Destructive eating behaviors don't get a lot of attention compared to the other issues experienced with eating. In fact, not much comes up when you Google Destructive Eating, possibly because it is a disorder that is so difficult to define. |
So what is a Destructive Eater and how can you determine if you might exhibit some of those negative behaviors? I wanted to take a moment and list out some of things I see fitting into the Destructive Eating category, but they can also fit in with other eating and addiction disorders as well.
- You take more time planning your last unhealthy meal before a diet, than you do the healthy ones after you start.
- Moderation is not a word in your vocabulary.
- You get mad if someone want to go to a restaurant and you have two for one coupons sitting at home.
- You eat a huge meal and always have room for dessert, even if you don’t.
- You buy a treat at the grocery store for later in the week, but you can’t stop thinking about it until you eat it.
- You eat sweets faster when sharing with others, just so you get the most.
- No candy or cookie is safe when left alone with you.
- You have two settings, either eating unhealthy or just going without unhealthy foods, there isn’t a successful middle-ground.
- You might ask someone to buy you ice cream, but then after finishing it, you get angry with them for making you unhealthy.
- You may or may not have a package of car cookies hidden in your console right now.
- Everyone in your house is frightened to finish off your favorite sweets, even if you don’t plan on finishing them.
- When you get takeout to eat at home, anything eaten on the car ride home “doesn’t count”.
- Dinner is sometimes something you put up with so you can get to dessert.
- You have a special bowl for cereal and ice cream that is slightly larger than all the rest.
- Your calendar features the national cookie, cake, pizza, sweets, etc days of the year.
- Every positive moment in your life needs to be celebrated with something sweet.
- You quality check two-thirds of your kid’s holiday candy.
- You raise your weekly grocery budget when there’s a great sale on sweets and soda.
- Buffets are a competitive zone where you have to beat the restaurant and make money on dinner.
- Sweets are portioned to the bite so you get upset if someone asks for a bite of your cookie near the end.
- You can’t turn over a healthy leaf until you eat your way through all the bad food in the house.
- Throwing away sweets or leaving a dessert unfinished at restaurant are the greatest sins.
- You eat a weeks worth of sweets in one day so you can say you were just unhealthy for a short-time frame.
Post in the comments which behaviors you may be guilty of at times. If you want a new perspective on how you can better analyze these behaviors in your life, take a two-week break from processed sugar and flour. The next challenge begins June 19th and it will open your eyes to your relationship with food.
All the best!
John Graham
All the best!
John Graham