The Addiction Help .com

I'm a 21 year old male i'm in great shape and I have a very fast metabolism so I don't gain any weight no matter what I eat, but I know that one day my bad eating habits are going to catch up to me and I'm going to be 300lbs because of my terrible diet, how can I break my addiction to junk food? I have tried before but it didn't last to long, obviously.

I totally get it. Quitting cold turkey is too hard for me. Here is a simple method I used.

Make a list of the things that you want to change in your diet. It is important that the list is written and then put in a place where you will see it every day. These are the things that you are going to change.

Pick one item to change and put a check mark next to it. Over the next couple of weeks you will develop a habit without feeling deprived. Every couple of weeks check off another item. You don’t have to check them off in any particular order.

Your list will be different. My list started off like this:
1. Deep fried food
2. Salt shaker
3. Refined sugar
4. Refined flour
5. Caloric drinks
6. Red meat < 1 x week
7. Fruit every day

Gradually you can make small changes that will get you the results you want. Go for it.

2009-03-05 10:53:44 by Ralph

RawLuv13 Rawfood Battle of Food Addiction breaking free Lemon water in the morning and filling up on Green Vegetables.

I have read if you completely eliminate the food for 3-5 days (for example no sugar for 3-5 days) then you will not experience as many cravings. However, any time you have the food, especially a lot of it, you might increase the cravings. It might help if you state what the problem food is. Is it a type of food (sugar, carbs) or a certain food (pizza, icecream)? That might change the input you get.

2007-09-09 10:56:06 by faron_jns

Price: $24.95 $22.46

I have been going through a really difficult couple of years and became kind of a food addict. It is so hard to break it because of family members who are also addicts and always around. Once I get a tiny taste of sugar I binge. I guess I was wondering if fasting for a week will help me to just clean up my body alittle and just start fresh. During a fast, I was hoping to refocus and learn to not dwell on food. Has anyone every fasted to break an addiction? How did that work for you? Thanks!

I found this on Yahoo Health

It is a time-honored tradition to make resolutions at this time of year. If your resolution is to lose weight - and keep it off, then keep reading! Here are six simple tips that will have you losing weight in a balanced and healthy way.

1. Lose weight with water.
Water is essential for everybody - it is also the key to losing weight. If you haven't been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight.

By drinking more water, you are not only flushing out toxins, you are also teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water and sliced lemons, and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. If you are still not sold on the merits of water, try this on for size: water is a natural appetite suppressant.

2. Soup up your weight loss program.
A simple dietary change will have you shedding pounds: eat a bowl of soup at least once a day. Nutritious, low-salt soups will nourish you as they flush waste from your body. People who eat a serving of soup daily lose more weight than those who eat the same amount of calories but don't eat soup. Go for homemade soup whenever possible, as canned soups are loaded with salt and chemicals.

3. Eat early to keep weight off.
The human body follows a circadian rhythm, which means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently than when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tend to lose weight and have more energy; however, eating the same things at dinner tend to increase tendencies toward weight gain. I suggest that you eat your last meal of the day by 7 p.m.

4. Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
Follow an eating schedule with five little meals every day. Eating steadily through the day keeps you from becoming famished and overeating at your next meal. Make a low-fat trail mix from raw almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried plum, and apples and have it available at all times to avoid the tempting lure of high-calorie snacks.

5. Adopt a balanced approach to your diet.
Most of the fad diet programs out there nowadays are extreme in a few recommended foods, or else deprive the body of food altogether. This works in opposition to our metabolism and the results usually don't last, producing a yoyo effect that depresses your metabolic function - not to mention your self-esteem. We are natural beings that need a balance of nutrition from all sources.

Your diet should consist of a balance of organic sources of lean protein, complex carbohydrates, whole grains, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Instead of white rice and pasta, opt for brown rice, bulgur, millet, or buckwheat.

Eat more green, chlorophyll-rich foods such as broccoli, kale, spinach, and asparagus. Eliminate candy, sugar, soda, and all simple sugars from your diet. Excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, which results in weight gain. Also, keep dairy to a minimum because most dairy products are high in saturated fat. Avoid fatty foods, processed or fried foods.

6. Walk off the weight.
The No. 1 cause of weight gain is inactivity. Physical activity is the key to speeding up your metabolism and burning excess calories. The best way to be physically active is to use your legs! Walk as often and as long as you can. Always take the stairs instead of the elevator.

Step outside during your break at work and take a walk around your building. Consider joining a local hiking club. Try taking a walk 30 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes in the early evening.

I hope this article helps you shed some pounds and add on the years! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

2008-03-15 19:21:04 by AznCaucAzN

It takes 21 - 28 days to change a habit.....

2008-10-16 22:43:58 by faron_jns

True addictions need professional help to get over. Unless it's just a bad habit, the person will need counseling and therapy.

2007-09-12 10:45:58 by faron_jns