WE'VE MOVED!

Our Valeo blog is now imported right into our website!

You can view our highlighted posts or latest news right on the homepage, or read all our entries by pushing the "Blog" tab up top.

Come visit us! www.valeotraining.com

GREEN VEGETABLES

Vegetables are the most missing food in the typical diet, and leafy green vegetables are lacking most of all. When many people think of vegetables, they have bad memories of their parents making them eat all of their Brussels sprouts or peas before leaving the dinner table. Can you relate?

Truth is, veggies are not scary and are seriously good for you. They are crammed with vitamins A, C, E and K, fiber, folic acid, and many other micronutrients that help with blood purification, cancer prevention and improved circulation. They're like a miracle food!

When thinking about vegetables, be adventurous and go beyond traditional greens like, broccoli or lettuce. Kale is a great, green leafy vegetable that has more nutritional value with fewer calories than almost any other food around. Better yet, it is in season from the middle of winter through the beginning of spring and can be enjoyed in many ways. Some people prefer to eat it raw, while others like it steamed. See what works for your taste buds.

Here is a simple recipe to get you started:
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cooking Time:
10 minutes
Yields:
10 servings or more
Ingredients:
1 to 2 bunches kale
Olive oil

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Remove kale from stalk, leaving the greens in large pieces.
Place a little olive oil in a bowl, dip your fingers and rub a very light coat of oil over the kale.
Place kale on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until it starts to turn a bit brown. Keep an eye on it as it can burn quickly.
Turn the kale over and bake with the other side up. Remove and serve.

Notes:
Try different kinds of kale or collard greens.
For added flavor sprinkle with a little salt or spice, such as curry or cumin after rubbing on olive oil.
*Article from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition


In addition to great recipes like this, consider adding the cancer-fighting nutrition of kale to your diet everyday with Juice Plus. It's whole-food nutrition - 17 colorful vine-ripened fruits and vegetables (including Kale) in a capsule for just $1.39/day. http://www.valeotraining4juiceplus.com

Ask Mike or me for more info today! We'd love to share with you why we support this!

WHY?

As I was sharing and listening to a client the other day, I was reminded of a statement made by our pastor at Engedi Church. It struck me as so powerful to many facets of life, including physical fitness improvement and weight loss. Let me know if it resignates with you, too...

Change only happens when the reason TO change is greater than the reason NOT to change.

So...what's your "WHY"? What's your reason to change your habits, your daily routine, your weight, your mentality, your endurance, your drive, your choices, your food, your sleep, your heart?

Forget the surfacy stuff...dig deep. It's not just to "look good" or "lose weight" or "feel better". Identify what that means exactly to you, what that looks like, feels like, tastes like for you, your family, your coworkers, your friends...Write it down and put it somewhere you can see it, to remind you what you're striving for, why every little choice points you one step closer to your "Why". If your WHY - your reason to change - doesn't mean MORE to you than your reason not to change - trying to change will feel like torture.

It's a choice you make every time you face a challenge, a temptation, apathy or unmotivation. Your WHY will change occasionally; expect it to. But know that if it is spoken, written and known deep inside you, it will drive you forward, propelling you one small step at a time closer to your goal.

How do you see yourself in 6 months if you keep holding on to the same negative behaviors? How do you see yourself in 6 months if you did make those positive changes in your life?

Keep pressin' on!

(WE'RE BACK!)

We are back in action...all married and stuff. :) Life has been a bit crazy lately and the blog has taken a backseat, but we are determined to keep working at it!

I'm in the process of updating our personal bloggy blog, too, with wedding, honeymoon, home, and other event pics....so check out www.mikeandjessluepke.blogspot.com and stay tuned for more updates!

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON!!

THE SENSIBLE EATER

Valeo/Personal Training and Nephew Physical Therapy have teamed up in an effort to provide good, solid health, fitness, nutrition and therapy information to anyone interested. These FREE events will be held the 1st Tuesday of every month from 6:45 - 7:30pm at Ultimate Fitness and Health. Keep an eye out for us each month!

Mike and I gave a presentation last night called "The Sensible Eater: How to Prepare Yourself for the Holiday Season". We had a great turnout! Let me know if you weren't able to make it and would like to sit down and chat about what we discussed.

I love this definition of "Sensible Eater"....this is the kind of eater I want to be; how 'bout you?!

