No I don’t think food is my problem…

“Shock Horror! Are You Saying I Might Be a Food Addict?”

We all have moments when we feel angry, stressed and vulnerable…

What exactly is food addiction?

It is similar to several other eating disorders.

Including binge eating disorder, bulimia, compulsive overeating.

Food addiction is an unhealthy relationship with food…

What causes food addiction?

Consuming “highly palatable” foods which are emotionally comforting.

Manufactured foods are designed to be emotionally comfort foods.

The combination of high carbohydrates, fat, salt, sugar, artificial sweeteners!

They play a role in triggering pleasure centers of the brain…

And release “feel-good” chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

Yes, and the underlying issues are triggered by deep emotions.

Here’s a quick look at my own uninvited scary thoughts:

• I could only make love with lights off
• Sometimes anxiety doesn’t subside
• I’d eat to the point of feeling ill
• Constantly worry if I’m good enough
• Confused and often feel no motivation
• Overwhelmed by simplest of tasks
• Worrying if my depression is out of control
• Obsessed trying to be good wife, adult, parent
• Making sure everyone is cared for before me
• Scared to talk about how I really feel
• Don’t know who I am outside of being a mother
• Have rage which comes out of nowhere
• Don’t want to be judged
• Feels like I’m failing doing everything
• Don’t know how to let go of anger
• Feels like I can’t trust a single soul
• Almost always wear the same clothes
• Haven’t worn makeup in months
• Need to take care of myself but I feel guilty
• Feels like I’m drowning (literally gasping for air)
• I need support but won’t ask or accept it
• I put too much pressure on myself
• When I’m in a bad mood I binge eat alone
• Keep eating food even if I was no longer hungry
• I’d always crunch angrily on a big bag of chips

The truth is…

I’d always worry about not eating certain types of foods.

I’d also worry about cutting down on certain types of foods.

And it terrified me when certain foods weren’t available…

I would sneak out and go out of my way to get them.

Food addiction and binge eating are invisible, subtle and progressive.

What if food addiction is left untreated?

Being overweight could develop into disease as a result:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Fatty liver disease

And for me, the personal consequences took its toll.

I had to get help because my mental health was deteriorating.

I was genuinely scared and terrified I was going to lose my sanity.

What is food addiction?

Food is essential to survival and is an important aspect of wellness.

In addition, a means of pleasure and enjoyment.

Food addiction is also a preoccupation with food…

The person finds themselves chronically thinking about food.

Worried about it, planning around it, and obviously eating it.

In addition, a person with food addiction typically uses food to manage emotions.

Turning to food to manage negative emotions such as:

• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Boredom
• Loneliness
• Frustration

Did you know certain foods can overtake and control a person?

To the point where they can be distracted from people in their lives.

And lose sight of their responsibilities.

Be more interested in thinking and talking about food than other topics.

People with food addiction may find themselves trapped…

And needing to eat more to get the same emotional effects.

They may also become obsessed.

Focused on food and planning to eat food.

Matter of fact with little of inconveniencing other people.

Because their need to eat is a priority…

It’s almost like a ritual to eat at certain times or at certain places.

People with food addictions may find themselves eating more often.

And needing to eat more food to get same emotional effects.

Certain foods can have bring comfort, numbing or negative effect.

And may even experience withdrawal symptoms such as:

• Headaches
• Irritability
• Loss of concentration

Especially when they cut out certain foods like refined sugar.

They will often describe craving food…

Having made repeated attempts to try and beat their addiction.

And not being able to succeed.

For people with a food addiction…

Food often starts as a reward.

Eat and then feel good.

And then can jump off the rails with food being used to avoid a bad feeling.

Eat so you won’t feel bad.

That’s when food tends to get “stuck” as something that feels like an addiction.

What’s the difference between food addiction or other types of addictions?

The key difference between food addiction…

And other types of addictions is that all of us have to eat.

When talking about other addictions like drugs and alcohol…

Remember a person can live without drugs and alcohol.

The goal in for most treatments of many addictions…

Particularly drugs and alcohol is typically abstinence.

Which is an impossible goal in food addiction.

