By Alex Pentis
Australia

My personal experience of Food Addiction started when I was very young.

Always loved being around the food. If it was just watching grandmother cook at the kitchen table. Waiting until I could get the spoon to lick. The smell was enough to have me craving for the first bite.

I was always bigger than kids my age and felt self conscious that I wasn’t skinny like others. It was always a constant fight with food and weight, trying to not eat so much or hiding what shouldn’t be eaten between meals. Life became a way of not wanting to be in trouble and a bad girl.

Sneaking what I ate and how much I ate led to dishonest behaviors,  making me feel worse instead of better, which led to more food to ease the restlessness that was growing inside me.Diet after diet, losing a little weight and then putting on more. Trying each time to stay on a plan became harder to do the older I became. Not realizing the emotions were directing me to pick up my comforter to ease the pain.

Processed food became a necessity. I wasn’t happy until I had the taste of sugar, refined carbohydrates, fats, caffeine in my mouth. It changed my mood for a moment, allowing me to forget and find some relief from the emotional pain.

Food started to become the greedy problem that came before education, socializing, respect for self care, physical activity, entertainment. I couldn’t seem to break away from it. The illusion that I needed it instead of opening up to someone what I was feeling.

It wasn’t till many years of suffering and experimenting with diets, therapy, programs, illness, that I came across a solution. I was 48, weighed 155kg [340 pounds]  and was in very bad shape. I found out that I had a disease called Food Addiction and was allergic to certain addictive foods. I started the Kay Sheppard food plan straight away. In two weeks the cravings were gone. 

I’m now 14 years abstinent, clean, and sober, weighing 84kg [185 pounds] and stable. 

That’s just one benefit of knowing about the illness of Food Addiction. Through the years I had to find out why I picked up the food when my feelings were overwhelming and didn’t know how to deal with life.

I still need to be aware of my chronic conditions. My diabetes is in remission, as I stay abstinent from any addictive substance and follow a weighed and measured food plan. I didn’t need any operations for stomach stapling or these wonder drugs that are on the market these days.

My fibromyalgia is addressed by gentle movement and lots of rest helps me. I eat nutritious, basic whole foods. I have good medical providers who understand the chronic conditions that are serious if left unchecked.

It is important to have support and a commitment to living a life of rigorous honesty. I participate in programs that address the whole of the body, mind, and spirit, bringing me back to wholeness.