How do i break the insane obsession with food??

Congrats on the walk!!! Be proud of yourself for posting and asking for help. I am happy that you lost weight on OA. I know how you feel and can tell you that you can break the insane obsession.

What I heard from the first part of your post was failure and doomed.

I just accept the fact that I have to overeat, that it's hopeless to try and I can't be successful. I hate being so fateful about my situation but I do know that I have chronically failed in the past.

Recently I read an article about a new addiction program and I have to agree with them. Yes, 12-step programs have help millions and is valuable. However, science is teaching us new methods. My research into the brain and psychology caused a conflict with the help I sought from OA. "We are powerless."

NO, you are not powerless! You are not doomed to failure. Your brain can actually lie to you. Question your own thoughts. Change or reduce your negative thoughts. Dr. Daniel Amen refers to them as ANTs - Automatic Negative Thoughts.

That is how I broke the insane obsession along with good nutrition and exercise.

Your walk is the solution. Because it was a brisk walk, your insight came from brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF or as Dr. John Ratey calls it Miracle Grow for the brain.

When you said you are lethargic, I thought of how I feel after eating a poor nutrition binge. Instead of giving in to the chemical de-motivation of poor food, fight it with exercise or good nutrition. Think of yourself as a Super Hero battling the evils of a villain who has invaded your mind and body.

Start recording in your notes, all of the things you are proud of. "I threw out half a cookie." I can't tell your how hard it is for me to throw out food and when I do, I am so extremely proud of myself. Every day write down 3 things that your are proud of. Whenever you are feeling down, go back through and read all of your positive comments.

Good luck and feel free to friend me.

food is what gives you pleasure in life from what you said, it fullfills you, why not replace this passion with something that have nothing to do with food.

No one and I mean NO ONE could be more obsessed with food than me.. I live it, dream it, obsess about it, cook it, entertain like a maniac with it, watch tv about it, read about it ...........but these days it is good food. Make yourself a healthy food expert. Read about it, plan it, shop for it, cook it. Yes, all that prep is a great help, and the better the food the less you need. Chop endless veg for stir fries, cook slimming curries as hot as you can bear, use spices and herbs to make your food delicious!
I have lost weight several times before and put it all back and more. This time I am two years down the line and still at target. I exercise a lot. You are on the right track with your walking - that will make you feel good about yourself. But you can still be a food bore and an obsessive - I most definitely am - and slowly lose the weight. Make good, healthy eating a project and a hobby.
And yes, log everything. Everything. Always.

No one and I mean NO ONE could be more obsessed with food than me.. I live it, dream it, obsess about it, cook it, entertain like a maniac with it, watch tv about it, read about it ...........but these days it is good food. Make yourself a healthy food expert. Read about it, plan it, shop for it, cook it. Yes, all that prep is a great help, and the better the food the less you need. Chop endless veg for stir fries, cook slimming curries as hot as you can bear, use spices and herbs to make your food delicious!
I have lost weight several times before and put it all back and more. This time I am two years down the line and still at target. I exercise a lot. You are on the right track with your walking - that will make you feel good about yourself. But you can still be a food bore and an obsessive - I most definitely am - and slowly lose the weight. Make good, healthy eating a project and a hobby.
And yes, log everything. Everything. Always.

I completely agree. Logging has change everything for me!

Oh my goodness you are speaking my language!
I don't think there's anything else in the world that has brought me as much comfort as food. It's been here my whole life...
Well... you know the story.
All day I've been freaking out and feeling bad, kinda hopeless and miserable because I've been hating myself for the way I've been eating, yet hate the idea of giving it up. I didn't have a good thing to say until I started reading this thread.
Suddenly, as I read, all sorts of inspirational ideas resonate.
One thing that I don't think has been said:
When I quit smoking I heard that you are more likely to succeed the more times you try. If you quit and start up again, you are more likely to be successful the next time.
This gave me tremendous relief and freedom to try and fail again and again.
Each time I would learn more and try new ways. I don't know why I didn't think of that in regards to eating.

