Food Addiction Support Group
An individual suffering from a food addiction disorder frequently experiences episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging, during which they may feel frenzied or out of control. They will eat much more quickly than is normal, and continue to eat even past the point of being uncomfortably full. Binging in this way is generally followed by a period of intense guilt feelings...
Okay, you know how we often feel like we have no willpower? How we just eat all this candy, chips, etc.?
Well, I'm not saying that willpower isn't involved - because willpower does play a role in this, I think. But there's another side to this, which is that all this candy, this fast food, all these treats, they're DESIGNED to tempt us.
I mean, think about how much time, money, planning, and effort goes into making this stuff tempting, so we'll buy it!
Think of all the time that does into designing the packing, making it taste amazing, making commercials, ads, etc. for it!
In other words: no wonder we're tempted! They've got board rooms full of advertisizing executives TRYING to figure out how to tempt us!
I am NOT saying we can blame it all on advertisting. I'm just saying that maybe we can stop bashing ourselves for not being able to resist, because all this stuff is designed to make us not be able to resist.
I mean, this stuff probably tempts us on levels that don't even register with our brain. For example, groceries stores put the more expensive (often less health) treats at eye level, and the less expensive (and often more healthy) stuff low on the shelves. That's why the sweetened, instant oatmeal is at your eye level, and the big bags of plain, cheap oats are at the bottom of the shelves! I try to always look low on the shelves when I shop.
I bet that just being AWARE of how this stuff is targeted at us will make us less suseptable to it! I swear, next time I see a "happy family" on a tv commercial, happily eating their Nutella or Kit Kat bars or whatever, I will remind myself that that commercial is trying to tempt me.
Well, I'm not saying that willpower isn't involved - because willpower does play a role in this, I think. But there's another side to this, which is that all this candy, this fast food, all these treats, they're DESIGNED to tempt us.
I mean, think about how much time, money, planning, and effort goes into making this stuff tempting, so we'll buy it!
Think of all the time that does into designing the packing, making it taste amazing, making commercials, ads, etc. for it!
In other words: no wonder we're tempted! They've got board rooms full of advertisizing executives TRYING to figure out how to tempt us!
I am NOT saying we can blame it all on advertisting. I'm just saying that maybe we can stop bashing ourselves for not being able to resist, because all this stuff is designed to make us not be able to resist.
I mean, this stuff probably tempts us on levels that don't even register with our brain. For example, groceries stores put the more expensive (often less health) treats at eye level, and the less expensive (and often more healthy) stuff low on the shelves. That's why the sweetened, instant oatmeal is at your eye level, and the big bags of plain, cheap oats are at the bottom of the shelves! I try to always look low on the shelves when I shop.
I bet that just being AWARE of how this stuff is targeted at us will make us less suseptable to it! I swear, next time I see a "happy family" on a tv commercial, happily eating their Nutella or Kit Kat bars or whatever, I will remind myself that that commercial is trying to tempt me.
You reminded me of something: I love to travel, and have travelled to some fairly remote places, where traditional village life still exists....and you sure don't see people in those places eating junk/tempted by junk. I sure wish our society ate more naturally, like that.
Have you ever seen that video by Dove about the creation of that "perfection?"
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xtuou_dove-evolution-makeup-commercial_ads
It's amazing. They take a woman, do her hair and make up and a photo shoot, then they show how the image is digitally altered to elongate the neck, enhance the face, etc.. It's really mind-boggling to think that this goes into pretty much every ad we see. All that perfection is really just a trick of editing magic.
I have seen that Dove thing, and it's amazing!!!! I think everyone should see it. Because, when I see the "perfect" women in the ads, I do feel bad, sometimes, about myself. But the truth is that we're comparing ourselves to these totally made-up, electronically-enchanced people that don't even exist in reality!
I don't think that should even be legal, changing people's looks around with a computer!
Last time I went to visit my Dad, he'd noticed this, too....he loves music, and he says he thinks its a sad state of affairs, when you don't have to have talent, you just have to be willing to wear a really short skirt!