Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

[narilly]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

I am going to do that. I will stick with it this time.

It's interesting, my drinking this past weekend was really 'alcoholic'. In hindsight I can see what a problem it is for me. We were at my in laws and when I would go into the kitchen to pour more wine for my husband and I would take a couple of gulps in my glass and then fill it up again. What kind of a 'normal' drinker would do that? If I was only going to have a social drink I would not be taking extra gulps in the kitchen where no one can see me. On top of that I had an extra glass before we left!

My drinking seemed to be even more out of control than before. WhenI listened to Dr. Kelly, I could really understand what happened on the weekend. It was a good learning experience but I am going to find new ways to learn about AL, no hands on training for me anymore.

I guess you really are a Recovery Carrier now, I would like to be one too!

[roxane]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

desperately trying to untangle wires and get itunes to recognise i am a person with a phone to be able to get app to download said blogs.

you are all getting insight and understanding from it and hopefully, one day, i will too. if i can download the ruddy thing.

[NoSugar]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

Hi, Roxy

You could just listen to it on the website here: The Bubble Hour and not worry about downloading.
(Tell your dog I'm sorry about no walk... ).

[roxane]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

im sorting this if it kills me. its doing all sorts of worrying things atm.

dog has big labrador eyes and if i move an inch hes on me, 'we going?'

see you in two days.............

[NoSugar]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

roxane;1649365 wrote: see you in two days.............

:H:H:H

[narilly]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

Jane,
Give yourself some time. It seems you are pretty hard on yourself, give yourself a break. The longer you are without AL the better you are going to feel. I believe that.

There is a blog on the bubblehour about high functioning Alcoholics, maybe that would be good to hear? It may give you some insight into how you are feeling.
I was feeling less connected to the threads myself in the past month, probably after I came back from Florida and I did drink a few times which ended badly. Dont go down that same path.

This feeling will pass. NS probably has more insight into your feelings right now.

Just remember we are here for you sweet Jane!

[roxane]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

stress stress stress.
itunes converting my songs since 4.15. its now 7.00. wtf? any songs ive got are on there anyway. its not allowing anything else. i want to be able to download podcasts, and i get this shit? when i found the stop button, it was on pain of death if i stopped it.

see you in 5 days.

[NoSugar]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

a bit off topic - sorry.

Stopping Addiction to Sugar: Willpower or Genetics? - Dr. Mark Hyman
This is the doctor who has helped Bill Clinton (who, despite my attempts not to, I still :h:h:h).

WE ARE ALL PROGRAMMED TO LIKE SUGAR. New research shows some are genetically much more prone to sugar and food addiction than others. I have observed this in my patients, but now it is becoming clear why some have more trouble kicking the sugar habit than others.

As I reviewed in my previous article on food addiction, the science demonstrating that people can be biologically addicted to sugar in the same way we can be addicted to heroin, cocaine or nicotine is clear. Bingeing and addictive behaviors are eerily similar in alcoholics and sugar addicts. In fact, most recovering alcoholics often switch to another easily available drug: Sugar.

It seems that we all vary a bit in our capacity for pleasure. Some us need a lot more stimulation to feel pleasure driving us to a range of addictive pleasures that stimulate our reward center in the brain ? drug and alcohol addictions, compulsive gambling, sex addiction and, of course, sugar, food addiction, and compulsive eating.

We often see these as moral failures or results of character defects. In fact, it may be that addicts of all stripes are simply unlucky and born with unfortunate genetic variations in our reward and pleasure mechanisms.

Despite being stuck with the sugar addiction low pleasure gene, you may be able to modify its activity by modulating your brain chemistry and receptor function with the use of specific nutrients ?

The Genetics of Pleasure

In our brain, a little receptor, the dopamine receptor D2 (or DRD2 for short), must be activated or switched on for us to feel pleasure. The amino acid dopamine triggers this response. Sugar and other stimulating addictions increase dopamine in the short term.

The only problem is it appears that those with sugar addictions, compulsive eating, and obesity have DRD2 systems that need much more stimulation to feel pleasure. Those who have sugar addiction, it seems have fewer D2 dopamine receptors and they need extra stimulation to make them ?turn on?.(i)

Functional MRI studies of teenagers, both lean and obese, found that the obese teenagers whose brains didn?t light up as much in the dopamine reward centers were more likely to be obese and gain weight later.(ii) They also were more likely to have the DRD2 gene that coded for fewer receptors.

Some studies have pointed to drugs or nutrients that can modulate this defective dopamine reward response. In one study, naltrexone, an opioid blocker (blocks the effects of heroin and morphine on the brain) was used in sugar addicts. When they took this drug, which prevented them from getting the temporary high from sugar, they craved less and ate less.

