Food Addicts Anonymous??

SarahJayRigdon

Wow! Me too I guess. I just lost my job and it was so easy to sit around the house and watch TV and snack to keep my mind off the fact that I am now job-less. I also make cakes for a semi-living. Which makes it pretty hard sometimes. I mean, I have to make sure it tastes good enough for someone to pay for. Anyway, I'm making small changes and have recently become obsessed with this site and instead of watching TV during the day, I walk the dog and play Wii Fit when I'm not job hunting.

manetta33

My name is Stephanie and I too am a food addict. I have been stressed fighting with my husband about what's best for our family. I'm tired of him not listening to me. I told him I like having Mondays off instead of Wednesday but it doesn't work for him. He works afternoons and we have two boys one in 1st grade and the other 1/2 day kindergarten. I have to do homework with them every night. Thanks goodness he's not working 7 days anymore. The money is great and everything but my family needs more than that. I don't just need a provider. He told the other day that he will be back on days in the middle of February but in the summer he plans to go back on afternoons. Not because he can't be on days but for the money(O.T.) and a easier job. I tryed to discuss this with him but it's no use. So for once I haven't turned to food. I did 8 clementines today but better than cookies or junk. Thank goodness I was able to talk to friend today or I'd lost. She was so supportive. Sorry to be dumping but it's helping!!!:grumble:

bluenote

manetta, dump away! That's what we're here for. :flowerforyou: I just want to say that I am SO proud of you for choosing oranges instead of junk! You're on your way!!!

Sun, glad you're safely back at school. Good idea about the leftovers!

I lost three pounds this week! I am so happy! Thank you all for motivating me and encouraging me!

manetta33

Thanks bluenote!!

Sunsh1ne

Way to go, Bluenote! You broke through your plateau! I am doing a happy dance for you in my dorm room. :flowerforyou:

Manetta, don't feel shy about sharing what stresses you. Pretty much all of us are emotional eaters, so we all no that venting is much lower-cal than trying to comfort yourself with food. That's exactly what the group is here for.

bluenote

And what a plateau it was - four grueling weeks!

specialsong77

Reading through everyone's posts I think I have discovered I am perhaps a part time food addict.... is that possible?

Sometimes I look to food for comfort when I am sad or depressed and half the time I just stop eating all together because I am just too upset and it makes me feel ill to eat. I almost find myself eating more when I am happy. Eating is a very social activity in my lifestyle. We go out with friends a lot and chat over coffee, food, drinks, etc...

It is so hard to be good in a group. I am a taster too. I can't just eat for the sake of eating. It has to taste good. But when something tastes good I have a tough time eating just until I am full. I forget myself and just keep picking and munching. I don't have the opportunity to cook family meals since it is just my husband and I so I'll opt for a sandwich or whatever for dinner if I am alone, but then get so hungry late at night I end up scarfing down some chips or something really bad to kill the hunger.

I know I need to learn how to cook better meals for one person so I don't eat too little earlier in the evening. Perhaps I need to go to bed earlier too. Sleep through the late night munchies... ok, now I'm rambling... hehehe...

Ahmee2034

:embarassed: Sorry. Double post.

Ahmee2034

OMG! You're my clone! I'm the same way. I lose 40-50 pounds during the summer and when I go back to work (I work at a high school) I gain the weight back. I always think to myself, "This time...this time THIS IS IT! I'm gonna keep it off!" NOT! I know exactly what I need to do to get the weight off, I just haven't been able to figure out how I can stay so dedicated while school is in session. I live in south Louisiana so food is not just survival, it is a way of life! I think about a food item and I want it so bad I'll obsess over it to destraction sometime. AARRGGHHHH! And I know what I'm doing while I'm doing it. I guess I just don't care enough about myself in those weak moments that I just think about the pleasure in the moment that I am getting from the food. AND, I LOVE TO COOK! I love to create recipes and cook huge meals and I love sharing the food and watching everyone enjoy the food I've created.

So, here I am. I've come full circle in nearly one year's time and all I have to show for it is a "true loss" of only 5 pounds. I'm determined to figure out the pieces to this puzzle. I've just got to find the right balance...

richardsrm

just weighed in. amazing another pound . I guess you guys are right....it isn't about food it's about control yea, I will not quit. Ahmee, I work at a high school too!

mirandag26

I'm Miranda and I to am a food Addict, I LOVE food!! if it tastes good I like to eat it lol...my weakness although in the past I know I made some really bad food choices I'd eat big portions because it tasted soooo good but now I've learned I can still eat good food just not ALOT of it. And I've begun to eat healthier foods too and they really aren't that bad!! I'm a stay at home mom right now so it is so hard when I'm bored not to go raid the cupboard or the fridge but someone gave me some advice on that and i've been chewing gum or just going to the gym when I get bored its helping I've lost 13lbs so far!! the control I really need is the soda its sooo addicting and I can't help it but I've cut down alot going from only drinking soda to not drinking it at all to every now and then having some so I'm working on that but I always feel bad about it after I like I gave in its my second weakness but in time I'm sure I'll be able to kick it!

