Why does food seem to be so addicting?

I stood in line at the bakery today and overheard a woman say,”it’s so hard to come in here; I just want to buy one of every thing.  It made me think, wow, are we conditioned to see food, salivate and feel deprived if we don’t get to eat the 1000 calorie fat laden, sugar loaded killer (literally) muffin, donut or yummy gooey whatever?

Have you ever wondered why, if you have a choice, you CHOOSE to eat the wrong foods and too much of them at the expense of good health, energy, vitality, looking good and feeling fine in your favorite jeans, you choose the later?

For some people, maybe the deeper down response to food is that you are not aware of  how the sight of food and taste of food elicits a deeper response to boredom, anger, happiness, and many other emotions that are connected to seeing food and responding with feeling of being deprived if you can’t have it. Your lack of self control may be lack of awareness of your feelings connection to food.

Unacknowledged feelings can manifest as over eating, drinking, gambling, shopping or many other “overindulgences” that you may just accept as “just eating too much or buying too much”.  If you acknowledge what part of your life is connected to your rewards to food and use of food for comfort then you can start to evaluate other options, solutions or mindsets to make better choices rather than food.

Finding the answer for your overeating can be quite complex, however it may be the missing piece of the pie that you are looking for in the bakery of life.

By Carolyn Phillips

Carolyn Phillips has a 20 year history as a certified personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and Certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant, teaching lifestyle management, nutrition, weight training, cardiovascular, fitness testing, and behavior modification.  Carolyn is featured on WFSB Channel 3’s, Better CT and on radio 96.5 TIC FM with Damon Scott as the fitness expert every Wednesday.

Carolyn Phillips is founder and CEO of Fit Behavior (http://www.fitbehavior.com) and. Carolyn’s Menu of Life (http://www.Caroylnsmenuoflife.com) The facility has a 13 -year history and has been awarded winner of the best place to workout and best Pilate’s studio by the Hartford Magazine and voted best by The Hartford Advocate for its nutrition and cardio program. Carolyn won the prestigious 40 Under Forty award from the Hartford Business Journal for outstanding leadership in the greater Hartford area.

Carolyn has over 25 years of combined comprehensive sports and education experience.

• ·         2000-2010 ACE Certified Personal Trainer
• ·         2010 ACE Certified Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant
• ·         2007-2010 Featured on Better CT Channel 3 as a Fitness Expert
• ·         2009-2010 96.5 TIC FM's Damon Scott radio show as the weekly Fitness Expert
• ·         2007-2010 The Mary Jones Radio Show, WDRC-AM 1360 - guest Fitness Expert
• ·         2008-2010 West Hartford Community Television - Fitness Expert and Group Instructor on air
• ·         1990-2010 Guest Speaker on ESPN, WHCN, WCCC, WDRC
• ·         2002-2010  President - Board of Directors at Chrysalis Center Inc.
• ·         2009 BS in Organizational Leadership, Quinnipiac University
• ·         2007-2008 Published writer for Natural Nutmeg Magazine
• ·         2007-2008 Nutmeg Community Television - Fitness Expert and Group Instructor on air
• ·         2000 40 Under 40 Award from the Hartford Business Journal
• ·         2004 Licensed Professional Mountain Biker
• ·         1998-2004 CT State and Regional Mountain Bike Champion
• ·         1990-1997 CT State Bodybuilding Champion and National Competitor
• ·         1974-1980 VT State Gymnastic Champion and Junior Olympics Competitor
• ·         3 years coursework in Health Sciences

·         Currently studying for Master's Degree in Nutrition

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