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If You Struggle WIth Food Addiction…

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If you struggle with food addiction, like I did, then please read on.  It feels so freeing to say those words…. “did”. ahhhhhh!

When you struggle with something your whole life, and you are able to say “did”, you totally get how freeing that is, right?

If you are struggling with any stronghold today, you know, how desperate you are for that “light-bulb” moment to happen in your own life.  For, you, dear sister, to say…. “I use to struggle with that, but the Lord has indeed, cut the chains!”
I say “light-bulb” moment… because that is what I had last week.  I wrote a post…

If you missed that post, you might want to go read it when you are done here.
Anyways, that was my “light-bulb” moment with regard to FOOD. (FYI: I’ve actually lost 5 lbs since that post).

Did you know, that when you have food addiction, it is very similar to any other addiction (drugs, alcohol, etc)?

Like a body demanding heroin for its balance, the body will crave sugar, salt and fat. Take candy from a sugar junkie, and look out!
Scientists are discovering that psychological addiction has a common factor. All mood-altering drugs elevate levels of the neurotransmitter in the brain, called dopamine. Tobacco, cocaine, heroin and caffeine elevate dopamine levels and cause a feeling of euphoria.
Food can be used to medicate our feelings. Its pleasure gives a predictable lift. When we feel cranky, tired or lonely, food offers comfort. A comfort on which we can depend. A comfort that brings peace in an emotional storm. However, the reliance on food or any substance to feel better forms dependence.
The pleasure offered by mood-altering drugs and food can easily become our security blanket. An emotional crutch that makes us weaker by leaning on it.  Each time we use it, natural emotional responses deteriorate, and the addict becomes emotionally dependent on the pleasure to control mood. Triggers that will activate emotions, becoming powerful urges to repeat that behavior.
As to not bore some of you with biological/scientific facts I will move on…
…back to my “light-bulb” moment last week…
I say “light-bulb”… but what is a light-bulb moment?  Isn’t it a culmination of life-events that are all wrapped up into one “Ahhhh Haaaa” moment? 
What I’m NOW realizing about food:
– I don’t need it to be happy
– I can choose to have a good day, with or without good food.
– I feel so much better when I don’t feel gorged with food!
– I love to make healthier choices about what I put into my body!
– I love having the God-given “will-power” to say no to that extra bite, that extra plate, that extra heaping pile of chips!
– I love not letting food control me, but allowing myself to control what I put into my mouth.
– I love experiencing the freedom of NOT BEING dependent on food!

I read a post this morning by Angie Smith.  She wrote very candidly about Lot’s wife turning back… what happened when she turned back?  

She turned to salt!  I don’t want to look back anymore!  I want to look forward, bathed in grace and mercy… and never be dependent upon food for emotional pleasure again!  Do you?  I will close this post with a quote from Angie’s post, Pillar.  I LOVE IT!


“I want you to know I am praying for you as I write-asking the Lord to remind you tonight that there is a reason you have left that life behind.

It has been swallowed by grace, friend. And you need not miss what He has for you by believing there is something worth going back for. Leave it be. The Lord has told you where to go and it’s time to walk. Eyes straight ahead, tangled in the spectacular love of a Savior who wants nothing less for you than the summit. And as you stare at what might have been, you are immobilized, unable to bring Him the glory He deserves. And also, He might make you salt. Just saying.”
 

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Comments

  2. THANK YOU Traci for being so honest and vulnerable about this. I have to admit that you don’t even have to be overweight to struggle with food addiction. I am a fairly thin person but I often use food as comfort, especially when I am alone/tired… which is often now that I am a stay-at-home mom!

    Since I can keep weight off pretty easily, it is easy for me to ignore that I am not eating healthy… but overweight or not, eating healthy and exercising are SO good for you and necessary for stewardship of your body. I recently read an article on Mark Driscoll’s website The Resurgence talking about how an overweight person who exercises is still healthier than a thin person who never exercises. I think it’s the same way with eating. It’s not about my looks (although I do want to look good for my husband), it’s about taking care of the body God has given me.

    The problem is really spiritual. I can replace food with something else that isn’t fattening, like coffee or the computer, but I need to replace it with dependence on my Lord.

  3. What a beautiful, powerful post! I am rejoicing with you and the FREEDOM you are experiencing! Thank you for your authenticity and transparency. God is being glorified through you big~time!!!
    Blessings to you~
    Cindy 🙂

  6. Thank you Traci, needed to hear this today….feeling a bit guilty because food has become my comfort and I know better than that !!!
    Esther

  7. I am breaking my chains! God has spoken loudly, clearly and dearly to me over the last two days, and I am soooo excited and touched! I am going to say “did” before you know it!

  8. Traci, this is such good news!
    You make me cry child…I’m so happy for you.
    The enemy will attack, so stay strong Honey!
    It is so easy for me to ” Live to eat” rather than to ” Eat to live” so thank you!
    I love you tons
    Mom

  9. What a beautiful post.
    I wish that I will soon have that “light bulb” moment and join you in walking in that freedom from food addiction.

  10. I fall into the “I need chocolate during PMS to survive” category.

    YIKES!!!!

    Great job Traci on the 5lbs. Hollah!

    We struggled when we first went vegan… there were so many foods that we had to say good bye to- but now… looking back… they were things that we certainly didn’t need!!!

  12. I am in tears…I struggle with this everyday. I realized in my last diet attepmt that it’s not that I am overly hungry, it is I always have the desire to be full. Not satified, but full. And when I diet and I limit the food I take, my hunger is satisfied, but without that “full” feeling I am still empty, still looking, still wanting. Then I realized while doing a Bible study by Beth Moore called “Breaking Free” that I need to turn to God to be filled, not food. And the food is my idol. Sigh. What a battle.

  13. Hey Traci!

    Thanks for sharing this..so so so many women struggle with this. I was no the opposite end of this struggle awhie back. But haven’t looked back since- so not worth it!

  14. Traci, you are such a good writer and this is an amazing post. Thanks for being so honest and taking the time to write such touching things 🙂 Love you,
    Christy

  15. Amazing Grace…my chains are gone.. the Chris Tomlin version has such different meaning when you understand that the chains have been cut off and your are free doesn’t it?
    I love what you shared… I find that when I do look back and start to try and open that door again to food addiction, the door is locked…it doesn’t work anymore. I am so glad that God has closed that door, and taken the “numbing” affect of food away, because it actually forces me to continue in that forward moving motion.

    Way to go, my friend! Love you!