In addition, other addictions, particularly drugs and alcohol…

And this might result in more physiological changes in the brain.

Causing dangerous withdrawal.

While food addiction can be harmful to health.

Namely unintentional weight gain…

Unintentional weight gain is a result of putting on weight.

All without increasing your consumption of food or liquid.

And without decreasing your activity.

This happens when you’re not trying to gain weight.

And the impact could be higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

The daily and necessary nature of eating…

Makes managing these symptoms uniquely challenging.

And it has implications for how to manage food addiction.

What is the difference between food addiction and emotional eating?

Emotional eating is a pattern of regularly eating in response to emotions…

Typically negative or distressing emotions (e.g. sadness, frustration, anger).

Emotional eaters may not experience the same level of preoccupation.

Sometimes it’s really obvious someone has a food addiction…

Emotional eaters may not feel the same level of “high” from the foods.

And instead may claim the foods distracts or numbs them.

There is a great deal of overlap.

And in some ways emotional eating is a symptom of food addiction.

Although there emotional eaters who don’t experience same impact.

Or levels of preoccupation with rewards from food.

What are some signs/symptoms of food addiction?

Preoccupation with food…

Including planning your schedule largely around food.

Spending significant amounts of time thinking about or consuming food.

This time can be better spent in other activities which may decrease.

Needing to eat more and more over time to get the same emotional “fix.”

This can be needing to eat more to get same level of emotional numbing.

It could also be the same level of emotional reward.

Using food to manage emotions, both positive and negative emotions…

Using food as a way to manage negative emotions (sadness, anxiety, anger).

Using food as a distraction from states such as loneliness or boredom.

Food is also relied upon to celebrate…

And recall and show respect for good events or good feelings.

Relying and becoming distracted by food…

And food-related issues could make us feel less engaged in life.

Not as engaged with family, friends, partner, children or co-workers.

Just not participating in other aspects of life in the same way…

Experiencing a sense of “withdrawal” and/or distress.

When we can’t get our reward foods such as sugary or fatty foods.

Yes, this can manifest and impact us in many ways.

As in headache, irritability, poor concentration and feeling ill.

And the struggle only intensifies with multiple attempts…

That’s the reason why it’s important to address food eating patterns.

And not being able to succeed requires support…

Craving food in an intense manner to a degree that’s distracting.

Food addiction is a combination of a physical compulsion.

And mental obsession with food that drives you to eat against your will.

Food consumes your every waking thoughts and your dreams for that matter.

How can someone get help for food addiction?

Some people may find it useful to seek out group therapy.

Meet with other people who are struggling with similar issues.

This can build a sense of empathy and help people feel like they are less alone.

Reading about the issue and becoming informed is also useful.

Bear in mind food addiction can often have very deep emotional routes.

The first step is admitting there is a struggle and taking one step at a time.

Food addiction means these days I eat to a food plan…

Three weighed meals, no sugar, no flour.

Being exact in following my food plan is an act of spiritual surrender.

And it limits the decisions I have to make about what I eat everyday.

No, I don’t let myself get too hungry, angry, lonely, tired or stressed.

Click here to take the quiz and find out are your a food addict…

My goal here is to help in raising awareness of food addiction.

And helping fellow food addicts through binge eating coaching and counseling. 

ATTENTION: Want to know how to stop binge eating and lose weight? 

“Is The Binge Eating Roller Coaster Ride You Fear A Frantic Feeling Spiralling Out Of Self-Control“

Dear Friend,

It’s true, all of us eat too much from time to time…

The difference is overeating while feeling out of control.

Do you feel powerless to stop overeating or compulsive eating?

Do you think you may be suffering from binge eating?

For fifteen years, I struggled with mid-afternoon and evening binging.

You already know you can control yourself for a while.

Until you hit a threshold and then you can’t take it anymore…

Okay it’s not your fault, yet it is your choice.

Do you believe you are a powerless victim of foods?

If you do you are at the mercy of your binge eating habit.

Let me explain…

When you eat fat and sugar your brain releases…

The “I feel awesome” chemical dopamine.

