This mirrors my experience remarkably. Quitting smoking and becoming a runner in my 20s was transformative for many reasons, perhaps most of all by replacing regular feelings of shame with pride.
I'd love to kick sugar for good. It's inflammatory, destabilizes my concentration, make my moods less steady, and interferes with deep sleep. I've tried many times and many ways. But it's such a strong addiction (it's a big part of what the dopamine system was built to make sure we get!) and short of going keto, you can't take the kind of absolute approach that worked for this author and me with nicotine, alcohol, etc. because all carbs hit that reinforcement system. If anyone with addictive tendencies has figured this out, I'd love to hear how.
I'd love to kick sugar for good. It's inflammatory, destabilizes my concentration, make my moods less steady, and interferes with deep sleep. I've tried many times and many ways. But it's such a strong addiction (it's a big part of what the dopamine system was built to make sure we get!) and short of going keto, you can't take the kind of absolute approach that worked for this author and me with nicotine, alcohol, etc. because all carbs hit that reinforcement system. If anyone with addictive tendencies has figured this out, I'd love to hear how.