Are celebrity diets out of control?

We are bombarded with trendy diets on a regular basis. It’s amazing what we do to lose weight. Celebrities are no exception. In fact, celebrities often undertake drastic measures to shed pounds due to industry pressure, poor self-image and unrelenting competition. They adopt strict diets often coupled with extreme exercise regimes. Sometimes, the crazier a diet sounds, the more a celebrity will want to try it. For these reasons, celebrities often serve as poor role models for overall health and well-being.

Supermodel Claudia Schiffer survives on a meager diet of herbal teas, tomato juice and black grapes when on location for photo shoots. Actress Holly Robinson Peete endured a coffee enema in an effort to lose weight (yes, it is exactly what you are thinking!). The actress says she lost 10 pounds from this bizarre stunt and she exclaimed, “It came right back!” Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow no longer punishes herself with the Master Cleanse that temporarily helped superstar Beyoncé Knowles lose some weight for her role in “Dreamgirls”. Citing health reasons, both women advise against the Master Cleanse.

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Orthorexics take the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ to an extreme. Can the pursuit of healthy eating become harmful?

Orthorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an obsessive focus on eating healthy foods. In a nation with too many overweight and obese people, orthorexia can simply look like healthy eating to an outside observer. The problem is that orthorexics are so restrictive in their healthy food habits that they refuse to eat anything they consider unhealthy or impure even when presented with no alternatives. Those with orthorexia prefer not to eat versus polluting their bodies with unhealthy options. By cutting out too many foods, orthorexics face nutritional deficiencies, malnutrition and in severe cases death.

Unlike those with anorexia or bulimia, orthorexics are not concerned with losing weight – their main focus is the food they are consuming. This difference in goals is an important distinction in diagnosis. Dr. Steven Bratman, the physician who coined the term “orthorexia nervosa” in 1997, said orthorexia is a “disease disguised as virtue”. Orthorexics practice rigid ritualistic healthy eating in the pursuit of keeping their bodies pure. Popular diets like the Zone diet, Atkins diet, South Beach diet and macrobiotic diet regimes have made quirky eating habits perfectly acceptable in modern society. Hence, orthorexic behavior goes largely unnoticed.

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Much like the gods of Greek mythology, addiction myths are powerful but ultimately lose their stature when proven not to exist.

There are many myths and misperceptions about addiction and addiction recovery floating around. Much of our scientific knowledge about addiction is relatively new so it is not surprising that people have old beliefs that are incorrect. In our experience as a professional treatment center, here are the top 5 myths about addiction:

Myth #1: A person can quit if they really want to.
Willpower has little to do with addiction. No amount of willpower alone can make an addict change or overcome their behavior. A critical component of the addiction recovery process is recognizing and understanding the underlying pain of addiction. Addicts must be equipped with the appropriate tools to deal with their addictive behavior and unhealthy patterns for successful long-term recovery.

Myth #2: Addicts are weak people.
Addiction is not a character flaw or a weakness – it is a disease. Addicts are powerless over their addiction – understanding this tenet is one of the first steps to addiction recovery. No one chooses to become an addict. Addiction takes a heavy toll on the addict and those who love them. The path to addiction is complicated. Many addicts understand they are hurting themselves and loved ones, but the forces of addiction are overpowering.

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Shades of Hope was featured on a recent episode of A&E’s "Intervention" television show.

Shades of Hope was featured on an episode of the Emmy award-winning show “Intervention” on A&E. “Intervention” is a television series that profiles people with addictions or other destructive behaviors that have led them to a point of crisis. Each episode ends with a surprise intervention held with friends and family led by an intervention specialist. The intervention includes participants revealing pre-written ways in which the subject’s addiction and other behaviors have negatively impacted their lives. The goal of the intervention is to have the subject immediately enter treatment.