THE SENSIBLE EATER

• Someone who lets the Food Guide Pyramid guide his/her choices. Emphasis is placed on foods with highest nutrient quality (like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean poultry, fish, low fat milk products, nuts and unsaturated oils). But, sweets and high fat foods are also enjoyed in moderation, and without guilt! These people sometimes eat too much and sometimes too little as a result of environmental influences. But most of the time, they listen to their body’s internal cues for hunger and fullness and maintain a proper energy balance.
– Sheri Barke, MPH, RD
UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center

Here are some Take-Home Points, as discussed last night:

*Eat breakfast (ex. 1 whole grain, 1 lean protein, 1 sm. fruit)! And small meals every 3-5 hours after that.

*PLAN PLAN PLAN! Create a new habit of packing a cooler with your lunch and snacks for the day. Keep one in your car for long errand runs or road trips. Stock it with nutritious fruit and vegetable munchies, lean proteins, lean dairies and healthy fats. See notes for examples.

*Drink lots of water; often what you interpret as hunger is really thirst.

*Add nutrients and bulk to your diet with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables (Volumize that meal!) Check out http://www.valeotraining4juiceplus.com/ if you aren't reaching the recommended 9-13 servings a day, according to the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.

*Be a MINDFUL holiday eater. Fill up on the good, nutritious foods and don't feel guilty for indulging on goodies occasionally!

Check out the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid. The food pyramid has changed over the years; are you up-to-date? I love the emphasis on fruits and vegetables. With the amount of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes in our nation, we need to be getting whole-food nutrition in our bodies like never before! Food is fuel and medicine!

Beat the Heat Before It Beats You - Sports/Outdoor Activities - FitFacts - American Council On Exercise(ACE)

Beat the Heat Before It Beats You - Sports/Outdoor Activities - FitFacts - American Council On Exercise(ACE)

Shared via AddThis

Alcohol Eats Away at Muscle Mass - Miscellaneous - FitFacts - American Council On Exercise(ACE)

Alcohol Eats Away at Muscle Mass - Miscellaneous - FitFacts - American Council On Exercise(ACE)

Shared via AddThis

Everything in Moderation - General Exercise - FitFacts - American Council On Exercise(ACE)

Everything in Moderation - General Exercise - FitFacts - American Council On Exercise(ACE)

Shared via AddThis

JOKE OF THE DAY

This was sent by my dad; it made me laugh outloud!

Exercise for people over 50: Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-pound potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides, and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.

After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-pound potato sacks. Then try 50-pound potato sacks, and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-pound potato sack in each hand, and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each sack.

Ultimate Cycle Challenge - RESULTS

It's been awhile since the event, but I figured I'd do a quick post on the UCC last month. What a cool event! The number of people involved was inspiring and hearing stories, watching videos, rockin' to DJs and live bands and just enjoying the company of others helped keep those pedals moving for 24 hours straight. The result? 40 teams, hundreds of people and over $44,800 raised for the Lance Armstrong (LiveStrong) Foundation!!!

Because of all you riders and all of you who generously and lovingly donated, there are even more funds for CANCER RESEARCH and PATIENT CARE. Seeing all the names of those affected by cancer on the yellow linked-chain was moving and many people wore signs on their back saying 'Riding in Honor of', 'Riding in Memory of' or 'Riding in Celebration of (name of a survivor)' - very powerful!

We ended the 24-hrs with a teary-eyed, yet joyful picture-video and presentation by the Bocks family, whose son, Duncan, was diagnosed with cancer when he was a baby. He is now a happy, healthy 14-yr old - thanks to events like this that raise $$ for hospitals and research! Duncan even rode the last hour of the event and was cheered on by everyone in the room!! :)

Thank you so much for your support, in so many ways.

Team Valeo-24
Jessica Oosting
Mike Luepke
Tarra Miedema
Kevin Carlson
Emily Nicholson
Shawn Luepke
Tiffany Andre
Anne Veltema
Bill Bredemier
Karin Ashcroft
Bret Vandenbil
Leslie Brown
Carmen Hannah
Duncan Bocks
David Dupato

Team Valeo-12
Jessica Oosting
Mike Luepke
Ronda Dryfhout
Hannah Dryfhout
Jeremy Brieve
Tricia Schaap
Matt Metzger
Lee Tanis
Jeff Tanis
Chelsea Brown
Ashley Huntey
Kelly Slagh
Barb Ellis
Sarah Ellis

Riding in honor and support of our dear pastor's wife and friend, Christina!

"BYE-BYE" LONG, SLOW CARDIO!

