Food is Not the Problem!

I am an addict in recovery. If I needed alcohol to get through the day, I would be an alcoholic. If I needed cocaine to party, I would have a substance abuse problem. In my case, I needed pasta, potato chips and ice cream in order to tolerate the ups and downs in life--so I have a obesity problem. An addiction is always detrimental to our health, happiness and longevity.

For a long time, I thought my problem was a willpower deficiency. Where's the pill or injection for that? I mean I could start a diet, hard and furious. Gung ho on steroids. But just one wrong turn, which meant sneaking an oreo behind the back of the food police in my head, meant I was off the wagon and I would find myself lost again.

Quick question, has anyone ever given up on their diet because they snuck down to the refrigerator in the middle of the night for some broccoli?

The answer is....probably not. We binge on pizza, cookies, potato chips, and ice cream. These are our comfort foods. And you know why? It's okay to be honest here--there's no judgement. Because they are carbohydrate and sugar-dense foods that put our minds at ease. "Sugar is noteworthy as a substance that releases opioids and dopamine and thus MIGHT be expected to have addictive potential" as stated on the National Institute of Health's website. Notice how NIH uses the word "might" to leave room for doubt.

Everyone who drinks alcohol isn't immediately addicted, but we can all admit it has addictive properties. So why do we resist calling sugar addictive? Maybe because it's the fun, glistening white powder that's okay to pour over our cornflakes or give to our children in the form of frosted flakes.

Now we know what the real problem is: "Hi, my name is Bericka and I'm a sugar and carb addict." The lesson I've learned has set me free. I finally have self-awareness and now I'm in recovery. The alcoholic who wants to stay in remission doesn't pick up vodka or rum, no matter the situation or circumstance. We all need to eat, but we can make the decision to read labels and watch out for added sugar. Better yet, we can eat food that doesn't have labels.

I get my sugar and carbohydrates from nature--not a factory. I avoid added sugar like the plague--and I'm healed from my addiction a little bit more everyday. "Hi, I'm Bericka....and I binge on Broccoli!"