Eating Disorder Controlling Their Lives

Many people with an eating disorder use the eating disorder as a way of controlling their lives. What most people don't realize is that it isn't them in control of their lives; their eating disorder takes control of their lives. When someone develops a problem with food, it is because they use it to cope with various problems and issues in their lives.

People use what they believe is their control over food when they are lonely, sad, ashamed of something, bored, angry, isolated or angry. They use their eating disorder as a way of dealing with emotions and feelings, sometimes without even realizing it. Food is a very important part of our daily lives and we all know that we need to eat but for some people their eating patterns become damaging.

Sometimes the realization of an eating disorder can make you feel ashamed and sad. A problem with food can make you feel like you are on your own but this is an important time to seek help and talk to someone who you can trust.

Lots of people experiment with food and eating habits during their life. Whether you decide to be a vegetarian or change your diet for a healthy eating plan. But your eating habits become a problem when you use it to deal with painful situations, feelings and emotions. Some people even use their eating disorder as a way of dealing with stress.

Usually an eating disorder is made up from a combination of things affecting someone's life. They believe they cannot cope with certain situations, feelings and emotions but this can change if you seek the right help and support on how you deal with these emotions and feelings.

Low self esteem, lack of confidence, relationships, problems in work or with friends, problems wit h school, college and universities, sexual or physical abuse are all important factors that can trigger an eating order. Sometimes it can just be the fact that someone feels fat or ugly and their feelings of not being good enough can lead to a problem with food which can develop into more dangerous eating disorders.

Sadly it can take a long time before you seek help and realize that you have lost control over food.
Eating disorders aren't just confined to young girls; young men can suffer from this problem too. It can affect anyone regardless of age, sex, culture. It will also affect family members and friends of the person suffering from an eating disorder.

Once you realize that your eating disorders have taken control over your life, you need to seek help and get the support that is needed for you, your family and friends.

Autor: James Yiannakou James Yiannakou
Level: Basic
Male 39, loves fishing and helping others from addiction...

More info here Eating disorders.

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

Overcome an Eating Disorder

Millions of people are affected by eating disorders which can be made up of compulsive or binge eating, anorexia or bulimia. People try to control their eating disorder by using all sorts of methods such as dieting, vomiting after eating, laxatives, fasting, using slimming aids and over exercising. And it's not only women who suffer from food addiction, many men do too.

What many people don't realize is that there is usually an underlying problem to their eating disorder, and this needs to be addressed. Sadly it is in outward sign of an inner problem. An eating disorder usually occurs when eating or not eating is used to help block out painful feelings and emotions. If you don't seek the right help and treatment, these difficulties may persist throughout life and can often have fatal consequences.

Dieting and eating disorders have a profound physiological and emotional side effect. People who suffer from food addictions do so for any number of reasons such as depression, loneliness, feeling ashamed, physical or sexual abuse, low self esteem, feeling fat, body dissatisfaction and generally not feeling good enough about themselves.

When someone seeks help and treatment to overcome their eating disorder, it is usually a lengthy and complex process. They will have to learn a difference in their behavior and be open to revealing in detail about their food disorder which can make them feel ashamed. Behavioral therapy is regularly used in treating an eating disorder and can help replace certain habits with new appropriate ones. Some people keep a diary to monitor their daily food intake and this has the aim of helping the patient to observe their behavior instead of just 'living' it. Of course, this is just one step. There are many other steps which will need to be taken to overcome their problem with food but with the right help and treatment, you can overcome an eating disorder.

Autor: James Yiannakou James Yiannakou
Level: Basic
Male 39, loves fishing and helping others from addiction...

Get more info here: Eating Disorder Rehab Clinic.

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

Emotional Eating - Is It Greed?

I was an emotional eater for many years. This inevitably led to me being overweight. I never considered myself a greedy person. Mostly I ate really healthy - I am one of those rare people who enjoy vegetables and salad, I don't add butter to mashed potato and I love fish and chicken.

I don't particularly like sweet things and chocolate can be in my fridge for months and I would not consider eating it. Most days I would have a breakfast, lunch and evening meal and these would be reasonably healthy. I have never been into snacking for snacking sake.

So why was I so overweight?

All my life I have enjoyed food, if I go out it will normally be for a meal and some wine. Food has always made me feel good so I see it as part of my social life. In theory this should not be a problem, everything in moderation. However, food also became my emotional crutch and this is where the damage was done.

As soon as something emotional happened in my life I turned to food as a comforter. At the time I did not really care what it was, I just reach for the first thing that came to hand and ate it in seconds, often washed down with a glass of wine. So a stressful day at work, a disagreement with my husband, not knowing where my son was - you name it, anything that made me feel emotional made me reach for my comforter - Food.

So Is it Greed?

Emotional eating has nothing to do with greed. Often you are totally unaware that you are eating unnecessarily, your mind is so focussed on the issue that has affected you, your brain sends a signal to your body that it wants whatever it is that makes you feel good again and in this case it is food.

Most people who eat when emotional would not consider overeating at other times. However, after eating excessively the individual normally feels racked with guilt, knowing that they have gained nothing but weight.

Autor: Karen Fullick Karen Fullick
Level: Basic PLUS
My name is Karen, I am happily married to Malcolm and we have a great son called Sam. I have been a successful business woman ... ...

My name is Karen, I am happily married to Malcolm and we have a great son called Sam. I have been a successful business woman for many years and I now own and run my own company.

Like many of you I work and run the family home, arrange our social life and do everything to ensure we live life to the full. Well nearly everything, as up until recently there has always been something holding me back - yes you've guessed it - My Weight!

I have written a series of reports documenting my weight loss journey in which time I qualified as a Nutritional Therapist and made an amazing discovery to Fast, Effortless, Permanent, Weight Loss.

To receive your free reports click on the following link:
http://www.freetheslimyou.com
karen@freetheslimyou.com

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

Emotional Eater - How Do You Know?

Emotional eating is very common in today's society. Emotional eaters overeat to compensate for the day-to-day pressures of modern living. Food has become a way of helping us to balance our feelings and whilst in moderation this is not a bad thing, it has an adverse effect on our health if taken to extreme.

Identifying if you are an emotional eater is essential, as ignoring this leads to obesity and other health related illnesses.

To find out whether you are an emotional eater, answer the following questions.

• Do you reach for food at the first sign of stress
• Do you overeat when you are sad
• Do you eat from the fridge between meals whilst thinking of something else
• Do you reach for a snack when angry
• Do you devour a bar of chocolate in seconds to calm yourself downDo you
• When something good happens do you celebrate by eating
• When socialising at your home, do you more often than not offer food
• Is food the first thing that comes to mind when you are emotional
• Is food on your mind most of the time
• Do you see food as a form of energy to survive or as comforter

If you have answered yes to one of these questions you are probably an emotional eater. If you have answered yes to 3 or more you are definitely an emotional eater.

It is possible to break the habit of emotional eating. Awareness is the key to taking the first step into gaining control.