Yes, even if you drink alcohol or see new things to buy.

Dopamine released during binges can become addictive.

And you’ll binge more and more often.

All because you crave the rush of dopamine.

Want to break free from the binge eating feel good cycle…

Simply feel better with a healthier relationship about food.

And the end result is to feel good about yourself again.

Is more self-control or self-discipline the answer?

Think it will help you stop binging and emotional eating?

You see, self-control or self-discipline relies on willpower.

To be brutally honest,  the odds are totally stacked against you.

Yes, I’ve been down this never ending path too.

From personal struggles and experiences I can tell you…

Binge eating is not about more discipline or self-control.

It’s confusing and frustrating, yet it doesn’t have to be.

In fact, it’s the exact reason why I became a weight loss coach.

Yes, because as a fearful child, I carried trauma from my youth.

I believed eating food would in some way comfort and protect me.

Your internal thoughts creates your external world…

What your unconscious mind believes is forming your reality.

No, I didn’t want to choose binge eating!

I needed binge eating to help me cope with pain and fear.

My unconscious programming was full of fear and anxiety.

I had no way of coping with “how can I control eating too much”

And “how can I stop feeling hungry” to understand or overcome it.

For some reason, it started as a child from stress and comfort eating.

A response to emotional trauma can include:

• Low self-esteem
• Persistent fatigue
• Hard to sleep, nightmares
• Fear of recurrences
• Anxiety focused flashbacks
• Depression, loss of interest
• Sadness, lack of motivation
• Avoidance of emotions
• Sensations or activities linked to trauma

Are you concerned about what overeating could cause…

To impact on your life, family, relationship, career and finances.

I’d eat to medicate myself as a child to drown out the feelings.

And it progressed to overeating to medicate myself as a teen.

I remember being self-conscious about beauty and body image.

And self-esteem: society’s influence on the perception of beauty

Click or tap play button to see video below… 

Binging is a survival mechanism to hide and run away from deep feelings.

Excessive food, exercise, drugs, alcohol, sex, mask feelings we don’t like…

And anxiety is easily hidden by high fat, sugar, full belly or alcoholic drinks.

The truth is, they’re all different reactions of the same root cause.

You’ll always continue to sabotage yourself…

If you don’t address the root cause of problems.

Right now, the root cause isn’t even something you’re aware of…

The programming from childhood or traumatic experience in the past.

Emotional trauma or unconscious belief can influence habits and behaviors.

The result is wanting to constantly escape the inner pain.

And were all dealing with these daily hidden problems at some level.

No matter how awesome your childhood and youth…

You’ve probably attached meaning to an event…

Understanding impact of trauma and event that triggers emotional trauma.

Psychological trauma is a result of a severely distressing event. 

Trauma is overwhelming amount of stress exceeding the ability to cope.

And it’s painful to integrate emotions involved with that experience.

Inner trauma and stressful beliefs could be crushing your progress.

The cycle of stress response drives up your hormones… 

Can stress affect your hormone levels?

As the body responds to high levels of stress, it uses progesterone.

Progesterone is then used to manufacture stress hormone cortisol.

In fact, elevated levels of cortisol suppress the body’s natural sex hormones.

Acute and chronic stress can alter the body’s hormone balance…

Stress sends a message to the part of the brain called the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). 

CRH tells the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

ACTH tells the adrenal glands to produce cortisol.

Igniting emotional overeating or compulsive eating.

Is binge eating hurting your ability to really perform at your best…

Stress can cause disruption of hormones, low dopamine, high cortisol…

And increased levels of estrogen.

Does binge eating all start from emotional belief?

Want to know how to stop feelings for overeating?

And how to tame those insatiable hunger urges without struggling?

Want to stop wasting precious energy on self-destructive ways proven to fail?

Click here to find out what happens when you try to stop binge eating using self-control…

How to Stop Binge Eating and Lose Weight?

References mentioned in the video: https://www.britishpathe.com/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/neuronarrative/201701/heres-why-your-resolutions-cant-rely-willpower-alone

John C Norcross: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Norcross and http://www.scranton.edu/faculty/norcross/