Food Addicts Anonymous??

sheltieroger

My first post on this site, and this thread rings true to me. I have just finished reading "The End of Overeating" by David Kessler. It really hit home to me and I can honestly say I have had three days 'sober'. For me, being food-sober means having control of my food, not the other way around.

I can really relate to the binges mentioned on this thread....I only have a 2-slice toaster as it slowed down the buttered toast feeding frenzy (well, at least I got exercise going to the kitchen and back.....) A big bowl of icecream topped with chocolate chips and pecans......grilled cheese sandwiches (only 2 because the pan wouldn't hold a third....) and tater tots.....half a bag or so in a sitting....I could binge on almost anything (well, lets be honest, raw veggies aren't exactly bingeworthy, but they may make it to the plate to add color...)

Anyhow, enough of the food porn, but I highly recommend the book to anyone who thinks that food is their crack. It is quite scientific, but that's how my mind works and I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Look forward to getting to know you!
Beth

Sunsh1ne

Hi, Beth. Congratulations on your three days sober! (And by the way, the puppy in your profile pic is sooooo cute! )

sheltieroger

Thanks Sunsh1ne....as you can tell from my name I like shelties...I love their eyes!!! Hope everyone is having a great day so far!
Beth

Sunsh1ne

I managed to satisfy a Five Guys craving without going overboard... I split a regular burger with my mom, and I was perfectly happy with just that The fries are a bit of a different story, but I haven't eaten even half the regular order yet.

richardsrm

Congrates blue note

Sunsh1ne

Urgh.... I was within my calorie budget all day, and then decided I had to "test" the pork-leek dumplings I was making to take back to school tomorrow... I ate like five of them, and that basically sent my calorie budget spinning out of control. Sooooo good, but soooo bad. :sad:

bluenote

Congrates blue note

Thanks!

Welcome, Sheltie. I, too, adore your dog!
Sun, I overate today, too. And I would have tested the pork leek dumplings, too - sounds delish! Well, OK I went straight through my exercise cals, is what I guess I should say, and I usually do not do that. I am sick to my stomach, literally, from all of the steak I ate. I am too embarrassed to tell you how many ounces.
Tomorrow is another day, and thank God it is.

BigdaddyJ

big time food addict here
It dates back to my teenage years, I used to go to take out restaurant and order 2 or 3 drinks so the people wouldn't know i was eating all that food on my own!!

I have been in "detox" for the last 3 weeks, i've been sticking to my calorie budget since beeing a member of mfp (about 10 days now)!! It's the longest time i've been good about my eating for so long!

I almost did have an episode tonight, my wife wanted me to go get coffee at Tim Horton's (all the Canadians here know what I'm talking about!!) They have timbits there (a donut hole would be the way to describe it....). I used to buy a forty pack and "share it with my wife (she'd have 3-4 and i'd eat the rest!!). I wanted to buy myself 10 timbits, thinking it's saturday after all and i've been good for all that time....until I checked on mfp and saw that 1 single timbit has 60 calories!!!And to think i used to eat 40 of them just like that!! I dont think I'll ever do that again!!!

thanks for the oportunity to share!!

Sunsh1ne

I almost did have an episode tonight, my wife wanted me to go get coffee at Tim Horton's (all the Canadians here know what I'm talking about!!) They have timbits there (a donut hole would be the way to describe it....). I used to buy a forty pack and "share it with my wife (she'd have 3-4 and i'd eat the rest!!). I wanted to buy myself 10 timbits, thinking it's saturday after all and i've been good for all that time....until I checked on mfp and saw that 1 single timbit has 60 calories!!!And to think i used to eat 40 of them just like that!! I dont think I'll ever do that again!!!

thanks for the oportunity to share!!

Good job! That's what it's all about - learning what you eat matters, and learning to eat in moderation. :flowerforyou:

Bluenote, even though it's not a good thing I'm kind of glad I'm not alone. :laugh: One of my goals is to learn to stop eating while I'm cooking... I guess I'll get there eventually.

missylynn36

WOW, this post has helped me so much. I agree totally. When I've had a bad day, when I'm in a bad mood, angry, stressed, or depressed, I WANT to eat. I just say, "screw it, I'm going to eat something good dang it" and I do. I realize what I'm doing, but I do it anyway. I wonder if there are any particular tools available to us to help us with that. Once I have a day or two like that, I feel trapped. It's hard to get back on track. I have found something interesting since I've been keeping my weight loss journal. Aside from sweets and sodas, I believe we can eat pretty much everything we want, in moderation. It's controlling portions more than anything. The only problem with that for me, once I start, it's difficult to stop. I believe those are the actions of an addict. Can't handle just a little at a time. Addictive behavior is self destructive, so what is the solution and what can we do to help ourselves? I'm open to suggestions...