Autor: Karen Fullick Karen Fullick
Level: Basic PLUS
My name is Karen, I am happily married to Malcolm and we have a great son called Sam. I have been a successful business woman ... ...

My name is Karen, I am happily married to Malcolm and we have a great son called Sam. I have been a successful business woman for many years and I now own and run my own company.

Like many of you I work and run the family home, arrange our social life and do everything to ensure we live life to the full. Well nearly everything, as up until recently there has always been something holding me back - yes you've guessed it - My Weight!

I have written a series of reports documenting my weight loss journey in which time I qualified as a Nutritional Therapist and made an amazing discovery to Fast, Effortless, Permanent, Weight Loss

To receive your free reports click on the following link:
http://www.freetheslimyou.com
karen@freetheslimyou.com

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

What Are the Dangers in Suffering From Bulimia?

While some people may not know it, there are dangers in bulimia that can cause a person permanent damage physically and may even cause death. This eating disorder is not something to scoff at since there have been people who have died due to the effects that their constant binging and purging brought about. What dangers are there to be found in bulimia?

Bulimia is a disorder where a person tries to keep himself or herself within a specific body weight or figure that they want without having to diet. A person with bulimia usually eats and eats then compensates for what they eat by purging themselves of it with the use of laxatives and diuretics or by vomiting what they just ingested. Some people think that there is no harm in this since vomiting is a natural reflex of the body when something undesirable in is the stomach. Vomiting is okay if the stomach does purge itself of something that should not be there. Doing it purposefully and constantly to avoid the absorption of nutrients from the food that is ingested just to avoid gaining weight is not okay.

When you force yourself to vomit whatever it is you eat, you are forcing up and out of your body more than just the food you ate. You are forcing out stomach acids as well. Since stomach acids are strong enough to break down the food that you take in, imagine the damage it can do to the throat, the teeth and the gums that it comes in contact with. With every forced vomit you make, you expose your throat, your teeth and even your heart to the acids that belong in your stomach and these strong acids will damage these other parts of your body.

Other dangers in bulimia you can expect include damage to your stomach through the eruption of ulcers and possible dehydration. When you eat and the food reaches your stomach, you are signaling it to produce the acids that will break down the food that is there. When you force the food out of your stomach, you will be leaving your stomach with acids that have nothing to dissolve. The result? These acids will end up dissolving the lining of your stomach which will then result in stomach ulcers.

The dangers in bulimia do not only revolve around physical aspects. Bulimic patients also find that they suffer from certain psychological problems as well. Feelings of low self esteem, depression and anxiety over weight gain and how they look are often what people with bulimia suffer. They often live with the feeling of guilt which includes guilt over eating too much, guilt over not looking good enough and guilt over throwing up what they ate.

All of these dangers in bulimia can cause a person to suffer greatly, both physically and mentally. If this problem is left untreated, a person may suffer more than just a sore throat or a few damaged teeth and a bruised ego. When bulimia is left untreated, a person may suffer a heart attack and find themselves in a hospital or worse.

Autor: Julie Swane

Learn more about bulimia recovery and the different treatments available by visiting Bulimia Recovery.

Added: September 25, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Can Eating Disorders Affect Men?

How common are eating disorders among men?

It is often stated that one in ten people with eating disorders are men. However, recent figures from the NHS Information Centre suggested the real figure is actually much higher, with 700,000 men being registered as having some form of disorder to do with their weight and eating, a quarter of the total number of people affected.

While it is difficult to be exact in terms of numbers, it is clear that there are many men who hide their eating disorder and do not seek help. This is because many men feel eating disorders are a 'female' condition and this shame is combined with the guilt and secrecy common to all disorders of this nature. In men, they typically develop between the age of 14 and 25, but it is a condition that can occur at any age.

How do they develop in men?

Eating disorders in men have many of the same causes as eating disorders in women. There will certainly be a number of different causes and these may include childhood trauma, family difficulties, stressful life events, low self esteem, personality factors and genetic predisposition. The eating disorder becomes a way of expressing difficult feelings which the individual cannot cope with.

Eating disorders in men can be expressed in a different way to eating disorders in women - men and boys may be more preoccupied with having a muscular physique than losing weight. Male disorders are often closely linked with exercise and can initially seem to be healthy, masking the underlying problem. For example, sudden weight loss may seem the result of a training programme for a marathon or triathlon. Equally, there is also evidence that men are facing similar pressures to women in terms of conforming to an unrealistic body shape, projected by celebrities, sportsmen and models. Studies have shown increasing numbers of men feel dissatisfied with their own bodies and this dissatisfaction and anxiety can develop at young age.

Risk factors

Some of the same risk factors known to apply to women seem to also apply to men and there are others which are more specific to men. In common with women, the most important factor is unresolved distress and trauma, which is expressed in an eating disorder. But some groups seem to be at a greater risk:

Men who have been overweight, bullied or teased about their weight

Taking part in a sport which demands a specific body shape, for example athletes and jockeys are at a higher risk

A study carried out by the national charity Beat found 20 per cent of men with eating disorders are gay, making up twice the proportion of gay men in the population as a whole.

Men working in a job or profession in which an idealised body image is very dominant. Male models, actors, and general entertainers seem to be at higher risk than the general population.

The treatment of men with eating disorders

Many eating disorders can be effectively treated without the need for admission to hospital or a specialist unit. People with bulimia normally respond well to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and there is a programme of CBT for people with eating disorders which is very well established and successful. People with anorexia and those with complex bulimia need to be assessed and helped in a specialist treatment unit. Treatment will involve a programme of therapy, normally with a significant emphasis on family therapy if the patient is an adolescent and psychotherapy for adults, combined with nutritional support.

Autor: Jenny Hudson

Jenny Hudson is an experienced health journalist, whose articles are regularly published in national newspapers and magazines. For more information about Newbridge House which is an eating disorder clinic

Added: September 23, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Bulimia Eating Disorder - When People Misuse Food

Bulimia is yet another eating disorder reality and one of the fastest growing neuroses in the western world. Unlike anorexia which is a very visible as serious disease, bulimia is a master of disguise and characterized by binging and purging behaviors. The person who face this type of disorder usually consume or eat a lot of food at once and then try to get rid of the excessive food either by vomiting, using laxatives or even sometimes by over-exercising.

In addition to this, person with bulimia eating disorder is preoccupied with his or her weight and body image.These days this type of eating disorder is most common in adolescent and young adult women. This type of eating disorder might appear a tiny factor in their early stages, but with the passage of time it may develop and produce numerous negative effects. Though the exact and real cause of bulimia is not known, there are various factors that appear to cause its development, like:

• As per recent studies, it has been found that eating disorders occur more frequently in relatives of people with bulimia than in others. This incidence appears to be related to genetics, but family influences may also be important.
• Researchers have even recommended that altered levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain also play a major role. Serotonin levels are usually interrelated to the development of clinical depression.