We also know that amphetamines are natural appetite suppressants and reduce cravings. That is why children who take stimulant ADHD drugs (which are actually just fancy amphetamines that stimulate dopamine receptors) have trouble gaining enough weight as they grow.

There are also some promising studies of nutraceuticals(iii) that can modulate dopamine receptor function and appetite regulation.(iv) Bruce Ames, PhD found that high levels nutrients can reduce disease in people with 50 different gene variants, nutrients may modulate the function of our genes, improve their function, or affect the activity of enzymes that genes produce.(v)

In fact, one third of our entire DNA has one simple job: To code for and produce enzymes controlled by nutrient co-factors. This means that nutrients have a powerful ability to modify the expression of your genes. This is the important field of nutrigenomics.

Overcoming Your Addiction to Sugar

Despite being stuck with the sugar addiction low pleasure gene, you may be able to modify its activity by modulating your brain chemistry and receptor function with the use of specific nutrients that either improve gene expression, or modify the activity, the enzymes, or the receptors, even if they are somewhat impaired.

I have used some of these in my practice, such as glutamine and other amino acids, with success. Regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters that affect appetite and cravings is complex and involves many factors including how quickly food spikes our blood sugar, stress, getting enough sleep, nutritional deficiencies, chemicals such as artificial sweeteners, food sensitivities which drive inflammation, and more.

For those with personal struggles with food addiction, remember it is not a moral failing or lack of willpower. Here are a five suggestions I offer my patients to help them break their food addictions.

1. Balance your blood sugar: Research studies say that low blood sugar levels are associated with LOWER overall blood flow to the brain, which means more BAD decisions. To keep your blood sugar stable:

Eat a nutritious breakfast with some protein like eggs, protein shakes, or nut butters. Studies repeatedly show that eating a healthy breakfast helps people maintain weight loss.
Also, have smaller meals throughout the day. Eat every 3-4 hours and have some protein with each snack or meal (lean animal protein, nuts, seeds, beans).
Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime.

2. Eliminate sugar and artificial sweeteners and your cravings will go away: Go cold turkey. If you are addicted to narcotics or alcohol you can?t simply just cut down. You have to stop for you brain to reset. Eliminate refined sugars, sodas, fruit juices, and artificial sweeteners from your diet. These are all drugs that will fuel cravings.

3. Determine if hidden food allergies are triggering your cravings. We often crave the very foods that we have a hidden allergy to. For a simple allergy elimination program, consider trying The UltraSimple Diet, or The UltraSimple Diet Challenge Home Study Coaching Program.

4. Get 7-8 hours of sleep. Research shows that lack of sleep increases cravings.

5. Optimize your nutrient status with craving cutting supplements

Optimize your vitamin D level: According to one study, when Vitamin D levels are low, the hormone that helps turn off your appetite doesn?t work and people feel hungry all the time, no matter how much they eat.

Optimize omega-3s: Low levels of omega three fatty acids are involved in normal brain cell function, insulin control and inflammation.

Consider taking natural supplements for cravings control. Glutamine, tyrosine, 5-HTP are amino acids that help reduce cravings. Stress reducing herbs such as Rhodiola can help.

Chromium balances blood sugar and can help take the edge off cravings. Glucomannan fiber is very helpful to reduce the spikes in sugar and insulin that drive cravings and hunger.

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

References

(i) Stice, E., Yokum, S., Zald, D., and A. Dagher. 2011. Dopamine-based reward circuitry responsivity, genetics, and overeating. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 6: 81?93.

(ii) Stice, E., Yokum, S., Bohon, C., et al. 2010. Reward circuitry responsivity to food predicts future increases in body mass: moderating effects of DRD2 and DRD4. Neuroimage. 50(4): 1618?25.

(iii) Blum, K., Chen, A.L., Chen, T.J., et al. 2008. Activation instead of blocking mesolimbic dopaminergic reward circuitry is a preferred modality in the long term treatment of reward deficiency syndrome (RDS): a commentary. Theor Biol Med Model. 5:24. Review.

(iv) Blum, K., Chen, A.L., Chen, T.J. et al. 2008. LG839: Anti-obesity effects and polymorphic gene correlates of reward deficiency syndrome. Adv Ther. 25(9): 894?913.

(v) Ames, B.N., Elson-Schwab, I., and E.A. Silver. 2002. High-dose vitamin therapy stimulates variant enzymes with decreased coenzyme binding affinity (increased K(m)): relevance to genetic disease and polymorphisms. Am J Clin Nutr. 75(4): 616?58. Review.

