Alcoholism vs. Food Addiction

Jovialation

this seems to be the controversy amongst addiction education. Because according to most alcoholics, its a disease and they have to give it up forever at risk of relapsing. But there are plenty of people that have been diagnosed (sum of my own friends) with alcoholism. They kicked the addiction. They can have a beer now and then. So yeah. I'm not saying EVERYONE falls in this scenario. But its possible.

I used to be a daily drinker and I was only 18-19. I was working 3rd shift, was hardly ever eating, and almost never sleeping more than 2 hours. I lived off of energy drinks and food from the gas station I worked at. After awhile the occassional party turned into after work 'drunk by noon' parties with other 3rd shifters...and it just evolved from that. I can handle myself fine now, but because I drink so rarely I forget that Im a lightweight lol

my mom did the AA thing in her 20s and now she has that "i cant even go into a bar" attitude. AA teaches that. They teach that its a lifetime disease that you WILL succumb to given the chance. I really hate that teaching

xsargex

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

You have restated what I said in my opening post.

There is no 'cold turkey' method for an eating addiction. It's like an alcoholic being a professional wine taster, faced with it daily.

hence moderation.... why is this turning into a circle? hahaha. I got crucified for no reason. :blushing:

Addicts do not know moderation.

I guess what I'm getting at is....if the human condition can find the strength to kick a habit/addiction or whatevern terminology thru intervention, medication, or just plain old fashion hard-wrok..... then why isn't the body capable of consuming responsibility? I'm stayin on topic with alcohol and food. No drugs or obvious harmful substances.

If someone is a food addict and can learn to eat responsibly...then why cant an alcoholic, not do the same with drinking?

Phoenix_Rising

this seems to be the controversy amongst addiction education. Because according to most alcoholics, its a disease and they have to give it up forever at risk of relapsing. But there are plenty of people that have been diagnosed (sum of my own friends) with alcoholism. They kicked the addiction. They can have a beer now and then. So yeah. I'm not saying EVERYONE falls in this scenario. But its possible.

I used to be a daily drinker and I was only 18-19. I was working 3rd shift, was hardly ever eating, and almost never sleeping more than 2 hours. I lived off of energy drinks and food from the gas station I worked at. After awhile the occassional party turned into after work 'drunk by noon' parties with other 3rd shifters...and it just evolved from that. I can handle myself fine now, but because I drink so rarely I forget that Im a lightweight lol

my mom did the AA thing in her 20s and now she has that "i cant even go into a bar" attitude. AA teaches that. They teach that its a lifetime disease that you WILL succumb to given the chance. I really hate that teaching

I think they teach that because certain people are prone to have addictive personalities. While you may be able to break the addiction now, it may resurface later for a second go 'round.

This would explain why I have been able to quit smoking many times, going many months in between, but always picking it back up again. I have an addictive personality.

Phoenix_Rising

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

You have restated what I said in my opening post.

There is no 'cold turkey' method for an eating addiction. It's like an alcoholic being a professional wine taster, faced with it daily.

hence moderation.... why is this turning into a circle? hahaha. I got crucified for no reason. :blushing:

Addicts do not know moderation.

I guess what I'm getting at is....if the human condition can find the strength to kick a habit/addiction or whatevern terminology thru intervention, medication, or just plain old fashion hard-wrok..... then why isn't the body capable of consuming responsibility? I'm stayin on topic with alcohol and food. No drugs or obvious harmful substances.

If someone is a food addict and can learn to eat responsibly...then why cant an alcoholic, not do the same with drinking?

I'm not saying they can't.
But I've also not been able to break the food addiction.
I think it's mostly because it's too easy to obtain my "drug of choice", and sends off feel-good endorphins whenever I cram food in my throat hole, crushing my emotional discomfort.

xsargex

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

You have restated what I said in my opening post.

There is no 'cold turkey' method for an eating addiction. It's like an alcoholic being a professional wine taster, faced with it daily.

hence moderation.... why is this turning into a circle? hahaha. I got crucified for no reason. :blushing:

Addicts do not know moderation.

I guess what I'm getting at is....if the human condition can find the strength to kick a habit/addiction or whatevern terminology thru intervention, medication, or just plain old fashion hard-wrok..... then why isn't the body capable of consuming responsibility? I'm stayin on topic with alcohol and food. No drugs or obvious harmful substances.