The 'Fat-Burning Zone': A Fitness Myth Debunked

An article from http://www.health.usnews.com/, written by "On Fitness" author Katherine Hobson; information from ACE fitness.

There's a lot of misinformation out there about exercise and nutrition. As an ongoing feature, I'll ask experts in those fields about their pet fitness peeves—commonly believed myths that are just plain wrong. This week, I asked Cedric Bryant, chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, for the facts about the so-called fat-burning zone.

Myth: I will lose body fat more efficiently by working out in the fat-burning zone—doing my aerobic workouts at a low, rather than high, intensity.

Explanation: Many aerobic exercise programs and videos feature low-intensity workouts purporting to maximize fat burning. The argument is that low-intensity aerobic training will allow your body to use more fat as an energy source, thereby accelerating the loss of body fat. While it is true that a higher proportion of calories burned during low-intensity exercise come from fat (about 60 percent as opposed to approximately 35 percent from high-intensity programs), high-intensity exercise still burns more calories from fat in the final analysis.

For example, if you perform 30 minutes of low-intensity aerobic exercise (i.e., at a level of 50 percent of maximal exercise capacity), you'll burn approximately 200 calories. About 120 of those, or 60 percent, come from fat. However, exercising for the same amount of time at a high intensity (i.e., 75 percent of your maximal exercise capacity) will burn approximately 400 calories, and 35 percent of them, or 140 calories, will come from stored fat. So by sticking to the fat-burning zone for their workouts, many individuals are wasting valuable time.

Keep in mind that you lose weight and body fat when you expend more calories than you consume, not because you burn fat (or anything else) when you exercise.

Of course, the less intense form of exercise has its benefits as well. For example, because many overweight people tend to find that lower-intensity exercise is more comfortable, they may, therefore, be willing to engage in such workouts. The point to remember is that low-intensity workouts do, in fact, promote weight and fat loss. You just have to do them for a longer period of time.

THE FACTS ON FASTING

This Q & A comes from http://www.sparkpeople.com/ and is written by Becky Hand, Licensed & Registered Dietitian. It's a great article on something many of you have asked me about! *Note - this article is not referring to fasting for spiritual reasons...something I DO support!

Q. Will fasting jumpstart my weight loss efforts and boost my health?

A. Fasting is the deliberate abstinence from food. Fasting has long been touted as a healthy process with many benefits such as cleaning the system, ridding the body of so-called toxins, benefiting the intestinal track, boosting metabolism, and jumpstarting weight loss. However none of these notions are true, nor are they backed up by medical research. While a short-term fast probably won’t harm most people, it could be quite dangerous for others, depending on their medical conditions, health histories, and medication use. I strongly urge you to talk to your physician before ever starting a fast.

During normal metabolic conditions (non-fasting), the body gets its energy primarily from glucose and fat (in the blood), which are supplied by the carbohydrates and fats that you eat. Both the brain and nervous systems use blood glucose for energy and proper functioning. Your body also stores energy in both the muscles and liver in the form of glycogen.

Within only hours after starting a fast, when dietary glucose is used up, the body draws on its glycogen stores, but these don’t last very long. When these stores are exhausted, your body enters an altered metabolic state. It turns to its own protein (and a portion of its fat) to make more glucose for the brain and nervous system. This results in a considerable breakdown of both lean muscle tissue and fat tissue, and a production of ketones. This is not considered a healthy or desirable state. As a result, you might lose weight, but it is due to water loss, dehydration, and muscle tissue wasting, and is usually accompanied with symptoms such as fatigue and dizziness.

Therefore, you can reason that after years of abusing the body with a poor diet and excessive fat and calories, a fasting state is not the answer to better health. Your body is truly craving proper nutrition, including whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, healthy fats, and lean meats, fish, beans, and other protein sources. Then and only then, can the body systems work together effectively and efficiently. This healthy diet will results in improved energy and overall health.

NOTE: Certain medical procedures and tests require patients to fast for a designated time period. Always follow the advice of your primary health care provider in these situations.

WEBSITE UP AND WORKING AGAIN!

After some downtime (for unknown reasons), my website is up and working again. Check it out and pass it along! :)

www.valeotraining.com

Thanks to Chuck Cusack for his work on this!

WEDDING BLOG :)

Mike and I made a blog to keep everyone updated on our wedding info - check it out! :)

www.mikeandjessluepke.blogspot.com

NSCA Re-Certification

It's official! My personal training national certification through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) was up at year's end, 2008. To get re-certified without taking the grueling 4-hour exam, members must earn a certain number of CEUs (Continuing Education Credits) over a 2-3 year time period to maintain their status. Events and courses I've been involved in since my original certification in 2006 include:

* Attended the Perform Better 3-day Summit in Long Beach, CA

* Maintained my First Aid/CPR/AED certification

* Lectured/gave free trainings to Sport Conditioning Teams, Women's Groups, Youth Groups and Businesses and Sport Clubs

* Studied for and passed the quiz: "Neuromuscular Adaptations to Resistance Training" by Jay R. Hoffman, Ph.D, FACSM, CSCS*D

* Studied for and passed the quizes: "Concurrent Training - Part I" and "Concurrent Training - Part II" by Jay R. Hoffman, Ph.D, FACSM, CSCS*D

* Studied for and passed the quiz: "Designing Exercise Programs to Lower Fracture Risk in Mature Women" by Elaine M. Mansfield, NSCA-CPT

* Attended NSCA Webinar: "Youth Training" with Chat Williams

* Attended NSCA Webinar: "Breaking Through Plateaus" with JC Santana

It's been a lot of work, but the need to keep up on the latest in the Personal Training field, as well as my knowledge in Exercise Physiology necessitates I spend regular hours 'in the books' as well as at the gym. And it's been worth it! I received my new, official "Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist" certificate in the mail today...valid (with continuing education credits) until 2011! Yay! It's been a good day. :)

REMINDER: YOGA TONIGHT AT 7PM!

Just a reminder that I'm offering a FREE 1-hr Yoga class TONIGHT at 7pm. My friend, cyclist, and Yoga-extraordinaire, Heather Allegrina-Bowe, is hosting a Yoga class at the Satya Yoga Center in Saugatuck. I've taken her classes before and absolutely love them - I've walked away, even from just one session, with a renewed sense of strength, body awareness and breathing control. There is so much benefit to Yoga, especially as a complimentary workout to your normal routine.

This class is for current or past Valeo-ians only and is just a 1-time thing. All mats and other equipment are provided. I'd love to see you there!! (it's really easy to get to). This session will be great for those who've never tried yoga before!

Satya Yoga Center (a serene, beautiful building nestled in the woods)

3385 Blue Star Highway

Saugatuck, MI 49453

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE AND PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE - they are related!

Lack Of Discipline

By Ron Luce

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Col. 3:1-2).

Someone who has the edge is disciplined in both spiritual and physical matters. We think the only thing that matters is that we pray as much as we can and read our Bible every day. I'm not saying we should be robots in that we stick to a bunch of rules and regulations. But we're to be disciplined in seeking real life. Being disciplined is putting God first in your life - in everything you do and say. It means you're pushing yourself to get into the Holy of Holies and get the real life. Being disciplined is reading the Bible because you know it is your source of faith and strength. Being disciplined is praying because you know that daily communion with the living God is the highlight of your day. Being disciplined is spending time praising and worshipping the Lord because you know praise stills the enemy.

Being undisciplined is self-centeredness - you read the Bible and pray when you feel like it. Your world revolves around you and no one else. Every decision you make is based on how it will benefit you. You don't have a heart of love and compassion for others. You may love people, but it's a conditional love - you'll love them as long as you're getting something from them. Being undisciplined is not seeing others how God sees them. This may come as a deep revelation to some, but Jesus died on the cross for everyone!

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Col. 3:12-14).

It's hard to believe that someone is really spiritually disciplined if they're not physically disciplined. Do you lead a disciplined lifestyle? That covers everything from the food you eat to what you do with your spare time. I believe Christians should be examples of excellence. If you are an athlete, are you working as hard as you can to be the best you can? If you have a job, do you give your employer the best of your abilities? Do you show up for work on time and stay until it's time to leave? In school, do you take your education seriously? Do you strive to make the best grades possible or are you satisfied with just sliding by? You may think, What does all this have to do with anything? How you answer these questions indicates whether or not you lead a disciplined lifestyle.

I'M GETTING MARRRRRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the best days of my life happened last Friday - Mike asked me to marry him!! I am overwhelmed with joy and honored to be able to spend the rest of my life with him and love him more than he could possibly imagine.