Weightn2Lose

I actually visited the Over Eaters web site. They had a set of around 15 questions and said if you answered yes to 3 or more then you are probably an addict. I answered yes to all but 2! I know Im an addict. I eat all of the time or Im thinking about eating. While Im eating breakfast I am planning lunch, while I am eating lunch I am planning dinner. I even planned my future carrer around food ( I want to own a bakery ). 8 cookies, huh, I loose count! I used to get a can of Sweetend condinced milk and hide it in the fridge so it would be my little secret treat when there wasnt anyone else home. I could eat the whole can in one sitting.

Now I have decided to become a different kind of addict! Im addicted to counting calories and making the healthier choices. This time I get rewarded for my addiction. Everytime I step on the scale and it has not gone up, or better yet gone down, it feeds my new addiction! My next venture.....excersise!!!!!!!

Darkraven

My name is Suzy and I am without a doubt a food addict. That took me a long time to come to terms with. I am finally at a place in my life where I feel strong and safe enough to face it. I never thought I'd have the will power to refocus that addiction elsewhere...elsewhere that is more healthy. Now when I get the craving from happy, sad, boredom or whatever, I walk. Doesn't matter when or where...I walk. If it's late at night I make sure I have cottage cheese and pepper in the house. I stopped making excuses for myself and now my mental health is where it needs to be in order for my physical health to be on the right track.

I loved reading through these posts knowing I'm not alone and this is something real and not just a cop out. Food addiction is just like a drug addiction. You need the food to feel in control and satisfied. Now I get those same feelings from taking control of my body and what I put in it. I still look horrible but I feel amazing which I can honestly say I've never felt in my life. I know my outside will eventually catch up with my inside and that keeps me going.

Well done everyone!

Sunsh1ne

Way to go, Rich, keep up the good work! I bet you feel great right now. :flowerforyou:

Welcome to the group, Miranda, Suzy, and Weightn2lose. I hear you! It's great that you're taking steps towards conquering your problems with food. Those are definitely some great tips to share, and this is a great place to brag about your successes and vent about your roadblocks.

Sunsh1ne

Hey, this save-half-for-later thing is really working. I've cut my average lunch calories by about 20%, and my dinner calories by almost 50%! Of course, the part I like is that the overpriced food at school is not so overpriced, now that it's feeding me twice. I'm getting excited about this week's weigh in, because I've been doing really well.

tinysheldon

I LOVE FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so happy for everyone that has been doing well! I know that it is hard!
I am the type of person that can eat what i want and as much as i want and i end up LOSING weight......(i know you all hate me)
BUT that doesn't mean its good for me. I have to try just as hard as anyone else to make sure what i am eating is good for me...but for all us ADDICTS...PUT THE FOOD DOWN!!!! lol
Good luck to everyone!

richardsrm

Thanks Tiny and Sunshine, I like the idea about eatting out. Yesterday I was with two people at a luncheon who did just that. I had a big mess of leftovers on my plate to throw out...............hind sight, there would have been less guilt if I had just taken half home for another meal! Anyhow i hope everyone has a good day . Snow today. Hugs Richie

richardsrm

Ate at McDonalds today:explode: Just sort of started me on down ward spin. Thought I better share before I do any more damagee.....I wasn't as bad as I have been in the past but it was mindless eatting ............I can control this.........I can control this...........Feel better just getting it off my chest. I will not give in!

lauren106

Hey, I am Lauren and I AM a food addict! It doesnt matter what it is.. anything sweet, tasty, tastless.. if its edible i will eat it in vast quantities and it is almost always the food that runs out before i stop.

I am an emotional eater, a boredom eater, a tired eater and a how much can i eat in the next 10 minutes eater. I don't know how to stop and afterwards I feel so crap about it I just want to eat it all over again!

I am trying to stuff my face with fruit, cereal, vegetables anything remotely healthy rather than chocolate and take aways, which i suppose is a good thing but I feel like unless i stop giving myself a hard time and learn to control it i will never lose weight and be happy!

Any tips on how to overide your cravings?!

xxxx

Sunsh1ne

Hey, the important thing is that you identified a negative behavior, and you were able to stop it rather than follow your old course of action to it's conclusion. Eating at McDonald's might feel like a loss but if you made better choices this time, it's a win!

