Adam and Bobby work together to make the world a healthier, happier place. If you’ve not had a chance to listen to their inspiring stories, check out previous episodes 68, 69 and 90. We’re delighted to have them back to answer some listener questions.
When did Adderall become a problem?
Pretty quickly. Stimulant medications for ADD are chemically almost identical to meth (one molecule away), they’re basically just an amphetamine. The drugs you can get from your doctor are essentially purer and stronger than drugs you can get on the street. In fact, this year prescription drugs caused more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined.
The problem with these types of medications is that you can become dependent on them. Your tolerance will grow and you’ll need increasing amounts of the medication for it to work. Doctors can only prescribe so much. On a physical level, stimulants burn out your adrenal glands, mess up your metabolism, and raise your blood pressure. On an emotional level, Adam found that he couldn’t even motivate himself to do things he enjoyed without taking Adderall first.
There is no medicine that can cure brain chemistry, and deciding to take the prescription drug approach equates to accepting that you’re going to be on drugs for the rest of your life. Give yourself permission to try alternative approaches. For example, change your diet for six months and see how you feel. Medication should be the last resort.
How do you manage your ADD without prescription drugs?
Diet was a massive game changer. 50% of dopamine and 90% of serotonin has an intestinal source, which means what you eat has a direct impact on how you think and feel. Start by changing what you eat—find the right kind of diet for you and develop lifestyle tools that will help you manage your condition. Pills will only mask the symptoms; they don’t get to the underlying cause of the issue.
ADD is also quite commonly over-diagnosed. We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with visual stimuli and distracted by social media; poor concentration seems very much part of the society we live in. ADD isn’t an inability to focus; the brain is focusing on too many things at once. Anything that allows you to be mindful, like meditation or running or yoga, will help.
It used to be that you’d get prescribed medication maybe once or twice in your lifetime, usually at the end of your life. Now things are different. By age 12, most Americans have taken a mind altering prescription drug. What effect does that have on a developing brain? Nowadays it is so common, there are pills to fix everything—but what about the long-term side effects?
ADD medication works because it is designed to work. It’s designed as a stimulant, and stimulants release dopamine and help you to focus. And you will get hooked on them. Prescription drugs should be used in emergencies or acute situations, not as a lifelong way to manage a condition. You can manage your ADD without drugs, with mindfulness, exercise and a plant-based diet. “It’s going to be harder but it’s going to be worth it.”
How long did it take you to detox from Adderall, and how long was it before you felt good again?
It took Adam about a month—at the same time as he was detoxing, he was working on overcoming a deep depression and was putting in place positive strategies like a healthy diet and going to the gym. Implementing changes from a place of self love is so much more powerful. “Do it because you think you’re worth going through whatever hell might be necessary,” says Adam. Decide to make changes because you love yourself, not because you hate who you are right now.
How do you replace the focus the prescription drugs give you?
Adam accepts that some days are tiring—but after a 12-hour workday, it’s normal to be exhausted! Ask yourself: are you comfortable with not being able to perform without prescription drugs? If you want something bad enough, you’d do anything to achieve it. You’re afraid because you’re not sure how you will manage without the medication, but you WILL be able to focus again. And what’s more, it’ll be a pure—rather than drug-driven—focus. Another way to create that focus and motivation is to think about the goal; how are you going to feel once you’ve completed that task?
I’m using Adderall to manage my weight. I’d rather be on Adderall than be super fat. What’s wrong with that?
Bobby is taking 30mg/day less than he used to and has switched to a plant-based diet, which has helped him manage his weight. If you’re worried about gaining weight or your appetite increasing, start a plant-based vegan diet. It doesn’t matter how much you eat when you are relying on healthy foods! You can have as much as you like of fruits, vegetables, whole-grains, nuts, seeds, legumes. The pounds will still pour off! People have weight issues because of their diet. Adderall won’t fix that. In fact, using it as a weight loss drug is a pretty bad idea. Adam used Adderall to manage his weight and ended up over 300 pounds and type 2 diabetic.
Adam’s diet used to consist of cheeseburgers, pizza, breakfast tacos and sodas. Now, he has oatmeal and cinnamon for breakfast. He feasts on epic salads that contain just about everything. “Kale, spinach, greens, chickpeas, carrots, celery, beets, red kidney beans, black beans…” You can add an oil free dressing too—the ones from Engine 2 are amazing. Bobby has lost an incredible 50 pounds, reversed his diabetes and reduced his blood pressure. How? He swapped his fast food diet for Engine 2 cereal and almond milk for breakfast, and digs into big bowls filled with broccoli, corn, beans andEngine 2’s marinara sauce. And boxes of strawberries as snacks. “When you eat a whole foods diet, it’s almost impossible to get it wrong.” No calorie restriction or portion control is necessary because you’re eating what the body is designed to eat.
If anyone is looking for advice or help about recovering from addiction, please reach out to Adam on Facebook.
Follow Adam and Bobby Sud’s adventure on the Ice Breaker Run where Bobby will be posting daily videos. Buy a t-shirt and support the cause!
Adam Sud’s Bio
A little over 3 years ago Adam Sud weighed 300lbs, was a type II diabetic, a drug addict, fast food addict, and suffering from severe depression. Adam was diagnosed as a diabetic his first day at in-patient rehab. After rehab he moved to California into a sober-living house. Adam took it upon himself to reverse his type II diabetes and so he implemented a plant strong nutrition plan into his recovery program of medication and therapy. What Adam didn’t know was nutrition would become the backbone of his entire recovery. Within 6 months Adam reversed his diabetes and today he is over 3 years sober and weighs 170lbs. Adam realized that nutrition has an amazing power in regards to addiction recovery. Adam became a certified holistic lifestyle coach and developed a program using nutrition as a tool for addiction recovery and relapse prevention. He now run groups at sober-living houses and Intensive Out-Patient Therapy centers in LA. He recently had the honor of speaking at Rip Esselstyn’s Engine 2 plant based health immersion in Arizona and has been invited back as a speaker for 2016. Adam has had the honor of being a guest on the Rich Roll podcast, Running To Mental Health podcast, and have been featured on Forks Over Knives.
Sud’s Links
Website: SudBrothers.com
Follow Adam on Instagram
Follow Bobby on Instagram
Our Favorite Moments:
@8:50 The ones from your doctor are more dangerous.
@1:08 The sweep-it- under-the- rug way of fixing things.
@15:25 Do you know how hard it is not to check the phone every 20 minutes??
@19:10 You’ve got to look at long-term goals.
@37:30 Not in my world!
Tweetables:
(Click to tweet)
Tweet: Meditation should be taught in schools #FoodHealsPodcast http://bit.ly/Sud-Brothers2
Tweet: Do it because you love yourself #plantbased @FoodHealsNation http://bit.ly/Sud-Brothers2
This episode is sponsored by:
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Links from show:
Scattered Minds by Dr. Gabor Mate
Check out the Forks over Knives app for plant-based recipe inspiration
IceBreakerRun.org – buy a t-shirt and support the Sud Brothers
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About Us:
Being hailed as “Sex and the City for Food,” The Food Heals Podcast brings together experts in the field of nutrition, health and healing to teach you the best-kept natural secrets to being a hotter, healthier, happier YOU!
The Food Heals Podcast is hosted by Allison Melody and Suzy Hardy – two self-proclaimed natural chicks who will rock your world and change your beliefs about health! This sexy, savvy duo provides eco-friendly advice on a variety of issues including the healing power of nutrition, living authentically, turning your passion into your career, choosing the best natural health and beauty products, the benefits of a plant-based diet and so much more!
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