We’ve all heard the saying “Eat to Live, Not Live to Eat.” However, most of us may suggest that it’s easier said than done. Food is everywhere, and even when it’s not directly in front of you, it’s not far away. The ready availability of very palatable food makes it easy to indulge whenever you feel the need to eat something. These days it almost takes more effort not to eat something than it does to eat something.
One of the biggest problems that arises from our ability to produce so much food is that food takes on many other roles in our lives…roles that were not necessarily intended for the purpose of food. By this I mean that food becomes an easy placeholder or substitute for something else we need. It becomes the friend that won’t criticize or the spouse that always understands. It becomes the comforter when things aren’t going well or the congratulator when something great has happened. Food is used not only to help us deal with emotions, it becomes the central attraction for many of the things that we do. A night out always includes a great meal; movies aren’t the same without the popcorn and candy; and what is a birthday without cake? Many of these roles for food are socially acceptable and often encouraged. However, for some of us, the extent of our relationship with food goes beyond what is healthy, and in many ways could be considered dependence.
But don’t you have to eat to live; of course you’re dependent on food. Actually, I’m talking about another type of dependence—the kind you might think of when you think about illegal drugs or alcohol dependence. Yes, food addiction is a real phenomenon, and it is claiming lives daily. In my opinion it is the most powerful type of addiction, and the fact that you must face food several times each day means that it can be the hardest to break. Food addiction can take many forms and doesn’t have to always be identified with the person that binges on sweets. Individuals who are food addicts are not always severely overweight or constantly eating. However, one consistent factor is that most have an unhealthy relationship with food, being dependent on food to provide something other than nutrition and energy.
Examining your relationship with food can be a difficult process. However, it is the first step to redefining your lifestyle. Here are some simple questions that may help you figure out where you are. Can you enjoy a social event without eating? When something emotional, good or bad, happens to you, is your first thought to find something to eat? Is food always on your mind? Do you typically stop eating something only when it’s all gone? Do you find yourself enjoying certain types of food only when you’re alone? Is your reason for eating more often due to hunger or something else (eg, time of day, boredom, meetings, etc)? If the answers to any of these questions raise some concern, you may need to begin working on claiming your independence from food. Next time, I’ll provide some basic solutions you can begin to use to help you with this process.
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