A is for Addiction: My Food Addiction

 Hello, my name is MJ and I am ADDICTED to food. Ok I said it. Now what? Yes the picture is that small for a reason.

The definition of Addiction is the continued repetition of a behavior despite adverse consequences…

My food addiction goes beyond junk food and snacks although my biggest culprits are sweets (chocolate) and unhealthy carbs (white rice, white bread.) I’m addicted to vegetables (good until your stomach feels sick), certain fruits (same issues as with the veggies), meat (The Cowboy Steak and Ruth’s Chris is my BFF), cheese, and sauces. You name it, most likely I love it. I try really hard to eat right, snack right, drink right but when I fall off I fall hard. I can binge on most anything.

A little confession: I had a moment with bulimia in college. I call it a moment because I realized quickly this was not good thing plus I could binge eat and not gain a pound so what was the point of the daily bowl hugging trips? Now I have moments of binge eating but vomiting terrifies me so I never even think about doing it. EVER!

But what I need to do is work on my addicted behaviors mainly obsessing over food. Food is always on my mind. I have tried all the tricks to prevent myself from eating after hours or over eating. You know the drink water, brush your teeth, etc. tricks. The only thing that works is if I’m too tired or too sick to eat. Otherwise it’s a constant battle between my brain, my belly and my emotions

Yep I am an emotional eater. I eat when I’m mad. I eat when I’m sad. When I am worried, anxious, annoyed; I eat. When I am happy guess what? I EAT!

Besides green or light vegetables and water, everything in excess can become a problem. Too much healthy carbs, too much good fats, too much lean protein. Ever eat all the white meat off a whole baked chicken in 1 sitting? I have. Not to mention I no longer have a gall bladder, so a well balanced diet is important. I still have terrible stomach pains and gastro issues even after the demise of my gall bladder. You would think I would have made immediate changes and stuck to them. I did not! That’s the funny thing about addiction. If you don’t manage it, it will manage you and so I am here.

In March I fell off the wagon. After a terrible 3.5 week recovery from my first wisdom tooth extraction (never will I do that again,) I am challenging myself to do better for April. Here’s my plan:

1. Get back to tracking my food intake. When I track I am so much more responsible with how much I eat.

2. I aim for 100 oz of water per day. Most days I definitely get between 64-80 oz. I am going to stick to the 100 oz. by starting my water intake early in the day.

3. at breakfast everyday: I have done better with this but not great.

4. Portion out healthy snacks

5. Portion out a small after hours healthy meal in case of emergencies.

6. Avoid post workout rewards (binges.) Most days I don’t run or workout enough to cover a bacon, egg and cheese on everything bagel indulgence.

7. Move everyday. I need to add more core and strength training to my workout routine and stick to my running schedule. “Tooth-gate” through me way off.

Wish me luck on my journey. I need it along with prayers and good juju too.

Do you have or have had an addicted to food? If so, what are/did you do to beat? Any tips suggestions you have are appreciated