What if I’m overeating on healthy foods?

What to do if you’re overeating healthy low-carb foods? How do you start intermittent fasting if you’re a food addict? And what to do about night-time snacking?

These and other questions are answered this week by our food-addiction expert, Bitten Jonsson, RN:

Overeating on high fat

Dear Bitten,

Ro1

Ro1 you are not alone. Overeating is a well know problem among sugar/flour/food addicts. We call it volume addiction and some can overeat almost anything. Eating is pleasurable.

Many of us are addicted to milk products (cheese is most common but also, whipped cream and yoghurt). They can mimic our bodies own painkiller, opiates. Nuts are difficult, since they are carbs too and easy to munch on.

If overeating is a problem I advice you consult with a professional that can help to create a food plan where you weigh and measure your food. So many have been helped by that. I also advice you read Dr. Vera Tarmans book Food Junkies and join our support group on Facebook: Sugarbomb in your head. I do not know where you live but google for http://www.oa.org (Overeaters Anonymous) and see if there are meetings in your area, they also have phone meetings.

Great recovery to you,
Bitten

How to overcome addictive resistance to fasting?

I am convinced of the value of intermittent fasting. But although I have stepped away from carbs, still every night I find myself heading for the fridge for too much of the keto foods. Also I can’t skip the coffee in the morning either (and black coffee brings back the GERD otherwise cured by keto, so it’s either with cream or butter).

Jennifer

Jennifer, if you are a sugar/flour/foodaddict, trying to deal with recovery by yourself is extremely hard. And it sounds like fasting is not for you at this point. I have answered that question many times saying that if you are addicted you need to be in very stable recovery for a long time, at least 12 -18 months or more before trying to fast otherwise you may relapse.

We addicts need many more tools than only a food plan if we want to be free. I suggest that you contact my colleague David Avram Wolfe, dietician specialized in sugar addiction at http://www.triggerfreenutrition.com to get a specific food plan for your needs. And welcome to our closed group on Facebook Sugarbomb in your head

Bitten

Night snacking

I have a craving to snack when I am done for the night. Mostly peanuts or plain popcorn some kind of small finger food. Any way to cut that out or make it something healthier?

Kerry

Hi Kerry,

Night snacking is usually due to three things. One, low blood sugar after a heavy dinner, most of us sugar addicts like to make dinner the largest meal, and second also about habit and third because we are tired and tiredness makes us want to eat. We like to munch in front of TV in the evening.

I suggest that you make lunch the largest meal and that you have a plan for the evening. In the beginning of our new lifestyle many has been helped by taking 1 tsp-1 tbsp pure Glutamine powder in a glass of room temperature water and 1 tbsp of coconut oil in a warm fluid, some decaf tea for instance.(while there is no strong evidence supporting glutamine for this specific use, it does have some anecdotal and clinical success stories)

Sleep is very important so try to go to bed earlier.

My best,
Bitten

Earlier Q&A

All earlier Q&A posts