RR36: How 12 Steps Can Overcome Food Addiction

Why the 12 Steps? Why not just do another diet? I’ve been on so many diets and many of them worked, but none of them worked long-term because I always went back to my normal eating pattern after the diet was done. I was addicted to sugar and processed foods and couldn’t stop eating them once I started. If you’re like me, you need a long-term solution. That’s why the 12 Steps works so well! In this podcast episode, I emphasize the significance of the 12-step approach in overcoming food addiction, contrasting it with dieting, which often leads to temporary success and eventual relapse due to intense cravings. Drawing from my personal experience and various reputable sources, I explain how addiction alters brain functions, making self-control difficult, much like substance addictions. I highlight how organizations like Overeaters Anonymous, as well as insights from Psychology Today and the National Eating Disorders Association, stress the importance of honesty, self-reflection, and seeking spiritual guidance in recovery. I share my 16-year journey of maintaining a 90-pound weight loss through the 12 steps and my reliance on God. I emphasize the importance of recognizing sugar and chemical additives as addictive and advocate for limiting sugar intake. Finally, I connect this with biblical teachings, acknowledging the need for God’s help in overcoming the compulsion to overeat. I invite listeners to explore recipes and tips on my website, Reshape and Recover.