A healthy relationship with food, is one where generally, you are eating when hungry, stopping when full and there are no negative emotions (such as guilt, shame, fear etc.) associated with food.
Eating is a pleasurable way of keeping alive and well.

There are several eating disorders:

Binge eating – large quantities eaten quickly, followed by feelings of guilt and shame.

Night Eating Syndrome – Hardly anything eaten all day followed by large amounts (overeating) at night / in the evenings. Often connected with feelings of relaxation and relief at the end of the day.

Bulimia – Eating followed by remorse, guilt, fear of getting fat and followed by “control” mechanisms – such as vomiting the food back up, eliminating it with laxatives, or exercising it off. (or a combination of all three)

Anorexia – Fear of gaining weight, fear of eating, fear of food. Always wanting to be thinner and aspiring to a very thin ideal – which is often not attainable – and not conducive to long term good health.

Orthorexia – Obsessively “healthy” eating taken to extremes (eg. eating only organic, juicing, eliminating all wheat, dairy, gluten, sugar, detoxing, etc.). Associated with feelings of guilt, shame, and fear when some less healthy food is eaten. Often “cycles” from periods of de-toxing to periods of re-toxing. A longer term version of bingeing and purging.

Food Obsessions - Spells of only eating one thing – for example: British Strawberries, (Spanish strawberries would be unsuitable), Boiled new potatoes (mashed or jacket would be unsuitable) and phases of “favourite” special foods. Fear of new foods and feelings of safety and comfort in favourite or familiar foods.

If you think you may have a problem and have issues with food – please make contact for a free half hour consultation.