Effects of Bulimia

If we talk about the effects of Bulimia then we can see that the repeated loss of fluids and nutrients caused by bulimia can render a body useless. The sufferer may also feel fatigue and apathy. It may even lead to casualty, if the disease is not taken care of. The functioning power of internal organs can be severely disrupted by bulimia and more likely an organ may fail to work.

Symptoms of Bulimia

Bulimia may affect the whole body of the person and so it becomes very important to identify its warning signs, like-

• Extra obsession with calories and food
• Routine use of different medicines to control weight of body
• Unusual swelling around the jaw
• Over concern about body weight even if the person is not overweight
• Damaged tooth enamel & bad breath
• Sore throat or mouth sores

In addition to all this, people with bulimia might complain of general weakness, abdominal pain and loss of menstrual cycles. Sometimes, they might also complain of vomiting or diarrhea without telling that it is self-induced.

Treating Bulimia

Bulimia treatments should be followed strictly, if possible it must start from the early stages of the condition. Early treatment is very important, because if a person tries to delay in treating this eating disorder, excessive eating behavior pattern might further become more deeply ingrained and harder to change.

Today many people suffering from Bulimia are treated by psychologists without being admitted to the hospital until a severe physical complication requires hospitalization. Therapies like Individual therapy, combined with group therapy and family therapy are new way of treating Bulimia eating disorder. These days often counseling combined with the use of antidepressant medication are widely practiced for treating Bulimia eating disorder.

Apart from all this, as per recent observation it has been found that people with bulimia are more likely to have vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Moreover, vitamin deficiencies can result cognitive difficulties such as poor judgment or memory loss. Getting enough vitamins and minerals in daily diet or through supplements can correct the problems and reduce symptoms.

Bulimia is usually a long-term disease, and so it also becomes very important for an individual who are suffering from Bulimia check his or her weight, exercise habits, and physical and mental health periodically.

Autor: Manoj Tiwari

Kildare Street Clinic is a specialized eating disorder treatment center in Ireland. Get effective Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for treatment of Bulimia nervosa, Anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders.

Added: September 21, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Ways to Define Eating Disorders

There are many ways to define eating disorder. The term caters to both spectrums of unhealthy diet practices and choices. Individuals who have eating disorders are more generally classified as having a mental disorder wherein the self is being conditioned to react to certain significant events than just being physically unable to ingest food.

It Starts With Satiety

Any person who becomes hungry feels discomfort and uneasiness, and one of the most satisfying forms of comfort may be attributed to the satiety brought about by a full stomach. However, some people who have had different experiences resort to seeking comfort through the same method even when the reaction required for such stimuli may be addressed by other coping mechanisms.

Eating disorders in this regard becomes the sole coping mechanism for these individuals who have fixed their thoughts on the notion that by eating, or by not eating would they find peace of mind and justification for their actions.

Different Causes, Different Possibilities

There are eating disorders that are brought about by physical anomalies wherein reabsorption of nutrients is not sufficient, and that it results to malnourishment. However, the context in this regard would describe the psychological characteristics.

Psychological Dilemma

It may be viewed as a psychologically influenced disease in which the person has either an extreme aversion or affinity to food, therefore producing unhealthy outcomes. Psychiatrists and psychologists have linked the occurrence of eating disorders to people's respective pasts, or an immediate reaction to a big event of which practice may develop into a long term manifestation.

The Past Influence On The Present Practice

It is usually said that people who had a bad experience in the past, more specifically being deprived of attention and love resort to an overeating complex. This may be attributed to the psychological view that eating in abundance gives a false self comfort of being taken care of. This overeating may be considered as a withdrawal from the unpleasant experience as the individual creates an altered state of self comfort and concern.

On the other hand, there are cases wherein too much of unpleasant moments have transformed the individual to a state of helplessness, and depletion of one's self esteem. From here, the person may resort to an overactive reaction to eating to please the self through other's approval. Individuals who are trapped in this predicament usually develop an aversion to eating to be able to maintain a socially accepted body figure.

The influence of the media and peers also highly contribute to a person's view on eating. A relatively fat person constantly laughed at and ridiculed may either develop a passive, withdrawal reaction and increase eating to further compensate the depression brought upon by others or a proactive stand wherein an over reaction of not ingesting food on purpose is practiced to attain a desirable figure.

Anorexia Nervosa

People who have these eating disorders are usually classified into three main categories. There are those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, whose main characteristics involve purposely starving one's self just to prevent having a distorted view of body image. This is the psychological term used for anorexia, the latter being merely a physical condition. People suffering from this mental disorder may be seen as being overly thin and undernourished individuals who are at risk of starving to death.

Persons who have this disease would rather not eat at all and would always find satisfaction that their hunger and extremely thin bodies justify their fears of not being ridiculed by society.

Bulimia Nervosa

This characteristic is diagnosed to people who eat a lot during a single meal and undergoes a guilty feeling of having ingested too much, and later on induces vomiting just to expel the food which has already started to be digested already. The succeeding event of vomiting would justify and give a sense of satisfaction that they would not have to get fat.

This type of individuals may also develop deviant attitude as they may resort to low will power of giving in to temptation and later on perform an act of goodwill just to justify their previous wrong doing.

Binge Eating

This is a trait most commonly found in people who have lived a deprived past. In this state, any lack of self sufficiency and other insecurities are directed towards eating, with a notion that through excessive ingestion of food would there be self sufficiency. The logical flow of thinking for people in this state ends with the thought that having an excessive meal compensates for the other aspects lacking in their lives.

Autor: Monalisa Noya

Get more information about this on Eating Disorders Blog

Monalisa Noya, Author of Eating Disorders and Free Tips Making Money From Internet

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

Millions of People Each Year Fall Victim to Bulimia and Anorexia

In today's world, health and well-being has become a major issue not only among Americans; it's safe to say the entire world has at least become more conscious of healthy living. Diet and exercise has become increasingly popular as more and more people choose to become healthier. Not only are people wanting to feel better they are also wanting to look better. While most people choose more convenient ways to lose weight, others choose more extreme and radical ways to melt the pounds off. Plastic surgery has easily become the fastest and easiest to lose weight fast. Although this avenue can be effective it can also be very dangerous.

Some people become so obsessed with their appearance that they often have one or more surgeries each time finding something new and different to change the way they look. Then there are those who don't have a ton of money to spend on surgeries so they use even more dangerous methods to shed the pounds. Bulimia and anorexia are just two examples of dangerous ways to lose weight. Among Americans 2 -6% of Americans each year will be diagnosed with some form of eating disorder. That means 5 -16 million people in the U.S. alone will receive these diagnosis. No matter how you look at it there is only one safe way to lose weight and that's though diet and exercise. But what diet and exercise program is right for you?

This is where extensive reach and knowing your body comes into play. There are tons and tons of different programs and supplements out there that promise results with minimal effort but, is that the road you really want to take? The facts are diets can work but, only if you choose the one that is right for you. You must also incorporate the right exercise program and then stay with. Using the program for only short while does help you reach your goal. Another misconception is that they weight will somehow disappear in a matter of days. Although you can see results right away it is false to think you can "slow down" or " take a break" once you start. You have to keep going it's the only way to see real results.