[Pavati]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

MAE, All:

NS - I'm giving you an award - :chef: For providing the healthy and sciency answers to our questions. THANKS!

Jane - I just tried to look back for my posts sometime around 100 days - I was in a funk as well. It goes with the territory (listen to that podcast!) I'm sorry you're not feeling well, but glad that you're not thinking about drinking. I think the threads have been a bit quiet lately so it is harder to feel connected. I ALWAYS find that exercise makes me feel better - I know it is hard to manage when you're in in a mood, but maybe a run down the block (I remember that picture you posted of your shadow when you were first starting out). Maybe some time spent looking up and cooking a delicious and healthy dinner? A movie? You'll be better soon!

I stayed up to watch the lunar eclipse last night with my kids and husband. For sure I would have had a big buzz 136 days ago - it was fun without! We are going camping tonight so I'll be out of Internet connection.

LC! Where are you!

OK, Ladies. Have wonderful afternoons/evenings/mornings. More when I get back...

xo
Pav

[lifechange]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

Dear Lovely Ladies:h,
I just read back a bit after a few days of not really being online-- and you are all in my heart. I have some important (one in particular) decisions to make and it's taking all of my mental, emotional and physical energy to deal with it. I have talked to some close friends here who have given sound advice, but mostly I need to look deep inside and figure it out for myself. I haven't felt like I have any extra energy to write here on MWO, which saddens me, because I miss you-- but it's all I can do right now.
You are with me here in spirit dear NS, Ava, Nar, SL, Pav, LB, Jane (yay! on 100 tomorrow!), J-vo, Roxy, Marylou, Star!
I know I'm missing some.. :l to you all! I'm jealous of all of you who could see the lunar eclipse last night. Must have been beautiful..

[j-vo]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

Evening Lovelies,

LB, I'm piggy backing on NS's post regarding the possibilities of SD returning. Is she returning? I thought they just moved out. I'm confused, but wish I had something worthwhile to help you through that. But again, taking care of yourself first must be priority. We can only do so much for those we love. We can offer as much support as we can, but we can't force it. Take care of yourself little lady.

Nar, I used to do the same with wine or whatever was closest and out of site and gulp, gulp, gulp. I didn't accept that I wasn't normal for a long time and resisted. It's all a part of recovery, and we're all going through the steps one at a time. What I had a hard time accepting was being different, yet again. I've always felt like I was different in a sense that I wasn't "normal." What is normal? The same thing with my social anxiety - why am I so abnormal? Why? But now it's time to stop asking why and not let those challenges define us. We are way more than women with a drinking problem. Yeah, it's a part of me and you, and us but the Nar I've come to love is not that "girl with a drinking problem." I absolutely love your personality, fun, loving, happy, and loving life. That's what comes through in your posts and I know that's who you are. So it's about acceptance of who we are, I think...Anyhow, love you Nar.

Jane, I hope you get out of your funk. It sucks being in it, but like Pav said, maybe you can listen to the podcast which explains a lot of what you may be going through. Hugs to you!

Roxy, how are you? Glad you're posting again.

NS, thanks for that sugar article, but I don't think I can tackle that one right now! I do like knowing the facts though. It makes things much easier to accept and understand.

Pav, have a wonderful camping trip with the family!

LC, hope you get through whatever it is you're working on. Sending you hugs also!

Ok, gonna get off my butt and downstairs to my treadmill. Push me off the damn couch, please!

[Starfish1]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

lifechange;1649422 wrote: Dear Lovely Ladies:h,
I haven't felt like I have any extra energy to write here on MWO, which saddens me, because I miss you-- but it's all I can do right now.
You are with me here in spirit dear NS, Ava, Nar, SL, Pav, LB, Jane (yay! on 100 tomorrow!), J-vo, Roxy, Marylou,!
I know I'm missing some.. :l

I didn't see the eclipse either, although I was supposed to be able to and woke up just to see it....dang clouds!!!..

[NoSugar]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

J-vo, that sugar article is for people like Jane who know it makes them feel WORSE, not for everyone to consider. Just like not everyone has a problem with alcohol, many people feel fine no matter what they eat. Maybe I should have just sent it in a PM .

Thanks for checking in Star and LC. Take good care of yourselves.

[Starfish1]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

We'll do, N.S. thanks!

[narilly]

Ladies on a Mission: The Official Site

J-Vo, I love you too.

That was really nice

Ya, that gulping down booze thing, how nuts is that? At least we can look at that and say "I am never doing that again!" You sound so good J-Vo. Glad you are back to your happy self.

I am going to listen to another blog from the Bubble hour on the way home. Thanks again for that NS!

Hi Star and Life!
Nice to hear from you gals.

xo