Food Addiction Recovery – #42

With a food addiction if you don’t learn how to say, “No, thank you” to offers for food you are going to be in trouble. It is not unusual to find folks “pushing” food on you at work or home. In our society, food is often used to express love and/or to decline to eat something with folks can be interpreted as an insult or you “don’t belong” in some way. Think saying no to the donuts at the office or all or parts of a home-cooked meal. Chocolates on Valentines’ Day. Being offered an alcoholic drink at a party (too many empty calories for me). It is important to remember in food addiction recovery, though, that it is possible (and best, in most cases) to accept the love and decline the food. People will foist food on you in a way that they would never push alcohol or drugs on you. So learn to say, “No, thank you,” in a gracious way so no one is offended. You don’t need to offer an excuse if you don’t feel like it—just be firm but polite and no one will question you. If you need to give a reason or have an excuse to get by then I am sure you can think one up. Something along the lines of eating healthier might work or my doctor wants me off the sweets maybe. In my middle to later recovery I began to tell folks I am a food addict and don’t eat certain types of foods. That usually results in an interesting conversation. I also remember my mother looking at me at my wedding reception and saying “You’re not going to eat cake on your wedding day.” Her tone of voice indicated I must be nuts. Hey, it happens and she was happy I had lost 150 pounds. Folks just don’t understand.

Love In Food Addiction Recovery

With food addiction recovery it is equally important to remember the “food does not equal love” when you are by yourself. When food is calling to you and you are not physically hungry, chances are that it is not food you are hungry for. Maybe you want to be entertained, or hugged. Don’t “love” yourself with food any more than you let others do it. Remember, it is not likely what you want in life is available from food. Get out and make things happen in life.