With all that we put our self through to become a thinner version of our former selves the choice is simple diet and exercise are key. Without either we're just dogs chasing our tails.

Autor: Dameon Smith

D. Smith
Join the millions of others who have decided to take the challenge of living a healthier life. For more information visit http://www.poundpeelers.com

Added: September 18, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Reversing Short Or Long Eating Disorder Relapse

I'm in the middle of attending a fascinating and inspiring conference at UCLA this week end. It's "Adult Attachment in Clinical Context: Applications of the Adult Attachment Interview." Superb and gifted researchers and clinicians are gathered to discuss and share information on the latest neuroscience findings, the reasons why humans bond or do not bond well with each other, how human relationships can harm and heal, and the powerful healing force of human love, compassion, stability, flexibility and reliability.

As I participate in this conference, surrounded by clinicians dedicated to learning and fostering healing, I feel richly held. I am free to let my mind relate what I'm hearing and learning to people who, in some way, live with the experience of eating disorders. Here's what I've come up with after two days of the conference. Perhaps more will emerge after tomorrow, the last day.

Changing Our Brains
The joyous or painful or frustrating reality is that we humans can destroy, create, and change neural functioning in our brains. In other words, we can improve. We can deteriorate. We can change - for better or worse. The research coming out of neuroscience provides evidence that particular circumstances over time can alter brain activity and even brain structure. See Dan Siegel's work and Allan Schore's writings.

Power of Love and Kindness
The good news is that a durable, kind and informed relationship with a trustworthy and stable person over a considerable period of time will actually create conditions where a person's brain can change for the better. This is one of the great and wonderful powers of long term, in depth psychotherapy with a trustworthy and focused psychotherapist. This is also why loving, trustworthy, stable, reliable and empathic parents produce secure, loving and self confident children. This is also why a loving, trustworthy, stable, reliable and empathic aunt or uncle or grandparent or teacher or neighbor can contribute to building a secure base in a child who has problematic parents. Love and kindness as well as focused attention and knowledge creates an environment in which new ways of seeing the world can become permanent. The developing child or the adult patient not only develops trust for the parents or the therapist. She actually develops the capacity to trust, to be more optimistic, to recognize good opportunities and act on them.

Power of Negative Influence

We can also put ourselves in circumstances that destroy trust, not only in a relationships but in the brain's ability to trust at all. One of the tenets of 12 step programs is: stay away from lower companions. The people around us affect our sense of ourselves and our brain functioning.

Stress and Relapse

In a stressful environment where fear, pain, ridicule, shame and unpleasant surprise are continual, we will adapt in ways to care for ourselves. If you are a person with a history of an eating disorder or an active eating disorder this can mean going back to old coping mechanisms like binging, purging, "spacing out" and hiding. You can also reinforce this negative condition yourself by pummeling your mind with negative critical judgments about yourself. This too affects neural pathways, synaptic connections and your view of the world. This can reinforce eating disorder thinking and behaviors.

Difficulty in Getting Relapse Recovery Help In such a state you will find great difficulty in recognizing opportunities for help. Even if you do recognize such opportunities you may lack the trust and self esteem to reach out and ask for help. The longer this situation lasts the more ingrained your eating disorder style of living will become.

Meaning of Relapse
The return of eating disorder behaviors or feelings or both signal that either new growth is necessary or achieved progress is undermined. This is a time for you to look for relationships, behaviors and circumstances around you which are negative, isolating, critical, demanding, frightening or composed of unrelenting stress. The return of the eating disorder is an attempt to cope with these circumstances. Noticing them is the beginning of restoring your recovery path.

Effect of Short Term Negativity

If you experiences harsh negative circumstances momentarily genuine recovery will stand. If you experiences such circumstances for a longer period, you will be stressed but can most likely rely on your newly internalized strengths and self confidence powered by your more developed neural mechanisms.

Effect of Long Term Routine Negativity
But, if you experiences such circumstances as part of a new normal routine in your life, regular and unrelenting, your brain can adapt to the situation and create entrenched patterns. What begins as a temporary state can become a permanent trait. Here we have the relapse stretching out into what seems an intractable way of living and being.

Relapse Recovery

However, even if this happens you can still take action to put yourself in a loving, kind, healing environment where you can once again allow your heart, mind and brain circuitry to heal and develop along the pathway to health.

Yes, a relapse, even a long relapse, can be reversed. It's truly amazing and wonderful to learn how putting ourselves in relationships filled with love, compassion, empathy and focused attention will not only allow us to build good feelings but actually change ingrained patterns of negative feelings thoughts and action. We can help each other evolve, even at the neural level, toward health.

Who would have thought neuroscience would bring such a message, backed by scientific evidence, of hope and loving direction? This is powerful and important information to keep close at hand during anyone's eating disorder recovery journey.

(In addition to Siegel and Schore's work, I recommend, for those who are up for some heavy reading, The Development of the Person. When Drs June and Alan Sroufe discuss their research following individuals from before birth to To their 30's I'm always inspired and feel heart felt appreciation for them and their work.

Autor: Joanna Poppink Joanna Poppink
Level: Basic
My name is Joanna Poppink, and I have thought of myself as a writer since I was eight years old. When I was 13 I ... ...

Joanna Poppink, MFT
psychotherapist in private practice specializing in eating disorder recovery
Eating Disorder Recovery book in progress through Conari Press
10573 West Pico Blvd. #20
Los Angeles, CA 90064
http://www.eatingdisorderrecovery.com
joanna@poppink.com

Added: September 16, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How Therapy Or Counseling Can Help Someone Get Away From Binge Eating

Binge eating is an eating disorder that doesn't get as much attention as disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. However, it doesn't mean that binging isn't dangerous or that it only affects a few people. The truth is that the disorder affects millions of people. Most of those people are obese because of the disorder, because unlike bulimics, those who binge eats do not purge or vomit their food. If you know someone who is suffering from the disorder, then it is best that you help him or her get medical help.

However, before we proceed on ways to treat the disorder, we must first know what it is.

As previously mentioned, binge eating is a disorder. People who have this disorder find themselves ingesting huge or disproportionate amounts of food; often without having control of their eating. Below are other symptoms of the disorder. People who have this disorder eat:

* Even when full
* To the point when it even becomes painful
* In a rapid or successive manner
* Alone because of embarrassment due to the amount of food being eaten
* Lastly, feeling guilty or depressed after eating a huge amount of food

How then can you help someone who you know suffers from this disorder? The best way to help them would be by encouraging them to seek therapy or counseling. Here are some examples:

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - this method teaches the patients to recognize patterns in their eating that lead to binging and ways on how to avoid them.
* Interpersonal Psychotherapy - this method focuses on the relationship of the patient with other people to see if the disorder may have its roots there.
* Self Help Groups - this form of therapy focuses on the power of support and encouragement from other patients.

