Why Can’t I Eat Like Normal People?
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why can’t I eat like normal people?” For many years I didn’t understand how some people could control their eating. You know, those people who don’t finish their meals. They seem to always leave some food on their plates!
These people are called, “normal” eaters. They can eat food in moderation. They’re not thinking of food most of the day until they are hungry. Normal eaters rarely snack throughout the day and food is usually not calling their names.
They simply amazed me. Some of them would forget to eat! I can’t even imagine that!
“Normal” Eaters Handle Life Issues Differently
I’m sure “normal” eaters use other crutches to deal with their feelings and emotions. Some handle the stresses of life by shopping, gambling, pornography, or drugs. Everyone has some way of how they deal with stress, insecurities, sadness, and fear.
Since I’ve had issues with eating addictively for years, I don’t remember when I first realized that I wasn’t a “normal” eater. I guess I got the inclination when I kept gaining weight and other girls didn’t. Of course, I’d go on diets and lose the weight, but I could never, ever keep it off.
My normal reaction to life was to eat. It really didn’t have to be something big, I could just be bored, and I’d want something to eat. I was drawn to sweets and bread in particular. Sugar and flour were my “drugs” of choice.
For years, I never knew that flour and sugar were addictive. I only knew that they made me feel better, temporarily. Now that I know that these substances act like a drug my in body, I have to stay away from them.
The Addictive Brain
There have been MRI studies done that show when people who are addicted to sugar consume sweets, their brain lights up in the same areas as a person who is addicted to cocaine. It causes dopamine (the feel-good hormone) to be released into the brain.
Although this is shocking, it is further evidence as to how addictive sugar can be for some people. Flour is also addictive. It’s a refined carbohydrate (white flour, white bread, white rice, pastries, etc.) which turns into sugar in our bodies.
Flour and sugar are added to all kinds of processed foods.
So, as a recovering addictive eater, I have accepted that I am not a “normal” eater and it’s ok. I now know how to live a healthy lifestyle. The way that I eat has afforded me to live in my right-sized body for the past 10 years, which is a true miracle.
I had dieted for over 40 years because I didn’t know that I was addicted to flour and sugar, and I didn’t know that there was a solution. I am so grateful to God that I’ve found it. I want others to find a way out of the diet maze as well.
If you are struggling with food in any way, please consider getting help. Find out more by accessing my resource page for more information.
I hope this blog post was of help to you. Please leave a comment with your thoughts.
Cynthia
