I Am A Food Addict! Aren't you? - ThinnerTimes

eyesthatkissu · 12-13-2006, 06:10 AM

Let's be real, I didn't get to weigh over three hundred pounds because I liked Twinkies and pasta. I am a food addict, and those addictions and behaviors don't change because I'm a GB patient. It's silly to think they will. That's what they mean when they say that surgery is "not a magic pill". That is what they mean when they say you have to fix what's wrong in your head.

Are you a food addict? They say that if you answer yes to any of these questions you are a food addict.

Do you find that planning on what you will eat next consumes much of your thoughts?

Do you find yourself "craving" certain foods, and that the craving only goes away if you give in and eat that certain food?

Do you find that you have lied, or lie about what you have eaten?

Do you hide food?

Are you depressed because of something you have eaten, or not been able to eat?

Does food make you happy or excited?

BLAH! YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!

I am a food addict! Being addicted to food, is no different then being addicted, to alcohol or drugs. No differnt emotionally. What does make it different, is that everyone can SEE your addiction. I believe that one of the only ways to overcome any kind of addiction is to be REAL. To be brutally honest with ourselves. So here goes....

My name is Robin, and I'm a food addict. I turn to food when I am depressed, or worried, or bored. I find myself searching through the pantry when ever I'm in a state of emotional distress. I often go to sleep at night and plan what I will have for breakfast. As I'm eating breakfast I can find myself sometimes planning lunch and dinner. When I am out and about, no matter where, I am always drawn to the food. When I crave something, I will have it, even if I know it might make me sick. I will lie about what I have eaten, or not eaten often. Now it's in the reverse of pre-op. I always say I have eaten more then I have, because people around me think I'm getting "too thin". But I will also lie about having made a bad food choice. I will tell people I had 1/2 a bagel, which I often do, but that day it was a think slice of cinnamon loaf. Why lie? Because I am a food addict! I still hide food from my family. Last night I had to purge my hiding spot of Abba Zabba miniatures and Peanut M n M's! Food often times controls my emotional state. I get irritated if I can't eat something I want. I get sad and angry with myself if I give in and eat something I know I shouldn't. I know I'm a food addict because food has a marked effect on my emotions. Those things do not just go away post-op. The diffence is now, I recognize the behaviors, and can take active steps to change them. It's an on going process. And before I was reactive to my life. Bad things would happen, and I would just react to whatever it was. Now, I know how to be PROACTIVE. How to be an active participant in my life and be active in making it successful.

I found this article this morning and I think it's very good reading for all of us, pre and post. This forum is fabulous for support. And support doesn't mean just being each others cheerleaders, it also means sharing life lessons, and anything else we can to conquer our addiction to food. God Bless, and all my love!

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communit..._addiction.htm

bloomer001 · 12-13-2006, 06:39 AM

I want to admit, My name is Jennifer and I'm a food addict!

Your post came at just the right time for me, Thank you so much. I am almost 6 months out and had been doing pretty good (well some bad days, but we all have those) the last few weeks though were getting bad. I thought it was the holidays and me getting a little depressed. But after reading your post, it sort of set off a lightbulb. I am addicted to food, and as strange as it sounds, I think I may be going through withdrawl. And who do you turn to when you are having something diffucult in your life? Your best friend. Who is my best friend? Food!! Now what?

One minute I feel sooo good, loosing weight, new hairdo (had too, it is thin now from falling out), then the next minute I feel like a complete failure. What do I do? Any suggestions?

eyesthatkissu · 12-13-2006, 06:46 AM

Recognizing the behavior is so key! Because now you KNOW what it is! My suggestion, other then counseling which I think we should all be in anyway, is to journal. I used to write all the time. It was cathartic. But over the years gave it up. Now I'm back to it again per a suggestion from Bridget. And when I find myself standing in the pantry, or getting ready to make a poor food choice, I stop for a few minutes and just write down what I am feeling. WHY? Why am I craving this or that? WHAT am I feeling at that very moment. It really has been so very helpful and insightful. I'm learning a lot about myself. And after a few minutes I am finding that I have become empowered because I am understanding what motivated me to be standing in the pantry in the first place! Self-sabatoge is a real b*tch, and stems from our lack of self-confidence. Just as we are starting to be successful we look for failure. How many times in the past, on a diet, would you see that you had lost 4 pounds in a week, and celebrate by having a candy bar? Then you'd be mad that you had it, and have a cheeseburger... Don't let YOU sabatoge YOU... write write write!