If someone is a food addict and can learn to eat responsibly...then why cant an alcoholic, not do the same with drinking?

I'm not saying they can't.
But I've also not been able to break the food addiction.
I think it's mostly because it's too easy to obtain my "drug of choice", and sends off feel-good endorphins whenever I cram food in my throat hole, crushing my emotional discomfort.

I don't know either. With that said, I'm gonna go eat lunch.

Eryn47

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

Have you read any of the comments on here, besides the one's that contain your rude response???? That's the whole point, a food addiction is one of the hardest to beat BECAUSE you can't just stop eating, hense going to O.E. and learning new behaviors, because starting off, NO you don't know how to moderate! There have been many studies done on this topic maybe you should look it up, and make a point to stay out of conversations that you can't put forth any usefull knowledge, or encouragement! :bigsmile:

Jovialation

I have an addictive personality too. I actually moderate my exercise and take days off dieting because otherwise I will become addicted to even the calorie counting and working out.
Ive learned to watch myself in all situations. When I started working out I knew I couldnt do the same calibur of schedule as some people here with multiple workouts a day because I knew then itd only become a matter of time before I was obsessed.
I have a severely addictive personality.
Ive even been convinced I had internet addiction at some point in my life.
and a video game addiction.
Now I just keep a good eye on myself heh

neeterskeeter

I agree with you - I have always been an extreme, all-or-nothing type person and I have seen myself have an addictive personality when it comes to both bad food (sugar, junk food, processed food, etc.) and alcohol. I have had to stop some things cold turkey -- I cut out sugar and now alcohol, etc. But I am learning how to be patient with myself and find balance. For instance it's okay to have **a** chocolate chip cookie and a glass of skim milk every now and again. In the past I wouldn't have bene able to stop with just one. And it owuld become a regular occurrence if I did it once. And once I am at my goal weight, I would like to have a glass or two of wine, or a beer or two, while out with friends, but until then I have cut it out completely because the bad effects of it outweigh the good effects for me.

So, yes, I completely see what you mean. I think any positive lifestyle change that we can make sure to hold up over the long haul is really, really good.

LuckyLeprechaun

If someone is a food addict and can learn to eat responsibly...then why cant an alcoholic, not do the same with drinking?

Maybe because alcohol has the particular effect of lowering inhibitions. so it is especially easy to let "just one drink" turn into a binge.

just a theory....I don't really know:ohwell:

xsargex

:drinker:

hasiangirl

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

lmao no not give up food per say.....but i know me personally i had to give up any type of junk food..... i will eat till i drop if i go to Mcdonalds or piss hut ........french fries , mashed potatoes....and the list goes on and on...well i know i had to cut them straight out of my lifestyle because i CANNOT and will not put it down lmao in fact i'd go back and order more when im done eating......there are certain foods i cant do moderation with :laugh:
p.s. why did i think i typed in pizza hut? when i actually typed in piss hut? lol

Fieldsy

So I was thinking about being a food addict last night and I began comparing it to alcoholism. I think the biggest difference is when you realize you are an alcoholic and are ready to change, one of the first steps is to stop drinking. Period. However, as a food addict, you can't stop eating cold turkey. Won't work, for obvious reasons. You have to learn to eat correctly, in correct amounts and at the proper times.

I think this is why it's so hard for me to stop eating. I'm a food addict and every day I'm faced with eating, but I have a hard time making myself stop after just "one meal" (i.e. the correct amount of food) whereas an alcoholic (generalizing) has a hard time stopping after just "one drink". :brokenheart:

What do you think?

I think it is hard to give up both, but....

giving up food, you still have a ton of healthy foods you can eat, healthy foods that taste great

with alcohol, there is no healthy option to alcohol, alcohol is alcohol, it is poison for a diet

