Do You Identify as a Food Addict?
ladyzherra
Posts: 438 Member
Like so many of us here, I am an emotional eater who has felt obsessive about food. Food is always on my mind. I am immoderate with it. I've hidden it. I've allowed it control my mood. I've felt guilt and shame around it. I've hurt myself with food. I go to food to help me numb emotions that feel too much for me. Food has come between me and going out with friends. Binge-eating disorder is what I have, but I realize recently that food addiction is a thing. I've been reading about it in books and also started attending support group meetings for the addiction. For the first time in almost 40 years I actually feel like I am beginning to see what has plagued me through my life. Does anyone else identify as a food addict?
Jenn
Jenn
33
Replies
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Yes! No official diagnosis but researching it and it fits my brain. I've been looking for a support group near me but have yet to find one. The most I found was overeaters anonymous, and...while it had good principals, the overall experience was uncomfortable. I think because of the religious aspect for me personally.
Did you find the support group just through searching or through like your insurance?3 -
@neuroticvirgo, a friend of mine attends the meetings. There are OA and FA meetings in my area. The OA principals do not really resound with me, either, but I appreciate the community.2
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Food addict here. I bought a fitbit. Changed my entire routine for the better. Lost 14 pounds so far. I feel great. The past two days were challenging because of alcohol but I survived.5
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@Cindy4Change I use a fitbit sometimes, especially to check in with how many calories I burn on average. It's not very much!1
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I struggle with my weight big time. In a binge cycle the last few days and don’t want to log my food. Anyone want to be friends so we can support one another when we are triggered. I rejoined OA but it really doesn’t work for me ...11
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@FitnessLoveHealth add me.2
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I have always referred to my eating as "characteristic immoderation" because I've always been out of control when it comes to food and eating. Once I get my mind transfixed on a specific meal, then I'm perpetually discontent until I get it - and when I get it, it's definitely going to be a binge. But that has mostly ended now that I've been on a diet for a month - nearly all my cravings are gone and I rarely get fixated any more. I think writing every day is what helps me redirect my mental energy away from food and toward productivity and self-expression. And maybe, with some discipline and a little luck, I'll one day be free of these irrational thoughts toward food. Feel free to add me.7
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There is addiction and disordered eating in my family (both sides) going back for generations. My addiction is food. My brother is an alcoholic, so is my dad, my grandfather, my grandmother had an eating disorder, my mom, my aunt, now me. It's scary how it is passed down.
Food is my co.fort, my shield, my best friend and worst enemy. I am, at present, completely powerless over my addiction to food 😑8 -
I've always been a compulsive eater and a stress eater. So many bad habits I tried to hide my emotional eating from my children when they were young so they wouldn't pick up these habits. So that resulted in eating at night in front of the tv. Which is another habit I'm trying to stop.
Things that have helped me control my compulsive eating was to stop when I get overwhelmed and take a breathe maybe meditate, pray whatever works for you.
I don't eat in my car this was another issue I had. When I got stressed or not hit the drive thru get a shake or fries. I'm trying not to eat alone so that way somebody sees what I'm eating. That's not always possible.
Putting my fork down after each bite. This is harder than it sounds. This and not eating while watching tv has been hard for me. It seemed as though every time my favorite show came on I had to have a snack.
@FitnessLoveHealth add me.
When food is Love by Geneen Roth is a good book. She has several good books that have helped me. Great discussion thanks to all who shared. I got alot of inspiration.5 -
I'm an emotional eater. Work stresses me out. People stress me out. I'm trying to log in here every day and I'm also trying out Noom. I've also started dancing every night since I now live alone. I'm not graceful but who cares. It is exercise and as exercise goes, it's kinda fun. I think I'd like to connect with people who are like me who start eating and simply cannot quit.5
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I also ID as a food addict. Also, it is my emotional go to. I also start eating and can't stop even when physically full still feel wanting more. I am aware that I am trying to fill something missing with food. I also agree with reading When the food is love book. It is one about the only one I found that resonants with the way I feel and approach food. I am up connecting with others who struggle with overeating and we can support each other.4
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Never been diagnosed but I’m an emotional eater.
