Food Addict Pumping Iron - Weight Training is For Women Too!

Are you afraid you are going to end up looking like a body builder if you pick up a five pound weight? I'm not making fun of you, I know the feeling! Women have become more aware of the benefits of weight training, but not as much as men, even though we need it just as much.

I've been very skeptical about the whole 'pumping iron for women' thing. To tell you the truth, I was a little scared too. It hurts! Seriously, in this case the "no pain, no gain" applies.

A few months ago I met this lady who really inspired me with her writing and great sense of humor. Turns out she motivates others to get fit, and she lifts weights (gasp). She recommends this book Body for Life by Bill Phillips

and I set out to add it to my list of books to borrow from the library. I didn't pay much attention to the book until my husband picked it up and started flipping through it. You couldn't blame him, there was a good looking guy on the cover and his wife was about to read it. He was getting more interested and pointed out pictures of very muscular men and women to me. My thoughts: O great, a body building book!

My husband has always been a fan of body building and have made great strides in this area as a young man, but I couldn't care less. That was, until I started reading the book. This guy had so many good things to say, so many things I should actually know.

What it boils down to for me: Women need to build muscle too!

Of course we do. If I think about it, it makes perfect sense. We are the ones doing most of the chores around the house, carrying loads of laundry up and down the stairs, weeding the garden, moving the couches to vacuum, the list goes on. We are also the ones who need to carry extra weight 24/7 for nine months long, push out that baby and then we get to carry the sweetie around for another, oh say, 5 years! How is it that we bought into this myth that women should not train with weights and build muscle? I don't think many of us will ever put in the amount of time it takes to become world champions in body building (maybe). Most of us will probably just end up with a well toned, strong body. Who doesn't want that?

So I set out to become a strong woman, yes in spirit and soul, but this time also in body. I hit the gym, armed with notes form my book. I've actually done weight training for many years, the kind where you never go to far from the ten pound mark and never feel any pain afterward. So here I was, willing to tear into those muscles, scary thought indeed. But according to my latest reading (of course I got a second opinion on the internet) muscles are much leaner and prettier than fat. Also, muscle building speeds up that metabolism to start burning fat. All of this was going through my mind when I load up those weight to, dare I say it, fifty pounds! I was ready to kick-start this sluggish metabolism. I was done with weight loss plateaus. This was it!

My pose of treadmill walkers looked at me funny. The men with the big arms looked at me with suspicion, but the few strong ladies around gave me "the nod". You know which one I'm talking about, the one that says: "You go girl!"

Weight training will help you so much in your fight to loose some excess weight. However, if you don't couple this with healthy eating, cardio exercise, and spiritual and relational wellness, you can not get out of a serious struggle with food such as Food Addiction.

If you need more help and guidance and want to know How to Stop Binge Eating please visit my website. I have a story to tell you that goes way beyond exercise. I found healing for my body, mind and spirit. Please come have a look and see if my 12 Week Online Course is something that might benefit you.

Autor: Heleen Woest Heleen Woest
Level: Basic PLUS
Heleen Woest wrote a program for women who struggle with food related issues such as Bulimia, Overeating and Binge eating disorder. She has a heart ... ...

http://www.eatingsdisorders.com/food-addiction.php

Added: June 1, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

6 Tips - Help For Binge Eating

Are you tired of feeling guilty every time you binge? Would you like to finally be able to go to social events on be stressed about what you're going to eat or not eat?

Many people who binge eat also exercise compulsively. This means they revolve their life around when they can workout and eat. From my experience, a lot of binge eaters are very health conscious and make every effort they can to workout and eat properly.

Even though they think they are doing everything right to stay healthy and to look good, they could actually be on a path of self destruction. There are a few tips to help resolve binge eating.

1) Stop counting calories. Many people who binge eat count the calories of every meal they eat. While this method could have started out of good intentions, it has a dark side. Counting calories can turn into a compulsive act, and can do more damage than good. Counting calories can become very stressful as well making it difficult to eat meals with other people. It may be very hard at first, but stop counting calories.

2) Make smart food choices. Try to eat whole, natural, unprocessed food. These foods are basically single ingredient items and aren't found in a box. Examples are dry, unroasted nuts, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, beans, etc. Foods in boxes (even "diet" foods) are full of preservatives and usually lots of sugar and white flour.

3) Don't restrict yourself all the time. When a lot of people start a diet they say something like, "I'll never eat (fill in the blank) again." While you may think it is smart to eliminate a food that isn't so healthy, this can bite you later on. If you try to restrict or eliminate a favorite food for long, I promise you'll end up binging on it later.

For example: I love Oreos. If I told myself I would never eat them again, bad things would more than likely happen. Instead, I let myself enjoy them once or twice a month.

4) Have a meal once a week that is stress free. You can't "diet" all of the time. Once again, if you try, you'll end up binging. Have a meal or two a week that has no restrictions. If you want pizza, get it. Make sure this is guilt free. There is nothing wrong with enjoying your favorite foods.

5) Do workouts that give you better results in less time. Weight training will give you "more bang for your buck" than traditional cardio workouts. There are a few very reputable programs that will help you build a lean, athletic body in only 3 days a week. Find a program you enjoy, train smart, and get on with your life.

6) Learn to revolve your diet and exercise habits around your life, not the other way around. This comes with practice, and social support.

Autor: Nia Shanks Nia Shanks
Level: Platinum
Nia Shanks is a professional personal fitness trainer. Her goal is to help as many people as possible lose fat with proven training methods and ... ...

To help put a stop to binge eating once and for all, visit http://www.niashanks.blogspot.com and get a free report, Five Fast Fat Loss Tips.

Added: May 30, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Stop the Binge Eating Cycle Once and For All

Before you can solve a problem, you need to understand it. Binge eating is no different. Before you can take active and targeted steps to stop overeating episodes, you need to figure out the emotional process you're going through. Then, it will be just simple as it can be to put an end to it.

Understanding the Binge Eating Cycle

Binge eating involves a cycle of actions and emotions that you go through. The key is being able to break the cycle at any one point. Do that enough times and you will never binge again.

Phase 1 - Emotional trigger - Binge eating is always the result of some emotional trigger. Some of us eat when we're sad, others when stressed out, some of us out of boredom. This is what causes you to overeat. It is often a bad emotion which makes you feel like you need instant comforting.