It is harder for me to stop drinking than it is to eat bad food

xsargex

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

lmao no not give up food per say.....but i know me personally i had to give up any type of junk food..... i will eat till i drop if i go to Mcdonalds or piss hut ........french fries , mashed potatoes....and the list goes on and on...well i know i had to cut them straight out of my lifestyle because i CANNOT and will not put it down lmao in fact i'd go back and order more when im done eating......there are certain foods i cant do moderation with :laugh:
p.s. why did i think i typed in pizza hut? when i actually typed in piss hut? lol

i'm gonna have to thank you. You've given me the best advice to curb my appetite and addiction to food. When I get hungry. I suck on my thumb. I started today and it works! Your an angel. :devil:

p.s. we call it Pizza Slut

hasiangirl

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

lmao no not give up food per say.....but i know me personally i had to give up any type of junk food..... i will eat till i drop if i go to Mcdonalds or piss hut ........french fries , mashed potatoes....and the list goes on and on...well i know i had to cut them straight out of my lifestyle because i CANNOT and will not put it down lmao in fact i'd go back and order more when im done eating......there are certain foods i cant do moderation with :laugh:
p.s. why did i think i typed in pizza hut? when i actually typed in piss hut? lol

i'm gonna have to thank you. You've given me the best advice to curb my appetite and addiction to food. When I get hungry. I suck on my thumb. I started today and it works! Your an angel. :devil:

p.s. we call it Pizza Slut

lmaoooo!!!! thumb sucking is great lmao w/e :laugh: :blushing: but the thing is if ure going to suck your thumb do it right! u have to have your index finger curved right under your nose for some reason to rub your upper lip :laugh: :huh:

xsargex

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

lmao no not give up food per say.....but i know me personally i had to give up any type of junk food..... i will eat till i drop if i go to Mcdonalds or piss hut ........french fries , mashed potatoes....and the list goes on and on...well i know i had to cut them straight out of my lifestyle because i CANNOT and will not put it down lmao in fact i'd go back and order more when im done eating......there are certain foods i cant do moderation with :laugh:
p.s. why did i think i typed in pizza hut? when i actually typed in piss hut? lol

i'm gonna have to thank you. You've given me the best advice to curb my appetite and addiction to food. When I get hungry. I suck on my thumb. I started today and it works! Your an angel. :devil:

p.s. we call it Pizza Slut

lmaoooo!!!! thumb sucking is great lmao w/e :laugh: :blushing: but the thing is if ure going to suck your thumb do it right! u have to have your index finger curved right under your nose for some reason to rub your upper lip :laugh: :huh:

my index finger is my official booger-picker, I dont think so. :laugh:

hasiangirl

So lemme get this straight. If you have an addiction to alcohol, you have to give it all up, because the idea of being moderate does not exist. What does this have to do with an eating disorder? Your supposed to give up food all together? umm no. You'd have to learn and take steps to eat right.... i.e. moderation. I think thats pretty straight-foward.


Though I'm sure there are some similiar behaviors between the two, the action and results are by far...very opposing.

lmao no not give up food per say.....but i know me personally i had to give up any type of junk food..... i will eat till i drop if i go to Mcdonalds or piss hut ........french fries , mashed potatoes....and the list goes on and on...well i know i had to cut them straight out of my lifestyle because i CANNOT and will not put it down lmao in fact i'd go back and order more when im done eating......there are certain foods i cant do moderation with :laugh:
p.s. why did i think i typed in pizza hut? when i actually typed in piss hut? lol

i'm gonna have to thank you. You've given me the best advice to curb my appetite and addiction to food. When I get hungry. I suck on my thumb. I started today and it works! Your an angel. :devil:

p.s. we call it Pizza Slut

lmaoooo!!!! thumb sucking is great lmao w/e :laugh: :blushing: but the thing is if ure going to suck your thumb do it right! u have to have your index finger curved right under your nose for some reason to rub your upper lip :laugh: :huh:

my index finger is my official booger-picker, I dont think so. :laugh:

lmao omg :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: do u pick and eat too?....i wonder how many calories are in a gram of boogers

xsargex

lmao omg :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: do u pick and eat too?....i wonder how many calories are in a gram of boogers

i searched it on MFP.....booger = "no results found". I guess we're the only ones. I think I'll add a recipe.

hasiangirl

lmao omg :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: do u pick and eat too?....i wonder how many calories are in a gram of boogers

i searched it on MFP.....booger = "no results found". I guess we're the only ones. I think I'll add a recipe.

