A Man's Love Affair with Food
Question:
im trying to control my food by eating once a day at lunch and
a health drink at breakfast and dinner, i feel as if i am being
punished. im a 43 year old male that has had a secret relationship
with food for as far back as i can remember. food has always been
my best friend, lover, nurtrerer and has never said no to me. i
look at people that eat much more food then i can ever think of
ingesting and not gain a pound, it really makes me angry. but there
is more suffering with this disease then being fat. how do i combat
the self hatred and negative feelings that go along with compulsive
overeating. why do i look at food as being the only happiness i
have in life. if i was happy in my life would i still be a compulsive
overeater and the last question how do i stop. please help me if
you can
Answer:
As painful as it is, you describe your relationship with food quite
clearly. Food brings you happiness and comfort but also leads to
self-hatred and self-punishment. There is no easy recipe for escape
from this emotional (and perhaps physical) see-saw, but it may possible
for you to face the issues which have created and maintained this
cycle, and grow into a healthy and comfortable realtionship with
your body and food.
Restricting your food intake is one way to intensify your preoccupation
with food and the likelihood of overeating and/or feeling out of
control when you do eat. If you have often dieted, your metabolism
may have become disrupted so that you gain weight easily. I suggest
that you consult with a nutritionist who is experienced with eating
disorders and develop a flexible and sensible guideline which will
help you restore a healthy metabolism and will not feel like a punishment.
Addressing your self-hatred and negative feelings will also be
a priority in your recovery. Psychotherapy can be very helpful with
these issues.
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