My Crazy Food Addictions!
Food Addiction is the number one cause for obesity! Of, course we already know that, duh! It is the most utilized “go-to” stress reliever on the planet! Why? Because it is the most popular “instant-fix” for all our problems! Alcohol and Drugs being #2 and #3 on the list.
What are your go-to fixer foods? Chocolate, fast food, chips, ice-cream? If you picked one or all, then we are all in the same group! Stress can trigger on a barrage of instant fix foods that are not only not good for us, but so damaging to our health happiness weight loss journeys!
Addiction is a real problem no matter what the source. Obesity is on the rise in this country every day. So many health problems, both mentally and physically can be avoided with the proper fix-it stress relievers. So how do we break this cycle of over-eating our go-to crazy food addictions? So glad you asked! You can’t cold turkey your break-up with food, it is a gradual, learning process to break up your addiction to food. As with any addiction, you need to find alternative solutions to combat how you handle your stress and depression. Food triggers are all around us every day. It is so hard not to just grab that quick fix to make yourself feel better on a daily basis.
"Your addiction to food really isn’t about the food."
To elaborate further, foods do not have addictive properties that make someone depend on them, unlike chemical substances. Food addiction has more to do with how a person behaves around food, what they think about food, and the way habits are formed with food. The habits are the real source of the addiction.
So how can we break some of these habits? Here are 5 steps to a healthier you:
1. DEVELOP A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD
In traditional 12-step addiction-based recovery models, addicts are challenged to remain abstinent for healing. However, with food addiction, one can’t simply abstain by not eating, as food is essential to life. Thus, someone suffering with food addiction must learn how to eat properly again by establishing a healthy relationship with food.
2. SET BOUNDARIES WITH UNSAFE FOODS
Typically, trigger or “unsafe” foods are removed from the diet and boundaries are set so that managing these foods in a healthier way can be relearned. If someone binges on ice cream when he or she is stressed, it’s best not to keep it in the house. Eliminating the temptation until he or she can eat ice cream again in a balanced way is a safe option.
3. FOLLOW A STRUCTURED MEAL PLAN
A person suffering from an unhealthy relationship with food can get on the right track to recovery by following a meal plan and normal eating pattern. This helps the person set safe boundaries with food and feel satisfied so that there is not a physiological need to eat. It’s more tempting to be out of control with food when there is physical deprivation.
4. LEARN HEALTHY COPING STRATEGIES
Address reasons for turning to food to cope. Identify healthier coping mechanisms and strategies so that one can begin learning healthier means of dealing with emotions.
5. SEEK PROFESSIONAL ADVICE
Beating a food addiction is a process that doesn’t happen overnight; it often needs to involve a registered dietitian and licensed therapist that specialize in the area of disordered eating. These professionals will help a person suffering from food addiction implement appropriate strategies and provide accountability and sound advice.
Above all – Take Care of yourself First! You can do it! Awww… “De-Stressing” now!