lol......ok here we go.... supposedly boogers are good for us lmao :laugh: http://www.belowtopsecret.com/forum/thread219777/pg1

xsargex

lol......ok here we go.... supposedly boogers are good for us lmao :laugh: http://www.belowtopsecret.com/forum/thread219777/pg1

hahaha, well you found it on the internet....must be true. Of course, your source would have been more respectable and creditable if you'd found it on wikipedia. Not impressed. :yawn:

hasiangirl

lol......ok here we go.... supposedly boogers are good for us lmao :laugh: http://www.belowtopsecret.com/forum/thread219777/pg1

hahaha, well you found it on the internet....must be true. Of course, your source would have been more respectable and creditable if you'd found it on wikipedia. Not impressed. :yawn:

wiki had something to say about it.....but that site was more intresting and funny lmao

xsargex

wow, we really hijacked this thread. Sorry everyone. :bigsmile:

hasiangirl

wow, we really hijacked this thread. Sorry everyone. :bigsmile:

yes sorry everyone....i blame sarge fully

ivykivy

Why did you choose food? What made you zero in on food as the focus of your addiction?

So I was thinking about being a food addict last night and I began comparing it to alcoholism. I think the biggest difference is when you realize you are an alcoholic and are ready to change, one of the first steps is to stop drinking. Period. However, as a food addict, you can't stop eating cold turkey. Won't work, for obvious reasons. You have to learn to eat correctly, in correct amounts and at the proper times.

I think this is why it's so hard for me to stop eating. I'm a food addict and every day I'm faced with eating, but I have a hard time making myself stop after just "one meal" (i.e. the correct amount of food) whereas an alcoholic (generalizing) has a hard time stopping after just "one drink". :brokenheart:

What do you think?

arewethereyet

Lauryn I sent you a PM:flowerforyou:

Phoenix_Rising

Why did you choose food? What made you zero in on food as the focus of your addiction?

So I was thinking about being a food addict last night and I began comparing it to alcoholism. I think the biggest difference is when you realize you are an alcoholic and are ready to change, one of the first steps is to stop drinking. Period. However, as a food addict, you can't stop eating cold turkey. Won't work, for obvious reasons. You have to learn to eat correctly, in correct amounts and at the proper times.

I think this is why it's so hard for me to stop eating. I'm a food addict and every day I'm faced with eating, but I have a hard time making myself stop after just "one meal" (i.e. the correct amount of food) whereas an alcoholic (generalizing) has a hard time stopping after just "one drink". :brokenheart:

What do you think?

I didn't "choose" food as an addiction. Addictions find you, not the other way around. I have been lucky enough to avoid alcoholism thus far in life -- I am genetically predisposed to it, but not as much as my male family.

Phoenix_Rising

Lauryn I sent you a PM:flowerforyou:

:smooched: Thanks Jeannie!

ivykivy

I guess choose was a bad word to use I meant more focus. I have several addicts in my family past and present the younger ones use drugs and alcohol but never food (except when smoking). I always wondered why drugs; why not gambling or something else?

Why did you choose food? What made you zero in on food as the focus of your addiction?

So I was thinking about being a food addict last night and I began comparing it to alcoholism. I think the biggest difference is when you realize you are an alcoholic and are ready to change, one of the first steps is to stop drinking. Period. However, as a food addict, you can't stop eating cold turkey. Won't work, for obvious reasons. You have to learn to eat correctly, in correct amounts and at the proper times.

I think this is why it's so hard for me to stop eating. I'm a food addict and every day I'm faced with eating, but I have a hard time making myself stop after just "one meal" (i.e. the correct amount of food) whereas an alcoholic (generalizing) has a hard time stopping after just "one drink". :brokenheart:

What do you think?

I didn't "choose" food as an addiction. Addictions find you, not the other way around. I have been lucky enough to avoid alcoholism thus far in life -- I am genetically predisposed to it, but not as much as my male family.

Phoenix_Rising

I guess choose was a bad word to use I meant more focus. I have several addicts in my family past and present the younger ones use drugs and alcohol but never food (except when smoking). I always wondered why drugs; why not gambling or something else?

Probably due to availability and lack of social stigma. Alcohol and drugs cost too much. Food is easier, cheaper, no one knows about the addiction.That's my guess.

I smoke too. Nasty habit. Quit cold turkey the day I found out I was pregnant. (In my mind, there was no choice in that matter.) Picked it back up, put it back down, can't stay quit.