The “Intervention” episode featuring Shades of Hope aired on December 28, 2009. The episode entitled “Amy W.” featured a young mother battling anorexia, alcoholism and self-mutilation. Amy’s friends and family feared for her life.  Indeed, she tried to take her own life on several occasions. To save her life, Amy’s family and friends decided to hold a surprise intervention to get her into treatment immediately. The intervention was ultimately successful and Amy was transported to Shades of Hope in Buffalo Gap, Texas for treatment.

Since her arrival at Shades of Hope, Amy has shown a marked improvement in her weight and overall attitude. She gained 12 pounds in 2 months. She regularly participates in therapeutic activities and feels she is equipped with the necessary tools to handle her life without resorting to her former behavior. Shades of Hope is proud to announce that Amy has been sober since July 14, 2009. Everyone at Shades wishes Amy continued success in her recovery efforts.

UPDATE: For a limited time, the full episode can be watched on A&E’s website.
Click here to watch the full episode online.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the US. In fact, roughly 42% of Americans have tried marijuana at least once.

According to the National Institutes of Health, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana is generally depicted as harmless in popular movies and television shows. Movies like “Harold and Kumar” and the Showtime series “Weeds” along with HBO’s series “Sex and the City” trivialize marijuana use. Marijuana is far from harmless. The marijuana available today is five times more potent than the marijuana that was available in the 1970’s. This more potent modern form is more likely to lead to addiction as it creates a stronger high. Studies clearly demonstrate that marijuana can cause problems in daily life or make existing problems worse – only the user is under the illusion they are in a protective cloud while high. Smoking marijuana has been linked to lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease along with other serious illnesses. Furthermore, research shows that marijuana use can have lifelong detrimental effects on the brain.

Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette, commonly referred to as a “joint”, or smoked in a pipe or bong. A “blunt” is a cigarette or cigar that has been emptied of its original contents and replaced with marijuana. Marijuana smoke has a distinctive, pungent smell. Marijuana can also be mixed with food or brewed as a tea. Marijuana, or “pot”, is a dry, shredded green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds and leaves derived from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativaz. The active ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, which carries it to every organ including the brain. Pot smokers inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers – exposing their lungs to carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents for extended periods of time.

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Food Addiction is a growing problem in America that we cannot afford to ignore.

A surprising new type of abuse has recently gained quite a bit of media attention – food addiction. Food addiction has been featured as a topic on various television shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN’s Larry King Live, The Dr. Oz Show, Intervention and Ruby. Tennis Champion Monica Seles wrote about her struggles with food addiction and attempts to smother her depression with food in her book Getting a Grip. CNN’s Headline News anchor Jane Velez-Mitchell recently released a book entitled I Want that details her struggle as a food addict. Legendary singer Sir Elton John discussed his inpatient treatment for food addiction in an interview with Larry King. Addiction to food is being scrutinized in recently released scientific literature. Current studies continue to analyze whether or not foods rich in fat and/or sugar are capable of promoting addictive behavior.

Food can be an alternating source of pleasure and torture for the millions that suffer from food addiction. For those afflicted with this addiction, eating is a type of escape much like taking a drink is an escape for an alcoholic. Food addicts “use” or abuse food like a drug to medicate themselves – as a coping mechanism to quell negative emotions, to fill a void in their lives or even to celebrate happy moments. Addicts find themselves bingeing on unhealthy foods and often grazing on food throughout the day despite a lack of hunger. Consuming large quantities of junk food leads to a host of health problems. Most food addicts gain weight and become obese. Obesity has grave consequences ranging from diabetes to premature death. Some addicts use compensatory behavior such as using laxatives, vomiting or over-exercising to offset the extra calories consumed during binges. Others try to diet between binges to balance overall calories. Most food addicts have nutritional deficiencies because they tend to eat high calorie foods with little to no nutritional value.

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Do you know what to look for? Warning signs of relapse occur before addictive behavior begins.

