Too Much Sugar, Too Much Weight and Too Little Energy

Holistic Practitioner Spotlight with Adita Yrizarry-Lang, A Holistic Lifestyle Coach

We are speaking with Adita Yrizarry-Lang, a Certified Holistic Lifestyle Coach and Nutritionist, on how sugar can affect, not only your weight, but also how it can impact your energy, mental clarity, and focus.

Tell Us a Story About a Client Who Had on Ongoing Struggle to Lose Weight and Stay Energized

Many clients experience both weight gain and loss of energy and attribute it to age. The majority of my clients are over the age of 45, they are either retired or self-employed and are challenged with losing weight. When I delve into their food plan, most are bringing in way too much sugar. The challenge is that it’s not just sugar; it’s sugar, flour, dairy, and alcohol. Unfortunately all of these things digest as a sugar and when we have too much sugar in our body it is stored as body fat.

Johnathan’s Story

Johnathan reached out to me 10 years ago. He had just turned 40 and was overweight and exhausted. Johnathan is an entrepreneur who loves what he does but is so driven that he creates his own stress. His food plan was OK but he needed to readjust his proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to give him better energy throughout the day. 

At the same time he loved sleeping but would still wake up tired and hitting the snooze button on most mornings. Basically he was addicted to sugars and his workouts were more of the “weekend warrior” type than anything consistent.

What had your client tried before seeking you out?

It’s so common that most of my clients have tried various diet plans and exercise programs in an effort to lose weight. Unfortunately most of these plans look strictly at the calorie content without looking at the quality of the foods and recognizing the proportion distribution.

Like the others, Johnathan had tried various diet plans and exercise programs in an effort to lose weight but never stayed with any plan for a significant amount of time. He was always too busy creating the next product and strengthening his business, rarely putting the time in for himself.

But Johnathan’s energy kept depleting, and that was affecting his business. A friend advised him to meet with me. He needed someone to tell him as it is; no sugar coating, simply creating a plan to follow.

What was your strategy and course of action?

I help people identify all of the sugars they are taking into their food plan. During our first visit, Johnathan came in with a one week food log. We reviewed it and I marked it up with highlighters as I explained how different foods operate our system and our energy. From here he was able to “grade his paper” and list out the first changes he was going to implement. 

I don’t give specific food plans because in my experience, that doesn’t work. I teach. Ideally one should utilize carbohydrates from fruits vegetables and unrefined grains for immediate energy. Proteins are used for, what I call cruise control – how long do you want that energy to stay in your system? And fat is like a back up battery just in case you run out. The key is to balance these in meals to keep your energy sustained throughout the day.

I have found that by educating clients about nutrition and the properties of foods and how they are digested and metabolized, it becomes easier for them to make changes in their food plan. We begin with changing the proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Johnathan was able to formulate a plan, one day at a time, with me there as his accountability coach.

What modalities did you implement and what was the outcome of the services you provided?

I work with each of my clients to create a customized food plan that works with their culture, food preferences, and taste buds yet is in accordance with the proportions that will give them energy and lean living every day.

Although Johnathan was eating too much sugar from the start, he was able to start distributing his sugars in combination with proteins and quality fats to the point where he didn’t feel the need to consume sugar.  It was all about finding the right proportions of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to meet his energetic needs.

Why and When Did You Choose the Holistic Path?

I love helping people to become healthier and when I can inspire someone to make permanent changes in both their food plan and exercise I’ve become more motivated than ever to continue on.

Both of my parents were physicians. According to them, I should have followed in their footsteps to become a doctor. But when I started in fitness, I realized that my love was on the preventative medicine side rather than in traditional medicine.

I have been blessed to make noticeable differences in peoples lives so this has inspired me to continue, learn, and grow.

What Lessons Have Your Work and Personal Experiences Taught You?

I have had challenges during my career which have made me reevaluate my health. In 1988 I broke my back in a car accident. This let me to eating more vegetables and protein for true recovery. Then in 2005 my digestion took a major turn, here is where I discovered the impact sugar had on my system and how much better I felt when I reduced and eliminated it.

Throughout the 30+ years that I have been in the health and wellness industry I have learned to take really good care of my body through my food, exercise, sleep, and happiness. Together this gives me unstoppable energy and zest for life!

Biography

Adita Yrizarry-Lang holds a degree in Holistic Nutrition, is a Certified Holistic Lifestyle Coach, and health professional.

She has trained thousands of fitness professionals worldwide and often speaks at schools, fortune 500 companies, and private organizations on the benefits of quality foods, longevity, and amazing health.

Adita is a SuperPower aficionado and mother of two. With over 30 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, her endeavors include:

• Biomechanics and resistance training
• Nutritional guru
• Mind-body coach

Adita is the author of SuperPowers, A Busy Woman’s Guide to Health and Happiness

Adita Yrizarry-Lang
Holistic Lifestyle Coach
AditaLang.com
Miami, Florida    United States

Visit Adita’s Website

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