Encourage a friend or family member to get help through therapy or counseling. It definitely is the best for their health and even their lives.

Autor: Harold McDaniels

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

Overeating and Binging Again? How Do You Get Out of a Downward Spiral?

Seriously, let me get this off my chest and let you off the hook at the same time: If you are recovering from a food related issue such as overeating or binging, it's not a good idea to promise yourself that you will NEVER fall again. It's not so much IF we fall, but rather WHEN we fall. Victory over this disorder does not lay in the "not falling" but rather in the "getting up".

All of the people around you that seem to have it so together and make huge successes of their lives have learned only ONE thing that you didn't: how to get up!

We live in such a broken world, and yes it's not fair that we have to carry our cross on our hips (literally) while others hide theirs under their tiny sweaters, but we all struggle with something. Everybody has bad days and everybody falls!

If you have an eating disorder or struggle with food addiction you need to realize that recovery is a journey, and yes, the journey can be long and exhausting.

In spite of great victories and years without sugar you might find yourself in front of the freezer, eating ice cream straight from the tub when life throws you a curve ball.

Now don't think for a minute that I don't believe in miraculous healing. I believe that God can and will heal you from food addiction in an instant if He so chooses. However, if His will for you is to walk out your journey to freedom, then I would advise you to not live in denial, but rather arm yourself for the journey. To say "I will never, ever, ever fall for that again" is just setting yourself up for failure, self condemnation, guilt and shame.

So now that we've established that you and I are not the only ones with wobbly legs, the question remains: How do you get up?

What is the first thing that comes to mind after you have fallen and your eating is spiraling out of control? I'm not talking about the pre-fall-stage where you're still toying with a bite of this here and a morsel of that there, because at that point you might still feel that you have things under control. No, I'm talking about the flat-on-you-face-stage where you know you've once again lost all control, you binged for one week straight, all you can think of is your next meal and you've easily gaining five to ten pounds. When you hit that place, you know you're on your knees, you don't wonder anymore.

Usually I experience the following emotions and thoughts after a fall: First guilt, then shame, followed by it's evil twin; self condemnation. Then I usually I start looking around for someone to blame. In the end despair and hopelessness will sweep over me, and the enemy will whisper in my ear "You will never overcome this, you might as well give up."

I know all to well how intense these emotions of hopelessness can be and therefor I want to reach out my hand to you in your place of despair and tell you: Victory is not far away, but you have to act quickly!

The enemy can gain so much ground in our lives if we stay down. The longer you stay in that place the deeper you will sink. That place where you have fallen can change into a pit of captivity that can be your home for the next few months or even years.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

1. Don't look for a diet. Resist the urge to go on the internet and read up for hours on the latest diets out there. You will end up eating stacks of food while trying to find a "quick-fix" that does not exist.

2. Don't go over every little detail trying to figure out how it happened. It probably happened gradually and you can not change the past. Rather spend you energy on getting up and moving forward.

3. Don't blame your husband, your kids, your friends, my program! or God for your fall. Okay if you have to blame someone, start with the devil and then take responsibility. The blame game will just ruin your relationships and keep you laying down longer...

WHAT TO DO:

1. Always get back to basics! Diets don't work, pills don't work, excessive exercise doesn't work, and starvation just ends in binging and purging. So throw out those Chinese foods and chocolates and go stock up on vegetables, fruit, lean meats, granola bars for those weak moments and oatmeal for those carb cravings. Make a few salads, cut up some fruit and cook a chicken to be prepared for the first three tough days. You only need that first day of victory to turn this thing around! You might have a week of working it up to that first day, and that's okay, but keep trying until you get there...

2. Take it to God: Number One will not work if you don't give it over to God! Living healthy is just another diet if you don't surrender it to God! Believe me, after a fall you need a good cry before God. You might not know it, but at this point you might be avoiding God because you are so ashamed and you might be disappointed in Him for letting you down, again.

Tell God how you feel, it's not He who fails us, but He does understand that we feel that way sometimes, because He so understands our human nature. Not only did He create you dear sister, He became flesh and although He never sinned, He understands. Establishing daily time with God will be the only thing that will help you every time you fall, please trust me on this one!

3. Get moving! You know it, there's no easy way to say it, you have to find a way to get active! Exercise is a huge motivator to eat healthy. It also helps you fight depression and lack of energy that usually accompanies this struggle. Don't make anymore excuses! Never mind how great your obstacle, someone else has a bigger one, and God has an answer. So ask Him to help you find a way to get active DAILY! You can also read lots of free articles on my website about the benefits of exercise, choosing the right exercise for you and what to do if you simply hate exercise.

5. Tell someone! After talking to God about it, tell a friend, a spouse or a counselor that you've fallen. If you don't have anybody, please email me about it. I will be happy to pray for you and encourage you in any way I can. It is so important to tell someone else because there is freedom in getting the truth out there. It also gives us a clean slate to start fresh, and it always helps to be accountable to someone else. Don't let the enemy have a field day because you are to proud to admit that you have fallen. We all fall! I write about all my failures and nose dives on this blog for exactly this reason: To not give any room to the enemy by living a lie, and to encourage you to not to focus on the fall, but immediately get busy with getting up!

Don't keep laying down, it only opens a door for bitterness and unbelief. You don't need those in your life: Your God is Jehova Rapha )the Lord your healer) and he's standing right next to you with his hand extended, just waiting for you to take it, get up, repent, forgive yourself and keep going!

Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)

"for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity".

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 ... ...

For more information about how to stop overeating, binge eating and get food addiction under control please visit my website. I wrote a program for women struggling with food, but also have tons of free information for you about childhood obesity, exercise, different diets out there and much more!

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

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

Bronwen's Way - The Story of How I Overcame 25 years of Anorexia and Bulimia

For years I unknowingly lived in a world that seemed to me to hold nothing but fear. I was afraid of everything; especially myself, but at the time I knew no different. 25 years of Anorexia/Bulimia had become so much part of my life, that it was as unimaginable to live without, as the fear, intense self-hatred and feelings of worthlessness, I had also lived with, for as long as I could remember. I was a bad person so naturally I deserved all the problems and failures that resulted from everything I did.

What hope then had a poor sensitive horse, in a home that was run by someone who appeared to the outside world, to be completely happy and in control, but was inwardly a complete mess, existing each day on a diet of fear, anxiety, doubt, starvation, biscuits, chocolate, endless ice cream and visits to the lavatory to evacuate any food that shouldn't have been there.

Bronwen was truly beautiful, almost black; with a gleaming coat and, the longest eyelashes of any horse I had ever seen. To me, she was huge and quite terrifying, I had had sleepless nights over whether I was doing the right thing getting her at all, and had relented very much against my better judgment. She was to be a companion to the previously unwanted 12.2 chestnut pony that had been given to my 12year old son during one of his many brief but convincing passions; and at 15 hands she was to be there for him to ride, when he outgrew the pony.

