Good morning, reader! First the stats. Day 13 on my Food Plan. I began my challenge at +32.4 lbs. I am currently at +27.2. That is -5.2 lbs. Pretty good results! Going to keep going, and not listen to my lizard brain that says, “let’s celebrate and eat a bunch of Never Foods!” No, I will maintain my integrity and stick to the plan that I created. My logic brain realizes I made the plan, I made the rules, and I can change them at any time if there is a good logical reason to do so. Celebrating with food from my Never List makes no sense.
In our food, there is something called “excitotoxins”. These are a class of chemicals that overstimulate neuroreceptors. Do a little research, and you will learn that excitotoxins stimulate your tastebuds. The food industry loves excitotoxins because they stimulate the taste cells on the tongue, causing the flavor of the foods we eat to be greatly enhanced.
There is increasing scientific evidence that suggests the overstimulation of the brain’s neuroreceptors by excitotoxins can lead to exhausted neurons. The parts of the brain most affected are the hypothalamus and the temporal lobes: the parts of the brain that control behavior, emotions, the onset of puberty, sleep cycles, and immunity.
Excitotoxins are highly addictive. It is no wonder that one Cheeto is never enough. My tongue is doing a happy dance and yes, I am willing to wipe off the Cheeto dust from my fingers repetitively, so I can keep eating while I read. My tongue and lizard brain work together to bring back that happy dance…which makes the addiction wheel go round and round, as I grow rounder and rounder.
Excitotoxins do exist in unprocessed foods, such as blueberries, but not in the concentrations you would find in processed foods. The food industry uses all of the chemicals it can to keep you buying their products. Remember, all food is made of chemicals, you are a bag of chemicals. Chemicals are naturally occurring AND chemicals can be manipulated.
The bottom line: You and I are responsible for what we put in our bodies, not the food industry. I get to choose whether to eat a synthesized meal and charge up my lizard brain to want more or cook a healthy meal from unprocessed ingredients. My lizard brain is adaptable, and it will stop screaming for “garbage food” if I train it.
My Food Plan and this 90-day Challenge is all about training. I will keep walking these paths, keep trampling over the weeds that have grown, until my Food Plan becomes so ingrained that it is effortless. Just like breathing. At +0 lbs. even breathing will be easier…Now, I am still walking over the weeds.
Anne Ivans Home and Family 