Help Me Understand Why..

CrazyTrackLady

It is so difficult for many people to make a conscientious decision to stop eating garbage food? Why some people would run to diet pills or supplements in a desperate attempt to lose weight quickly, when that weight was gained over a long period of time? Why people just can't stop stuffing their faces?

I don't understand the psychology of overeating, or the psychology of not being able to stop overeating.

What's really going on here?

ajball90

I don't think anyone understands it, which is why it's such a problem in the first place....

gel91

Because some people just can't. It's a battle. It's no different to any other addiction. Some people will struggle with it forever, just like other eating disorders, some believe there really are quick fixes, some people have just settled, some people are happy fat, some people don't know how, some people are not clued up, some people can't be assed to try. Everyones different. Your post just sounds so ignorant and I'm sorry but if you don't 'understand' by now at 48 years old, I doubt you ever will.

Lulzaroonie

It's called laziness. I hear it affects a large percentage of the population. Also ignorance. It's not contagious, but can be cured with education and physical exercise three times a week, and a good diet.

CristinaL1983

Because some people just can't. It's a battle. It's no different to any other addiction. Some people will struggle with it forever, just like other eating disorders, some believe there really are quick fixes, some people have just settled, some people are happy fat, some people don't know how, some people are not clued up, some people can't be assed to try. Everyones different. Your post just sounds so ignorant and I'm sorry but if you don't 'understand' by now at 48 years old, I doubt you ever will.

100% Agree with all of this

myofibril

Differing dopamine transporters and receptors.

Brain imaging of obese people show they react differently in this regard to healthy weight individuals to sugary foods in particular.

Trying to fight your body mentally is a losing proposition for many people - it is [/i]incredibly[/i] difficult. Therefore finding easy coping mechanisms to reduce or eliminate cravings are bound to be attractive.

wllwsmmr

It's a combination of comfort, depression, habit and the sort. It is emotional. It is a disorder. It is like anorexia. Nobody understands psychological problems well. I think I know where you're coming from but since tone can't be conveyed virtually, it can come across a little harsh, like you're insinuating that comfort eaters are using 'having a problem' as an excuse for their laziness. I do agree that some people really are just unwilling to change, but there are people who struggle with something called food addiction. You may not mean it that way but it could be inferred as so. No hard feelings here, just pointing out that it could be a pretty sensitive issue here to speak about! Just a two cents worth from a food addict!

symonspatrick

bump

foxro

My own theory is it might be an built in survival mechanism that deals with our hunter ancestors. When the hunt was good everyone feasted their fill, almost like binge eating. They had to do this because their was no guarantee of a forthcoming successful hunt.
So maybe today there is something still in the brain that signals, binge eat cause there may be famine tomorrow. Just a guess at it.

prattiger65

Edit.....read your profile after I posted. I won't troll with you.

tpittsley77

Judge much?? It must be nice to not have to worry about food addiction. Food addiction is an eating disorder. It must be nice to have all of the answers and not know what it's like to be overweight. I am happy for you that you cannot understand or relate to these problems. It's not necessary to be so rude about it though.

MSeel1984

Ugh. Troll much.

lambchoplewis

I started my diet last year when I got sick of listening to friends talk about going on Advocare, doing 30-day cleanses and claiming they must eat gluten-free. All of these are "sexy" diets that sound good and are in vogue right now. I watched this and thought about the old advice: in - out = accumulation!!

so... I decided to get on MFP, check in everyday, log food and exercise and voila - I lost the weight and have kept it off for for 8 months.

I think some of these people do want the quick, easy, and usually costly fix to weight loss.

dad106

When you have an addiction, there are certain chemicals in the brain released, In order to keep those chemicals flowing and keep you feeling like you want, you have to keep using more and more of said substance. That's why people are addicted to drugs, food, or a whole host of other things.

Now that I've explained to you how the psychology aspect of it works, how about you explain to us why your such a witch?

MSeel1984

When you have an addiction, there are certain chemicals in the brain released, In order to keep those chemicals flowing and keep you feeling like you want, you have to keep using more and more of said substance. That's why people are addicted to drugs, food, or a whole host of other things.

Now that I've explained to you how the psychology aspect of it works, how about you explain to us why your such a witch?

Dad106

read her profile...if indeed it's a her. Troll. Just wants a reaction and to stir the pot. it worked.