Having never owned a horse in my life; with experience that was no more than a reckless, knee gripping out of control gallop or two on an old horse as a child, I was landed with the task of keeping myself from being trampled under foot by two very large animals, that barely acknowledged my existence, let alone treated me with any respect. I did realize very early on that perhaps I should have listened to my grave misgivings, as frankly I hadn't a clue what I was doing and my son was equally useless and lost interest very shortly after Bronwen's arrival. Strangely, it never once occurred to me to reverse my decision and let the horses go, instead I went all out, to learn how to be a responsible and enlightened horse owner; not just your average horse owner, no, my horses were going to be kept with a far greater quality of life than anyone else's; with kindness, sensitivity and an insightful educated knowledge of the world from their viewpoint, not mine.

In theory my plan was flawless, in reality I was in for a shock. In her previous home Bronwen had been a truly biddable, delightful, kind and genuinely well behaved horse, that however all changed instantly, when she found herself being ridden and cared for by a, self-doubting, self hating, fear-filled incompetent like me. From the moment we set eyes on each other she wanted to run as far away from me as she possibly could, while all I wanted, was for her to want to be with me, as passionately as I wanted to be with her. I was shattered; each time I went out into the field to visit her, she would turn tail and head off to furthest corner of her paddock, and when I finally caught up with her, her eyes would harden with fear and she'd strain to get away from me. Nervously I persevered, attempting to tentatively groom her, carefully avoiding her feet altogether for fear of reprisal; entering hopeless struggles with saddles and tack, and darting fearfully out of her stable before she could bolt or squash me against the wall; willing all the time for her to like me, just a little bit, but all this amidst flattened ears and threatening facial expressions. I felt completely devastated, at the same time absolutely convinced that the problem lay with me, she was simply reacting to the inner turmoil that she could see I was experiencing. She was scared of me and I was too. She longed for someone to lead her, and I was failing her miserably.

Weeks of battling went by, disaster followed disaster; when riding she would constantly move away from me when I tried to mount her; spin around in the gateway in a desperate bid to return to the security of her paddock, and if we did manage to actually get through the gate, she would find every opportunity to make her way home as fast as possible, and being stronger, mentally and physically than me, she almost always got her way. I was totally miserable and became completely obsessed with trying to find an answer to the dreadful problems the two of us were experiencing. Finally a possible solution presented itself, my son found the name of a horse whisperer who was prepared to come and help Bronwen and I resolve our differences.

I was so nervous and convinced that I would fail dismally at whatever he tried to teach me, that I almost abandoned the whole idea, only sheer desperation kept me going. I watched in wonder and amazement as this small insignificant little man had Bronwen eating out of his hands within only a few minutes. He barely moved and with the tiniest signals had her moving in circles around him, backing, stepping sideways and listening with both ears and eyes fixed on him attentively the entire time, her eyes never left him, even when she was supposed to be attending to me. His assistant explained to me that he had been communicating with Bronwen in a way that she instantly understood, because it emulated the way horses communicate within the herd.

As they drove away leaving Bronwen and I alone once again, I realized the biggest lesson I had learned was that I had to change the way I approached every moment I spent with her, completely change the way I thought, my beliefs about myself and my negative attitude to everything I ever attempted to do. There is no room for doubt of any kind when dealing with horses, they cannot cope with it; to a horse, where there is doubt there is fear. Changing the thought patterns learned over a life -time was going to be an uphill task and without Bronwen to monitor my progress and encourage me with her loving approval each time I got things right I could never have contemplated such a task. She softened each time she felt I was trying to change, her truly loving nature forgave and rewarded my efforts over and over again. I had put her through hell for almost two months, as I had centered on my own inner fears and inadequacies instead of focusing on hers. It was as though the whole time she had been my ego, her dislike of me reflecting my own self-hatred and her need to run away from me, my own desire to escape from myself.

As the months passed the two us devised ways to completely re-design the destructive thought patterns that had created the self punishing, soul destroying disorder that had over shadowed the vast majority of my life. It was trial and error; sometimes we had a break through and at other times we slipped painfully back into the quagmire of and old damaging thinking. From concentrating purely on myself, my ineffectuality and how worthless and undeserving I was of her regard and respect, I learned to train my mind, through endless discipline and determination to recognize only, the thoughts that really benefited me; the thoughts that remained positive, clear and focused. These thoughts were always the ones that produced the perfect loving results from Bronwen, I had craved for all along.

Learning to overcome the overpowering need to self-destruct, with only the help of Bronwen and the ideas I took from the natural horsemanship experts, who taught me so much about equine psychology, helped me far far more than all the psychiatrists, psychologists and counselors I had seen over the many years. On the way I began to see clearly from what I was learning, that this was a way forward for all the thousands of people out there who suffer as I did, from feelings of anxiety, low self esteem and self- loathing.

Now with the years, my Anorexia/bulimia well behind me and the experience of using my knowledge and skills to help others, I can see how incredibly worthwhile it all was. There was something truly amazing to be gained from that period of my life, without it, I would never have been able to fully appreciate the stark contrast, between living a life of fear and living one of true happiness and fulfillment.

Autor: Joanna Corfield

http://www.hopethruhorses.com
Joanna Corfield Diphyp, Dipcouns, Cert SM.
The combination of horses, counseling and hypnotherapy create a powerful and unique answer to depression, stress, anxiety and related problems, often achieving truly remarkable results.
Hopethruhorses, Equine Involvement Therapies, Oxfordshire.
jo@hopethruhorses.com

Added: September 10, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Anorexia is on the Rise in Older Women - Tips For Coping With the Fear of Aging

European publications report that increasing numbers of older women are being treated for anorexia. Eating disorders have been considered a disease of early adolescents and teenagers. The trend is a dangerous way cope with the fear of aging. Psychologists believe the eating disorder results when pretty older women compare themselves to glamorous celebrities.

Obsessing over appearance is dangerous at any age, yet there's nothing wrong with wanting to look good. Update your wardrobe, throwing caution to the winds. If you've been wearing conservative business or mom attire for the past few decades, step out of that mold. Try something new. One of the most glamorous fashion statements I've ever seen was the English teacher's wife who wore a Christmas ornament in her hair - in May! We can conquer the fear of aging by allowing ourselves to be creative and original in fashion, as in all areas of our lives.

Carl Jung argued that contemporary people experience empty lives because we have lost our sense of the spiritual and ritual significance of our place in the universe. As older women, we can dress stylishly and assume our role as guardians of wisdom - wisdom that we do not have to starve ourselves to be well dressed and look our best.

The London Mail attributes the spike in the eating disorder among older women to unrealistic expectations. Most of us did not have Madonna's body when we were 20, and we are not going to have it now. One of Jung's seven tasks of aging is facing life realistically. Other tasks of successful aging are releasing the concerns of the ego and becoming rooted in a deeper sense of self. Find like-minded people who share your passions in life. That is where our true self confidence originates, not in a mirror.

