“I know it was unhealthy and my body didn't appreciate that kind of stress, but I did it anyway...” - Sara Tam

Let's get vulnerable here! I am outing myself on my ketchup chips 'addiction.' And how I found a solution for it

that worked and how it can work for you too.

For those of you who know me... know this was actually a serious issue.😅 and for those who don’t...here’s what’s up.

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been obsessed with potato chips to a point where it felt like an addiction, the feeling of needing it and missing it when I don't have it. It brought this temporary satisfaction and joy that I would only get from eating chips but after each indulgent, I felt awful. I would kill off a bag of FAMILY SIZED ketchup chips in one sitting and could easily go for a second bag. I know, it was gross, my tongue would be hurting and my fingers would be dyed red. I would feel SO sick afterwards and my stomach would hurt but I would continue to do this over and over again.

I knew it was unhealthy and my body didn’t appreciate that kind of stress but I did it anyway...

That was me 2 years ago. Today, I no longer could eat a full bag of ketchup chips nor do I even want to!

I genuinely never thought this day would come but it happened. Something I thought I could never give up. I gave up.

The best part. It was effortless.

What I'm here to share is HOW I did it and that you can do the same.

I’ve been on my own health and nutrition journey for the past few years and my habits started to change without me feeling like I’ve changed dramatically... here’s how.

1. I educated myself and took the time to understand how and why habits are formed. If you're interested, the book Atomic Habits by James Clear is a game changer and a MUST read.

2. I heightened my self awareness and spent time noticing the WHY behind my actions

3. I focused on my action and the feeling that it gave me and started finding other ways (actions) to give me the SAME satisfaction/feeling that ketchup chips would give me.

Action: Eating Ketchup Chips. Feeling: Stress relief, a dopamine hit (even if it was just temporary)

Swap To

Action: Breathing Techniques & High Protein Snacks Feeling: Calmness and & sustained energy

I wasn’t just eating chips just for the sake of eating them. There was a deeper reason than that. Once I figured out the WHY behind my action, things started to shift.

I realized I was using ketchup chips to medicate myself because I didn't actually deal with the underlying chronic stress I was experiencing.

I reached for my bag of chips every time after a stressful day like when I had a really hard exam in my uni days, or a tough fight with my partner, or a bad day at work.

I would automatically reach for my "cure" and sooner or later, that became a habit where to satisfy my craving of feeling less stressed was by eating ketchup chips. Ketchup chips then became associated with stress and therefore the vicious cycle began. To break the cycle, I had to find a swap for the action and once I did, it was a complete game changer for me. I felt better, more energized, more alive and well.

"Our Habits determine the quality of our lives."

This statement is evidently factual for me and can be for you as well once you've experienced how your life can change just by breaking one bad habit at a time.

I hope this shared experience can help you become more aware of how you may be using food as a way to medicate and to relieve the deeper underlying stress.

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