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Many of the carbohydrate addicts with whom we have worked have told us that their inability to stay on their diets grows worse over time. Their desire to cheat seems to grow. At first, they can manage to ignore their urge for forbidden foods. Gradually it becomes a deeper craving. Eventually, their desire becomes uncontrollable.At the Carbohydrate Addict’s Center, we have developed detailed descriptions of what appear to be definable Levels of Addiction. Many dieters regard their failure to stay on a diet as a kind of haphazard eating free-for-all; they think that they are eating anything in sight. But we have found that the carbohydrate addict does not elect to cheat at random. While the carbohydrate addict may believe that he or she is eating more or less by chance (“Who could have known the boss would bring donuts in this morning?”), chance has very little to do with it.In fact, there is usually a clear pattern to their selection of foods. We have discerned that pattern, and we can pretty much predict the sequence of food cravings. The sequences of predictable eating make up the Levels of Addiction. We have found that we can usually predict with a high degree of accuracy what kinds of foods carbohydrate addicts are likely to eat at any given stage in the addictive process.The carbohydrate addict’s eating is almost always progressive. While the desire to cheat at times seems to disappear, it is never truly gone. Even if the addictive process seems to vanish for extended periods of time, it will always return. The carbohydrate addict’s movement through the Levels of Addiction is marked by strong and increasing urges to eat.Let’s take a look at the three Levels of Addiction.Addiction Level 1At this level, the addict’s desire for carbohydrates is partly hidden by his or her desire for food of all kinds. The carbohydrate addict seems to feel satisfied by eating what he or she has been taught is a good, balanced diet.The carbohydrate addict rationalizes that vegetables, whole-grain breads, potatoes, and meat, fish, or chicken are healthful foods. When dieting, the Level 1 carbohydrate addict gives in to the desire to eat by consuming great quantities of foods of all kinds without feeling that anything has been lost. “These foods aren’t really that fattening” is a common rationale. In the later stages of this level, there may be a desire for fruit as a regular snack. Fruit juices may also be the beverage of choice.Carbohydrate addicts at Level 1 tend to think that they simply love to eat. For a time they may think that they are in control of their eating.For the carbohydrate addict, this sense of control is only an illusion. Level 1 is only rarely recognized for what it is—the first stage of a progressive disorder. “There’s no harm in eating a lot of good food,” they tell themselves. But soon the drive to eat progresses and the carbohydrate addicts’ weights will often rise as well.
Addiction Level 2The kinds of foods that the carbohydrate addict eats begin to change at Level 2. Although a wide range of foods is still eaten at this level, the desire for vegetables, protein, and fruit soon begins to fade. In its place, starches such as bread, bagels, pasta, rice, and potatoes begin to seem very important and highly satisfying. Snack foods, such as potato chips, popcorn, and pretzels, become more attractive.Part of the appeal of starchy and snack foods at Level 2 is that, when they are eaten, they deliver an initial sense of physical satisfaction, a sense of relaxation. Unfortunately, this sense of satisfaction is temporary, and within a few days the same starches and snack foods begin to produce a new and greater urge to eat more of them. At the same time, satisfaction seems to decrease.Some people have reported a desire for beer or wine at this level, though many do not. Level 2 is often marked by the experience of recurring tiredness, especially after meals or in the middle of the afternoon.When carbohydrate addicts first reach Level 2, they often deny their own fear (“I’m not out of control”). Gradually the dieter becomes increasingly concerned with issues of eating, weight, and weight loss. The false confidence of Level 1 begins to fade, and more concern is focused on progress (or rather, the lack of progress) in the weight-loss program.Gradually, the carbohydrate addict realizes he or she is only rationalizing and is in fact no longer in control.Addiction Level 3While cravings for starches and snack foods (e.g., bread products, pasta, rice, potatoes and potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn) continue at Level 3, the drive for sweets can become very strong. At this level, snack foods and desserts are preferred.With the consumption of cakes or cookies or chocolate, the earlier desire for vegetables and even fish, meat, or fowl as well as fruits decreases or even disappears. Most meat or other protein is consumed with bread as a sandwich.Meals seem incomplete without a sweet dessert. Although sweets provide an initial surge of relief, they soon lose their ability to satisfy the carbohydrate addict.At this level, many of the people we work with report eating when they are not hungry, when they don’t have an urge to eat, and when they don’t even want to eat. Food doesn’t seem to taste especially good. The experience of eating becomes more of a compulsion or duty. The carbohydrate addict at Level 3 is eating because of a driving need to eat—a physical, inner demand to eat—rather than out of enjoyment.Normal mealtimes, periods of eating that are distinct from periods of noneating, gradually disappear. The carbohydrate addict may eat at any time, usually small or large snacks that include sandwiches, snack foods, and/or sweets. Rather than separate meals, the carbohydrate addict finds him- or herself eating continuous snacks. Sandwiches take the place of meals. Some people report that they have a diminished consciousness of their eating habits. As one dieter who came to the Center expressed it, “It’s almost like being half-aware of what you’re doing, like being half-hypnotized.”Others have commented that they felt as if they were not really aware of what they were doing until after they had put food into their mouths. Tiredness, self-blame, and feelings of hopelessness often mark this level.*18\236\2*

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