 

I pledge to do unto her, what I  would have her do unto me.

I will refrain from derogatory gossip about her to others.

I seek not to judge her, however when I notice a judgment I will notice it and let it go. 

I will not compare myself or my body to her or her body.  I will appreciate both of us.

I will not assume to know her reason, her motivations, her unique path. 

In my acceptance of our individuality, we are connected. 

When I admire her, I will tell her.  However I will not speak kind words, unless they are authentic. 

I will not take her actions or words to heart,  I am strong in my own sense of self, knowing what she does or says that might be hurtful, has nothing actually to do with me. 

I will serve as a role model to other women on how to treat each other, especially to  the little ones. 

 

What else do you pledge??

 

The movie Mean Girls, takes a satirical but powerful look at this issue.