How To Get Rid of Food Addiction

Some people eat when they are not hungry. Some people in fact eat until they are way past the point of being full, and when not eating they fantasize about eating.

They may also be preoccupied with getting their next “food fix.” Oftentimes this is a form of comfort for people as well.

Controlling the Addiction

Part of getting rid of a food addiction is in identifying your personal triggers, or what most causes you to want to eat. The triggers for some people are usually certain comfort foods that people eat when they get stressed out.

Two of the hugest contenders include pasta or cheese, but chocolate, ice cream, or rich pastries and deserts could also be huge triggers. Fast food-like fried chicken or French fries also are addiction foods.

Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, soda, cappuccino, and other beverages also can be a trigger. Caffeinated beverages can cause a person to gain weight, especially if an avid coffee drinker needs to accompany that addiction with dunking of donuts, cookies, or other deserts.

One way to deal with trigger foods is to write a list of them in one column on a piece of paper. Then, alongside that column to the right you should write another list of replacement foods, such as apples, carrot sticks, and other fruits and vegetables.

You can also cut up smaller bite-sized snacks and space out the number of snacks you eat in a day’s time. In general, you can also eat on smaller plates that are filled up instead of eating on a bigger plate.

You might also want to try to fill up on water. This will help prevent your stomach from wanting foods that you do not need.

Treatment Options

Food addiction can be treated in several ways. You can go to a counselor or therapist to deal with any underlying emotional and mental issues or you can go to a medical doctor to get properly evaluated.

It also would help you to go to a nutrition coach. That way, if you need help replacing your comfort and addiction foods with healthier alternatives, this along with a fitness coach can do wonders.

It could also help you to join a support group. This is especially helpful if you have struggling with a binge eating disorder, or if you are anorexic.

The support group along with the counseling is what most will help you. These methods of treatment can provide you with accountability.

That way, you will be less likely to develop secret binges. Furthermore, if you become occupied in regular physical activity as well as various hobbies and other personal interests it will help.

Additional Words

It also would help if you can cut yourself a little bit of slack if you fail. Do not wallow in guilt or that will cause you to lose focus. Just do not ever give up.

You might also want to read motivational books or find some encouraging or soothing audio (i.e. classical music, nature sounds) to listen to. A variety of relaxation methods such as taking a warm bath or getting a massage can help reduce the stress in your life.