TT Sugar Cravings & Health Coach, Jaime Saginor (Ice “Cream” RECIPE)

Happy TT Tasty Tuesday!!!

Today, we have guest, Jaime Saginor, an awesome Health Coach

discussing her expertise and philosophies on Sugar Cravings.

And, she graciously shared a TASTY recipe for all Morselites!! THANK YOU, Jaime!

MM  Jaime, describe to my readers what you do.

 

JS   I work with creative professionals, like filmmakers, who put all of themselves

into their work and can end up exhausted, perhaps overweight,

and out of balance. I teach them how to make better food

and lifestyle choices so they can look and feel their best and be at the top of their game creatively.

 

MM What do most of your clients seek from you?

JS   Most of my clients are looking to have more energy to sustain themselves

through their days, they often want to lose weight, and they need support

in how to eat and be healthy within a very busy and non-traditional schedule.

One of the main struggles that most of my clients have are strong cravings- usually for sugar. 

 

MM  Do you find that most cravings deal with sugar?

JS    When you are very busy and stressed out, sugar is usually the first thing you crave.

 

MM  Why is that?

JS   It’s important to understand why we have cravings in the first place.

What your body is really asking for when it craves something, is BALANCE!!!

 Your body is constantly regulating itself, trying to bring itself back to homeostasis

and it will do whatever it takes to get there, which is why trying to fight your cravings with will power is pointless.

So when it comes to sugar cravings, here are a few major causes:

1. Low energy: On the most basic level, sugar is glucose, which is what our body uses for energy. When you are tired or low energy, your blood sugar level dips and you will crave energy; the quickest form of energy is sugar.
2. Stress: On the Yin/Yang scale of balance, stress is very Yang. When your body is that out of balance, it will crave things at the opposite end of the scale- the Yin end of the scale. Sugar, alcohol, and caffeine are all very Yin. They are expansive and release tension.
3. Primary Foods: Primary foods are those things in life that nourish you but don’t come on a plate, i.e. relationships, career, exercise, spirituality etc. When your primary foods are in balance, it makes what you eat secondary. Often times when you are unfulfilled in a primary food area, like relationships, creativity, or fun, you will crave sugar to provide that high, that fulfillment.

MM    Is it better to ignore our cravings or give in once in a while?

JS     Neither! I teach my clients to listen to their bodies

and to deconstruct these precious messages our bodies send us in the form of cravings-

it’s not about will power- it’s about giving your body what it really needs.

But if you don’t begin to learn this language in which your body is speaking to you-

the language of cravings- you might misinterpret the cravings

and end up on the couch with a pint of ice-cream!

I also, however, subscribe to the 90/10 diet, which is 90% of the time eat what you know is good for you,

and 10% of the time eat whatever you want!

MM:  HA! I use the 85/15 Rule.

I suppose I should strive for the 90/10!

JS : This eliminates that guilt and punishment cycle, in which people often get stuck.

Perfection isn’t achievable as a human being, and so trying to be perfect

will only result in beating yourself up, which will probably cause more sugar cravings.

MM   How does one achieve balance?

JS    By giving the body what it needs: sleep, sustained energy from whole grains,

nutrient dense foods, relaxation (that might mean hanging out with friends or getting a massage),

and by making sure you are nourished by your primary foods.

MM    How do you help your clients deal with these issues?

JS      I have one client who is a successful and very busy TV director/producer,

when he first came to me, he was feeling miserable, physically and emotionally.

He was tired and stressed out and was craving and eating sugar all day long.

What we did is we made a ‘relaxation menu’

(a list of things that relax him and lower his stress),

and then figured out where to fit these things into his schedule on a weekly basis.

Once he gave himself some down time and some time to hike and do yoga,

the sugar cravings started to disappear.

We also of course made sure he was getting more sleep

and that the food he ate was giving him the energy he needed.

He ended up losing a ton of weight and he looks and feels like a completely different person.

He is happy and energized, even during his craziest shooting weeks.

MM  What advice can you give to people struggling with sugar cravings?

JS    Learn to listen to your cravings instead of fighting them.

Ask your body what it needs. What are you really hungry for?

Then give it to yourself:)

For more tips on health related topics, you can sign up for Jaime’s monthly e-newsletter

at www.jaimesaginor.com.

Jaime Saginor is a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach through

the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP).

She received her training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, t

he only nutrition school in the world that integrates all the different dietary theories

—combining the knowledge of traditional philosophies such as Yin/Yang

and Ayurveda with modern concepts like the glycemic index, the Zone and raw foods.

Teachers include top wellness visionaries such as Deepak Chopra and Dr. Andrew Weil.

Jaime supports her clients to look and feel their best through

balancing nutrition and primary foods (those things that nourish you

but don’t come on a plate; i.e. relationships, career, exercise).

Jaime also teaches seminars and tele-classes on a variety of health-related topics.

 

Chocolate Banana “Ice-cream” raw, vegan, no added sugar chocolate banana ice-cream: 1 frozen banana, 1 tablespoon raw cacao, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract- put in blender and enjoy!

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