Hide food, stay up late to eat in private, I don’t know why.
It takes over your life and makes you very unhappy and myself 3stone overweight.
I joined MFP on Monday, I joined this group to connect with other emotional eaters for advice, guidance and to also realise it’s not only me that does this.
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Yes, I 1000% identify as a food addict. I've been in therapy for a couple of years now for PTSD and anxiety and it was only when I started therapy that I learned my comfort eating was so much more. It's been 1 year since I have given in to my trigger foods. I finally decided under the support of my therapist that I wanted to really push things up a notch and see how long I could fight giving in to my trigger foods and binge eating my stress and anxiety away. July 9th was my year anniversary. The struggle is still very real. I have to fight cravings all the time. But I have learned to listen to my body for real signs of hunger. It's a constant daily effort. Sometimes I want to say f**k it and throw in the towel. But I've come so far I don't want to surrender. I have a health coach who turned me on to MFP. At first, I was leery because when I was younger I was obsessive about watching my calories and starving myself. And then I'd lose control on the other end of the scale and stuff down everything I could eat because I was starving. I know how easy it is to slip into that mindset again of going from one extreme to the other. For many years I've been an emotional binge eater. I would often attempt to 'diet' and lose weight but I'd always go right back to gaining the weight lost and even more. But thankfully MFP has become a really positive tool for me to use in order to reach my goals of healthy weight loss. For the first time in my life I am actually actively living the concept of 'lifestyle change'. I'm hoping to meet others on here that can relate to my journey and we can provide each other with a positive support system and friendship
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I'm 65 and I was addicted to carbs and sugary foods like a lot of people .I found out that ''eating too much carbs and sugary foods make me craved more of these foods''. I got fatter as time went by.So 7 months ago, I change from eating low fat and ate too much carbs to eating low carbs/ high in good fat/ high protein.I'm losing weight, got rid of my cravings and my metal health improve too. It's easier to stick to my new way of eating .I only have to be mindful not to snack when I'm bored but not hungry.I want to get my BMI down to 20 from 22.Then I'll increase carbs but still maintain my weight. I won't go back to eat sugary foods again because I can eat low carb desserts in stead.x 🥚🧀🥩🍗🍤🐟🦑🥗🥦🥑🍮🥜🍰🍪4
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Great inspiration here. I so identify with the other posters. Starting low carb today. Any easy suggestions especially for desserts that don't include fake foods are appreciated!
Kim4 -
@sunlovr, I get recipes from the net, Low Carbs group here and groups on Facebook. I replace sugar with sweetener.I like low cal jelly a lot.It's easy to make , filling,tasty and lower in carbs and calories than most keto snacks.I don't eat desserts often . Most of my carbs come from vegetables.x 🥣2
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I love food. I love the taste of food, smell of food, and it really takes alot of food for me to feel full. So, I don't realize how much I am eating. Logging helps.3
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I'm not sure if food addict is 100% for me, but I definitely experience more than just emotional binging. Even days when I feel fine I end up hiding from my family in the kitchen to sneak some sweets or chips, or I stay up until 3am munching while I watch the tv and everyone else sleeps. I do my best to log everything though, even 3500+ calorie days. It's hard and it kills my self esteem, thus perpetuating the cycle. (Yaaaaay /s)
My heart goes out to everyone here.
Feel free to add me if you like. 7 -
Hi Everyone, Watched a great documentary called Fed Up about how addictive sugar is and how the food industry is making millions off of it.
It's very informative about what's in processed foods. It's on Amazon Prime or free steaming channel Tubi. It helped me alot we all know cooking meals with fresh vegetables etc. is the best way to go.
But sometimes I'm lazy and I don't want to cook. I think sometimes I just look for excuses not to. Now its so convenient to get groceries delivered or picked up. I use to say I hate grocery shopping. I have no excuse except I'm lazy at times. My goal is to cook more vegetables, eat less carbs and sugar.