Other tips for overcoming the fear of aging: Enjoy a bubble bath, an aromatherapy mist, or a massage. Chat on the phone, blog a bit, volunteer and make a difference, learn an art, craft, or a new language. If you can afford it, take a trip somewhere you've always wanted to go. If you can't, take a day trip to someplace you have not visited in your own backyard - ever or recently.

These bromides for successful aging are not cures for anorexia, a serious disorder. Rather, they are prescriptions for reclaiming social values that honor the wisdom and creativity of older women.

Looking good is great; feeling good is better. Sharing your gifts is best of all.

Autor: Enid Sefcovic, Ph.D. Enid Sefcovic, Ph.D.
Level: Basic PLUS
I am a university professor of communication and editor of Fashion After 50 for the older woman....

Enid Sefcovic, Ph.D.
Editor, Fashion After 50
http://www.fashionafter50.com

Added: September 8, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Weight Loss and Binge Eating

Some people suffer from an eating disorder that is somewhat common. For example people who have a bad day, are nervous about something, or just in a bad mood, will binge eat. They will sit in front of the television set and constantly eat. Many times if something bad happens to them such as perhaps losing a job or anything that touches a nerve in emotions there again they will eat.

On the other hand those individuals who are trying to stay on a weight loss program will start to binge eat because he or she is hungry and there's no one to be honest with them about the eating habit.

This type of eating disorder can be taken care of and people don't have to use bad things to eat all the time. However that's exactly what experts claim happens to them. But eating isn't the answer. It would be different if you were eating healthy snacks but most of the time these people are eating chips, candy, cupcakes, and so much more. And if all they do is sit on the sofa watching television then there becomes another problem. No exercise. So naturally the food and the calories are going to make you gain weight.

Binge eating isn't good for anyone. Some places for obese individuals even have support groups for binge eaters and knowing what this disorder does. It makes you eat instead of dealing with pressures and problems without food. No body can expect to be on a weight loss program and be a binge eater. It just doesn't work that way.

Autor: Gabriel J. Adams

Learn how TaiSlim can help you fight binge eating and lose weight - visit http://www.taigoji.com

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

Emotional Eating - Why it Happens How You Can Stop It

Eating to satisfy your emotions occurs because foods tends to give us a happy feeling, a short term sense of fullness and fulfillment, and a sense of satisfaction. Unfortunately this is short lived and many people often find that because the need wasn't met with food - they will seek out the next comfort food and hope this does the job.

The biggest problem with this is that you end up feeling worse than you did in the beginning because you have overeaten and your feelings or emotions have still not been healed. This is one of several reasons many people all over the world have weight issues because they are simply emotional eaters.

So how can you stop yourself form being an emotional eater? First of all you need to ask yourself the honest question whenever you have a desire of craving for a food - is it because you are actually hungry or is it because something has happened that has made you want to reach for that bag of chips?

Recognizing your hunger for what it really is can be quite difficult - especially if you have been an emotional eater for some time. Learn to understand what triggers your need to eat, look at what is happening at this time in your life. Note down the times and days you have these feelings to see if there is some kind of pattern. Make sure your fridge and pantry is stocked with healthy foods, and get plenty of fresh air and exercise.

Lastly an important factor is to seek comfort from someone you can talk to - so instead of turning to food, turn to a trusted friend whenever you feel the need to overeat. Emotional eating is not an easy thing to overcome - in fact it is very difficult. BUT it can be done. By doing as I have mentioned above you will be on your way to successfully and permanently eliminating this problem.

Autor: Jason Toomey

My name is Jason Toomey and I have helped many people overcome their weight issues.

If you are an emotional eater and need help with your weight loss go now to http://www.loosebodyfat.thesecret2greatabs.com for more information.

Added: September 5, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Anorexia Nervosa - Five More Things Not to Do If Your Child Has an Eating Disorder

1. Don't ask your daughter how you can help; she doesn't know or she would tell you. It also communicates that you are just as baffled as she is. Just like with any other issue, she is looking to you for help and direction so find someone who knows what to do and ask them.

2. As you learn the eating disorder lingo, like eating disorder abbreviation is ED, ana is an abbreviation for anorexia, or mia is another word for bulimia; don't over use them. It's almost like these words are a badge of honor and if you use them condescendingly or loosely, your daughter will begin to dismiss you. Some girls don't like the abbreviations at all and it will irritate them greatly if you utilize the lingo with them. Sometimes it is best to ask if you can use these words in discussion or if there are other words she would rather you use to refer to the eating disorder.

3. Try not to over-discuss things. What I mean by this is ask your question or state your concern and wait for a response. Parents often believe if I can just ask the right question or ask it in the right way I will get a response. This often frustrates your child when she is already having difficulty putting words to her thoughts and feelings. Stay away from 20 questions and err on the side of brevity. She will appreciate it and will feel more open to future discussions if she knows she will not be badgered with questions.

4. Don't expect her initially to be able to verbalize how this happened. She won't have an answer and this will add to the guilt she already feels. She may appear on the surface to only feel angry and oppositional about food, but underneath there is a ton of guilt for being a burden and disappointing you.

5. Don't require things of her that she is uncomfortable with in the early stages. Some examples might be forcing her to go to a swimming party when she is so self-conscious in a bathing suit; requiring her to go to a sleepover when they are serving breakfast the next morning. It is okay to offer to pick her up before breakfast if that will help her stay connected with friends. Be flexible early on and know her recovery is a process. It will get easier again as she progresses.

Autor: Lynn A Moore Lynn A Moore
Level: Platinum
Lynn Moore is a licensed psychotherapist, parent coach, educator, and artist. She holds a Masters degree in Counseling and over 25 years experience in the ... ...

Lynn Moore educates, coaches, and consults parents on how to help their adolescent with eating disorder behavior. She will guide you through the treacherous waters of deciding what kind of help you need and what you, the parents need to do and can do to help your child.

Get a copy of my free e-book "Eating Disorder Basics for Parents" at http://www.why-my-daughter.com/

Added: September 3, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Anatomy of a Food Craving Part 2

In part 1 of this article I described the physical and emotional torment caused by a deliberately induced food craving. In the second part of this series, I outline a diary of events covering how I successfully dealt with the craving over a period of one month. By reading these articles it is possible that you too might find some method that helps you manage or eradicate your food cravings and reinforce your commitment to a slimmer and fitter you.

Day 1 - Evening
The same day I bought the crisps and that evening they are uppermost in my mind. A little battle going on in the mind - you have better things to be thinking about. I decided to be mindful of the thoughts and sensations going on in my mind and body. Thinking about the crisps in the press, their colour, texture, how they would feel in my mouth. I noticed my mouth watering. Even the saliva tasted salty!! Then the craving sensation jumped to my stomach where I felt hunger pangs, yet my stomach was full from an earlier meal. It felt even a small bit bloated. I started contemplating that maybe I had ignored my appetite's signal that I had eaten enough. I could feel the waist band of my jeans feeling a small bit tighter, then the sensation went back into my mouth to the increased salivation. So there was a sensation now moving between my mouth and my belly. Using an NLP technique I decided to spin this feeling clockwise first - that tended to increase the intensity of the craving, so I spun the feeling in the opposite direction, faster and larger and hay presto the craving went. This technique took less than a minute to carry out.

