{"id":8861,"date":"2019-11-19T08:53:03","date_gmt":"2019-11-19T08:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/?p=8861"},"modified":"2019-12-20T12:07:53","modified_gmt":"2019-12-20T12:07:53","slug":"normal-eater-emotional-eater-food-addict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/normal-eater-emotional-eater-food-addict\/","title":{"rendered":"Normal Eater, Emotional Eater, Food Addict"},"content":{"rendered":"<header><div class=\"contained\"><div><div><\/div><div class=\"content\"><h1>Normal Eater, Emotional Eater, Food Addict<\/h1><a href=\"#recoveryModal\" class=\"btn submit\" data-toggle=\"modal\">Reach out now, we can help<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/header><div id=\"crumbs\" class=\"contained\" data-is-podcasts=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\">Home<\/a>  \/  <\/div><h3 data-date='19 November 2019' class='article-title'>Normal Eater, Emotional Eater, Food Addict<\/h3><div class='info'><span>19 November, 2019<\/span><span>Articles, News<\/span><\/div>\n<p><strong>NORMAL EATERS<\/strong> may  have problems with weight (even  obesity) if they do not eat the  appropriate number of calories (and  exercise moderately) to maintain an  ideal, healthy weight. The problem  for normal eaters is primarily  physical: If they choose to eat a  balanced diet, exercise moderately,  and get support for lifestyle  changes, they can lose unwanted weight (or  gain weight) and keep their  weight in a normal range. Basically,  willpower works; just put down the  fork and push away from the table.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EMOTIONAL EATERS<\/strong>&nbsp;often  have similar problems with weight but find themselves powerless to  follow directions to lose (or gain) weight and restore their health even  when they want to. For those with diagnosable eating disorders &ndash; i.e.,  anorexia, bulimia or binge-eating disorder &ndash; the underlying problem is  mental-emotional: it&rsquo;s not what you are eating but rather what is eating  you. Problem eaters use food to numb or medicate their feelings. What  works for problem eaters is a moderate food and exercise plan, as well  as developing skills to cope with feelings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>FOOD ADDICTS<\/strong>&nbsp;become  chemically dependent on specific foods or on food in general. The way  their body processes food is bio-chemically different than that of  normal eaters and emotional eaters. Many food addicts are predisposed to  becoming addicted to food&ndash; especially to sugar, flour, wheat, fat,  salt, caffeine &ndash; just as alcoholics  are predisposed to being chemically dependent on alcohol and drug  addicts to heroin, cocaine or prescription drugs. As the disease of  addiction progresses, food addicts become powerless over physical  cravings and develop distortions and obsessions of the mind that keep  them in denial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SO, WHAT WORKS FOR FOOD ADDICTS?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> Diets alone don&rsquo;t work. Simple therapy alone does not work. What works  for food addicts is surrender. Surrendering, through physical  abstinence, the foods to which they are chemically dependent.  Surrendering to rigorous honesty with all their thoughts and feelings  about food. Surrendering to whatever structure and support is needed.  Ultimately, surrendering to the process of a spiritual experience, i.e.,  the type of psychic change that has given relief and healing to  thousands of chemically dependent individuals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most food addicts have weight problems &ndash; the majority are obese, though some are a normal weight or may even be dangerously underweight. Many also have unresolved emotional trauma similar to those who are diagnosed with eating disorders, e.g. anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating disorder. In short, most food addicts have problems similar to those of normal eaters and problem eaters, but for food addicts, their <a href=\"\/food-addiction\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">addiction to food<\/a> must be the primary focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If food addicts just diet, they may lose some weight but inevitably will gain it back. If food addicts do not commit to being rigorously honest preferably with another food addict or with a healthcare professional that understands food addiction &ndash; they may make some gains in therapy, but will eventually relapse; this will make them even more anxious or depressed. To be successful in healing from food addiction, one needs to first accept that they are food addicted and then, once again, deal with this first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most successful, long-term recovering food addicts approach their physical abstinence and deeper internal healing as a spiritual discipline. One simple approach to this concept is to study and practice the Twelve Steps. While this clearly is not the only way &ndash; as there are an endless number of spiritual paths that will work &ndash; the Twelve Steps are a spiritual practice specifically designed for those who suffer from addiction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<table class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align:center\" colspan=\"3\">\n        <strong>NORMAL EATER, EMOTIONAL EATER, FOOD ADDICT\n        <\/strong>\n      <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n        <strong>NORMAL EATER\n        <\/strong>\n        <br>\n        <strong>(problems of obesity)         \n        <\/strong>        \n      <\/td><td>\n        <strong>EMOTIONAL EATER \n          <br>(eating disorders)\n        <\/strong>\n      <\/td><td>\n        <strong>FOOD ADDICT (chemical dependency)\n        <\/strong>\n      <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>The Problem is Physical:\n        <br><ul><li>Excess Weight<\/li><\/ul>\n        <br>       \n      <\/td><td>The Problem is Physical \n        <em>and&nbsp;\n        <\/em>Emotional:\n        <br><ul><li>Binge eating, restricting, and\/or purging over feelings<\/li>\n        <br><li>Unresolved trauma<\/li>\n        <br><li>And possible weight issues (either over-or- underweight)<\/li><\/ul>\n      <\/td><td>\n        <strong>The Problem is Physical<\/strong>\n        <em>\n          <strong>and\n          <\/strong>\n        <\/em>\n        <strong>Emotional\n        <\/strong>\n        <em>\n          <strong>and\n          <\/strong>\n        <\/em>\n        <strong>Spiritual:\n        <\/strong>\n        <br><ul><li>Abnormal response to specific foods<\/li>\n        <br><li>Physical cravings (false starving)<\/li>\n        <br><li>Mental obsession (false thinking)<\/li>\n        <br><li>Self-will run riot (false self)<\/li>\n        <br><li>And often trauma and weight issues<\/li><\/ul>\n        <br>\n      <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n        <strong>The Solution is Physical:\n        <\/strong>\n        <br><ul><li>Medically approved diet<\/li>\n        <br><li>Moderate exercise<\/li>\n        <br><li>Support for eating, exercise and lifestyle change<\/li><\/ul>\n      <\/td><td>\n        <strong>The Solution is Emotional:\n        <\/strong>\n        <br><ul><li>Develop skills to cope with feelings other than with restricting, purging or bingeing<\/li>\n        <br><li>Resolve past emotional trauma and irrational thinking (healing trauma)\n        <em>. . . and Physical\n        <\/em><\/li>\n        <br><li>Include solutions to the left<\/li><\/ul>\n      <\/td><td>\n        <strong>The Solution is Spiritual:\n        <\/strong>\n        <br><ul><li>Abstinence from binge foods and abusive eating behaviours<\/li>\n        <br><li>Rigorous honesty about all thoughts and feelings<\/li>\n        <br><li>A disciplined spiritual program, e.g. the 12 Steps \n        <em>. . .&nbsp;and Emotional and Physical\n        <\/em><\/li>\n        <br><li>Include all those applicable to the left<\/li><\/ul>\n      <\/td><\/tr><tr><td>\n        <strong>Using What Process?\n        <\/strong>\n        <br><ul><li>Willpower<\/li><\/ul>\n      <\/td><td>\n        <strong>Using What Process?\n        <\/strong>\n        <br><ul><li>Moderation (along with expressing feelings)<\/li><\/ul>\n      <\/td><td>\n        <strong>Using What Process?\n        <\/strong>\n        <br><ul><li>Surrender, i.e., deep acceptance<\/li><\/ul>\n      <\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"text-align:center\" colspan=\"3\">\n        <em>\n          <strong>&copy; Copyright 1997 by Philip R. Werdell &amp; Mary Foushi. Edited by A E Heald 2009\n          <\/strong>\n        <\/em>\n      <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Normal Eater, Emotional Eater, Food Addict Reach out now, we can help Home \/ Normal Eater, Emotional Eater, Food Addict 19 November, 2019Articles, News NORMAL EATERS may have problems with weight (even obesity) if they do not eat the appropriate number of calories (and exercise moderately) to maintain an ideal, healthy weight. The problem for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8859,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-news","entry"],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict.jpg",581,387,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict-80x80.jpg",80,80,true],"medium":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict.jpg",581,387,false],"large":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict.jpg",581,387,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict.jpg",581,387,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict.jpg",581,387,false],"alm-thumbnail":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict.jpg",150,100,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CRC_Blog-Images_Normal-Eater-Emotional-Eater-Food-Addict.jpg",581,387,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Normal Eater, Emotional Eater, Food AddictReach out now, we can helpHome \/ Normal Eater, Emotional Eater, Food Addict19 November, 2019Articles, News NORMAL EATERS may have problems with weight (even obesity) if they do not eat the appropriate number of calories (and exercise moderately) to maintain an ideal, healthy weight. The problem for normal eaters is primarily physical: If they choose to eat a balanced diet, exercise moderately, and get support for lifestyle changes, they can lose unwanted weight (or gain weight) and keep their weight in a normal range. Basically, willpower works; just put down the fork and push away&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/category\/news\/articles\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Articles<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/category\/news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">News<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"admin","url":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/author\/admin\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8861\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}