I seem to go over on the sugar 50% of the time. I can stay on point with every category but sugar. Because that's my drug of choice I guess 😊. I hate it and I'm gonna beat it. Everytime I blow it and binge it's on the sweets. Glad to be in this group.5 -
Yes, I think I will need to keep a food diary and use calories, I know calorie aren't accurate or a good way to lose weight but because of my food addicted I will need to keep record so I don't over eat.0
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I've described myself as a food addict, although I don't often say it out loud. Carbs are my issue - the more I eat, the more I crave them and then back to eating more. Its a viscous cycle. I have tried most every diet and either failed or had limited success - followed by regaining extra pounds. I realized this past year or so that I need to get a handle on the mental aspect of wanting to be a healthy person. It cannot just be about losing weight, because that implies only temporary changes are made. I need to wrap my head around being healthier for life, not just a little bit. But it is super hard...I've been floundering with this for the past year. I was always the token "fat" kid in school, then when puberty hit I ballooned up to 200# and at my heaviest about 9yrs ago of 351#. I then struggled and got down to 314#. I tried Keto and became a "food nazi", but had success. I got down to 280# and was down 3-4 sizes in clothes and felt really good. But I burnt out of always being perfect with foods and banning myself from different foods and I eventually reverted back to my old habits and mindset. And here I am now at 312#. I'm going to be 53yrs old next month....I need to get moving into a healthier lifestyle.3
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I've been struggling so much with overeating this past year. I've been on and off Food Addicts Anonymous's Food plan over the last 5 years. It works, but last year I was bordering on orthorexia, and it was getting to a toxic obsession. I have not stepped on a scale in a few months, but I think I'm up 120 pounds since last August. It's embarrassing and out of control. I know the food plan works, but it hasn't been a long term solution for me. I've reached goal weight a few times, but now I'm back to where I started (probably plus more pounds) 5 years ago. My therapist wants me to do moderation. I just don't know if I'm capable of that!!! I need help, so I'm back here to find friendship and motivation. I can't keep doing this to myself. 😭4
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@tracyleed1 Just realizing that there is a mental and emotional component is so important...and rare. Many people continue to blame carbs or sugar or whatever else. And though I for one do experience physical symptoms around foods, I have learned that the game is really emotional first and mental second. The food itself is somewhere after these.1
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@faithan84 thanks for sharing your story. I can understand how rapid weight gain can put you in a challenging space.
The food plan has not really ever worked for me because my issue is emotional in nature. I have been working on the emotional and mental aspect of my disorder for a while. I found a helpful book titled When Food is Comfort by July Simon and I cannot tell you how much the insights here have aided me on my journey, because she provides small, realistic ways to first recognize your emotions, internalize the responses and, eventually to deal with them in a healthy way. I have to admit, I think for most people healing is a slow process because it does take time to really actualize these realizations. But it can work and it feels authentic rather than a quick fix. ❤️3 -
I'm going to look into that book @ladyzherra thanks for sharing!1
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Hi all, I know I'm a little late to this conversation, but I have recently started identifying as a food addict, which put a lot of things in perspective for me with how I eat and my feelings surrounding food. It is not really something I say out loud, but is always in the back of my mind.3
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healingnurtrer wrote: »I'm going to look into that book @ladyzherra thanks for sharing!
@healingnurtrer I hope that you enjoy the book. It is really, really authentic and insightful, and it offers a lot of everyday things that you can do to move toward your goal. I appreciate it.2 -
Yes, I am definitely a food addict. Eating has never been as simple as only eating til I'm full. I've tried so many diets throughout my life and here I am, still struggling to not overeat. Even though my weight is finally considered 'normal' I still have that mindset of wanting or needing to eat and eat and eat. Maybe if I liked celery it wouldn't be a problem.
Why can't I be addicted to celery? 5 -
Yeah I identify as a food addict. I think in my mind this is more helpful than calling it binge eating disorder even though there is a lot of overlap. It doesn’t even matter what the food is I just want to eat and eat 24/7 and it’s ruining my life and relationship3
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@ReenieHJ I hear you! Addiction to celery could be amazing...right?!
For me as well, emotional eating and overeating seem to be a part of my life, and may be until I die. I am not sure. What I do know is that I am dedicated every day to moving closer to a version of eating that feels more loving and less hating on myself. I have no idea how long that will take.
Remain open to the possiblity that it could happen today.
Warmly,
Jenn0
