Addiction are of various types, yet often people forget to address the issue of "Food Addiction". With the junk food lifestyle, a high dependence on packet and frozen foods, there is a growing number of population worldwide fighting lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, poly-cystic ovary syndrome, thyroid, depression, etc. However, most people don’t even acknowledge food addiction as an addiction till they are diagnosed with a disease that cannot be cured unless there is a drastic lifestyle change.
I realized that I was a food addict in 2016 when I gained an extra 12 kilos over my already overweight weight range. This extra weight pulled me down and led me to eating even more. I have managed to lose those extra 12 kilos by making slight modifications in my food
and exercise lifestyle. I still love food but I am not a food addict anymore. Although I am a
vegetarian, I love potatoes, fried food and sugar. The temptation of eating a bag of
chips, biscuits or a pastry is still an issue. However, for the most part I am able to control my cravings.
I dealt with my food
addiction in the following ways:
1.
Acceptance of the situation
When we are faced with a crisis or we
are stuck in a difficult situation, the most important thing is to accept the
situation. It took me some time to accept that I am a food addict before I
could start working on reversing the situation. The first stage to overcome any
disaster is to accept the disaster and then find a solution. Once you accept
that you have a problem, it becomes easier to find solutions as you are not
running away from the problem anymore. This also helps to calm the mind and
work positively towards changing the situation.
2. Building faith in yourself
Trusting yourself is the hardest thing
to do when you have suffered a loss or are in the midst of a disaster or have
been diagnosed with a disease. When I realized how much weight I had gained, it
was really difficult to believe in myself and to change my lifestyle. From
being a couch potato to getting even a 15 minute walk done was a challenge. I
started slow and kept reminding myself that if somebody else can do it, so can
I. Every day when I achieved victory over my doubts and cravings, I gained more
confidence. From walking at home for 15 minutes a day, I got to a point where I
could complete a 45 minute exercise program at least 5 days a week. The
exercise helped me gain control over my cravings. By the end of one year, I had
managed to lose a few kilos that were pulling me down and gain confidence. The
mantra is to always know in your mind that anything is achievable if you have faith in yourself.
3. Yoga or meditation
During this journey, I enrolled myself
in a 7 day yoga camp at the Yoga Institute in Mumbai (India). This 7 day camp not only
taught me yoga techniques but also taught me to eat well. Live to eat was my
approach towards food. This camp taught me that my approach itself was wrong.
Thus, I began to eat to live. By the end of the camp, my spirits were high and my will was strong. Yoga not only calms your mind but it is a way of life.
Anyone can do yoga anywhere. When you learn to control your breaths, you
achieve power over your mind. A powerful mind is the best tool that a person
can have to deal with any situation.
4. Letting go of the baggage
These days a lot of youngsters are
being treated for back pain, acidity, frozen shoulder and spondylitis. I was also
suffering from initial spondylitis when I gained the extra weight. Apart from the
physiotherapist sessions and massages, it is very important to learn the art of
forgiving. We carry too many grudges and too much hatred in our hearts, which
eventually burden our bodies. When you carry so much baggage constantly, you
are bound to suffer from health issues. Yoga or breathing exercises help you
to release this baggage. You cannot control an external situation or other
people’s behaviour. But you can work on your mind. Gaining control over your
senses helps you to understand that nothing lasts forever and that no matter
how much you try to control others or circumstances, you will simply fail. The
only thing you can control is YOU. If someone hurts you badly, you binge on
chocolate and chips and ultimately harm yourself. Don’t give anyone or any
situation the right to hurt you or make you angry. This can happen only when
you let go of control and accept that being hurt is a part of being alive. When
you forgive, you release the baggage and the tension that is harming your body.
I am not a master of this art but I am more aware about situations where I get the opportunity to become a better person and forgive people who
hurt me.
5. Support Group
Dealing with any type of addiction
requires support from your loved ones. Some people join support groups for help
where like-minded people discuss their problems and find solutions. For me, my
husband, my parents and my friends are the support group that encourage me to
live a healthier life. My husband and I joined a gym and we work out together
to motivate each other to exercise as many days in the week as we can. My
family and friends have constantly motivated me to make healthier food choices.
I love junk food and I have bad days when I binge a lot. But I have now managed
to form a connection with my body such that my body gives me a signal when it
is full so I can stop eating. Being able to talk to someone and share your
story plays a great role in helping you get rid of an addiction or a tough
situation. I also started writing motivational blogs to inspire others and in
turn to feel inspired.
6. Love yourself
No matter how many daggers life throws
at you or you feel absolutely alone, you should never stop loving yourself. I
almost stopped loving myself due to the weight gain and loss of confidence when
I realized that I am worthy of love and appreciation. The journey of hating
yourself to falling in love with yourself is not easy but if you can’t love
yourself then no one else will. I began to notice small positive changes in my
life and that encouraged me to love myself. I forgave myself for the mistakes I’d
made. I started cooking food that I loved to eat more often rather than eating
out every other day. Eating home cooked food is not only healthy but also satisfying. Cooking and exercising releases tension and helps you to appreciate
how much your body does only to keep you alive. When you fall in love with
yourself, you feel alive and happy.
7. Never give up
My journey is ongoing and I have
resolved to never give up. There will be good days and there will be bad days, but the winner is only the one who does not give up. Every day you have to try
to do better than yesterday. A new year party or bingeing on a holiday should
not be factors that make you want to give up. Enjoy the journey that you make
from the point you started. The lessons you learn in this journey will be with
you forever. But nothing works if you fall down and don’t get up. Trying a
hundred times and failing is better than giving up. You might win the 101st time. I am on this journey to change my lifestyle and get rid of the food
addiction. I have resolved not to give up till I get to the place I want to be in and this is my advice to all my friends and readers.
The greatest lesson that I have learnt
while dealing with food addiction is that “I Can if I Think I Can”. It
is very easy to shift in the disbelief zone and blame external circumstances
for your situation. In reality, if you have a good heart, if you work hard, if
you are honest and if you have faith, then you can face any disaster
and emerge victorious.
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