Once that emotion appears, you get insanely hungry, often with a specific craving. The urge to eat is unbearable. One way to stop this urge is to make yourself count to 60 everytime that you feel like eating, another way is to do some physical exercises, anything to take your mind off things.

Phase 2 - Bingeing

This is when you overeat. Sometimes it's a whole day worth of calories in one sitting. The way to stop this from happening is to make sure you don't have a lot of food lying around, especially the kind you like to overeat.Clear out your kitchen and pantry and make your home a more favorable environment.

Phase 3 - Feeling bad... the cycle continues

Usually, when we stop bingeing, instead of feeling comforted, we feel rather bad. We feel that we're weak, that we've let ourselves down, and that we will be fat (or fatter) because we overate. This is an emotional trigger for yet another binge later on and not a constructive way to stop binge eating.

The way to avoid this from happening is to realize that you can't be perfect all the time. You will make mistakes and overeat on occasion, but this will improve with time as you get better at breaking the cycle. Don't be strict with yourself and you will have a much better chance to cure binge eating forever.

Autor: John Davenport

For more tips and tricks, go here: Stop Binge Eating

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. He now runs a weight loss forum and publishes a diet and fitness newsletter. To read more about emotional eating, click here: The Binge Eating Cycle

Added: May 29, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Stop Emotional Eating in 3 Simple Steps

Overeating is often not given the proper attention it deserves. It is often seen as not a real problem and something to laugh at. This is a completely wrong perspective since it is a terrible condition that requires immediate treatment. The good thing is that it's very simple for you to take steps to help yourself stop emotional eating forever. I know because I've done it myself.

Step #1 - Identify the triggers

Emotional eating is triggered in a different way for each person. Some people get the cravings when they're stressed out, others when they're depressed or bored. You need to do some thinking and figure out what are your emotional triggers. Once you know what they are, you'll have preliminary warning when the eating urge will come upon you.

Step #2 - Eliminate temptation

The one thing which most people don't understand about emotional eating is that the craving is often for one specific food. For women, it is often ice-cream or chocolate. For men it is often pizza. If you wouldn't be able to feed this temptation, it will not bother you as much. Clear out your home from any of these temptations. Throw out the number of any pizza delivery places nearby. Again, you know your temptors, so get rid of them and make it difficult for you to overeat.

Step #3 - Break the connection

When the craving strikes it is immediate and urgent. You feel like eating RIGHT NOW! To stop this you must break this immediate connection by giving yourself some time between the urge and the eating. Here are some ways to do so:

• Call a friend
• Count to 60
• Write down what you're feeling
• Do some exercises
• Go outside for a walk
• Take a shower

Whatever you can do to let the urge subside can do wonders. Do these 3 steps and you will soon do them more easily and overcome emotional eating for good.

Autor: John Davenport

Discover more tips and tricks here: http://EmotionalEatingSolution.com

John Davenport lost over 30 pounds in his twenties after being overweight most of his life. He now runs a weight loss forum and publishes a diet and fitness newsletter. To read more about stopping overeating, Take the Emotional Eating Quiz

Added: May 28, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Co-Dependency Overeating

One of the most common threads I see amongst overeaters, binge eaters and emotional eaters is that they often exhibit people-pleasing or co-dependent behavior. While there are many varied definitions for these two words the fact is that they are loaded with negative connotations. But the thing that is true about them is that they indicate a tendency to do for others at the cost of one's self. If you're a mother, you might be saying, wait isn't that the definition of a mother, or even a spouse, an employee, a child of elderly or sick parents. Well, sometimes it is. I do things for my son when I would rather be reading a book or watching a movie. We all do. Love does involve sacrifice. However, there is fine line between being a giving person and being taken advantage of or quite simply giving too much.

How can you tell the difference and what does this have to do with overeating?

Here are some questions to ask yourself.:

Does your giving leave you feeling empty?

Do you feel resentful?

Do you wish that someone would do for you what you do for people?

Do you feel unappreciated or sucked dry?

Do you have little time for joy, play or laughter?

If you found yourself saying "yes" to many of those questions, you might not have the skills to take good care of yourself or to make yourself a priority. You might be surrounded by people that take too much. Or you might not know how to set boundaries. Look, as a single mother, I know this can be hard. I listen to hundreds of your stories everyday and I know that you are taking care of parents with dementia, you are doing your best to help children with disabilities and autism and Down syndrome, you have spouses that are depressed or selfish, you have children who are alcoholics or drug addicts, you are struggling financially, you are out of work, you are lonely, you are abused, your are in chronic physical pain, and the list goes on. There are so many things that have to get taken care of that it can feel overwhelming to even begin to understand what taking care of ourselves would look like. I will tell you a few ways that you can start to do this. But first I want you to understand how deeply linked caretaking is to overeating.

Here are a few critical things to consider:

When your life is devoid of joy overeating can feel like the only reward you get for putting up with so much pain and disappointment.

When you don't get enough time to yourself, a late night binge can feel like a decadent time where you are only focused on pleasing yourself.

When you give so much that it leaves you empty, food can feel like it fills you up.

When your needs aren't met, food can be one obvious need that you know how to give yourself.

When you don't know how to consistently make your health and well-being a priority, you might stick to a sensible eating plan or exercise regime for a little while but will abandon it when someone seems to need something or has a crisis.

I wouldn't be surprised if you found yourself nodding to many of the things you're reading. I sometimes get saddened by how much time has passed in my life, my relationships that have suffered and the ways in which I put my own health in jeopardy by "caring" for others. I try my best to forgive myself and accept that I did the best that I could with the information I had at the time. But now, I'm learning new skills. Just like all of you are. My New Year's blog was about how self-love is the way to losing weight. Today someone sent me a quote from Jenny Craig. It said, "Self-love is the only weight loss aid that works in the long run." Gosh, you mean she could've saved us tons of money on pre-packaged food by just telling us that up front. I say that with both sarcasm and love because it seems so obvious and yet it's so hard. So, where do we begin?

Here are some small places to start:

Find some small act that you can do everyday to take care of yourself (one woman told me that she was going to take three really deep breaths whenever she went to the toilet - Yes, it can be as small as that)

Ask for what you need in a direct way.

Practice saying "no." (If this is too hard just practice saying something that buys you a little time to think about it for example, I need to check my calendar or I need to get back to you, etc.)

Adopt a spiritual practice (meditation, yoga, journaling, gratitude or just being sure to look at the sunset or stars each night).

Find real sources of love, reward, relaxation and peace that don't have the added backlash that overeating does.

You are worth all of the care, time and attention that you give others. Overeating is not the way that you please yourself, eating well is the way that you love yourself and make your needs a priority.

Autor: Michelle Fiordaliso

Michelle Fiordaliso, writer and psychotherapist
Clinical director of ShrinkYourself.com
Shrink Yourself is the Proven Online Program Designed to End Emotional Eating

Added: May 27, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Is Food Your Substitute For Love?

"Forget love, I'd rather fall in chocolate." I saw that on a bumper sticker. Who wants to fall in love? Well, judging by the success of every online dating site despite the failing economy, I would say most people are looking for love or looking for ways to improve their relationship. Unfortunately, the sweetness of romance can be unkindly bitter and with that in mind, the sweetness of cakes and Halloween candy and ice cream can feel like a sure thing. It can seem like a rational conclusion to make...don't fall in love...fall in chocolate...but there are probably some things that you might not have considered.

If You're in a Relationship

There are many ways we abandon and betray our partners in relationships. The most obvious way is cheating with another person. But there are much more subtle ways we abandon and betray our partners for instance focusing all our energy on the pets or children, being obsessed with work, not listening, being easily distracted, being constantly busy (cleaning, cooking, doing, planning) and one you might not expect is emotional eating. When food becomes our obsession it's not that different from taking a lover. It's just that the lover we've taken doesn't have a heartbeat. We obsess about food the way someone might obsess about a mistress, we think about the private time we'll get with a particular food the way one might when they're having an affair, we focus on food and shut the other person out. With all those thoughts of food, how can we consider our partners? They say that adultery is just a symptom that something else is wrong in the relationship. You might have taken food as your lover after many years of being disappointed in your partnership. Perhaps you've given up trying to make it work and figure I won't get the love, affection, communication or acknowledgment from my partner that I need so I might as well give myself the pleasure of eating what I want. Only problem, is when food fills your mind you've left the relationship. You intercept your best thinking by feeding yourself instead of feeding your love. When you give up food as your lover you can see one of a few things clearly. 1. Food may have been helping you tolerate being in a relationship that just doesn't work anymore and perhaps it's time to do something about that. 2. If you feed your relationship as much as you've been feeding yourself the passion in your relationship might just reignite. 3. Food may have been the third wheel in your relationship.

If You're Single

Many people that I talk to say that they eat out of loneliness. A lot of binging and overeating happens at night and on the weekend. When I inquire more deeply into why that might be it's often because one associates the night or the weekend with special time that they'd like to be spending with a partner. It's normal to be lonely when you wish you were with someone. Only problem with taking food as a substitute lover is that each time you overeat or binge you feel less attractive and less confident. This has something to do with weight but not everything. There are plenty of overweight people that have partners that are attracted to them. However, when you use food for emotional reasons, as you gain weight you lose your sense of self. And as you lose your sense of self you feel less and less confident. Each time you use food as your lover, you delay learning the skills you need to meet a suitable partner and you chip away at your self-confidence. The reality is that food never gives you the love that you're looking for. It doesn't talk to you, it doesn't hold you, it doesn't keep you warm at night. We can't always meet someone exactly when we want to but how do we want to spend our time until a special person comes a long. Do we want to spend our time nursing ourselves with food or do we want to spend our time discovering who we are and what is unique about us? On lonely nights and weekends, rent movies that make you laugh, go to museums, meet up with friends, take walks to look at autumn leaves.

You all deserve love, whether you're in a relationship, or not, but instead of food being your substitute for love, eating well can be an every day way that you care for and love yourself.

Autor: Michelle Fiordaliso

Michelle Fiordaliso, writer and psychotherapist
Clinical director of ShrinkYourself.com
Shrink Yourself is the Proven Online Program Designed to End Emotional Eating

Added: May 26, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Overeating and Overspending - What's the Connection?

Did you ever notice that the holidays are often a time when your body gets heavier and your burden of debt gets heavier, too? There is a direct correlation between overeating and overspending. Americans (and many other Western Cultures) are consumers; we're consumers of food making us the heaviest people in the world and we're consumers of goods making us the most in debt in the world. You don't become obese over night and you don't get in debt over night either. These two things take time and a recurrence of practicing the same habits over and over again. Both of these issues are ignited by choosing immediate gratification over long-term peace and happiness. What it will take to lose weight is not that different from what it will take to get out of debt. Here's how you do it:

1. Know Where Your Calories (or Money) Go Try keeping a log for one month of your expenditures and your calorie consumption. When you know where you're spending, you get to be the one who chooses. For instance, writing down where you spend your money could enlighten you. You might think that you could never afford a massage once a month but when you look at your receipts, you notice that going to Starbucks every day is costing you $120/month. What if you went every other day? With that information, you have a choice. You can get a massage once a month for $60 and you'll be consuming half the calories, too. Same thing with food. You might deprive yourself of cake but when you look at your calorie consumption you see that you're consuming 500 calories in sugar and half & half in your coffee. Do you really want four cups of coffee or would you rather have a piece of cake? When you know where the money or calories are being spent, you can make more informed choices.

2. Think About the Future In the immediate moment a tasty treat or a new purchase can seem like the answer to every woe in the world. Be sure to stop and think things through. No matter what you're feeling, will eating something make you feel better in the end? Is that new shirt that costs $50 really worth it when it'll end up costing $150 by the time you pay the finance charges on your credit card. Slowing things down and thinking things through will limit the amount of impulsive, unconscious decisions you make.

3. Be Selfish When I say be selfish I don't meant what you think. I'm suggesting that you stop keeping foods in the house because you think that others will be disappointed if they're not there. For example, I have to have sweets for the kids. Or feeling like you have to eat with your husband even though you had dinner with the children two hours before. When it comes to spending (particularly at the holidays) you don't have to please people with purchases you can't afford (especially in today's economy). Do what's right for you and don't feel badly about it. Find other ways to make the holidays special that don't include food or presents. Your children might remember a night of caroling with a thermos of mulled cider for a lifetime while they might never again remember a toy that will get discarded two months from now. Learning to regulate what you eat and where you spend your money are two important aspects of being an adult. When you binge on food or binge on buying, it often causes more anxiety than it quells. Keep yourself calm by thinking things through and choosing where and how you're going to reward yourself. When you know where your money (and calories) go, you have more choices; and with more choices comes more freedom, and with more freedom; greater peace of mind.

Autor: Michelle Fiordaliso

Michelle Fiordaliso, writer and psychotherapist
Clinical director of ShrinkYourself.com
Shrink Yourself is the Proven Online Program Designed to End Emotional Eating

Added: May 24, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Stop Emotional Eating and Lose Weight

Who doesn't like comfort food? When I think of comfort food it conjures up wonderful tasty images of mac n' cheese, lasagna, chocolate cake and ice cream sodas. Many people often turn to these homey, childhood favorites when they crave a familiar taste during a challenging or chaotic time. Clearly, food can be closely tied to emotions, but for some people this link becomes unhealthy. It's known as emotional eating, and it can lead to weight gain, an unhealthy relationship with food and even eating disorders.

Recognizing Emotional Eating

Emotional eating is when a person turns to food in order to soothe or avoid negative feelings like loneliness, stress, boredom and sadness. Experts say that approximately 75% of overeating may have an emotional component. Most of my patients have used food to improve their moods at one time or another. It's understandable to eat ice cream while you're watching TV alone or grab a candy bar after a stressful work meeting.

Most people don't even realize they are using food as a pick-me-up. When this type of eating becomes habitual, however, you may be setting yourself up for unhealthy consequences like weight gain.

How do you recognize emotional eating versus simply indulging in the occasional treat?

Think about the last time you turned to your favorite comfort food. Were you hungry? If not, your emotions were dictating your behavior. Emotional eating tends to cause feelings of guilt or regret, which leads to more eating. Responding to genuine hunger does not make you feel bad. Emotional eaters also tend to keep eating even after they feel full. Also, if you are hungry, you are likely to be satisfied by a variety of foods. Most emotional eaters suddenly find themselves craving one particular thing-chocolate, cookies, salty chips for example-and won't be satisfied until they eat that item.

Many people go for years before they recognize the destructive pattern of emotional eating. Often, they will try a variety of weight loss plans without success because all the diets in the world won't break an emotional bond to food. If this sounds like you, rest assured that you can change your behavior and stop gaining weight for good.

How to Break the Cycle of Emotional Eating

The quickest way to stop emotional eating is to recognize genuine hunger. Many people fear hunger, but a stomach rumble is not the end of the world. It is unlikely that you will starve to death if you let yourself get hungry.

Try this: Instead of eating until you feel stuffed, eat until you are about three-quarters full. You should be satisfied but comfortable. Then don't eat again until you feel truly hungry (in general, 4 to 5 hours). This exercise will help you recognize your own physical sensation of hunger. Emotional eaters tend to eat so frequently that they can't remember what hunger feels like.

To get at the root of emotional eating, keep a food journal for two weeks. Not only should you record every bite you put in your mouth, but jot down why you're eating and how you feel before and after.

For example, "I ate a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread because it was my lunch break and I felt hungry. After, I only felt half full, so I ate an apple and felt satisfied and calm." If things aren't going so well, it's important to write it in your food journal. For example, "I ate a Snickers bar at 3:30. I was still full from lunch, but I was stressed out because the sales report is due tomorrow and I have to work late."

Look back after the two weeks and identify any patterns. Maybe you tend to eat candy in the afternoon when all the stress of workday starts to pile up. Maybe you will discover that you are most vulnerable late at night after the kids go to bed. If you know the situations that lead to emotional eating you can devise solutions to make them more manageable.

If emotional eating has led to weight gain, don't be too hard on yourself. Tackle the negative emotions and situations that caused you to turn to food in the first place. Keeping the food journal and listening to your hunger cues have been a tremendous help to my patients who struggle with this issue. When you start making food choices based on hunger, not emotions, you are likely to lose weight naturally. This will lead you to make healthier food choices on a regular basis. Remember that it is possible for anyone to recover from emotional eating and reach a healthy, happy weight.

Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Institute For Healthy Aging

Autor: Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Added: May 22, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Anorexia and Bulimia - Common Eating Disorders Caused by Body Image Pressures

Today more than ever women are being forced to try and conform to a certain image. This has led to a greater number of women suffering from common eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa. Not only can these severely damage a woman's body but also her mind as well.

In most cases women and now even some men are suffering from these eating disorders and they will be obsessed with regards to what they eat. Yet even though many of these detest looking at food, it still plays a major role in their lives. This is especially true for those who suffer from the eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa.

Many of these will have particular rituals that they carry out in relation to what they eat. Some will make sure that they limit themselves to only consuming a certain number of calories each day. Whilst others although won't watch their calories will cut up their food very small when they are eating.

As for bulimia these people will spend considerable times eating large amounts of food to immediately work on ways of purging it from their body. In many cases because quite a food will able to maintain their right weight it becomes a lot more difficult to recognize they have this problem and help them.

Yet even though with both these common eating disorders the people's lives revolve around food it is always that they are concerned about how much they weigh. In many cases it is because they find that they are not able to control other aspects of their lives but they can control what they eat, how much and when. Yet although they think they have control over this situation in fact they don't and the food is what is now got control.

Autor: Samantha Adams

Want to Learn More?

Get Free tips and advice about eating disorders visit Common Eating Disorders.

Get The facts now. http://commoneatingdisorders.com

Added: May 20, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Stop Overeating by Getting Connected With the Right Church!

I was in a church for about four years that was very legalistic but in such a way that it draws you in rather than pushes you away. Now I wouldn't as far as calling this church a cult, but the relentless pursuit of "sticking to the rules" sure was intoxicating. I always felt awkward and out of place. Unlike me, all the other moms were so skinny and well put together. The few odd ones that didn't quite qualify as one of the "beautiful people" didn't make it into leadership.

Inevitable the church went through a major split and many disturbing things were revealed. I realized for the first time that this nagging feeling of inferiority that I had (because of a few extra pounds on me) didn't exactly aid me in my pursuit of freedom or holiness for that matter. I never told a soul about my struggle with food, because no one ever spoke about their struggles, no one ever admitted to being human. Everybody was so spiritual, so driven to win the lost, so focused on not wasting time with frivolous things such as building friendships or finding personal healing.

Now I am all for evangelism and I agree that it is the great commission. However, I know that God never intended for us to stop being real, give up on friendship and neglect our own hearts. I never felt so alone in a congregation and I never felt so incapable of ever overcoming my food addiction. You see I had to keep it secret, because admitting to it would have been to admit to what everybody already suspected: "I was an immature Christian who should have had my act together years ago

After the split things changed gradually and I started a small group for women who struggled with food issues. I found that there were actually a bunch of ladies who were just waiting to talk about this "thing" they were carrying around.

