Overeating and how to end it?

I've just finished reading this book, "The End of Overeating" by Dr. David Kessler. It gave me a really good insight into why I (and many others) overeat and the way food makes us feel. It was a little hard going at first, lots of jargon to get your head around but it really does makes alot of sense. The food companies and fast food restaurants are in the business of making the consumer come back to their restaurant or eat their food again and again. They don't care if people are obese, they dont care if their food is full of rubbish and makes people ill, as long as they can sell their products and get repeat business. That's why their food mainly consists of sugar, fat and salt, the 3 most addictive properties that 'fast' food has. The book goes on to say that on a biological level our brains give off chemicals when we experience pleasure, whether it is from shopping, alcohol, exercising, food or something else, and as humans we crave that pleasure, those chemicals released into the brain that make us feel GOOD. The problem is, when you get those pleasurable and good feelings from food, you tend to go back for more and more. And THAT is exactly what the fast food industry wants! Instant gratification from eating fatty/sugary/salty food needs to change, and my first step in changing that is to find other things that give that sort of gratification, those good feelings, and that are alot healthier than eating fat/sat/sugar. Im currently thinking of what those things could be, maybe watching a comedy show on tv, reading a book, talking to a friend on the phone. Im going to work on a list that I can look at when I feel the crave of sugar or fat calling me. I'll share it when I get a few more. I really recommend reading this book though, it really makes you think about what you are putting into your body.

Hunger and Food Cravings, what do they mean?

Have you ever come home from a bad day and dived head first into your fridge? Or had an argument and found yourself turning to food? Its a reality that plagues many of us and a habit that has formed in me since I was a little girl and when I was down or feeling sad my Mum would get me ice cream or chocolate and of course that made me feel better at the time. I don't blame her for that because she was doing what she thought was best and she didn't know that it would become a habit that continued long into adulthood. She still does it with my nieces if they fall over or feel sad she offers them food, but it what her Mum did and her Grandma before that. I think its sort of passed down from generations and I am trying to break the cycle with my daughter as I don't want her to end up an obese adult like me and hating herself. Just to add, I don't hate myself any more, because I am breaking that cycle.

What's the difference?

Emotional hunger comes on all of a sudden.	Physical hunger comes on gradually.
Emotional hunger feels like it needs to be satisfied RIGHT NOW!	Physical hunger can wait until you have time to eat.
Emotional hunger craves comfort foods, ice cream, chocolate etc.	Physical hunger will be satisfied by any type of food, nothing specific.
Emotional hunger isn't satisfied when you are full, you will continue to eat.	Physical hunger stops when you've eaten enough and you are full.
Emotional eating triggers feelings of guilt, powerlessness, and makes you feel bad about yourself.	Eating to satisfy physical hunger doesn't have an emotional response.

What do cravings mean?
When you are craving a specific thing what does your body actually want? For example, when you have a craving for chocolate, and can't get it out of your mind, it doesnt mean your body has a shortage of chocolate in its system. Below is a list of food cravings and a healthy alternative:

Obesity: Disease or Addiction?

Im watching Weight Loss Ward on itv1, recorded on 21st January. I've always agreed with people who say that bariatric surgery for the obese is in fact saving the NHS money because people lose weight and then don't end up with heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and other complications of obesity. But I am now wondering if there is another cheaper way to treat obesity which would actually "cure" obesity and cost a lot less.

There is a lady on this tv programme who had a gastric band fitted and lost 17 stone! Later on the band slipped and she had to have it removed in emergency surgery, she then went on to put 10 stone back on, and is now having a gastric bypass operation. Doesn't this show you that yes she lost weight but she didnt learn anything about how to eat, her appetite or a healthy diet? Perhaps having trained and qualified councillors who are able to treat the underlying cause of overrating would be a better way to treat obese patients? Most people who overeat to excess have an underlying cause, an emotional reason for their "addiction" to food. If you were addicted to drugs or alcohol you would go to rehab, get councilling and hopefully find out why you abuse those substances. So where is the rehab for food addiction? Where are the people who look for the underlying reason we are abusing our bodies with food? I have a friend who works with addicts and helps them overcome their demons, I'm going to ask her if she thinks it would work for food addiction and obesity. I don't know what I could do to help others but I wish I could! Maybe if I can fix myself I can fix other people too. Watch this space!