Day 2
The next day - evening and I am sitting watching TV relaxing and thinking about the crisps. My mind is jumping from the film to the crisps in the cupboard. I am thinking about all kinds of things, like so what if I eat them, they will be gone then and sure if I don't buy another packet I won't have to worry about this craving again. There is a bit of internal dialogue going on now. Devil on one side- 'go for it'- and conscience on the other side reminding me that this will be one of many crisps, the first of a thousand crisps, even tens of thousands of crisps, cholesterol, fat, lifetime on the hips, health problems, etc. All this dialogue only takes seconds at a time and I know where it's heading if I don't put a stop to it. So I decide to do a thought stopping exercise called white out. It's like having a movie projector in the mind which is playing your thoughts and when the destructive thought comes up on screen you white out the screen. Do it very fast and the results are amazing. Do it repeatedly and even faster each time whenever the craving comes up and you find that you are released from those incessant thoughts about what you want to eat. In fact the white out releases those thoughts and frees up the mind to concentrate on the task in hand which for me at the time was simply watching a film. It could just have easily been writing a report or doing the dishes. Then I watch the real film on TV and watch it mindfully, really being attentive to the storyline, the characters, focusing on sounds and colours. At the advert break I do a quick body scan. It feels good to breathe into my body and sense how I am sitting on the sofa, the way my body contacts it and so on.

No cravings experienced until .....

Morning - day 15
I am at home with a head cold and the crisps are beckoning to me, calling out to me 'you are not feeling well, why not have us to cheer you up?' I think about the crisps, feeling a little bit sorry for myself and thinking it's only one packet and then switch my thoughts to the fit, slim, healthy, dynamic me, without cellulite, who wears her clothes well, who moves well. I not only see in my mind's eye what it is like to stay fit, trim and healthy without this food, I feel it too and I spin that great feeling faster and faster through my body. Before I know it, I have created a goal image of me being even fitter, healthier still and I want to protect this image and refocus on my commitment to me. In my imagination, I look down to my feet and see them in dainty sandals. Zooming up my body, I notice my trim, well muscled legs, the jewel colours of my clothes, my strong arms, my trim waist and so on. I feel happy in my skin. I am surrounded by friends. Laughter vibrates around me and through me. I imagine I am breathing in a sky blue colour into my body (my favourite colour), through my body and this colour is expanding into the room and encasing the whole house. I am in a cocoon of blue. Just as I feel myself almost quivering with the excitement generated from the visualisation, I breathe in a perfect breath of fresh air into my perfect body, and anchor this feeling of confidence and fitness and looking good, feeling good by pressing my forefinger and thumb together. The craving is gone. I decide to go for a walk and every step I take, taking in a good lungful of air, feeling so good, feeling lest congested.

Day 28 and 29
Still opening the cupboard a few times a day to get the teabags out. Crisps still there unopened. Most of the time I don't even see them. I have no desire for them whatsoever. They are in there and I am here. It doesn't matter whether they stay there on the shelf or go into the bin. I have no sensations of craving either in my body or in my mind with the added factor that I don't feel deprived of something I want. I anchor to my positive state periodically throughout the day for no reason at all except to enjoy the buzz of feeling good.

Conclusion
I teach my clients a great number of techniques to manage cravings and other eating related problems. Remember that most people gain weight because of cravings. My clients are empowered to help themselves in times of crisis to use techniques which help them gain control of cravings without them feeling deprived. One of the most important success factors is to have a clear commitment to being and maintaining a slimmer, thinner you. There are other techniques which I could have used on myself - NLP Swish Technique, self-hypnosis, EFT, etc. To manage this issue I used the ones that felt right for me at the time and I encourage my clients to select the tools that suit them. These techniques can be employed very quickly and successfully anywhere. They are easy to use and remember that practice makes perfect and strengthens them.

Autor: Anne Marie Courtney Anne Marie Courtney
Level: Platinum
I am a licensced NLP practitioner through the Irish Institute of NLP and use NLP with my clients to tackle all kinds of issues, including ... ...

Anne Marie Courtney. I am a Homoeopath based in Tralee, Co. Kerry, Ireland and am registered with the Irish Society of Homoeopaths, qualifying from the Irish College of Homoeopathic Medicine. My business is called Integrated Health Therapies and I offer three healing modalities - homoeopathy, hypnotherapy and neuro linguistic programming. My aim is to help my patients or clients in a gentle and safe manner to overcome personal limitations on mental, physical and emotional planes. I am introducing a new weight management programme shortly, for individuals and groups which tackles overeating and cravings, in particular the emotional factors governing negative eating habits. For more information please look at my website http://www.hypnosistralee.com

Added: September 2, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How Do I Overcome Stress Eating?

If you eat when you are experiencing an uncomfortable emotion you know that this leads to consequences you don't want but you don't have to allow stress to influence how or what you eat. This article addresses the question, "How do I overcome stress eating?" by delving into the core of the problem - stress.

Many people think that maintaining a certain level of stress in their life is normal. They even tell themselves that it makes them more efficient and while stress is very prevalent in our society it does not have to stay inside you and eat you up; what you must do is learn how to release your stress in a healthy way.

Now when you are a stress eater this is exactly what you are doing. You are releasing stress by eating. And when you eat carbohydrates or merely overeat you are affecting the brain chemistry which in most cases creates a calming effect.

Therefore stress eating seems to be an effective stress reliever because it takes the edge off and temporarily lowers your stress level, of course it also leads to a whole host of negative effects such as weight gain which you don't want.

But there is a healthier way to release your stress so you don't feel a need to eat and that is by simply letting it go.

What we fail to realize is that stress, anxiety, fear or any emotion is just a feeling and any emotion no matter how long you have felt it, no matter how much you feel you deserve to feel it or how justified you feel the emotion is you can simply choose to let it go.

To do this simply allow yourself a moment to fully feel the stress you are experiencing and then consciously ask yourself if you could let it go. Since that stress you are feeling is not physically attached to you, you will find that you can simply let it float out of you in the instant you make the decision to stop holding on to it.

What you will discover hiding underneath that stress is a sense of calm and when the stress is gone there is no longer the drive to eat.

If you have been asking yourself, "How do I overcome stress eating?" Why not do a little experiment on yourself and practice letting go of the stress that is leading to the eating. You will find that your desire to eat dissolves away.

Autor: Dr. Becky Gillaspy

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Then I would like to share with you how you can Think and Grow Thin!

This 20+ page FREE report will help you create a new perspective on weight loss so you can break free of your old patterns. For your FREE copy please Click On This Link

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