Can You Be Addicted To Food?
We are happy to have been guests on Brian Shellabarger's 100 down, Weightix podcast several months ago. Brian asked Marissa and me to be part of a discussion specifically asking the question, is there such thing as being addicted to food, can you be a food addict, and do you have a food addiction? I hope you enjoy this deep dive that Brian drove through his podcast and that you also feel his passion for helping people achieve goals that even he thought were impossible at one time. Addictions come in all shapes and sizes and on behalf of our team, we hope that in the 2021 season of Extracurricular Recovery, you will join team Addict to Athlete and achieve the goals you never thought possible. Happy new year athletes, and more importantly, happy sober New Year! Check out this blog post for more information about this topic. If you want support from Brian’s Weightix program use code '“A2A”
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Podcast Transcript
Introductions:
Blu -- 60-second introduction of himself, and A2A, and his role. (REALLY quick intro.. because I want to dive deeper into A2A and their approach about 15-20m into the podcast).
Jared - 60-second introduction. REALLY quick mention of heart-attack, decided it was time to do something, lost a ton of weight, decided to run a half marathon.. trained hard and did it... and then gained all the weight back (fairly quickly).... And now struggles with staying committed to it, even though his life is (quite literally) on the line.
How do you know if you’re addicted to something? [read phrases, let Blu common if that sounds like addiction or not..] Common phrases I hear:
"I'm not addicted to food. But I tend to rely on food as a coping mechanism when I get stressed or emotional."
"I'm not addicted to food. But I just really feel like I need 'comfort food' sometimes... Like when I'm sick, or when I've had a tough day"
"I'm not addicted to food. But even when I'm full, I still find myself reaching for my favorite snacks.. [chips, cake, etc.]"
"I'm not addicted to food.. But my doctor told me that if I don't lose some weight, I'm going to die soon.. but I just can't seem to stay committed to it.."
"I'm not addicted to food.. but many times in my life I've lost 20 to 100 lbs, and then within a few months, I just fall back on old habits and put all the weight right back on."
Tell us about AIIA.. and what’s your role? (Want to spend at least 10-15m on what AIIA is.. You might honestly find people in Weightix who resonate with what you're doing, and want to join... even though the "substance" they are addicted to is different).
What is the difference between a “drug user” and a “drug addict”.. (does that also apply to a “food eater” and a “food addict”?)... I’ve had conversations with soo many people who are overweight who don’t believe they are addicted to food... But also can’t often say no when faced with temptation. (Is that because “addiction” is such a hard word to own? Or is there really a possibility they aren’t addicted.. )
(My own journey.. I realized I was addicted when I would be eating two double whoppers for lunch... and the only thing I could think about WHILE THE FOOD WAS IN MY MOUTH was what delicious thing I was going to have for dinner...).
How do you balance, “you are beautiful, you are perfect just the way you are” with “you’re addicted to something that’s going to kill you and you need to change.”
”Admitting you have a problem” is the first step. What’s the second step?
I know you’re not a fan of the “12 step process”... talk about that. What's wrong with it? What do you like instead?
Jared has an amazing story.. and one of the ways he stayed so focused on his weight loss journey not too long ago was to make a goal to run a half marathon.. he crushed that goal... but lost focus after that.. What do you tell your athletes to keep them focused for the next few days.. weeks.. months.. years?
One of the things I love saying is that if you rely on motivation, you’ll always come up short — because it’s never there when you need it. I use the word “discipline” as a lot, as a substitute for motivation. How does discipline fit into this? Where does motivation fit?
Why is it that we can be so powerfully motivated to change our life.. but the first time we’re faced with a chance to prove we’ve changed... we crash and burn?
How do you break an addiction to something you need to survive? (Unlike substance.. we NEED food). further, one of the best ways to break addiction is to remove yourself from situations where you’re tempted. (Recovering alcoholics are taught to avoid bars, for example). How do we do that in the context of food, junk food, etc.. when it’s basically everywhere? You can’t even go to work without having someone offer you a plate of early-death.
I think there's a "stigma" about substance abusers.. I've seen people who are sitting in the McDonalds drive-through with a twinkie in their hand talk about ashamed they are of (someone they know) who is working through addiction, and cleaning up their life.
”You are the average of your 5 closest friends” — really resonated with me. I know when I started losing weight, my social circle changed. Talk about this... Do people need to get rid of their friends? Is that really how this works? What about being around family who aren't on board? For example, it would be really difficult to quit heroin if your spouse and kids all did heroin every day, and had absolutely no desire to change that... What's the best way to approach this? How do we help our loved ones understand what we're going through and what do we tell them so they can help?
Why do you think being an athlete is “the” angle to fighting addiction?
[Brian will] briefly mention the previous podcast on the secret to weight maintenance is daily exercise... 95% of people who los a significant amount of weight will gain it back wihin 1-2 years... The 5% who are exceptions all have one thing in common.. they started exercising daily.. (not "steps"... dedicated, put on workout clothes, and SWEAT kind of exercise).