How great was my relief when we moved and were swept up in the loving arms of the people in our current church. They invited us to small groups where people wanted to get to know us, care about us, and most of all, they were not afraid to be real! Our church sets a high standard for holy living and growing in relationship with God as well, and although we have our problems like every other church, I personally never felt that cloud of condemnation.

I want to encourage you, if you suffer from an eating disorder or other addictions, please find a place where you don't feel afraid to be real. A place where you are encouraged by others and where you experience the Holy Spirit's presence to heal you and change you. Yes, we have to build our own relationship with God, but He also created us to be part of a community and to have genuine friendships. These friendships are best know by "giving and receiving". In these friendships you will find acceptance of both your good and "not so good" parts. You need to be loved for who you are to break free from this disorder. Pretending to be perfect or okay when you are not will keep you in bondage. Pleasing others and not being truthful about your needs and fears will prevent you from healing.

I know change is hard, and I'm not telling you to give up your church either. I just want to nudge you to keep looking for a church or even just a group where you can receive love and support. Start today. If your church doesn't offer any support groups, start your own. You can use my program for your support group if you want, or look for the following groups in your area that focus on freedom from food struggles and other addictions:

- Celebrate Recovery
- First Place

Autor: Heleen Woest Heleen Woest
Level: Basic PLUS
Heleen Woest wrote a program for women who struggle with food related issues such as Bulimia, Overeating and Binge eating disorder. She has a heart ... ...

You can stop overeating or stop binge eating by taking my hand through my 12 Week Online Program or the hand of a friend. Believe me, it's almost impossible to do it yourself, don't waste anymore time, your life depends on it!

http://www.eatingsdisorders.com/stop-overeating.php

Added: May 19, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Depression and Overeating - How to Break the Cycle

There is a real link between depression and overeating. For some people depression is a chemical imbalance. Medication (along with therapy if needed) can remedy that issue. But for most people depression is a symptom of not addressing unwanted stress or emotions.

When these unwanted emotions come up; food can be an effective numbing agent. It literally pushes the emotion away. But the kicker is that it takes energy to keep these emotions at bay. So not only is there weight gain; but energy is being used to "depress" emotions. When a person continues to do this; a state of depression occurs.

The cycle can also occur first with depression. When a person is depressed they may use food to comfort themselves. This then leads to further depression and deepens the need to use food to feel good.

When so much energy is being used to numb emotions; you literally have nothing left to give to your life, yourself, or your family. This is common among people who suffer from binge eating and emotional eating.

But the good news is that this type of depression can be reversed! When you begin to face the emotions you fear; you free up energy to live your life. The depression begins to dissipate. They key is to continue being strong enough to deal with emotions and situations in a healthy way and to stop overeating.

Ideas to help you get started:

1-Ask a higher power for help and assistance (God, universe, whatever you believe in).

2-Begin using a journal to express your emotions rather than turning to food.

3-Address the situation that is causing you stress (either through writing or speaking with the person).

4-Pay attention to your self-talk and make sure it is positive. (You could use affirmations or afformations to help you accomplish this.)

It is easy to revert back to using food to cope. And in so doing; the depression can creep back in. The first thing that people tend to do is throw in the towel and continue doing what has been familiar to them in the past. But don't let any setbacks keep you from releasing yourself from this self-imposed depression. Be brave enough to face your fears! You can break the cycle.

Remember: mistakes are bound to happen; that doesn't mean you have to continue it the rest of your life. Don't beat yourself up about them; that will only keep you stuck. Make the choice to face stress and emotions in a healthy way and stay positive. You can do it!

Autor: Stefanie Nielsen Stefanie Nielsen
Level: Basic
My name is Stefanie Nielsen. I live in rural Colorado with my husband and two beautiful children (soon to be three in May 2009). Being ... ...

by Stefanie Nielsen

Overcome-Binge-Eating.com

Overcoming binge eating is something that is possible and within your reach. I've been there and understand the emotional struggles that you're experiencing. You can begin to heal and become free of emotional eating. Just believe!

If you are interested in receiving my FREE e-course "How to Stop Binge Eating": sign up here

Added: May 17, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Treating Eating Disorders - How to Treat Bulimia and Anorexia

More and more people today are suffering from eating disorders. In fact no longer it is just teenage girls who are suffering from this problem there are many adults (both men and women) who do as well. If treatment for eating disorders is not provided the sufferer could actually die from the one they have.

Today cognitive therapy is often used for helping to treat eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. Although this process does take time it will only true work if the person is willing to stop dieting.

This form of therapy for treating eating disorders can help the person suffering from the problem in two ways. It first off ensures that they start to eat in a healthy way and for those who suffer from bulimia shows them the ways to prevent themselves from bingeing and purging. Also it is at this time they learn the best ways to cope with the kinds of situations that may trigger them into their negative eating habits.

Whilst the other part of the treatment works on dealing with the person's mindset. It helps them to think more positively about who they are and the way they look. It shows them how to let go of those feelings they currently have which are closely associated with their weight.

However along with their therapist providing them with the support they need to help them get over these feelings they should get support from those around them. So it is worth family and friends attending sessions with the person's therapists also as they can help to provide them with advice that could assist the person's recovery.

Autor: Samantha Adams

Want to Learn More?

Get Free tips and advice about eating disorders visit Common Eating Disorders.

Get The facts now. http://commoneatingdisorders.com

Added: May 15, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

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Eating Disorders - How Do I Get Better?

Do you suffer from an eating disorder? Do you eat whether you are hungry or not? Do you find when you are stressed, upset with a coworker or loved ones that you respond with food? Do you feel shame or guilt at how you eat or don't eat? Do you over exercise as a way to control your body? Eating disorders affect every area of his or her life. The goal of this article is to let the individual suffering from an eating disorder know hope and help available just reach out.

Until he or she can verbalize the eating disorder little else can happen. Awareness is a powerful tool, when he or she is aware they need help they can change. Change is uncomfortable for anyone fear of the unknown can cause him or she to stay trapped in the eating disorder. The leap of faith required to move out of the addiction cycle and into freedom is liberating when the action occurs. Some say take baby steps make the changes necessary and eventually the brain will follow. This is true changing the messages he or she tells themselves over the years.