KevinMassine

And you have Friends ?

dad106

When you have an addiction, there are certain chemicals in the brain released, In order to keep those chemicals flowing and keep you feeling like you want, you have to keep using more and more of said substance. That's why people are addicted to drugs, food, or a whole host of other things.

Now that I've explained to you how the psychology aspect of it works, how about you explain to us why your such a witch?

Dad106

read her profile...if indeed it's a her. Troll. Just wants a reaction and to stir the pot. it worked.

I read her profile.

If she honestly, doesn't understand, then I'd be glad to explain the psychology behind it to her.

Plus, ever think that now she got her answer, that she'll go away?

CrazyTrackLady

Because some people just can't. It's a battle. It's no different to any other addiction. Some people will struggle with it forever, just like other eating disorders, some believe there really are quick fixes, some people have just settled, some people are happy fat, some people don't know how, some people are not clued up, some people can't be assed to try. Everyones different. Your post just sounds so ignorant and I'm sorry but if you don't 'understand' by now at 48 years old, I doubt you ever will.

Ignorant? Judge much? Yes, I don't understand the psychology of addiction, which is why I ASKED. I have never been addicted to anything, but I have people in my life who have/are -- and I don't understand how it happens to some but not others, especially when we've been raised in the same environment. I have a brother who is a recovering heroin addict, another who is an alcoholic. And we were all raised in the same family environment by the same set of parents. How did it miss me, yet get them?

So, before you start throwing the word "ignorant" around so willy nilly, I suggest you take a look at your OWN ignorance and be a little less judgmental of others, m'kay?

CrazyTrackLady

I don't think anyone understands it, which is why it's such a problem in the first place....

Thank you for not being so judgmental, as this was NOT a troll or judgmental post.

I truly do not understand.

And for those who call me a troll, I am VERY much alive and real. And I have no intention of going away. You have the option of not responding or friending me -- right?

CrazyTrackLady

When you have an addiction, there are certain chemicals in the brain released, In order to keep those chemicals flowing and keep you feeling like you want, you have to keep using more and more of said substance. That's why people are addicted to drugs, food, or a whole host of other things.

Now that I've explained to you how the psychology aspect of it works, how about you explain to us why your such a witch?

Witch? Hm. Should I report you for name calling, or let this roll off my back? Such a moral dilemma here.

toutmonpossible

Junk food is ubiquitous, tasty, and cheap. Dieting is boring. (I don't use "lifestyle change". The reason I'm not overweight is because I incorporated lifestyle changes, but if I want to lose even vanity pounds I have to eat less, which is a diet.) I've made an effort to maintain my weight because it's obvious how difficult it is to drop a lot of weight.

neanderthin

There's just far too many variables to accurately make a call that covers this subject. Child abuse is a big one, self worth, peer pressure, genetics, change in lifestyle, marriage & kids etc who knows.

KimberlyDCZ

My own theory is it might be an built in survival mechanism that deals with our hunter ancestors. When the hunt was good everyone feasted their fill, almost like binge eating. They had to do this because their was no guarantee of a forthcoming successful hunt.
So maybe today there is something still in the brain that signals, binge eat cause there may be famine tomorrow. Just a guess at it.

I've actually read something similar to this, so great guess!

CrazyTrackLady

Differing dopamine transporters and receptors.

Brain imaging of obese people show they react differently in this regard to healthy weight individuals to sugary foods in particular.

Trying to fight your body mentally is a losing proposition for many people - it is [/i]incredibly[/i] difficult. Therefore finding easy coping mechanisms to reduce or eliminate cravings are bound to be attractive.

This is what I was looking for -- the physical reasons behind food addiction. Is it really as powerful as drugs, alcohol, etc? Can it be and has it been proven scientifically? I get the dopamine and endorphine rush of drugs and alcohol, but I don't understand how a particular food (with the possible exception of chocolate ha ha) could cause such a physical rush to the brain's chemistry. It fascinates me, because I think if we could find the link/correlation between the psychology and physiology (and I'm sure there is plenty of research about l-tryptophan, dopamine, endorphine release, etc out there), and use that type of science to address the issue, then maybe all these fad diets, diet pills and supplements that are out there will no longer be needed or hold any credibility..

Treat the WHOLE person, by whatever means necessary.

Does that make sense?

