Food addiction--it REALLY DOES EXIST!!!

One of my MFP friends recent post on her blog has inspired me to write about food addiction on mine and after thinking about it, I feel it is a posting I want to share with all.

I am and will always be a food addict. I have known this for years, but it has not been till recently that I have looked this demon in the eyes and said “NO MORE”. Yet this type of addiction is so hard to battle; for there is so many that do not understand that you can truly be addicted to food. A co-worker at my office announced (rather loudly) that “If those fatsos would just stop shoveling food into their mouths then they would lose weight. They are just lazy!” This came from one of those 5’10” skinny b!tches that has never had to diet in her life and shovels hot wings or double patty hamburgers with fries into her mouth at lunch on a regular basis.

Food addiction, unlike alcoholism or drug addiction is rarely talked about, except by those who suffer from it. I have tried to explain to others that I am an addict and they look at me as though I have two heads. Even my six foot husband that has been thin most of his life, loses weight if he cuts out a candy bar, does not understand my struggles. They do not understand that for me I have to cut calories and exercise twice as much as they do. They do not understand that some body types do not respond as quickly to changes in diet or exercise. They think that I can just “walk away” from food to lose weight and that there is no such thing as a “food addict”. Why? Someone can develop an addiction to porn, drugs, video games, alcohol or anything; however they cannot do it to food?

Unlike most addictions, reminders of food are EVERYWHERE you go. On my way to work the other day I was stopped at a red light and just ahead was four billboards (two on each side of the road); three of which advertised food. As I drove down the road, I lost count of the number of restaurants and fast food places there were in just a one mile stretch of road (with all their fabulous smells wafting in the air). When I stopped for gas there were advertisements on top of the pumps for their hot dogs and sodas. After I arrived at work, I smelled something delicious coming from the microwave (located in the next room to my office), someone brought in McDonald’s pancakes for breakfast, someone stopped by holding a Pepsi in their hand and as the day progressed more food was heated up, which kept the smells kept coming. Whenever I walked into someone else’s office there was a bowl of candy or they were eating at their desk. There is food set out in the break room for anyone to take and let us not even go there about the vending machines. Then I start my drive home and my husband calls to decide what we want for dinner, again reminding me of food. While on the drive home a semi-truck passes with the oversized Big Mac and Fries on the back door of the trailer. Again, there are multiple billboards advertising food/restaurants along the way. As I walk in the door of my home, I smell the leftover barbeque my husband had heated up for a snack. This was in just one day.

In addition to this constant bombardment of food reminders, you need food to survive. You cannot just say “I will never eat food again”; like you can with other addictions. Many will say, “Just eat healthy then” and look at you as though you still have those two heads. I know how to eat healthy. I know that the cake I am about to indulge in will go to my rear end, instead of passing on through me. I KNOW that overeating will result in my gaining weight; however I am like all other addicts and knowing this does not always stop me. I cannot count the days that I have mentally bashed myself for giving in to my weakness and eating like I have not done so for a year, for I am my biggest critic. I have suffered for years due to this weakness and I have the mental scars to prove it. Every day is a struggle for a food addict. Every day is uphill and some days I am just too tired to climb that hill. It infuriates me that very few admit that this type of addiction exists and even some doctors I have gone to will not admit it does. I am tired of other type of addicts being treated as though they are fragile or mentally unstable; therefore everyone is willing to help, yet I am looked upon as being “lazy”.

Until this world finally admits that this addiction exists, then there will be overweight people and they will feel as lonely in their battle as I have for many years. They will stay hidden in their homes with their gallon of ice cream, their bag of chips, and their “comfort” food, for it does not judge or ridicule them. It will take support groups, clinics and websites such as MFP reaching out to those that are hiding their addiction. It will mean finally getting doctors to realize that it is not just “laziness” or a case of needing to learn to eat right (yeah, yeah I have learned how to for years). It will take friends such as those I have here on MFP or others who understand this addiction in order to overcome this addiction. Thank you MFP for creating this environment in which I can FINALLY find support and friends that truly understands. This time, I feel I have the tools to win this battle.

To my fellow food addicts, feel free to add me and once in for all maybe we can beat this addiction.