LisaBoston · 12-13-2006, 06:51 AM

Add me to the list...a food addict! I still think of food all the time - whether its planning for the day or week or just needing that something. One habit that I have to really watch is to actually EAT....sounds crazy, but if I don't get in proper or enough foods 3 times a day, I find that I go looking for that something...and of course never find it. The protein powder and vials have been helpful in this area.

My challenge right now...........drink less coffee, more water. Some days successful, others not.

I don't know if its the weather, the time of year but on Sunday I just had to go to bed in the afternoon and pull the covers over my head...didn't want to do a thing! Good thing it only lasted for one day! Soon the days will be getting longer and hopefully that will help. It doesn't get light until 10am and its dark by 4pm.....I need light and sunshine!

I still question my success all the time..one day I am fat, the next day its a skin issue, and the next I am just fine. The mental roller coasters I ride...I should live near a theme park!

eyesthatkissu · 12-13-2006, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaBoston

I still question my success all the time..one day I am fat, the next day its a skin issue, and the next I am just fine. The mental roller coasters I ride...I should live near a theme park!

I'm not sure that would be a self-confidence issue, or just a female one. In general as women we can be so much arder on ourselves and our appearences then men are. And keep in mind, I think many of us still have, and may always have "fat eyes". I still often times see myself as the same ole fat chick. I'm constantly jiggling my pannus and calling it my big fat stomach. I'm not sure that ever goes away!

You're doing fabulous Lisa, even if you live in the land of self-doubt. Please try and remember to hydrate and eat. That can be a method of self-sabatoge all on it's own. Also, when your body can't count on you to feed it what it needs on a regular basis, you are more inclined to make poor food choices, and maybe eat too quickly or something that won't agree with your pouch because you are so hungry you aren't thinking clearly. Happens to me often! Myself, I kind of like the winter, but this is So Cali, so it's not really "winter" But I always take these months when I can't do much outside to clean out closets, organize things, redecorate etc. Stay busy dollface... idle hands and all that...

Bypassingme619 · 12-13-2006, 08:58 AM

and I am taking it one day at a time to overcome my addiction.

BTW, Robin you look great.

Lori P · 12-13-2006, 10:53 AM

Ah yes.... not only am I a food addict..... I'm also a ketchup whore!

lol I love ketchup, and the love of this food (I mean, condiment) comes from my dad who eats ketchup on EVERYTHING. I guess I'm just as bad.

Lori

Edited part: I should also put in here that I don't eat to comfort myself or anything like that. I just eat because I can. I have no reason. There's also times when I'm hungrier than you-know-what and I will REFUSE to eat. Shawn (hubby) can testify to that one. Baaaaaaaaad I know...... *sigh*

coptergirl · 12-13-2006, 12:18 PM

**ahem** Hello everybody - my name is Whitney and I am a food addict/foodaholic/food whore (well not really). I eat for the same reasons listed above as well as boredom, being tired, lonely etc. Food is a confusing drug of choice, bceuase it is not like alcohol or drugs where you can simply cut them out and move on (not that it is simple by any means), but with food we must learn to eat to live rather than live to eat. Some days are good, and some days I wait for the old brain to kick in.

So yeppers - I am a foodaholic recovering one day at a time

Dyann · 12-13-2006, 12:53 PM

Hi, my name is Dyann (everyone....hi dyann) I am a food addict. I eat out of stress. I have been doing great. These last two weeks...tough weeks for me...I see an extra bite here, snack there and this week I lost nothing. So close to goal and a bad habit is slowly creeping in on me in times of stress. I need to get a grip before 2 weeks become 4 weeks. Thanks for the reminder Robin.

LQQkn · 12-13-2006, 01:57 PM

I can answer NO to all of them now. I could yes to them before however. But I got cured from ever being a food addict because I've never been able to keep food down normally. I throw up and have nausea almost constantly and daily. Finally I had some emergency surgery and there was scar tissue blocking my intestines, and that was why it was continually getting worse, more and more scar tissue. I had three ambulance rides last week, finally friday I had emergency surgery and this is the first day in 7 months my pain level is below 9, and I just today finally I am able to get up and go to the bathroom by myself. Bad news is it's gonna take a long time for my stomach to heal up from all this surgeon says I might have another six months so I'm back to chicken broth and soups... I forget what do newbies eat again? I'm gonna have to go back and research. I'm 30 lbs below goal weight, and need to get some weight on me. I'm almost afraid if I lose any more weight.. I'm looking very sick right now. Good news I'll never ever ever ever eat again LOL So when I read these posts about being a food addict, I fixed that problem, only I opened up pandora's box and can't close it up fast enough.
It's truly what is between the ears, and not what's going down your throat..I have an awesome support system setup, and I know that in time I will recover one day at a time. Trust me the stuff comes up without any problem.. and I don't mean food. J