| Do you take a scoop of ice cream and end up | | | | starve yourself the next day. What's done is done -- |
| finishing the container? Do the chips in the pantry keep | | | | move forward. Don't look at how 'bad' you were. |
| calling your name? Do you keep eating and eating and | | | | Today is a new day. |
| never seem to get full? Chances are your food addict. | | | | 5. Be assertive. If you want to eat healthy food and |
| Overeating and food addiction are two separate | | | | the gang's going out for 'happy meals'. Speak up. You |
| things. When you've overeaten you've eaten too | | | | can come to a compromise, but only if you let people |
| much. A food addict can eat too much, or eat normally, | | | | know how you feel. |
| but they're not simply eating. Food is replacing other | | | | 6. Snacking. If you know you'll be hungry, bring healthy |
| emotional needs. Eating could be providing an escape | | | | snacks from home. Bring water, veggies, fruits etc. |
| from a stressful day at work, the pressure of family | | | | Don't allow the the vending machines to get the better |
| life, being lonely, angry -- any number of emotions. | | | | of you. |
| Eating, numbs their feelings. We can avoid alcohol, | | | | 7. Beware of 'diet foods' Much like an alcoholic who |
| drugs and gambling, but to survive, we have to eat. | | | | drinks non-alcohol beer, 'diet' cookies, and treats are |
| Having a food addiction makes you feel powerless, but | | | | just a stepping stones to the real thing -- and 2 |
| you can overcome it. The first step is to acknowledge | | | | cookies may only be 50 calories -- but what are the |
| and accept that you're a food addict. Rejecting this | | | | chances that an emotional eater will only eat two? |
| fact causes frustration, which fuel the addiction. | | | | 8. Perfectionism. Know your limitations and don't try to |
| Acceptance provides you with peace of mind. | | | | be perfect -- no one can stay on a 'perfect diet' |
| These 10 Tips will help you get off the roller-coaster of | | | | indefinitely. Learn what foods make you feel well and |
| food addiction. | | | | what doesn't -- nurture yourself with them. |
| 1. Trigger foods. Know what foods trigger you to | | | | 9. Eat. This sounds like conflicting advice, but food |
| overeat. Some of us prefer sweets, others salty -- | | | | addicts have a love/hate relationship with food. If |
| always carbs. No one seems to have a craving for | | | | they've eaten too much, they'll punish themselves by |
| cucumbers. Know your trigger foods and beware! | | | | eating very little the next day. This leads to disaster |
| When they're around it's often best not to eat them -- | | | | because when you're famished, you'll eat anything and |
| or eat them occasionally -- with caution. | | | | everything. As you know, food is the fuel that gives |
| 2. Feelings. The next time you overeat, ask yourself | | | | you energy, so don't avoid it -- eat healthy meals and |
| what's really going on. Are you lonely? Depressed? | | | | healthy snacks -- but eat. |
| Procrastinating? Maybe you're bored. Get in touch with | | | | 10. No Guilt. If you've 'fallen off the wagon' get back on |
| what you're feeling, and take action. Ex. if you're bored | | | | track. Don't feel guilty about what you've done. Guilt |
| call a friend, play video games, do something to avoid | | | | serves no purpose. You're an emotional eater -- it |
| boredom -- but don't eat. Get in touch with your | | | | won't change over-night. |
| emotions. | | | | When you have a food addiction, you feel powerless.- |
| 3. Red Flag.Know when you're vulnerable to over eat. | | | | -you're not. Accept the problem, beware of the red |
| For some, it's the evenings -- not much to do. For | | | | flags, know your triggers and reflect on your emotional |
| others, it's making bad choices at lunch -- which carries | | | | needs. Now you're taking power. When you've take |
| on for the rest of the day. | | | | power, you have the opportunity to change. |
| 4. Move On. If you've over-eaten the day before, don't | | | | |