Thanks for sharing!
Anyone in this thread is welcome to friend request me. I'll do what I can to be supportive, or I'll be a good example of what not to do, one or the other

I do understand. I disagree with some experts and for me it is all or nothing. I can not eat a small taste os something, especially if it is the house. So I try to be on the nothing long enough to get rid of it. I am really trying to give up wheat. Hard. I find protein helps. Protein as soon as possible in the morning sets a good start.

^ I am an all or nothing type as well. It is good to know that and just abstain.

I also have cut out grains and protein is great but don't skimp on the unsaturated fats, they really are satiating and healthy.

Wow, these are some great posts. I really appreciate all the feedback. I particularly like the suggestions about posting even on bad days. I have to admit that if I start out with a healthy breakfast but lose it at lunch and then of course dinner, I wouldn't log those days. I'm going back to log my binge day just to see how bad it was. I don't know who I think I'm fooling by not logging the binge days.

Thanks everybody!!!

You definitely need to be honest with yourself, to keep things on track. That means recording everything you're eating every single day, no matter if you blow your calorie count or not. Eventually it syncs in, how much you're eating, and a little switch goes off in your brain and says I really don't need to clean this plate, or go for a second helping.

Yesterday I had a terrible binge day although most of my days are binge days. I don't hate myself for them. I just accept the fact that I have to overeat, that it's hopeless to try and I can't be successful. I hate being so fateful about my situation but I do know that I have chronically failed in the past.

I'm not normal. I know that most people don't anticipate meals that way. I accept that. The question is...how do i break this obsession and give myself the opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle and not die from a massive coronary before I'm 60?

Motivation isn't doing it for me. Knowledge isn't doing it for me. I obsess over food. Is it possible to stop?

I sympathise. I'm a binge eater, lost 40kg with FA (like OA), then regained it. Yesterday I planned dessert before I even got out of bed! I remember talking to an FA member who had fallen off the wagon and spent 2 years trying to get abstinent again. I thought that was amazing, she kept going to the meetings and every day she tried and never gave up. Some days are better than others but don't give up. Celebrate the small successes, like walking even though you were in pain, but don't give up. It's progress not perfection - just don't give up.

Sounds like me up until 2 yrs ago. I was medicating with food in order to deal with everyday life. My first waking thoughts were of food. I needed to preload on pleasure to start my day right. All meals had to be extremely rich and tasty, full of textures and flavor. Having a bad meal or one that didn't satisfy the pleasure center was annoying because it meant I would be seeking another meal shortly even though I might have been stuffed. Like a functional alcoholic my eating was the highest priority in my day. I was deluding myself saying that I was a foodie since I rarely purchased junk food and cooked most of my food. I routinely made my own sushi, pho, fresh rolls and stir frys. I didn't feel excessively depressed or stressed out, but then again why would I? I was constantly on a food high. But I began to notice that my 7 yr old was beginning to become entirely too focused on food. I went to my priest to have a discussion about my gluttony....I do not shy away from that word anymore. We talked about the root causes of my gluttony most specifically my pride and poor self esteem. I never really loved myself as God loves me. I felt a bit cheated in fact. Out of 6 children I was the only obese one. I was given a marvelous functioning body but all I saw were flaws. I started hoarding and sneaking food during my parents bitter divorce and it just blossomed from there. Finally at the age of 43 I fell in love with me as an obese woman. I began to talk to myself with kindness and appreciate the body I have. Since that very moment food became not that important. I stopped going to parties just to anchor myself at the buffet. I stopped planning huge family meals at holidays. I started to serve myself the same portions everyone else was eating and stopped going back for more. I started editing trigger foods out of my life. I am still rather stunned by all of the pleasures I passed up just because I was obsessed with food not to mention putting my health at risk when I have a child and husband depending on me. My obsession now is healthy food to take care of the temple given to me. It is funny how much attention and time I poured into food which doesn't love you back. God was always there for me but I chose to worship food. Everyday life for me still holds the same old stressors but I start my day with prayer, a 15 min walk and a sensible breakfast. I have left my food prison. I always had the key I just had to choose to leave. You will break your obsession with food when you choose you over food. God bless. I will say a prayer to St Maximilian Kolbe to assist you with your addiction.