Words have power the ones he or she heard as a child left unresolved need to be stopped now as the adult. When a negative thought comes into his or her mind say out loud cancel. This allows your conscious mind to combat the unconscious mind. Negativity breeds more negativity the same holds true for positive thoughts and words the more he or she changes the thought process the more success he or she has.

When the impulse comes to do something to mask his or her feelings or emotions stop, breathe take a few minutes to recognize is it real? Or just a quick learned response to not handle a situation effectively? Behaviors can be changed once you have the awareness and willingness to change them. Inpatient treatment for dual diagnosis and eating disorders is a concrete measure he or she can take to set up a firm foundation for success in creating a new life free from the addiction of eating disorders. Get help you are not alone, perseverance does pay off!

Autor: Joanna Painton

Joanna works for the Women's Behavioral Program. She has overcome adversities and shares her hope with anyone she comes in contact with. Joanna is a known published author in the Bariatric and Weight Loss Community, she has spent the last 13 years helping to inspire and motivate people on the value of the body, mind and spirit connection.

Please feel free to contact Joanna at http://www.womenstreatmentprogram.com or by e-mail joanna@recoveryconnection.org

Added: May 14, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

My Daughter Learned About Eating Disorder's From Me!

Is there any individual on the planet who said at least once in his or her lifetime "I swear I will never do that to my children"? How inept he or she feels as the realization that he or she recognizes they have done just that! Eating disorder's are a learned behavior if the parent's eat abnormally whether too much or not enough, if he or she eats on the run, standing up not at the table, don't eat after a certain time of day and so on.

Little minds pick up on this and implement this same behavior into their lives. How heart wrenching to have a mother or father call and tell a story about his or her daughter binging and purging every-time she eats. After listening for a few minutes inevitably the story unfolds and the parent discloses that they too have an eating disorder or had one and now are in recovery themselves.

Eating disorder's tend to be a disease of isolation, guilt and shame, the parent is reliving the life they lead by viewing the child who by the way could be a 44 year old female. So what happens when he or she recognizes the individual needs help and possibly he or she does too? Undergoing and eating disorder quiz then an assessment this will allow her to recognize whether or not the disease exists.

Talking with eating disorders specialist and making the decision to go to an inpatient treatment center for eating disorders. Some individuals feel shame in admitting the problem and getting help. The most liberating experience is for her to admit to the eating disorder and get help. Help is available just reach out and grab it!

Autor: Joanna Painton

Joanna works for the Women's Behavioral Program. She has overcome adversities and shares her hope with anyone she comes in contact with. Joanna is a known published author in the Bariatric and Weight Loss Community, she has spent the last 13 years helping to inspire and motivate people on the value of the body, mind and spirit connection.

Please feel free to contact Joanna at http://www.womenstreatmentprogram.com or by e-mail joanna@recoveryconnection.org

Added: May 13, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

3 Ways to Kick Food Addiction

Dr. David Kessler, the Harvard educated scientist who led the government's attack on the tobacco industry is now taking a shot at food. Next week his book The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite will be published but here's an early glimpse of what you'll read there.

The one side of the food addiction coin that Dr. Kessler addresses in his book and research is that many of the foods that you eat today have a particular salt/fat/sugar ration that does three things. One is that it makes you insatiable. In other words, it leaves you wanting more and more of that specific food-never achieving a sense of fullness. Two is that it affects the dopamine, or pleasure part of your brain, and the mere mention of that food, glimpse of that food on a commercial, even passing a restaurant that sells that food will light up the neural pathway in your brain and trigger a craving. And lastly, you have come to associate those types of foods with good friends and good times. The summary of what he is saying is that the chemical make-up of these foods makes it impossible to have control over what and how much you consume. You are physically addicted to the kinds of foods that make you fat.

While the physical component of food addiction is very strong, there is a psychological component that is equally powerful. This is the other side of the food addiction coin and the reason that you go looking for comfort (whether from food or alcohol or cigarettes) in the first place. Kessler acknowledges this part of the addiction when he says, "You stress me enough and I'll go pick up a bagel." Therefore, even when you've kicked the physical addiction of certain alluring foods, the psychological addiction can live on when you're in need of soothing.

In order to kick any food addiction it must be approached from both sides therefore if you feel you're addicted to food consider the following:

1. ADDRESS THE PHYSICAL ADDICTION

This means avoiding foods that contain a lot of fat, sugar and salt. Eating foods as close to their original source is the easiest way to do this and insure that what you're eating isn't packed with chemicals that create cravings. Stick to vegetables and meats that you season simply at home. Some people call this avoiding the middle of the grocery store where things tend to be more synthetic or eating things with ingredients that you understand. Even potato chips should only contain potatoes, oil and salt. Be wary if there's more on that list.

2. ADDRESS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ADDICTION

People look for the comfort and pleasure that food provides because essentially it works. This is emotional eating. You have learned that when you overeat or binge, you feel better, at least for a little while. Now, you have to prove to your mind that you can make yourself feel better without the quick fix of food, but how? Look for non-food ways to relax, address anxiety, and deal with boredom. Face your feelings head on.

3. CHANGE YOUR ASSOCIATIONS

Kessler emphasizes how we had to change our associations with cigarettes and the same thing applies to food. He says that smoking "...used to be sexy and glamorous but now people look at it and say, 'That's not my friend, that's not something I want.' We need to make a cognitive shift as a country and change the way we look at food. Instead of viewing that huge plate of nachos and fries as a guilty pleasure, we have to...look at it and say, 'That's not going to make me feel good. In fact, that's disgusting.' "

When you begin to honestly look at the foods that you're currently addicted to, you see that they aren't worth what they cost you. You know that a nicotine addiction can cost you your health. You know that an alcohol addiction can cost someone you your job, your relationships and even your life. Food addiction has a cost, too. The obvious cost is your health. But the less obvious cost is that it robs you of the opportunity to learn how to be the master of your emotions and the authors of your own life. You can stop being controlled by food if you choose different foods and if you become strong enough to face your feelings without it. Trust me, you can do it.

Autor: Roger Gould, M.D.

Roger Gould, M.D.
Psychiatrist & Associate Clinical Professor, UCLA
One of the world's leading authorities on emotional eating and adult development
Author & Creator of Shrink Yourself
Shrink Yourself is the Proven Online Program Designed to End Emotional Eating

Added: May 11, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Stop Binge Eating by Guarding Your Heart

If you want to stop binge eating for good in your life, it will take more than will power, more than positive thinking and much more than finding the right diet. Binge eating disorder, as with any other eating disorder, is caused by various elements. According to research eating disorders are very complex and never caused by an isolated incident.

It comes as no surprise then that treatment for eating disorders needs to address the whole person, all the areas that is affected, in other words, treat body, soul and spirit. I found in my own life and that of the ladies I've encountered in my support groups that this is very true. One of the key elements for me was to find healing for my heart (my emotions, thoughts, will and mind).

Somehow, many of us struggling with eating disorders have "lost' our hearts. Those dreams and desires that were once alive are now buried under years of "eating disorder debris"

Further more, the enemy would love nothing more than to see us stuck in this place of pain and turmoil forever. For this reason we can be sure that he will chime right in there with our already broken hearts and pile accusation on to make us sink even deeper.

To explain this better I added a day out of my life when I felt these attacks coming at me and realized in time what it was:

I had a funny day yesterday. I felt nostalgic and was walking down memory lane a bit. I met up with an old school friend on Face Book. We haven't spoken in twenty years and my mind was back in 1988. The more I thought about my high school years and everybody I knew back then the more my anxiety level climbed. It's not that it was all that bad for me. I wasn't bullied, I had some friends and I did pretty good academically, but I wasn't popular or even close to it. I was at best a happy-clappy-Jesus-freak-nerd. Now today I will carry that title with pride, but back then, not so much.

After thinking about this for most of the morning, I brushed it off with a "Come on, those days are long gone, you have done well for yourself." I carried on to recite in my mind the things I have accomplished, not that they were all that much or even that great, but it made me feel better. To tell you the truth, when I look back on my life I know for sure that God's grace was the driving force behind every good thing, nothing else.

I thought I was done with all this doom and gloom. For goodness sakes, I should take these thoughts captive, right? Well, it turned out to be quite the challenge on this particular morning. While cleaning the kitchen my thoughts went a different route. I was packing away my pink pasta plates. I'm afraid I bought these plates without really knowing what I was buying. (This use to happen to me a lot, being an alien in a foreign country). I never knew there existed a thing called a "pasta plate". I just thought they were pretty pink plates with a little bit of a hollow center at a great price! (Ross of course).

So to make a very long story short, a few months ago we had one of my husband's colleagues and his family over for a BBQ (hot dogs and hamburgers) and I served it, of course, in my pretty pink "pasta plates". All would have been fine, have they not been very eloquently speaking, well read, travelers of the world. In fact, they lived in Italy for a while! This was just another addition to my long list of cultural blunders. Oh well, what are you gonna do? I thought for sure this embarrassing incident was behind me. However, on this barely-Spring morning, while putting away my "pasta plates" (we now use it all the time - you can't waste a good bargain!) waves of shame washed over me.

I was confused: Didn't I already deal with all this stuff, what was this all about? Fortunately for me I have a Counselor, a dear friend who sees every crazy step I take, and always tells met the truth even when it hurts. He was right there, peeking over my shoulder, whispering in my ear with His gentle voice: "This is an assault on your heart." Off course! John Eldredge explains this so wonderfully in his book Waking the Dead. The enemy would go to those wounded places in our hearts (my school days and my pasta plate incident) and he will use it to shame us, condemn us and sow lies in our hearts that we are utterly worthless. I was so excited to have recognized this (again). I ran to my room, shut the door, stretched myself out before God and sobbed: "What is going on God? What is this attack on my heart? My heart is your dwelling place, please help me guard it!"

I never seem to have the right words to explain the transformation that takes place in His presence. In that place He showed me the lie: The enemy has been telling me "You will never be good enough!" But better yet, in that moment He dropped His truth into my heart: "You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I have counted every hair on your head and I made you to be you for a very specific reason. Just be yourself my child"

Oh how I love Him. Oh how I need Him. Dearest sister in Christ, living without Him is not living at all. I hope you too are guarding your heart today. Don't fall for the enemy's lies. God made you so beautiful!

In my program for women recovering from overeating, binge eating and bulimia, we spend a whole week talking about the assaults on our hearts. In the struggle with food, the assaults are constant and crippling. It is almost impossible to live under those. God wants to free your heart and make it His sole dwelling place!

Autor: Heleen Woest Heleen Woest
Level: Basic PLUS
Heleen Woest wrote a program for women who struggle with food related issues such as Bulimia, Overeating and Binge eating disorder. She has a heart ... ...

If you want to Stop Binge Eating and learn how to guard your heart, then take my hand, walk the journey with me and many other women. It's a journey to freedom.

http://www.eatingsdisorders.com/how-to-stop-binge-eating.php

Added: May 9, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Paula Abdul, Bulimia, Yoga and Nutrition

Eating disorders are a serious mental illness affecting 1.1 million people in the UK. One of the main eating disorders is Bulimia Nervosa, popularly known as Bulimia. Bulimia was recognized by doctors as an eating disorder in 1979.

As food and eating play a very important part in our lives we experiment with different eating habits or we try to change our diet. However, some eating patterns can be damaging. People with bulimia crave food and binge-eat, and afterward they make themselves sick or misuse laxatives to get the food out of their bodies.

They feel guilty about the binge eating but because they are very afraid of becoming fat they continue the destructive cycle of compulsive eating and vomiting, which they cannot control. Emotional difficulties in life, demanding jobs, low self-esteem, family relationships, death of someone special, sexual or emotional abuse can lead to Bulimia.

Bulimia is more common in girls, effecting women between the ages of 16 and 40 and is most likely to begin at about 18-19 years of age according to National Health Service UK. Recent studies suggest that around eight in every 100 women will have bulimia at some point in their lives.

Bulimia can cause not only physical problems such as: lethargy, tiredness, irregular periods or frequent weight changes but can also develop psychological problems like: obsession with food, mood swings, depression, shame, guilt or feeling lonely. It can take over the life of the ill person making her/him feel trapped and desperate and can lead to self-destruction. In extreme cases the illness can be fatal due to heart failure.

'American Idol' judge and Pop singer Paula Abdul is open about her life with bulimia. During an interview on the ABC-TV news show "Prime Time Live," she revealed that she has suffered from the severe eating disorder for about 17 years. After years of struggling with bulimia Paula Abdul admitted: "It became a living hell for me and I wanted to get help. I wanted to be free from weighing myself on the scales."