One of the key tenants of breaking addiction is admitting that you’re going to fail sometimes... I hate telling people this... because they end up using it as an excuse in that moment of weakness “Ah.. I was told I was going to fail sometimes.. so I might as well have the cupcake.. ... How do you balance the “you’re going to fail sometimes” message with “stop failing”.
Question from Keith Collins: [paraphrasing a LOT..] Is the only way to recover from food addiction to never take that first unplanned bite? Cause once an addict unleashes the addiction, it takes over and ruins everything. What are some practical ways a food addict goes about recovery? Sometimes a cheat bite unleashes the monster for me and binge eating occurs, other times not. How do you handle the holidays where the ENTIRE CULTURE is built around consuming junk food?
Brian's Answer..
PLAN your cheat meals ahead of time.. if you didn't plan to eat it 24 hours ago.. you don't get to eat it.
Many people let a cheat MEAL turn into a cheat DAY, which turns into a cheat WEEKEND.. which turns into a cheat WEEK... which turns into, "Eh.. I guess I don't care about losing weight anymore."
Sugar tends to be particularly bad. For some people, a single bite of a sugary treat can send them on a full-on junk-food binging session. (Will fit this in somewhere)"
Rose Hunter: Wants "self-help" suggestions because going to counseling is "out of the question for several reasons".
How do you measure progress during an addiction-recovery journey? (It's easy with weight-loss.. since there are lots of black and white data points to show you... number on the scale, BF%, etc.)
Problems With Rehab
Today Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa speak with Ryan Ward, an active patient advocate, passionate about changing the approach to addiction treatment. Having experienced first hand the issues and problems that are often found in addiction recovery treatment programs, Ryan has become an advocate for the revamping of rehabs and whistle-blowing the corrupt. Ryan's goal is to continue to grow in his profession, have a positive impact on society, and help make treatment a priority amongst our legislatures. He is a passionate speaker and is leading a charge to help you and your loved ones make educated choices for treatment and recovery. Listen today to find out some of the things you should watch out for when picking a rehab.
For more information:
Website
projectIHAB.com (Personal Website)
Would you like bonus episodes, exclusive offers, and one of a kind time team apparel? Please join Addict to Athlete’s Patreon support page and help us turn the mess of addiction into the message of sobriety!
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How Do I Forgive?
Today's podcast features the topic of forgiveness. What is forgiveness, how do I learn to forgive, should you really forgive and forget? There are so many aspects to forgiveness, that it is difficult to lock in on one specific way and there are no set steps to accomplish it. It is a non-linear progression. Anyone who has suffered emotionally knows that when our inner world has been damaged, it’s difficult to concentrate on anything other than our pain. Listen as Coach Blu and athletic director Marissa discuss their own personal journey and understanding of forgiveness and some tips on how to become emotionally aware to actively pursue self-forgiveness and the ability to forgive others.
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Is Relapse Part Of Recovery?
Is relapse a part of your recovery? The answer may surprise you. On today's podcast Coach Blu and athletic director Marissa discuss all things relapse. While relapse has long been viewed as part of recovery, for some drugs, it can be very dangerous—even deadly. Learn about how the team approaches a relapse, identifies if sobriety has lost its purpose and how to create a comeback if you find yourself stuck in the grips of addiction.
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What Is Addiction?
It’s important to know the cycle of addiction and its stages so medical professionals, therapists, friends, and family can support you. So many of us are vulnerable to addiction and addiction differs from person to person. Family systems and individuals are impacted by mental health, trauma, family history, and genetic factors of addiction so we sometimes place a lot of trust in the professionals to point us in the right direction. Many times, leaving us wandering around trying to understand the complexities and the simplistic ways sobriety can be achieved. Listen to today's podcast as therapist and addiction counselor, Coach Blu and Recreational Therapist, Marissa talk about the cycle of addiction, causality, and the possibility of a new system approach putting you in the captain seat.
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Nutrition: The Next Step To Wellness
Today coach Blu interviews Brian Shellabarger about nutrition, the next step that needs to be followed in recovery to get yourself to another level of health and long-term wellness. Listen as we discuss Brian's weight loss story, what he learned about diet, nutrition, and health in general. Nutrition is overlooked often in the world of recovery and has a great deal to offer when knowledge is applied. Find more of Brian's podcasts and blogs at Weightix. As part of AIIA, you can join for free by using code “A2A”
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What Is Medicated Assisted Treatment (MAT)?
On today's podcast Coach Blu speaks to Dr. Mark Leeds and the work he is doing to assist the recovery community using Medication-Assisted Treatment. MAT is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies, which is effective in the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD) and can help some people to sustain recovery. Listen and learn about what is available and how it is used. This is a great podcast if you've had any questions in the past about what medicated assisted treatment can do, and what we can do to lessen the stigma around medication that's helping save lives.
Take a look at some additional resources. Read Overcoming Opioid Addiction. Why not start addiction treatment right in the ER? You can listen to more of Dr. Leeds.
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Is It Human Nature?
