Are you Addicted to Food? or Addicted to Happiness?

Two years ago, I was addicted to porn...food porn. I spent my days watching Man V. Food and spent the days dreaming, and cooking up calorie crack. I was addicted, but it wasn't to the taste, it was to the pleasure, the happiness food brought me. It's such a nice feeling now to have so many other sources of happiness in my life, and long term goals that allow me to look at these AMAZINGLY delicious foods and not crave them anymore. They do look good though. 

Happiness through Food:

Growing up, every positive, happy event or emotion was tied to food.  When our family got together it was always centered around a meal.  Celebrations were feasts, and even not so happy times were fixed with food such as ice cream.  The worst part was looking forward to buying a candy bar every day after school starting as a kid.  That Charleston Chew, which was the biggest candy bar I could find for under a dollar became something I would look forward to everyday after school.  

Other than that, I had a pretty boring childhood, so I started eating when I was bored.  

Oreo-Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yo-Yo Diet Disasters: 

Thinking back, the reason why no diet has ever worked for me was because it took so long to reach the goal.  Something would happen and I would give in and give up.  It was a combination of discovering the Paleo Eating Community and the Bulletproof Diet that finally something clicked.

Other sources of Happiness:

The main reason why I've been able to continue eating healthy and not give in this time, even though it's been almost a year is because I'm genuinely happy in all other aspects of my life.  My business is going well, I have great friends, fantastic relationships and I enjoy being in great shape and being full of energy.  I once met a guy who was in outstanding shape and he said:

"The key to being in great shape is being happy."

It didn't make any sense to me at the time, but now it's clear as day.  If you have other things in your life that make you happy, food no longer needs to be one of them.

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Eggo Waffle Sandwich

Better than Food:If you can look at these photos and not crave them, and not cheat on your diet, congratulations, you've made it.  It took me a long time to get to this point.  I still think everything on this list looks amazingly delicious, but I choose not to eat them as it doesn't take me closer to my goals.  

If you can't look at foods like "The 23 Most Perfect Foods in the Universe" then don't.  Don't watch food porn, stay away from it.  Or do what I do, set goals, and enjoy a bit of food porn once in a while knowing that you don't need it.  

Good luck to everyone in their journey's and diets,

Johnny FD