Healing Food Addictions
In my last blog I talked about soft addictions like food. Overeating is something that many people do and they do so for many reasons like stuffing their feelings down, lonliness, boredom or out of habit. Some of us have been raised with a relationship with food that is unhealthy. We were given food when we cried out at times when it was not about food but about being loved. Many of us have a love hate relationship with good knowing we need it to sustain us yet there are times when we know we are overdoing it. Healing the food addiction takes time yet it can be done.
Here are some of the ways we can attack the food addictions:
1. Avoid sugar:
Sugar is very addictive. Avoid sugar "by any means neccessary." Sugar is cancer causing and it is highly addictive. Once you begin to eat sugar products you create a food addiction that is highly addictive. I have one rule. Don't buy it and have it in your home, period. Make it hard to get sugar by having to go and buy it. It is not secret that sugar causes diabitis and is highly fattening. Sugar is a highly addictive food.
2. Dispose or donate the foods in your kitchen that are not healthy:
Start with processed foods. Get rid of the things in your home you know are not good for you, usually in boxes or processed foods. Place everything in a box or two and donate it or simply through it out. Recycle all that can be recycled while you are at it. Clear your home of all the food that is negative and not good for you.
3. Ask before you eat:
Ask yourself the question: " Why do I want to eat right now?" and " Am I hungry or just compulsively reacting to my feelings"?. and "Am I trying to replace my feelings and sadness or loneliness with food?". Ask these questions before you eat anything. Think before you act.
Ask yourself the question why before you decide to consume another bite of food.
4. Know your relationship with food:
Know your relationship with food. Is food sustaining you? Is food a pacifier? Is food happiness? What does food mean to you and what is your relationship with it? Is food an addiction? Am I addicted to food? Know your relationship to food and begin the healing right there.
Were you raised being pacified with food and was food used to get you to do things or stop crying? Change your relationship with food to one that is positive and self nurturing.
5. Exercise:
Do some form of exercise instead of eating a second portion or overdoing it. When you get use to it exercise will become second nature. Do this every day, not just three days a week, even if it's a short time each day. Remember it does not have to be intense but rather loving and soft like yoga.
6. Find a creative outlet:
Do something with your hands. Sew, paint, work with clay or make some earrings. Instead of eating go to your creative outlet. Include writing or journaling in this endeavor.
7. Go to overeaters anonymous:
There is a 12 step program if you feel you are an overeater. Join a program in your community that works for you! I advocate for 12 step programs and will say that I have seen the "work if you work it". Don't avoid programs because you feel ashamed. No one needs to know you are attending a program for your food addiction. Make it about you and not about what others might think about you.
Here are some of the ways we can attack the food addictions:
1. Avoid sugar:
Sugar is very addictive. Avoid sugar "by any means neccessary." Sugar is cancer causing and it is highly addictive. Once you begin to eat sugar products you create a food addiction that is highly addictive. I have one rule. Don't buy it and have it in your home, period. Make it hard to get sugar by having to go and buy it. It is not secret that sugar causes diabitis and is highly fattening. Sugar is a highly addictive food.
2. Dispose or donate the foods in your kitchen that are not healthy:
Start with processed foods. Get rid of the things in your home you know are not good for you, usually in boxes or processed foods. Place everything in a box or two and donate it or simply through it out. Recycle all that can be recycled while you are at it. Clear your home of all the food that is negative and not good for you.
3. Ask before you eat:
Ask yourself the question: " Why do I want to eat right now?" and " Am I hungry or just compulsively reacting to my feelings"?. and "Am I trying to replace my feelings and sadness or loneliness with food?". Ask these questions before you eat anything. Think before you act.
Ask yourself the question why before you decide to consume another bite of food.
4. Know your relationship with food:
Know your relationship with food. Is food sustaining you? Is food a pacifier? Is food happiness? What does food mean to you and what is your relationship with it? Is food an addiction? Am I addicted to food? Know your relationship to food and begin the healing right there.
Were you raised being pacified with food and was food used to get you to do things or stop crying? Change your relationship with food to one that is positive and self nurturing.
5. Exercise:
Do some form of exercise instead of eating a second portion or overdoing it. When you get use to it exercise will become second nature. Do this every day, not just three days a week, even if it's a short time each day. Remember it does not have to be intense but rather loving and soft like yoga.
6. Find a creative outlet:
Do something with your hands. Sew, paint, work with clay or make some earrings. Instead of eating go to your creative outlet. Include writing or journaling in this endeavor.
7. Go to overeaters anonymous:
There is a 12 step program if you feel you are an overeater. Join a program in your community that works for you! I advocate for 12 step programs and will say that I have seen the "work if you work it". Don't avoid programs because you feel ashamed. No one needs to know you are attending a program for your food addiction. Make it about you and not about what others might think about you.
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