The holiday season is a challenging period for those in addiction recovery. Many recovering addicts relapse during this time of year so it is vital to recognize the warning signs and interrupt the process. Any return to addictive behavior can lead to a relapse. Warning signs of relapse occur before addictive behavior begins. There are major clues to look for including changes in attitude, thoughts and behavior.

For those who are newly recovered, falling back into old addictive patterns can be especially tempting during the holiday season. The initial honeymoon period of feeling good about conquering their addictions ends, and they start to question if being in recovery is what they really want. Others feel too confident in their newly found recovery tools and underestimate the stresses of the season. This time of year brings on a variety of demands than can be too much to handle for newly recovered addicts who are just beginning to cope with life without turning to addictive behavior.

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With the holidays just around the corner, it’s never too early to begin thinking about a relapse prevention plan.

The holidays are a dangerous time for relapse amongst addicts. This time period is supposed to be about joy and celebration but often turns into a stressful time filled with anxiety, tension and sadness. The period from Thanksgiving through New Year’s is overwhelming for everyone. It can be especially difficult for those with addictions and the people who care about them. The holidays are all about excess – eating, drinking, shopping, celebrating and gathering. Finding a balance is important so you can enjoy the true pleasures of the season. What can you do at this time of year if you are battling an addiction or have someone with an addiction in your life?

For Those With Addictions
If you are battling an addiction or if you are in recovery, the holidays provide the perfect excuse to engage in excessive behavior as this celebratory season encourages overindulgence. Most holiday events revolve around food, alcohol and shopping. Try to make your holidays as stress-free as possible by identifying and avoiding your personal triggers. Be selective – it is okay to say “no” to certain invitations or too many invitations. If you can’t avoid a stressful event, take along a supportive friend or sponsor who will help you in your recovery efforts. Have an exit strategy if you attend an event and feel uncomfortable. If you sincerely feel you can’t attend an event without falling back on addictive behavior, avoid the event completely.

If your battle with addiction is public knowledge, be prepared for questions from family and friends at social gatherings. While you may be tempted to throw a fruitcake (that has probably been re-gifted & circulating around since the mid-80’s) at the next person who asks you how you are doing with your recovery, resist the urge. The person asking the question probably has good intentions and is sincerely interested in your well-being.

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The before and after photos of crystal meth users are often startling.

Famous tennis star Andre Agassi made headlines recently when he confessed to using crystal methamphetamine during his record-breaking career. Normally, news stories regarding crystal methamphetamine highlight “meth lab” explosions and ensuing consequences. Manufacturing methamphetamine is very dangerous due to the volatility of the chemicals used and the toxicity of the by-products. Reading that an athletic legend abused this drug known as “poor man’s cocaine” during a highly lucrative, illustrious career shocked the world.

Crystal methamphetamine, commonly referred to as “crystal meth” or “meth”, is an extremely addictive, powerful man-made stimulant. While meth used to be associated with males of a lower economic status, individuals of all ages and economic status from all ethnicities currently use it. In 2008, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) revealed a shocking statistic – the report estimates that 5% of Americans aged 12 or older have used crystal meth at least once during their lifetime.

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Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United States – affecting approximately 8 million of us.

Most of us are guilty of overindulging in food from time to time – just watch people at buffets or during the traditional Thanksgiving meal for proof. For most of us, the occasional high calorie overindulgence is an infrequent occurrence. For some, it is the hallmark of a serious eating disorder. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is characterized by recurrent episodes of overeating and feeling out of control when bingeing. Unlike bulimia, those with BED do not practice compensatory behavior such as purging, using laxatives or over-exercising.

Binge Eating Disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States. Men account for 40% of the 8 million Americans thought to have BED. Many binge eaters become overweight or obese due to their overeating. Binge eaters who become obese suffer health consequences ranging from heart disease to diabetes. Some people with BED control their weight by alternating periods of bingeing with dieting. This behavior creates a vicious cycle – the strict dieting leads to more bingeing which leads to more punitive dieting and so on. This yo-yo dieting further strains the body and mind.

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