Break Your Food Addiction
You may not even realize you have a food addiction. Maybe you consider yourself as someone who has a terrible sweet tooth or who really enjoys food. But if you think about food often throughout the day, experience a physical craving for certain types of foods or spend half the time eating a well-balanced diet and the other half binging on less healthy choices, odds are you are a food addict.
Habits of a Food Addict
1.Soothe Emotions. Typically a food addict will push down unpleasant feelings with food. Not just any food, but comfort foods. Ever have a fight with your mom or spouse and immediately hit the freezer for the container of ice cream? You try to relive the feelings without actually dealing with the problem.
The Problem: Food is a temporary fix. When it wears off you will feel worse and the original problem remains.
The Answer: Tackle problems head-on. Don’t let thoughts fester and eat away at you. Deal with your emotions and your relationship problems as they occur so you won’t feel the need to use food as your faithful friend.
2.Fixation With Food You think about food all the time and you are always planning your next sugar high.
The Problem: You’ve designed your lifestyle around food and make it one of your top priorities.
The Answer: Change your lifestyle to include activities that don’t revolve around food. Exercise, for example, is one way to get a similar high as you would from eating sugar.
3.Secret Binges. Food addicts often hide food or only binge when they are alone.
The Problem: You’re only fooling yourself. You won’t win the weight loss battle if you continually sabotage yourself. It’s faulty thinking.
The Answer: Eat scheduled meals at the dinner table. Don’t keep food in your car, desk or nightstand. Lock your purse in the trunk when you go out so drive-thru restaurants aren’t’ accessible/ Find someone who will hold you accountable.
4.Eat Until the Food is Gone. Some people were raised to clean their plates and they have a hard time breaking the habit. You lack control to stoop eating.
The Problem: Even healthy foods, when consumed in large quantities, pack a lot more calories than your body needs.
The Answer: Put your health first. Prepare meals plans and only eat what is on your plate. Measure foods out ahead of time into single serving packages.
5.Feeling Guilty. Food addicts tend to feel guilty after indulging in too much of the wrong foods.
The Problem: It can turn into a vicious cycle of feeling bad, overeating, feeling guilty and eating some more.
The Answer: Stop the cycle. Don’t allow yourself to get sucked in by the guilt. Forgive yourself, ask for support and get right back on your program.
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