Today Coach Blu puts out a solo podcast addressing the turbulence of human nature. Listen as he describes how to divide what we're feeling in our nation, in our hearts, or maybe in our recovery that can hinder us if we do not understand why we act the way we do.
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How To Process Trauma
Trauma is a significant aspect and part of the addiction process. Chances are if you struggle with addiction, you've had to deal with some kind of trauma in your past as well. Listen as Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa discuss how traumatic memories do not have to limit your potential to heal from addiction and other issues. Using treatment modalities such as EMDR therapy goes hand-in-hand with what team Addict to Athlete is establishing to assist all of our athletes in that healing process.
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Understanding Anniversary Reactions
Today Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa process traumatic anniversaries. We have all have times in our lives when an experience leaves behind memories and feelings that are brought back every calendar year or, through every benchmark forecasted. The anniversary reaction is the annual reminder of trauma or loss, such as the death of a beloved, a nightmarish experience, or an accident. Yet, regardless of what happened, the anniversary reaction is a distinctively timed, emotionally tragic, hit to your overall well being. They discuss strategies to help cope with the anniversaries as well as work past them.
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Time To Decide
Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa discuss the difference between deciding and making a decision. Stepping out of the dark and seeing what the world has to offer. They also talk about the importance of recovering from addiction versus healing from it. Take a listen!
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How To Help The Family After Addiction
Today Coach Blu interviews Dr. Dave Schramm about how to understand and rebuild a family after addiction. Dr. Dave has spent years studying family systems and is a Professor and Family Life Extension Specialist at Utah State University. Listen as he explains how simple interactions can make or break the family relationship. Family dysfunction is insidious and can come in many forms with addiction but Dr. Dave gives tips that can help all families.
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Establishing Hope
Today Blu and Marissa Robinson discuss hope. What is hope, why is it so important, and how to establish it if you're struggling to find it? In 1991, positive psychologist Charles Snyder and colleagues came up with “hope theory.” According to the theory, hope consists of agency and pathways. A person who has hope has the will and determination to achieve goals and a set of different strategies at their disposal to reach their goals. More simply: Hope involves the will to get there and different ways to get there.
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The Growth Zone
Today Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa discuss how we can still grow despite our current situations. Using Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of flow, they describe moments when you’re completely absorbed in a challenging but doable task and how to make the best out of your current situation. It's time to move out of our comfort zones and grow.
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Victim of Addiction or Agent of Sobriety
Today Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa discuss the Victim and Agent paradigm. In these trying times, we must choose which focus we want our outcomes to become. We choose to be a victim of addiction or an agent of sobriety, it's really up to us!
Victim vs Agent
I can't vs I can
Rescue me vs Do what it takes
Fear vs Faith
Blame vs Accountability
Consumer vs Producer
Scarcity vs Abundance
Captivity vs Death
Death vs Life
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How To Break a Pornography Addiction
In this podcast episode Coach, Blu interviews Drew Boa, founder of the online resource and podcast Husband Material. Drew offers insight, strategies, and understanding of the sensitive topic of pornography addiction, tools to combat it, and the ramifications it has on today's society. Drew is a published author and has developed a method of teaching the concept of creating light by investing less in the ever-growing world of darkness. Drew is a published author and has developed a method of teaching the concept of creating light by investing less in the ever-growing world of darkness which is pornography addiction.
You can find Drew on his Website, Instagram, YouTube, Podcast, Book, and for Coaching
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New Addiction Research
Today Coach Blu interviews Dr. Kyle Bills. They discuss the new addiction research he has been developing that will revolutionize the way that we can identify pathways to recovery. This research offers a significant opportunity to learn more about how our body possesses the ability to heal itself once we know how to utilize it correctly.
Dr. Bills is the Associate Dean for Research at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine in Provo, Utah. His recently published research can be found here.
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Waking The Opiate Epidemic
Today Coach Blu and Athletic Director Marissa Robinson talk about The Netflix documentary, The Pharmacist. An amazing firsthand look at the beginning stages of the opiate epidemic, years before and through national attention. Listen as they discuss opiate addiction, the documentary, and the fall out as a result.
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Potential lethal dose of Fentanyl
Let's Talk About Stress
Today Coach Blu and Athletic Director, Marissa talk about stress and addiction. Stress is a normal part of life, and some individuals find they can manage it with practical, easy-to-implement means, like exercise, breathing, and meditation. Yet stress affects people differently, and some individuals may turn to unhealthy means to deal with stress as you guessed, people turn to substances, like alcohol and drugs, to escape from stress, and this abuse of substances can lead to addiction. Listen to gain more understanding and insight on how to cope in a very stressful world.
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How To Help A Drug Addicted Family Member Or Loved One
Do you have a loved one that struggles with addiction? The effects are felt most by family members and loved ones. Addiction can have emotional, psychological, and financial effects on those closest to the individual. If you are in this situation find ways to help, rather than enable a loved one with an addiction and be able to take care of yourself. We review ways to support and help a loved one with an addiction. Listen and reach out.
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