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Dealing With A Food Addiction

9th March, 2011 - Posted by health news - No Comments

There are many things that people become addicted to. People who drink to much are all around us. But they are not the only things that people can become addicted to. One of those addictions is to food. In the public eye the craving for food is something that can be controlled by everyone. People need to recognize that struggling with food is more common than they may think and is not something that should be ignored.
The first step to overcoming a food addiction is to realize that it is an addiction and just like an addiction to drugs or alcohol it can greatly alter your life and is just as unhealthy as any other addiction which means that overcoming food addictions can require the same effort and follow the same path as any other treatment for an addiction does complete with constant monitoring and a vigilance that does not go away with time.
The second step to overcoming a food addiction is to admit that you do have a problem. It is okay to know that you are not perfect. Once you know that you are struggling with how you eat you will be able to find ways to solve the problem and live a more normal life. Having a food addiction will not cause a person to avoid food entirely. You have to do it in a safe way for you. Knowing that you can not treat food as other do will allow you to control the urges that you may feel.
People with food addictions tend to have certain types of food cravings and it is important for a person to identify what they are as most people that have a food addiction are emotional eaters and the triggers for emotional eating may include, eating when bored, stressed, or angry, or an association of food with happier times or even. Talking to a person who is trained in the field could be an important step that a person must take. It is always helpful to have a trained professional to help you through the healing process.
A person needs to behave differently in order to deal with any food issues that they might have. When they go grocery shopping they should avoid certain types of foods that they crave. Careful meal planning and the shopping will make it easier to avoid cravings. Make the right choices about the food before you eat them. A journal might be good for a person who is struggling with the problems.
Anyone who is struggling with an addiction has a long and torturous road to follow even if it is something that seems as safe as food. If a person can not control their eating they will usually face a problem with their body shape. Find a program that will promote physical activity. A person needs to follow a diet and exercise program that will lead to a healthy body. When a person is able to get healthier they will be able to have a more positive attitude. Staying healthy is wonderful motivation for people who struggle with addiction.
Whenever a person is struggling with food cravings they need to take it one step at a time. The cravings for food have to be turned into other activities. It is helpful to find activities that you enjoy that do not involve food. A person will not be faced with temptations which could lead to further problems.
As with any addiction, there may be setbacks. It is important for someone to keep trying. Rather than give up because of a lapse a person should look at what caused it and keep trying. Knowing what you do right or wrong is the best thing a person can do to fight their addicition.