Anyone else feel like they are truly addicted to food?

ME :sad:

I am 100% addicted to food. The hardest thing is unlike other addictions you can't just completely abstain. We all need food. I have really been trying to restructure my thinking. Usually, the first thing I think of when I am going somewhere is ooooo what will they have for food. It's hard and it's an everyday struggle but day by day I feel like my habits and self control are improving. So, I hear you!

Me.... As a baker, I love food of all kind. Tasting new food is truly like a drug to me. I see something I've never heard of before, smell somthing exotic to my senses, and I have to eat it..... It's so hard but that's why I have my hubby to help keep me on track!

I would say my emotions are tied to food..specially certain comfort foods. I can go for weeks without these foods and eat well but then I go back to them if I'm faced with a difficult situation. In that sense I suppose it is similar to an addiction. I haven't beaten it but I have reduced this behavior.
For example, one of my favorite comforts is chocolate. So now I buy smaller packages with smaller pieces that in turn have less calories. I allow myself a few pieces a week and then I don't feel like I am so deprived I 'deserve' to have a large quantity in one sitting because I have avoided this for weeks. I'm still working on that though. Just take it step by step..find a way to compromise with yourself. Good luck!

I feel the same way and as I was reading the post from earlier about the "treat". I have done this and I feel bad after and think oh it's just alittle and it wont matter. It does and I know that I have to control it. It really is an addiction.

I'm definitely addicted to food but part of my problem is that I also really enjoy preparing food, it's almost like a form of therapy for me, so I often like making things that are gourmet in some way (as a challenge) and most gourmet style foods are not terribly healthy.

I also have a severe sweet tooth but I'm okay with it... instead of satisfying it with a whole package of cookies plus a pint of ice cream and/or a bag of candy, now I buy myself one piece of candy at the store (usually something small... lately I've been obsessed with cadbury "scream" eggs) and indulge my sweet tooth without going so far over the caloric edge.

totally! i just feel like eating all the time and think about it all the time. it's ridiculous and seems obsessive.

Same here!!!!!!!!!
And I can't resist myself against any kind of sweets!!!!!!!!

Absolutely! Over many yo yo years of dieting I've learned I'm an addict and just like an alcoholic but with food. I've found low carb works best for me because once it kicks in, all those awful controlling cravings go. But low carb needs loads of reading and research first otherwise it could be a big failure. It also probably needs more time for cooking/prep. As long as i stay away from sugar/white flour/rubbish the cravings stay away. if I take a break I almost always binge on chocolate and chips/crisps and cakes etc and may not return to any attempt at weight loss for days/weeks/months. The famous "a little of what you fancy" has only spelt disaster for me! I'm surprised no expert has worked out why some of us are so addicted and invented a pill to block the urges!! There's enough money being spent in the diet industry. Good luck!

Yep. Truly. Like an alcoholic or druggie or something. Hard to see myself ever beating it... One day at a time, as they say, right?

For the other posters, the board is for motivation and support, not snarky comments.

Sure, I think many of us have weight issues that are psychologically tied to food. We either use it as a reward, or as a motivator, as a comfort, when we are bored. Success at getting past this is all about breaking the connections. I use food to show people I love them, and then I partake because I'm a really good cook (just bragging a little!) A year ago I was diagnosed as T2, so my new challenge was to cook foods everyone would still rave about, but it would be healthy foods, and portions would be better controlled.

Think in terms of unlimited steamed veggies, somewhat limited fruits (more limits for me as T2), plenty of lean (emphasis on lean) proteins, and then really think about fats and carbs...how can you get the flavor without the fats and carbs? And don't forget to look at the type of fats you are eating...healthy fats are not as big a no-no as trans fats. See if you can get rid of refined carbs. Head for whole grains but even then, remember there are lots of calories there. Go wild with spices and herbs! Don't ever deprive yourself of flavor. But plan, plan, plan...plan every meal. Prepare as much as you can at home to take to work the next day. I pre-log much of what I eat in a day the night before. Stops me from splurging too often - but note that I said "too often" since the occasional splurge is ok.

If you eat more mindfully, you'll stop food from being an addiction.

Well, I'm definatelt addicted to overeating. It's a daily battle, but gets easier over time. Not to say I don't still have slip ups, because honestly, it's not like you can just quit eating all together, so in my opinion is harder than it was to give up drinking. I don't need alcohol to live, so I just make sure I'm not around it, same would go with smoking. We need food, you can't just decide you're not going to have any food in the house, and stay away from any place that sells food. You can control it, it's just really hard. I think for me what has been the best help is making my food diary public and logging everything I eat. When I know other people can look at what I'm eating, I'm a lot less likely to buy food and eat in the corner of the parking lot so no one will know. They will know, because I'm going to log it, and I'm going to complete my entry at the end of the day so that every one can see that I got myself a shake, fries, and fried chicken sandwich with mayo. Yikes, that makes me think twice and then some more!

Edited for spelling

Yes, or well, acutally addicted to sugar I think. I am a typical person with binge eating disorder. None of my friends would guess there's something wrong because I can eat normal portions and I also mostly eat healthy stuff. But then I get triggered by anything and go buy insane amounts of food - fatty and very very sugary - and eat all of it in like one or two hours. It's about 2000-4000 calories!!
I've tried so much - giving up, pretending not to care, fighting the urge, restricting, ... Now I'm researching how to stop that. I learned that it's definitely the sugar that messes with my body. I need to get over sugar addiction and then I'm sure I will be able to stop bingeing and food addiction in general.

i don't believe in food addiction. I believe in food obsessions.

Phraseology is the minor part of this problem. Disordered eating, which makes you eat types and/or quantities of food that you would rather not eat, is the problem.

Edit: commas, for readability.

I don't think it is technically correct to say we are addicted to food, as food is a requirement of the human condition. However, we can be obsessed with over eating, or too much sugar, or the emotional comfort food provides. No one can ever get over "food addiction" without dying.