She sought the help of professionals and went through an eating disorder treatment program. For overcoming her long-time battle with bulimia The National Eating Disorders Association presented Abdul with its highest honor, the Profiles in Living Award. The good news is that nutritional counseling along with Yoga can provide an effective solution in treating bulimia.

What is needed in case of Bulimia is education about basic nutrition and sensible eating to promote a healthy relationship with food and daily yoga practice to reduce the emotional need for food, as hunger is also an emotional need and cannot be satisfied by food alone.

The nutritional counseling and yoga can help the patient to release the emotional stress and break the binge-and-purge cycle and to stabilize chaotic eating behavior.

Autor: Subodh Gupta Subodh Gupta
Level: Platinum
Brief about Mr. Subodh Gupta Interviewed by Jain TV channel, Sadhana TV channel, ZEE TV and DD Metro TV Channel in India and by Channel ... ...

Issued in public interest by Subodh Gupta a holistic health consultant and also the author of the book "7 food habits for weight loss forever". Subodh Gupta is a celebrity yoga trainer based in London and conducts Yoga, Nutrition, Stress Management and Weight loss sessions. http://www.subodhgupta.com
http://www.subodhgupta.com/yogaarticle/paula-abdul-bulimia-yoga-nutrition.html

Added: May 7, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Teenage Eating Disorder - Causes and Types

All teenagers want to look attractive, they want to be popular, and to fit in with others. The standards for looking attractive isn't always easy in today's society. Girls have a harder time than boys because girls are judged by their appearance much more than boys are. Physical attractiveness in females is based on a lot of things, pretty features, nice hair a good complexion, and a Miss America body.

Today a Miss America or "well-proportioned" body is interpreted to mean thin. Many teenage girls are unhappy, and embarrassed with their bodies. Because of pressures or problems in their own lives, many girls try to lose weight thinking it will bring success and happiness.

Eating disorders are now appearing at much younger ages. The average age used to be sixteen or seventeen. But has now dropped to fourteen for girls, and has been reported even in fourth graders. This eating disorder craze has the potential to cause stunted growth and unhealthy bodies, and even premature death if not treated. One study of eating disorders found that of over 2,000 nine- and ten-year-old girls, around 40 percent reported trying to lose weight. Many girls and boys today are grossly overweight and indeed need to lose some weight, but for the majority, especially girls are caught up in the crazy fad that thin is in. The worrying of being too fat starts early , a survey of 12-13 year old girls showed nearly half of the group did not like the way they looked. Boys did not seem to be as concerned as girls about their looks or weight.

There are three types of eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa, is when a person has an unfounded fear of getting fat and can actually starve them self to death if not treated . Another type of eating disorder is bulimia. A person eats large amounts of food and then forces them self to throw up, or takes laxatives, or uses means to avoid gaining weight, like running and strenuous exercise programs. The last is compulsive eating disorder also sometimes called food addiction and is characterized by an obsessive/compulsive relationship to food and eating when not even hungry.

The American Anorexia Bulimia Association (AABA) reported over five million Americans suffer from eating disorders, 5 percent are adolescent and adult women and 1 percent are men. They also report that about one thousand women will die each year from anorexia. 5-10 percent of long-term anorectics are reported to die from this disease each year. If these statistics are true, then this means that anorexia has the highest death rate of all mental health illnesses!

Hollywood and movies have impacted our teenagers, the Hollywood craze of thin is beautiful has blinded our young people, they do not realize that the majority of the entertainment world has personal trainers, gyms in their homes, and nutritionist experts to help them lose weight safely. Our young people are not aware to this and, in most cases, see them to be the standards of how girls should look. We need to get this message across to our children and educate them on the dangers of poor eating habits.

Most young people develop an eating disorder in their pre-teen years and 80% of girls reported dieting by the age of 16. Today children are reaching puberty at an earlier age, and are far less equipped to understand the dangers of poor eating habits and the harm it can do to their young bodies.

My hope and prayer is if you are a young person, and are reading this, that you will not let an eating disorder ruin your life. God loves you.

Autor: Glenn Hanson Glenn Hanson
Level: Basic
Glenn is the owner of Hanson Painting Service and has been successfully operating this off line business for 42 years with his wife and sons. ... ...

Glenn Hanson is a licensed preacher, contractor, artist, Internet marketer and author of many sermons and articles.

He is the owner of http://teenageeatingdisorder.org, a resource for eating disorders causes, types, and treatment.

Added: May 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How Many Eating Disorders Are There?

Primarily two types of eating disorders are commonly known, anorexia and bulimia! Today individuals suffer from compulsive overeating, emotional eating, night time eating, compulsive exercise, binge eating, food addiction, orthorexia nervosa, diabetic bulimic, exercise bulimic, selective eating disorder and the list goes on. Too many variables exist with eating disorders to say one specific event caused it. Eating disorders can occur from low self-esteem, from an individual wanting to fit in a group or team, stress, trauma, having a strong desire to stand out or from wanting to be perfect. Often individuals suffering from eating disorders have a desire to control people, places and things and when they can't the eating disorder goes out of control. As with any addiction when it starts the illusion is the person is in control somewhere down the line the line is crossed and that same person has no control.

Individuals who watch television can attest that for example,if he or she watched for two hours he or she would be exposed to commercial after commercial advertising a new diet, exercise equipment, weight loss foods, weight loss supplements the constant information telling him or her they must change. It makes sense that eating disorders are so prevalent. Does he or she watching and listening to all this realize how bad physically and physiologically for the body to go up and down with weight and large amounts of sugar then to restrict sugar. The human body is strong but how strong? Over time damage occurs as a direct result of highs and lows.

If he or she has accepted themselves as they are and modified the lifestyle to live a balanced healthy life the stress done to the body would be relieved. Behaviors are learned and can be unlearned over time inpatient treatment for eating disorders is beneficial to building a new foundation for long-term success. Learning how to live life free from eating disorders is possible, feel free to contact me directly.

Autor: Joanna Painton

Joanna works for the Women's Behavioral Program. She has overcome adversities and shares her hope with anyone she comes in contact with. Joanna is a known published author in the Bariatric and Weight Loss Community, she has spent the last 13 years helping to inspire and motivate people on the value of the body, mind and spirit connection.

Please feel free to contact Joanna at http://www.womenstreatmentprogram.com or by e-mail joanna@recoveryconnection.org

Added: May 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/