MSeel1984

Don't feed the troll!

neanderthin

My own theory is it might be an built in survival mechanism that deals with our hunter ancestors. When the hunt was good everyone feasted their fill, almost like binge eating. They had to do this because their was no guarantee of a forthcoming successful hunt.
So maybe today there is something still in the brain that signals, binge eat cause there may be famine tomorrow. Just a guess at it.

I've actually read something similar to this, so great guess!

But just after the invention of cell phones and coronation street.:happy:

dad106

I don't understand how it happens to some but not others, especially when we've been raised in the same environment. I have a brother who is a recovering heroin addict, another who is an alcoholic. And we were all raised in the same family environment by the same set of parents. How did it miss me, yet get them?

This is where Nature VS Nurture comes into play.

You were raised in the same environment... awesome. There is the nurture part.

There is something in their brain though(nature) and in their environment(again nurture) that caused them to become addicted to these substances. Be it stress, trying to cope with an illness of some sort, what have you.

Maybe you don't have the same stressers they do, or deal with it in a different way that caused you not to become addicted to these substances.

There is a whole host of reasons why one person gets addicted, and another does not. I suggest you look up studies that involve identical twins on google.. they can help explain what your asking.

baileybiddles

It's called laziness. I hear it affects a large percentage of the population. Also ignorance. It's not contagious, but can be cured with education and physical exercise three times a week, and a good diet.

Or not, and you're the ignorant one.

OP: I have been battling food addiction for my whole life. I had a pretty crappy childhood for many reasons that nobody really wants or needs me to get into, and my parents have always been fat. I grew up drinking 4-5 cans of soda per day, eating a whole bag of chips in one sitting, eating 3 bowls of cereal in one sitting, a whole box of toaster strudels in one sitting, etc. I would watch my mom sit down and tackle a cheesecake when her and my dad fought. I'd watch my dad come home and take down a bag of cheese poofs after a long day at work. I grew up watching my parents use food for comfort, so I used food for comfort as well. It's what made me overweight.

When you're raised around this behavior and you grow up learning this behavior, it's incredibly hard to break free of. I can see how a person who doesn't have this problem wouldn't understand. I don't think you're a troll at all; this is something that's hard for many people to get. I have always used food to handle emotions. Sadness, guilt, grief, even happiness. When I feel extra happy, I eat something extra sweet, like ice cream. When I feel sad, I tend to bake to help me take my mind off things.. And then eat the entire plateful of cookies with a huge glass of milk because I just spent so much time baking them I couldn't POSSIBLY let them go to waste. It DOESN'T make sense. I realized this a few months ago and changed my ways, but I do still find myself feeling the urge to eat in correspondence with my emotions. It's now up to me to have the willpower to recognize that I'm not hungry, I'm sad, or mad, or happy. I've also given up the mentality that if I am doing good one week, I deserve a "treat". I do still treat myself now and then, but not nearly as much as I used to.

I did see a psychologist for a while about my eating disorder and my terrible relationship with food, but it didn't really help me. It's sort of that whole "if you aren't willing to accept help, nobody can help you" sort of thing. I was that way for a very long time until my low self esteem started to kill me and I realized I was in control of that, nobody else.

I hope I've helped a bit with your understanding of the situation. It's not the PHYSICAL explanation you were seeking, but it's my take on the problem.

Grumpy2208

It is so difficult for many people to make a conscientious decision to stop eating garbage food? Why some people would run to diet pills or supplements in a desperate attempt to lose weight quickly, when that weight was gained over a long period of time? Why people just can't stop stuffing their faces?

I don't understand the psychology of overeating, or the psychology of not being able to stop overeating.

What's really going on here?

I absolutely cannot stand punctuation errors.
The marks, comma, and parentheses, used in that paragraph send shivers down my spine.
My advice: Kindly look up the art of stigmeology.

sunlover89

I was starved by an abusive step father throughout my childhood. I survived by binging on dense, high calorie foods at 3am after he had gone to bed. I grew up on white bread, biscuits, chocolate, cheese, anything I could get my hands on.
I can see why someone who grew up in a nourishing environment would find it difficult to understand why people become obese.

Btw, I ruined my body with starving and binging until I was 18, so I have to take supplements which help control my blood sugar levels when I eat carbs and help me maintain muscle mass and burn fat when eating at a deficit, because my body has become very very good at storing fat. Supplements are a healthy addition to a healthy diet. I'm thankful every day that I don't have diabetes and that certain supplements exist.

Kaasie1

I smell a troll!