How to Conquer Food Addictions

Anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating are all types of food addiction. Anorexics restrict their food intake to keep from gaining any weight, while bulimics eat large amounts of food and then throw up so as not to gain any weight. And the compulsive eater will hide food and eat in secret, or not eat all day and then binge on a big meal. The cause of all 3 of these eating disorders is referred to as a food addiction or eating disorder.

Food addicts have an unrealistic relationship with food. To someone with an eating disorder like anorexia, food is their enemy because it makes them fat. But that is just their distorted body image of themselves. When they look in the mirror, they don't see that they are nothing but skin and bones; their view is distorted so that they see themselves as fat. It's not real. There is nothing wrong with our bodies, we are made beautiful just the way we are. We just need to learn to see it.

There are health concerns associated with food addictions as well. People with Anorexia are at risk of severe malnutrition, hair and bone loss, even death. People with Bulimia are at risk for damage to the stomach lining and esophagus, problems with the stomach twisting, and severe malnutrition.

How did we become so disillusioned when it comes to eating and our relationship with food? The media, television and magazines paint a picture of a happy life, if you're a size 2 like the models in the picture. Very thin women wearing sexy clothes posing with a handsome guy, it's every girl's secret dream: to be slim, beautiful and get the guy of her dreams. But this is an unrealistic vision of happiness.

So how do we begin to break this cycle and conquer our food addictions? By changing the way we feel about ourselves and our bodies. Learning to love ourselves just the way we are. And develop healthy eating habits. No more starving, no more binging and no more scales!

Step 1

Look at yourself honestly in the mirror.

Not comparing yourself to anyone else, look at your reflection in the mirror. What do you like about yourself? Make a list of all the things you like about yourself.

Step 2

Throw away your scale!

How much you weigh does not matter. Your total body weight includes blood, muscle, tissue organs and water. Do not worry about what you weigh, focus on making yourself healthy. Food is not your enemy. You need nutrition for your body to be healthy and for skin and hair to grow properly.

Step 3

Learn about nutrition and how the body uses food as fuel.

Rather than reading labels for fat and calories, read labels for calcium and iron and vitamin content. Learn which foods are good for you, and which ones to limit, like fast food and sugar.

Step 4

Change your viewpoint about food.

Once you know a bit about nutrition, your view of food changes and hopefully your view of yourself will change. Get a healthy amount of daily exercise by walking and enjoying activities. Take a healthy snack and have a walk in the park. Some healthy snacks that are good for you are; granola bars, raisins, nuts and fruit.

Step 5

Meditate for a few minutes every day.

Just sit quietly with your eyes closed for 10 minutes daily. Visualize yourself doing the things you love, being happy, and even doing things with someone you love. Changing your internal view of yourself takes time. It won't happen overnight, we have to reprogram our thinking and the way we see ourselves.

Step 6

Recap!

1. List things you like about yourself, like your favorite feature.

2. Learn about nutrition. Get rid of your scale or at least put it away for now.

3. Eat healthy food and get some good exercise. Walking in the park, shopping and other activities are types of physical exercise.

4. Take a few minutes of time for yourself every day to calm your nerves and see yourself as happy and enjoying your life.

Compulsive eating, Bulimia and Anorexia are all harmful food addictions each in their own way. These food addictions restrict us from living normal lives. We each must decide what is right for us, do not follow what the media says on how you should look. Follow your heart and be healthy!