I like words.  I do a considerable amount of writing and love it.  I like to look up everyday words for their definition and how it resonates with me.  I'm on Day 3 of NO SUGAR.  On my blog (www.mydailyminutes.com), I wrote about it today and am going to continue to write about it to reinforce my commitment and sugar-free momentum.

After writing my post on my blog this morning, I looked up "addiction" for the official definition.  I certainly know what it means and how it applies to me but wanted to see what Webster had to say about it.  I've provided the various definitions below fyi. 

As I read these definitions, some very powerful words hit me right in the face - enslaved, persistent compulsive use. They list the examples of addictive substances but don't list sugar.  In my personal definition of addiction, I have only one substance that clearly fits into the definitions and that is sugar.  I don't have to put my substance up my nose or inject it - all I have to do is eat a high sugar food choice.  That flips a switch in my head and I'm off and running. 

For 13 months after I had my surgery, I did NOT consume anything with sugar other than naturally occuring sugar such as fruit.  After 13 months, I decided to stick my toe in the water to "test" my surgery.  Well, my surgery passed the test but I didn't.  Sugar is a vicious downward spiral.  For me, once I eat it, I want more and more and more.....  For me when it comes to sugar - 1 is too many and 1,000 is not enough! 

Here's to being sugar-free!!
Cathy
www.mydailyminutes.com

ad·dic·tion

–noun the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

MEDICAL DICTIONARY:

Pronunciation:  /ə-ˈdik-shən/
Function: n
:  compulsive physiological need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as drugs, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal
broadly :  persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be physically, psychologically, or socially harmful ad·dic·tion definition Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2007 Merriam-Webster, Inc.

SCIENCE DICTIONARY:

A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses.