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Specific Issues
This page concerns Food Addiction, that is using food as a drug. For info on Eating Disorders such as bingeing/purging and self-induced starvation see this page.
FOOD ADDICTION
The Problem
  • Throughout our lives many of us have turned to food to ease our pain or fear.
  • We felt comfort in eating and found ourselves turning to food whenever we were hurt, angry or frustrated.
  • Food became our comforter, our friend.
  • Some of us may have a specific food that we have trouble eating in healthy amounts, and once we start eating it, we cannot stop.
  • Some of us may have been emotionally, physically or sexually abused and use food to cope with the emotions of those events.
  • Some of us may have had healthy eating habits as children or young adults, but at some point in our lives we chose to overeat and lost the ability to discern when we were physically hungry or when we were physically full.
  • Some of us may have turned to food after obtaining sobriety in other areas.
  • We thought food was “safe,” not realizing it could become our “drug of choice.”
  • We have focused on our body image instead of our health.
  • Many of us have tried various diet programs, exercising, medications or many other ways of trying to control our eating habits.
  • We have failed over and over and are left feeling guilty, incapable and unlovable.
  • We have given in to the idea that there is one perfect diet or pill out there that can save us, if only we could find it.
  • As a result of our food addiction we feel out of control and may struggle with many other areas of our lives.
  • Some of us have low self-esteem which may affect our motivation, and our relationship with God and others.
The Solution
  • We came to realize that we are powerless and could not control our addiction.
  • We understand that our problems are emotional and spiritual.
  • We are ready to face our denial and accept the truth about our lives and our food addiction.
  • We are ready to accept responsibility for our actions and make Jesus the Lord of our lives.
  • We are dedicated to learning about healthy eating.
  • We are committed to learning the difference between physical and emotional hunger.
  • We are willing to turn to God when we are not physically hungry.
  • We will begin to view food as fuel for our body so that we will not eat unless we are physically hungry and stop when we are physically full.
  • We are willing to begin the process of recovery and working through the 12 steps to heal ourselves, and start living the life God has planned for us.
  • We are willing to find a Sponsor and Accountability Partners.
  • We realize our group provides a safe place to share our fears, hurt or anger and is also a place to rejoice in victories.
  • We are willing to face our character defects and work through these feelings in our group.
  • We are willing to take the focus off of food and focus on God.
  • We recognize that recovery from food addiction is not about our body image or what foods we eat, but it is about trusting God and having an intimate relationship with Him.
  • We are willing to believe and trust in God’s love for us, and to see ourselves as He sees us.
  • We are willing to seek a closer relationship with God.
  • By facing our fears we have realized that we need Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in our life to overcome those fears.
  • As we surrender our food addiction to God, we will come to know that He is all we need.
  • We will continue to seek a daily quiet time with God and will rely on the Holy Spirit as our source of comfort. We will be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
  • We will use the tools of recovery: calling our accountability partners, journaling and reading the Bible.