Tame Your ADHD Eating Habits

Last week, I wrote about the connection between obesity and ADHD. Now that we have research that shows there is a definite connection between the two, what can we do to work towards the goal of getting the weight off and improving our health?

Like most everything else in our lives, staying on track with a health and fitness plan can be overwhelming. Procrastinating, losing interest, being forgetful, and other ADHD "traits" come into play big time. Typically, ADHD symptoms worsen when they're attached to areas in our lives where we have little motivation or interest, and they lessen when we're engaged and interested. For example, managing paperwork can be excruciatingly boring, so we tend to procrastinate on getting it done. On the other hand, if you love to garden, cook or play golf or video games, well...that can grab our attention so well, it can be hard to force ourselves to stop.

For many, starting and maintaining a diet and exercise routine falls under the "boring, hard to stay motivated" category. Thus, many with ADHD are faced with failure as they try to change their life styles. However, I've known many people with ADHD (myself included) who have found that changing their lifestyles can (and usually will), improve ADHD symptoms. So what are you waiting for? Let ‘s get started!

Below are 10 tips to get you back on track on improving your health.

1. Assess what it is you need to change. Do you need to lose weight? Eat more healthfully? Begin exercising? Make a doctor's appointment? Get your cholesterol checked? Write down all the things you would like to change about your health and then prioritize them by number.

2. Start small, start slow. Start with #1 on your list. Ask yourself what you need to do to get started. If it's, say, to exercise, ask yourself what activity you would most likely be apt to stick with. Write down what you need to do to get started, i.e. join a health club, purchase appropriate equipment, etc. Once you're prepared to begin, spend only 10 minutes in the given activity and build up from there. If you bore easily, consider choosing more than one activity to switch back and forth from.

3. Write it in your planner! If your goal is to begin exercising, write in the days and times you'll be working out. If it's starting a diet, write your start date with your current weight, then list what you will be eating that day. Or consider using a separate notebook to track your foods.

4. Be mindful of how your ADHD plays out. For some, the thought of cooking special foods is overwhelming. If you have the resources, look into companies that do the cooking for you. Companies like Nutrasystem and Seattle Sutton are examples of programs that measure, cook and even deliver your foods. Remember that the cost may seem high, but it is a temporary measure until your weight is down and more manageable. Other weight loss programs are very helpful; they teach you how to make healthy choices and often offer support groups. In the long run, you'll save lots of money by avoiding expensive health care for weight related health problems.