jacquelyna

It seems like there are a lot of nurses in this section. I am starting on my 2nd career at the age of 39 and in the second semester of nursing school (2-year rn program). Oh, and I am a food addict. I consider it a disease and a very painful one. At one time in my life I weighed 297 lbs. Now I'm at 177, but have had some relapses in the past few months, so I haven't lost much weight. I find that flour and sugar (and quantities) aren't my friends. For many years, I isolated myself, came home from work and sat down with a 1/2 gallon of ice cream. This would happen 2-3 times a week. I just couldn't stop eating and it really created havoc in my life. I hated myself for not being able to control my eating. Cutting out the white stuff and weighing and measuring ALL my food has helped tremendously. If anyone is interested, there is a 12 step program out there for food addicts (foodaddicts.org). It is kind of scary to admit I'm an addict and get involved in a "spiritual" program since I considered myself agnostic, but I cannot do it alone. Best of luck to everyone.

sheltieroger

Hey all...I think as food addicts, if you know what a trigger food is for you, you need to avoid it. For me, I am steering clear of anything deep fried. Yes, I love fries, but really, most fast food ones are cold and soggy....not hot, crispy and perfectly salty. I open the bag and eat them...they aren't very good, but I eat them anyhow. So, for now, I am not ordering them....PERIOD!! Chips are another downfall....but I only taste the first few...the rest are shoveled in until the bag(S) are empty. SO, no chips for me!

And Fatboy....don't get me started on timbits......pure crack cocaine, I tell ya!!!!

Beth
Day 4 without food cravings!

ckurtzweg

Has anyone read The End of Overeating? It's really interesting and it describes how the combo of sugar, salt, and fat triggers something in our addicted brains. AND most restaurants and food companies PLAN their food with that combo so that we eat more and more and more and more! Knowledge is power and I felt much better knowing what's happening when I have my binges and am trying to control them. I have NOT mastered this End of Overeating or anything... but it was a good read. Hope you have a happy and healthy day!

BigdaddyJ

WOW, this post has helped me so much. I agree totally. When I've had a bad day, when I'm in a bad mood, angry, stressed, or depressed, I WANT to eat. I just say, "screw it, I'm going to eat something good dang it" and I do. I realize what I'm doing, but I do it anyway. I wonder if there are any particular tools available to us to help us with that....

I learned a lot about myself 9 years ago when I finaly quit smoking after many failed attemps....

learn to forgive yourself!!!

The first few times I try to quit smoking, I was a young soldier and still drinking quite a bit, every week-end I'd go out at bars or parties and after a few beers in me i always had a few cigarettes....The next morning, feeling ashamed and guilty I was at the corner store buying a carton, thinking "F***k it! I smoked all night anyway!!"

The last time I tried I FORGAVE MYSELF for those 4-5 cigarettes the night before, and gradualy I stopped completly.

Now almost 10 years after, I still dont smoke, I barely even drink...Now if I can take care od the eating part i'll be set and healthy for the rest of my life!

It's okay to be weak, the important thing is to find strenght in this weakness and keep going stronger than before.....

Good luck! Be strong, be forgiving!

sheltieroger

Has anyone read The End of Overeating? It's really interesting and it describes how the combo of sugar, salt, and fat triggers something in our addicted brains. AND most restaurants and food companies PLAN their food with that combo so that we eat more and more and more and more! Knowledge is power and I felt much better knowing what's happening when I have my binges and am trying to control them. I have NOT mastered this End of Overeating or anything... but it was a good read. Hope you have a happy and healthy day!

Yup...just finished the book last week and really liked it....it turned a light on in my head and I am working at saying NO to all of my highly addictive foods.
Beth

Sunsh1ne

That's exactly it, fatboy! (I hate calling you that, you seem like such a nice guy!) You forgive yourself and move on. I overate yesterday, but that doesn't mean I have to overeat again today.

bluenote

I'm going to check out the book - sounds very interesting! I do know that fried foods and sugar trigger me to overeat. It's like I can't stop once those things get in my system. It's good to know I was right all along! Thanks for the book suggestion.

I am going out to eat tonight and have carefully planned what I am going to eat at the restaurant. I pray I have the strength to stick to my plan. I know I can do this!

Sunsh1ne

*sigh* I need to stop going home. It always throws me off.

richardsrm

Came down with a bug so I went off the diet..........mostly been drinking flat coke.......any how I am starting to get over it so I will get back to the routine which seems to be very important for my "sobriety".