How do I talk my Mom off the "Sugar is Toxic" ledge?
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davidylin04 wrote: »There's a terminology issue here. Substances like water and oxygen are toxic at certain concentrations/doses. Sugar sure can be toxic - pretty sure you'll die if you consume a few thousand grams in an hour.
I'm reasonably sure context and dosage has been dealt with ad infinitum in this thread, so not sure how this is relevant?5 -
davidylin04 wrote: »There's a terminology issue here. Substances like water and oxygen are toxic at certain concentrations/doses. Sugar sure can be toxic - pretty sure you'll die if you consume a few thousand grams in an hour.
I'm reasonably sure context and dosage has been dealt with ad infinitum in this thread, so not sure how this is relevant?
Sometimes you click reply on a thread thinking that it's another thread that is a lot shorter and has fewer replies. It happens.4 -
nutrofight wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Hi all - sorry I wasn't clear. I don't want Mom to make ANY changes - I want her to stop worrying about sugar. She eats very healthily, but has been worrying about her (almost non-existent) sugar consumption.
Well then it sounds like it would just be easier for her to eliminate her sugar consumption. What matters is her relationship with food. If she thinks sugar is and and she eats it, it will be bad. So if convincing her it isn't bad is harder than eliminating it, why take the harder goal?
It's been discussed repeatedly that her mother is borderline underweight and the sugar obsession will potentially cause her to under eat and lose weight that she can't afford to lose.
edited for grammar2 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »
There's no need to do any checking, it shows up on desktop on the website directly under your username. Additionally, I remember your username from years ago, so definitely not your first post. Again, misinformation gets called out.
@kshama2001 I'm sorry your mom is so stressed about this (and sorry for what this thread is turning into). Based on what you're describing on her activity levels and general health, what she's been doing up to now has been working pretty good. In addition to some of the suggestions above (going to watch that TED talk later), perhaps remind her that she's been doing great without all this worry and stress. I agree with @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink that she is certainly inspiring.
Strange, because I sure don't remember you. But glad to see you're on the job. Righting wrongs, wherever they may be!9 -
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nutrofight wrote: »nutrofight wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Hi all - sorry I wasn't clear. I don't want Mom to make ANY changes - I want her to stop worrying about sugar. She eats very healthily, but has been worrying about her (almost non-existent) sugar consumption.
Well then it sounds like it would just be easier for her to eliminate her sugar consumption. What matters is her relationship with food. If she thinks sugar is and and she eats it, it will be bad. So if convincing her it isn't bad is harder than eliminating it, why take the harder goal?
It's been discussed repeatedly that her mother is borderline underweight and the sugar obsession will potentially cause her under eat and lose weight that she can't afford to lose.
Makes sense, her belief that she's ingesting toxic sugar is making her body spend energy fighting it. Once she stops knowingly ingesting it, her body should start healing itself.
Oh good grief! Am I reading you right - if her mom stops eating fruit, which is what she's stressing about, she will magically stay at the same weight eating less because energy? Really?
eta: The woman is perfectly healthy, what exactly do you mean by "healing"?6 -
nutmegoreo wrote: »
There's no need to do any checking, it shows up on desktop on the website directly under your username. Additionally, I remember your username from years ago, so definitely not your first post. Again, misinformation gets called out.
@kshama2001 I'm sorry your mom is so stressed about this (and sorry for what this thread is turning into). Based on what you're describing on her activity levels and general health, what she's been doing up to now has been working pretty good. In addition to some of the suggestions above (going to watch that TED talk later), perhaps remind her that she's been doing great without all this worry and stress. I agree with @Tiny_Dancer_in_Pink that she is certainly inspiring.
Strange, because I sure don't remember you. But glad to see you're on the job. Righting wrongs, wherever they may be!nutrofight wrote: »nutrofight wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »Hi all - sorry I wasn't clear. I don't want Mom to make ANY changes - I want her to stop worrying about sugar. She eats very healthily, but has been worrying about her (almost non-existent) sugar consumption.
Well then it sounds like it would just be easier for her to eliminate her sugar consumption. What matters is her relationship with food. If she thinks sugar is and and she eats it, it will be bad. So if convincing her it isn't bad is harder than eliminating it, why take the harder goal?
