Why I Chose Whole Foods and Let Go of Sugar
My Journey
From yo-yo dieting and sugar addiction to freedom through whole foods.
After years of yo-yo dieting and sugar addiction, two pivotal moments changed everything. This is the story of how whole foods, honesty, and small choices led me toward a life of freedom.
The Battle with Yo-Yo Dieting
For most of my life I battled with yo-yo dieting. Growing up with very poor self-esteem, food often became both a comfort and a punishment.
When we are in pain, we can sometimes sabotage ourselves with the very things that hurt us, simply because we want to feel in control. For me, food became part of that struggle. It was a huge battle, a wrestle that at times felt tormenting.
Looking back now, I can see that I had a serious sugar addiction, although at the time I didn’t want to admit it.
The truth is, I knew what to do. I had studied nutrition, read countless articles and tried nearly every diet imaginable. I had read every magazine and joined Weight Watchers at least fifteen times. I was what you might call a serial dieter.
I had a pocket full of answers, but somehow I couldn’t apply them.
That is why everything I do today is about freedom, not only my freedom but the freedom of the women I coach and mentor.
Two Pivotal Moments
Two pivotal moments eventually changed everything.
The first came the day my husband Mark and I went to St Vincent’s Hospital. We believed it was simply a routine appointment because of his allergies. It was during lockdown, and it was a beautiful sunny day in July.
When we arrived at the hospital we were directed to another building. As we approached the entrance, the words on the front stopped me in my tracks.
KINGHORN CANCER CENTRE
My heart seemed to jump into my throat and I began to shake.
We saw the doctor, and she told us that Mark had a form of blood cancer. Thankfully she also used the words low grade, which brought some relief.
But in all my years of studying health, one phrase immediately came to mind:
Sugar loves cancer.
The very first thing we did was quit sugar.
When you do something for love, it becomes much easier.
Our journey toward health and wellbeing suddenly accelerated.
A beautiful friend of ours even sent us money so we could buy a top-of-the-range Omega juicer. We began juicing every day, which was incredibly encouraging because it helped us feel so much better.
At the same time, I began reading every label carefully. Preservatives, emulsifiers, seed oils and additives began disappearing from our food. Most packaged foods were removed from our shelves.
You may have heard the saying: shop on the perimeter of the supermarket. The fresh foods are usually found there, while the centre aisles are filled with heavily processed products.
In many cases, the things in the middle aisles are things we can actually make ourselves.
That was six years ago now, and Mark’s blood has remained stable. Seeing how much better he has felt through eating whole foods and caring for our health has been incredibly encouraging for both of us.
A Turning Point
The second pivotal moment came not long after.
One day I heard myself say the familiar words, “When I lose weight… when I get fit…”
I turned to Mark and said, “Do you realise how many promises I have made to myself and broken?”
And I began to weep uncontrollably.
In that moment I realised something had to change.
I turned to him and said, “Alright. I’ll let you train me. I’ll teach you how to cook with whole foods, and you can train me.”
Mark had always been very fit. I, on the other hand, had often been very unfit because I felt so badly about myself. Even walking up hills left me puffed, and long walks were not something that excited me or even crossed my mind.
But change can come to us all.
Freedom Through Whole Foods
Over time I began to realise that what I thought was a dieting problem was really a freedom problem. Once sugar was taken off the table and whole foods became the focus, my relationship with food began to change.
Instead of living in cycles of restriction and guilt, I began learning how to nourish my body properly.
Freedom has become a thread through my life, from the way I eat to the way I dress, the way I sing, and even the way I dance. Sometimes I put music on and dance around the room by myself. It’s simple, but it feels wonderfully liberating.
That journey continues today, and it is the reason I am so passionate about helping other women discover that freedom is possible too. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as reading a label, choosing a whole food, or deciding that the cycle ends today.
Join the Pure Joy Circle
If you enjoyed this reflection and would like to go deeper into natural living, faith, and simple rhythms for everyday life, I would love to welcome you into the Pure Joy Circle.
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