The night began with a planned, romantic dinner at Til Midnight restaurant (though it's not far out his character to plan something like this so far in advanced, it did get the wheels turning in my head...) ;) I had all afternoon to get ready for this fabulous date, but of course, in true Jessica-style, I couldn't decide what to wear (Mike kept telling me to 'look purdy'...!) and was running behind - only to find my car stuck in the side of the road in 2-feet of packed snow! After working up a sweat, shoveling myself out (all dressed up and getting really frustrated at this point), Mike decided just to meet me at the restuarant.

We had such a nice dinner - because the weather had been so bad, there was hardly anyone there, which made it special, just the two of us. I kept noticing Mike checking the time on his phone and he even got up once 'to wash his hands' in the restroom...I knew somethin' fishy was going on.

Immediately after the last bite of dessert, Mike threw his credit card down on the table, as if he was in a huge hurry...we had plans to walk around in Centennial Park under the gorgeous lit-up snow flakes. I suggested just going to Prospect Park, since it was closer, but he insited he wanted to go to Centennial 'because there's a gazebo there and it's so pretty.' Hmmm...wheels still turning! :)

As many know, it was REALLY cold that night - and snowed about 2 feet! I came prepared with my snow boots, hat, gloves...but Mike brought nothing, saying that 30 degrees was warm. I guess he can say that, since he spends ALL day, everyday, outside in temps colder than that. :) We were going to swing by my house to pick up a hat for him, but he told me he was fine, and just to go to Centennial Park.

I should mention - after dinner, I went to the bathroom and came out to find that Mike had quickly run outside to the car - he told me he was just starting the car to warm it up, but I later found out that he had put the ring behind my seat, next to my snow boots...once I mentioned that I was going to change into my boots for the walk, he quickly moved the ring so I wouldn't see it! :) Cute.

We arrived to Centennial and it was absolutely gorgeous - a true winter-wonderland! Of course, there were NO paths plowed, so taking a romantic walk around was kinda out of the question. We decided to brave the deep snow, and trudged out way through the 3-foot deep snow banks and had fun running through the park like we were crazy! Mike shouted, come over here! and we ran to the gazebo. He was SOOO cold, so I started hugging him to warm him up...he then began telling me the sweetest things and opening up his heart about how he felt about me, and he said that he knew he couldn't live without me. He then got on his knee and presented me with the ring and asked me to marry him!!! I shrieked and started hugging him - then remembered to say YES!!!! :) It was cute 'cause the only thing he said after was 'can I get up now? My right knee is frozen.' hahhaa - he had been kneeling in the snow the whole time!!

After checking out the ring - it was ABOLUTELY GORGEOUS and he picked it out all himself! - We ran out of the gazebo, hand-in-hand, yelling in excitment like little kids as we ran down the hill. He stopped immediatly to call his best friend, Grant, in CO, as he promised him he'd be the first to hear the news!! It was so fun to talk w/ Grant and share that moment with him!

Mike said he needed a drink (LOL) so let's go to Via Maria...after finally finding a parking spot, we walked inside. The host led us to a room and as soon as we walked in, I saw a huge sign that said 'We hope you said Yes!' and about 40 of my closest family and friends there, cameras flashing and people cheering. It was absolutley AMAZING and I was so overwhelmed with JOY at Mike's THOUGHTFULNESS in knowing how important sharing this moment with people I love, especially my family, is. He put so much love into preparing for that night - I looked around the room and kept seeing faces of people I had just seen hours before - people from the gym, one of my clients I had just seen at noon that day, Kelly, who I had just worked out with and talked about my weekend plans with...it was so funny that they ALL KNEW!!!!

Another wonderful and thoughtful thing Mike did was develop pictures of us - then put them in frames all around the room. It was so cool! He also asked each guest to bring a photo of themselves with me or him and put a copy of the pic into a scrapbook he had out, along with a nice note. I am so excited to see the finished product - what a man I have!!!!

My sister Tara and brother-in-law Mark couldn't be there to celebrate, but were definitely there in spirit. My favorite times were hugging my mom and dad and andee, brooke and tim....my immediate family who knows me deeply and the journey it took to get to this place.

I am so so so blessed to have friends and family who would come celebrate with us, who love Mike and I and have spent countless hours praying for us, even before Mike and I ever met.

Mike is the direct answer to my heart's ache for someone who would come into my life and be the physical representation of Christ's love to his people. I am taken back everyday by the things he does for me, who he is, for his thoughtfulness and selflessness and for all the fun he is. I am honored and humbled when I think that I get to marry him!! I love you, Michael, and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you!!!!

xoxoxo

walking in....shocked!
don't worry - i did!!!!me and my pa hugging momhavin' fun w/ friends and bro-in-law, timmike's coworker, stan, sang to us with his quartet!my sistas - minus tarateagan kept rubbing mike's head - funny ;)

new fam!

GET YOUR GRIP ON

AWESOME CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THE ACTIVE PERSON IN YOUR LIFE!

Yak Trax are traction devices you easily strap onto the bottom of your shoe, providing instant ice and snow-gripping ability. Walk or run with confidence with as much stability as you would on dry ground.

I've heard about Yak Trax (and similiar items) before, but never tried them out, opting instead to brave the snow and ice on my own...until I realized my runs were more about bracing myself not to fall than actually getting a good run in. I've been using these all winter this year and am amazed at how comfortable and steady they are. I honestly can run on any surface and not feel like I'm going to slip! I'm recommending them to everyone!!!

Here are some cool features:

* Made for stability on ice and packed snow

* Provides 360 degrees of traction

* Made with high strength, abrasion resistent 1.4 mm steel coils (not spikes, that can dull).

* The heavy-duty natural rubber material easily conforms to the shape of your boot or shoe.

* Easy on, easy off

* Can be worn in temps as low as -41 degrees Farenhuit.

* Ultra-light, walk or run naturally (even on sections of pavement that are clear).

* Ideal for walkers, hikers, runners, hunters, those who work outside or simply anyone needing to feel more secure walking across areas like a parking lot!

Check them out online at: http://www.yaktrax.com/ or buy them at your local sporting goods store. I bought mine HERE last year, for about $15.

THAT DARN SUGAR-STUFF AGAIN...

[ WORTH THE READ!!! ]

Study Suggests Sugar May Be Addictive
Finding might yield new insights into eating disorders, experts say

By Amanda Gardner, HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Science is verifying what many overeaters have suspected for a long time: sugar can be addictive. In fact, the sweetener seems to prompt the same chemical changes in the brain seen in people who abuse drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

The findings were to be presented Wednesday at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology's annual meeting, in Nashville. "Our evidence from an animal model suggests that bingeing on sugar can act in the brain in ways very similar to drugs of abuse," lead researcher Bart Hoebel, a professor of psychology at Princeton University, said during a Dec. 4 teleconference.

"Drinking large amounts of sugar water when hungry can cause behavioral changes and even neurochemical changes in the brain which resemble changes that are produced when animals or people take substances of abuse. These animals show signs of withdrawal and even long-lasting effects that might resemble craving," he said.

Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, added: "The big question has been whether it's just a behavioral thing or is it a metabolic chemical thing, and evidence like this supports the idea that something chemical is going on." A "sugar addiction" may even act as a "gateway" to later abuse of drugs such as alcohol, Hoebel said. The stages of addiction, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, include bingeing, withdrawal and craving.

For the new research, rats were denied food for 12 hours a day, then were given access to food and sugar (25 percent glucose and 10 percent sucrose, similar to a soft drink) for 12 hours a day, for three to four weeks. The bingeing released a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine each time in the part of the brain involved in reward, the nucleus accumbens. "It's been known that drugs of abuse release or increase the levels of dopamine in that part of the brain," Hoebel said.
But it wasn't only the sugar that caused this effect, Hoebel explained -- it was the sugar combined with the alternating schedule of deprivation and largesse. After three weeks, the rats showed signs of withdrawal similar to those seen when people stop smoking or drinking alcohol or using morphine.

The scientists next blocked the animals' brain endorphins and found withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, behavioral depression and a drop in dopamine levels. In other words, they confirmed a neurochemical link with the rats' behavior.

But longer periods of abstinence didn't "cure" the rats. Instead, there were long-lasting effects with the animals: They ingested more sugar than before, as if they were craving the substance and, without sugar, they drank more alcohol. The researchers speculated that some of these brain changes may also occur in people with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia, although more research needs to be done to confirm the effects in humans.

"Some say it's easy to lose weight -- you just have to shut your mouth, stop eating so much," Aronne said. "I tell them a good way to overcome global warming is if people made less carbon dioxide by breathing less. Obviously, that's absurd. You can't do it because you feel uncomfortable.

"The same thing is true of eating," he added. "Fattening food has an impact on the regulating mechanism that breaks down your sense of fullness, makes you feel an urge to go back and get that blast of sugar and this creates the vicious cycle of weight gain that we're going through."

Visit Overeaters Anonymous for more on food addiction and eating disorders.