It's been discussed repeatedly that her mother is borderline underweight and the sugar obsession will potentially cause her under eat and lose weight that she can't afford to lose.
Makes sense, her belief that she's ingesting toxic sugar is making her body spend energy fighting it. Once she stops knowingly ingesting it, her body should start healing itself.
Happy Friday, everyone!18 -
davidylin04 wrote: »davidylin04 wrote: »There's a terminology issue here. Substances like water and oxygen are toxic at certain concentrations/doses. Sugar sure can be toxic - pretty sure you'll die if you consume a few thousand grams in an hour.
I'm reasonably sure context and dosage has been dealt with ad infinitum in this thread, so not sure how this is relevant?
Sometimes you click reply on a thread thinking that it's another thread that is a lot shorter and has fewer replies. It happens.
Fair enough. It can get confusing if you are wandering around in here! 1 -
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kshama2001 wrote: »brightresolve wrote: »Brain health is a concern for a lot of older people. As a 61 year old, both of whose parents suffered from very late life dementia, I understand.
I also think sweets are quite possibly one of the best arguments for wishing to stay on the planet longer.
Watching this thread with interest
Oh and 80? I saw my mom changing her opinions, striving, becoming a more open and even more loving person, until alzheimer's stole her in her mid 90's. Hope I can do the same.
Her brother just replied to our email chain with a similar sentiment as the bolded so hopefully that will help
My grandfather had Alzheimer's so I understand her concern about brain health. I keep reminding her that he was a drinker and smoker, and she is not, (and has never been.)
The problem is, its what keeps HER on the planet longer, which may be different from what would do that for you or your brother. Part of that can be "tradition" or what she feels is "normal" and "good". Also, it seems her diet has kept her in good shape till her 80's, so it doesn't exactly seem like its a problem, even though there may be room for improvement.
Maybe time is better spent on encouraging her to maintain muscle mass somehow, or do more brain stimulative and balance activities and/or take up a hobby, which may help her live longer as more able and healthier. She seems to want to actively take care of herself, and directing her on to another thing which is more likely to help is easier than trying to break her beliefs into something matching yours. Who knows, her appetite may follow as well...
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Does anyone ever read threads before posting in them anymore? Or is it a reading comprehension thing? Or just the Friday effect?
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lemurcat12 wrote: »Oh MFP....
OP: My mom eats very little added sugar, but I am concerned she's getting stressed and losing weight due to reading all sorts of alarmist stuff about sugar. She's starting to worry about fruit.
Poster: Sugar is bad stuff; avoid it and watch the alarmist Netflix docs about sugar.
My note: Netflix docs actually make all sorts of conflicting diet claims that could make anyone neurotic -- various Netflix docs go after sugar, fat, meat and other animal products, "processed foods," GMOs, so on. One of the more recent ones (obnoxious for other reasons) is anti animal products/fat and says sugar isn't so bad.
To be fair, based on my Netflix viewing I now call the sheriff every time my lights blink because I assume something from The Upside Down is trying to get me.
What does he tell you?
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kshama2001 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Oh MFP....
OP: My mom eats very little added sugar, but I am concerned she's getting stressed and losing weight due to reading all sorts of alarmist stuff about sugar. She's starting to worry about fruit.
Poster: Sugar is bad stuff; avoid it and watch the alarmist Netflix docs about sugar.
My note: Netflix docs actually make all sorts of conflicting diet claims that could make anyone neurotic -- various Netflix docs go after sugar, fat, meat and other animal products, "processed foods," GMOs, so on. One of the more recent ones (obnoxious for other reasons) is anti animal products/fat and says sugar isn't so bad.
To be fair, based on my Netflix viewing I now call the sheriff every time my lights blink because I assume something from The Upside Down is trying to get me.
What does he tell you?
He tells me I'm a spinstermorph and I should get more cats 8 -
kshama2001 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Oh MFP....
OP: My mom eats very little added sugar, but I am concerned she's getting stressed and losing weight due to reading all sorts of alarmist stuff about sugar. She's starting to worry about fruit.
Poster: Sugar is bad stuff; avoid it and watch the alarmist Netflix docs about sugar.
My note: Netflix docs actually make all sorts of conflicting diet claims that could make anyone neurotic -- various Netflix docs go after sugar, fat, meat and other animal products, "processed foods," GMOs, so on. One of the more recent ones (obnoxious for other reasons) is anti animal products/fat and says sugar isn't so bad.
To be fair, based on my Netflix viewing I now call the sheriff every time my lights blink because I assume something from The Upside Down is trying to get me.
What does he tell you?
He tells me I'm a spinstermorph and I should get more cats
Here ya go! xxxooo
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kshama2001 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Oh MFP....
OP: My mom eats very little added sugar, but I am concerned she's getting stressed and losing weight due to reading all sorts of alarmist stuff about sugar. She's starting to worry about fruit.
Poster: Sugar is bad stuff; avoid it and watch the alarmist Netflix docs about sugar.
My note: Netflix docs actually make all sorts of conflicting diet claims that could make anyone neurotic -- various Netflix docs go after sugar, fat, meat and other animal products, "processed foods," GMOs, so on. One of the more recent ones (obnoxious for other reasons) is anti animal products/fat and says sugar isn't so bad.
To be fair, based on my Netflix viewing I now call the sheriff every time my lights blink because I assume something from The Upside Down is trying to get me.
What does he tell you?
He tells me I'm a spinstermorph and I should get more cats
I have two you can have. Well, you can have them on the days they pee where they shouldn't and then have to go to the vet to the tune of $600.
Then please to return them when all is well again.
Part-time spinstermorphing is a thing.
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kshama2001 wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Oh MFP....
OP: My mom eats very little added sugar, but I am concerned she's getting stressed and losing weight due to reading all sorts of alarmist stuff about sugar. She's starting to worry about fruit.
Poster: Sugar is bad stuff; avoid it and watch the alarmist Netflix docs about sugar.
My note: Netflix docs actually make all sorts of conflicting diet claims that could make anyone neurotic -- various Netflix docs go after sugar, fat, meat and other animal products, "processed foods," GMOs, so on. One of the more recent ones (obnoxious for other reasons) is anti animal products/fat and says sugar isn't so bad.
To be fair, based on my Netflix viewing I now call the sheriff every time my lights blink because I assume something from The Upside Down is trying to get me.
What does he tell you?
He tells me I'm a spinstermorph and I should get more cats
Here ya go! xxxooo
Bwahaha! The pride showed up and stayed for 2 of my aunts. And it wasn't a family thing, they weren't even related!0 -
cmriverside wrote: »Okay, I think your thread would have gone better if you said, "80 YO mother still uses a chainsaw. How do I get her to stop?"
I say this with a big sigh: They're grownups. We can't stop them. Unless they're truly impaired in some major way, IMO we shouldn't even try. They let us take a million risks over the years, and held their breath. Eventually, it's our turn.
I say this as someone whose (rational, capable) father took a major fall (from standing on a workbench!) at age 83, breaking various bones, blinding himself, and going in an instant from independent to a soon-to-be permanent occupant of an assisted living facility. Who sat alone in a pole barn for 6 hours until someone realized something bad had happened. Who, nonetheless, was still cracking jokes at the emergency room doctors before they put him in the flippin' ICU.
If they're rational and capable, it's demeaning to try to stop them taking risks that could lead to accidents any one of us could have. It's also fruitless. Personality transplants don't work.
Yes, accidents can be more likely with aging, and true risks related to obvious impairments (like driving when demonstrably incapable) need to be stopped. My dad was still using a chain saw in his 80s, too. He was probably safer doing so, with reasonable body strength and decades of practice, than a 20-something newbie. Because he was cognitively competent, he had stopped doing various other things he felt he was no longer up to. Accidents can happen to any adult taking measured risks.
Again, JMO. I'm sure others will disagree.2 -
cmriverside wrote: »Okay, I think your thread would have gone better if you said, "80 YO mother still uses a chainsaw. How do I get her to stop?"
She's unstoppable!
From earlier this week:
My brother and I took a LONG lunch break, and she came up to the house and yelled at us, lol.
(She had three other people helping at our burn party at the time.)
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