Best Food Addiction Books

Are you a food addict? Do you find food comforting when you are tired, stressed, disappointed, lonely, angry, or anxious? When emotional eaters can no longer control the quantity of food they’re eating, it has become an addiction. Addictions are very difficult to recover from. We need all the help and support we can get. Food addiction literature can be very helpful for not only inspiration and motivation but actually give tips and tools for dealing with situations and emotions without turning to food. These types of books bring home the point that we are not alone in our recovery journey. In addition, we come to realize that this process contains physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. If we miss working on any of the three, successful recovery is at risk.

The books I‘ve listed below, examine how thought patterns lead to actions. Altering mindsets of perfectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, needing to be right, guilt, resentment, and fear can lead to game-changing breakthroughs in recovery from food addiction.

 
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1. The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents (Hazelden Meditation Series) and 2. More Language of Letting Go: 366 New Daily Meditations (Hazelden Meditation Series)  Melody Beattie presents a brave and honest look at her life experience and recovery process. She aims to support those who struggle with codependency and addictions by revealing the importance of doing our best, letting it go and letting a Higher Power (as we each define it) take care of the results.  She also reminds us that we need to take responsibility for all areas of our lives including taking care of ourselves in relationships, careers, finances, and spirituality. The second book of the series adds activities in addition to new meditations to practice the topic being covered. Melody guides readers on how to deal with issues in their lives that cause them stress without turning to addictions.

 
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2. Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters (1) (Hazelden Meditations) 

Elisabeth L., offers words of wisdom and comfort for emotional and compulsive overeaters. The meditations help us understand the role of food in our lives and the steps we can take to positively improve our physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being.  

 
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3. For Today by Overeaters Anonymous is a daily reader of inspiring and thought-provoking affirmations for the entire year. Emotional, physical and spiritual quotes and philosophies tackle the 12-step program and journey of recovery from compulsive overeating and food addiction.

 
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4. Voices of Recovery: A Daily Reader contains inspirational quotes, stories and experiences from OA members helpful for sustaining the recovery process.  You can buy it from OA at oa.org from amazon, apple cooks, or Barnes and noble book.

 
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5. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, Second Edition is a study of the Overeaters Anonymous program. This edition has a restructured Step Four chapter that increases its usefulness and enhances clarity. You will read how the twelve steps and twelve traditions have helped people find physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. 


Why Food Addiction Books are Necessary

It is not easy to recover from addictions. This genre of literature assists compulsive overeaters in the following ways:

  • Identification of the disorder: It increases awareness of the disease of compulsive overeating. Bingers don’t always realize the level of their addiction or whether they eat compulsively or not. 

  • They offer solutions: You will find philosophies that yield solutions to cravings and control, perfectionism, resentments. anger, fears. Also, you learn how to avoid trigger foods. 

  • They give you an increased awareness of the physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences of compulsive overeating. 


Signs That You Might Have a Food Addiction

  • Do you frequently eat large quantities in a frenzy fearful of being caught? 

  • Do you eat past the point of satiety till you feel bloated, nauseous, and in pain?

  • Do you eat in isolation because you’re embarrassed by how much you are consuming?

  • Are there certain foods that are triggers for you? Do you have a loss of control when eating them? You can’t eat only one portion. You feel compelled to eat more and more trying to recapture the enjoyment of the first bite.

  • After eating, do you feel guilty, ashamed, or embarrassed over what you ate?

  • Do you feel hopeless that you can’t change your eating habits or your relationship to food?

  • Do you have pain in your joints from all of the extra weight that they have to support?

Conclusion

If you relate to these symptoms, you may have food addictions and are compulsively eating these trigger foods which sustain this vicious disease. The aforementioned books can provide a beacon of light to the long journey ahead. The life experiences of those who have traveled the path before you, are welcome tools of inspiration. Start your journey today toward healthier living.

Amy D'AmbrosioComment