I actually got my butt in gear and did day one of the C25K program. I really, REALLY hate running but I have to admit that after stretching and showering I felt fantastic. I guess I'll just have to remind myself of that Saturday when I don't want to get out of my warm cozy bed to go running. :laugh: I'm hoping I can go at the normal program rate but I might be stuck on week 1 for a while, because I couldn't even do the running circuits and ended up just walking, no running, for the last 10-ish minutes. I'm hoping it's just because I didn't have enough water that I pooped out.

Jlinares

Hi, my name is James

...and I'm a bread addict.

I can smell a stale slice of white bread through a wall. Nevermind fresh baked, toasted, grilled, burned - whatever! If it has enriched wheat or heck, even poor flour I'm gonna find it. Nothing satiates my soul's craving like a big chomp into Ciabatta or Sourdough! As I type this I've managed to short circuit several keys on my keyboard by drooling. Unfortunately because I am such an addict I have allowed myself to balloon in weight. I come from a family of big people. Big people with voracious appetites for all things "bready". My moms famous saying is "you can't fill up unless you have bread or tortillas with every meal." - In my innocence of love for my dear sweet 5ft. tall mother - I listened...for years. Then I hit rock bottom. It happened one night a couple of weeks ago.

I was alone (thank God) - I was on my hundredth attempt at "dieting" and decided to give up carbs after 5pm. Well into the first half-hour of the first hour I was doing fine. Little did I know that by the end of the night I would find myself face deep in a box of corn flakes. I rationalized my weakness by convincing myself I could quit anytime I wanted. I just need one more biscuit, one more pastry, one more Ritz - one last piece of God's love to help me kick. It started when I walked by the kitchen table and I sensed the French bread being French...that is to say - it was antagonizing me. "What ees wrong fatboy? Eh? Do you not weesh to taste me? To have me play in your mouth?"

I closed my eyes and chanted SHUT UP! SHUT UP ! SHUT UP!

Then the tortillas joined in when they smelled blood in the water. "Hey...meester...ju want to eat me? Si? I would be really good warm, weeth lots of butter!"

I was clearly going mad. Bread and tortillas don't normally talk...right? RIGHT!?

At any rate, I cracked like Ready Mix Concrete. The cheers I received from all those carbs was GLORIOUS! Then....I saw my reflection in the window. With the box of corn flakes, cereal bits stuck to my face and falling on the floor. I was absolutely disgusted with my image and behavior. I stared at myself and asked "what am I doing!?" I threw that box away right there, the bread, the tortillas, the crackers, cookies - all out. Two days later - I found MFP with the suggestion from a close friend. Now I look back at that crazy night and my reflection - the monster I saw staring back at me scared me straight. Now, I eat fruits, veggies and lots of chicken. Do I still crave carbs? Yes. But the real question is: Do carbs still control my life? Hell no!

bluenote

James, your wit far surpasses any carb devotion you may have. Stick with us and your veggies will sing.

Sunsh1ne

Welcome to the group, James. It's a serious problem, but it sounds like you are on the right track, and we're here to help you stay on it. And if your welcome post is any indication, we're going to want you to stay for a good while, because that is the single funniest food encounter narration I have ever read on MFP. :laugh: You have a great sense of humor.

richardsrm

James, I loved your post...............my carbs talk too:flowerforyou: ! Like you I have to throw them in the trash and race to the dump otherwise I might try to rescue them!:laugh: Today is another day.........I will try to run for 30 seconds...........the couch to running program will work I know it will but I am in pretty bad shape. Never have run anywhere in my life.............I was one of those kids who skipped PE. Hugs to all, Richie

ohthatbambi

Also a food addict.

The real insanity with me is a lot of times I have been depressed about my weight, so what do I do? EAT! How does that make any sense at all?

I've been doing so well since 09/08/09. I've pinpointed my issues and now I'm using exercise as a stress reliever and self-esteem builder instead of food. And I've lost 21 pounds. :drinker:

I do this too. I will weigh and I will get so discouraged that I just go shovel the food in. How crazy is that? I am trying to make my new motto "Eat to live instead of living to eat".

Sunsh1ne

That's a great motto, Bamboo!

Eava57

Welcome to the group, James. I totally understand where you are coming from...we ate rice with every meal, every day...white rice. I still love it but do manage to control my portion to one cup. We all love carbs! It is a challenge every day to limit them! Good Luck!:happy:

bluenote

I'm actually starting to feel really good. I guess the pneumonia is gone. I can breathe much better now. I am noticing that I am not as out of breath taking my trash can down the hill to the curb and then up again to get inside. This is a big deal for me! :bigsmile:

Sunsh1ne

Yay! My dad has had pneumonia several times, I know how big a deal it is to finally be breathing easy again. :flowerforyou: This is a big week for you, you're feeling better AND you broke through your wall!

bluenote

I am so proud of myself! Thanks for noticing! :flowerforyou: