The glittery turds was definitely here! (Thanks AGAIN Patrick for the lovely inspiration!)

I read all of yesterday's thread, and I have mixed emotions. I understand that some people have food triggers from certain wording and such, and while my food triggers are different, things like this do get to me on occasion, so I have a partial understanding. I am completely supportive of anyone who has recognized these triggers and such, and that they know to avoid them, etc.

(One thing that makes me utterly PO'd are the folks who keep saying that willpower is all you need. Really? If it was just as simple as determination, the entire planet would be healthy weights. People who don't have the psychological issues, hang-ups, and compulsions will never get this... It is a near daily argument between my guy and me.)

However, at the same token, I know that for me, complete, utter, ballsy, uncomfortable, brutal honesty is the one of only things keeping me from going back to who I used to be. It's a heck of a lot easier, and comfy, like a broken in pair of sweats! If I literally have to censor every word I type, I would be a lot less likely to post. I'm all for not being rude and all, but if I can't be myself, and I have to go all PC (politically correct), that just isn't me. I don't know that I would leave or anything... It would just definitely dampen ... well, me.

I'm not saying anything one way or the other specifically, because I really can see both sides of the conversation. I just know that under extreme restrictions (not that this would be, just that it could easily step from this to that), this group would lose its enjoyment for me.... I know that extreme is not what you are discussing, and it is a term that is relative to everyone differently.

Looking forward to the discussion that follows...

C i O


P.S. And others have stated in the intro and side threads that they tend to read the forums a lot before being comfortable enough to participate. I don't know about others who have posted a lot and then stopped, but in my world, LIFE has a tendency to happen when it is least convenient to my schedule! I would hope that anyone who left the group or stopped participating because of an offense or problem would at least speak up privately to the moderators so that it could be addressed.

P.P.S. As an example, on a group I moderate elsewhere, a younger member made an ignorant reference between a nationality and an extremist faction commonly associated with that nationality - essentially saying that all of the former are obviously the latter, and then proceeded to lay out all of the misconceptions about both, etc. It was extremely rude, ignorant, disrespectful, etc., especially because the younger member couldn't have been more wrong in his assumptions. As a result, the person was removed from the group, because the intolerance and sheer rudeness were beyond acceptable margins, but the person who was amongst the nationality maligned was thankful to the leadership... He hadn't had to complain, but if he had left without giving leadership an opportunity to correct the issue, the entire group would have suffered...

I have thought about yesterday's discussion on avoiding the mention of food items that could trigger binges. I am sensitive to these issues, but I would hesitate setting parameters. Although many of us have so many things in common, not everyone suffers from the same problems. We are all individuals and what affects one person, may not affect another. I think setting parameters on discussion topics might inhibit some people from sharing in the forums. Also, everyone is bombarded multiple times with images and discussions about food via the media. You cannot go online, watch TV, or pick up a magazine and not be aware of this. One of the things I like about this group is the freedom to sharing opinions, feelings, or whatever is happening in your life on any given day.

Thanks,
Andrea in Pennsylvania

I have been hesistant to respond in fear of myself not wording my thoughts appropriately but here goes. I agree with everyone on the caution we put forth for those suffering with binge eating. Myself being one of those. BUT when I read the posts about the food reward, it did not trigger anything other than the thought of a happy child with a happy momma. Which made me smile

My parents gave food/bad food as "rewards" but not in a great way. Behavior related rather than earning it. I will attempt to practice moderation rewards with my children, if you earn it-you can have it, even if it is not healthy. This is also where I will have to be careful though. It may trigger unhealthy habits for myself. My children are still very young so this is something I think about often for the future. I also don't think we need to set perimeters regarding wording of specific things. Reading a trigger food in a blog/post is the same as walking into a grocery store or driving by a fast food place or listening to friends discuss their days/weekends. It all happens and happens innocently. The struggle is real but it is also within yourself. The already present support system on here is amazing and I would hate for that is diminish.

One of the things we discussed in a Weight Watchers meeting was, What non-food related treat do you give yourself as an accomplishment? I thought on this for a long time and realized that all of mine were food related. I still have yet to come up with a great alternative. A nice play day at the park with my kids, walking around with them in the stroller, etc. I tend to be a giver for all of those around me and rarely do something for myself.

Wow!!! I missed 3/4 of that thread yesterday by going to bed to early!!! I for one do not like folks talking about specific foods all the time....it sort of makes me feel like I can give permission to myself to eat whatever it is that was mentioned too. I am still struggling with trying to eat healthier and avoid those foods that trigger me to eat too much.

I don't let it bring me down, or let it effect my day by giving into the foods that are mentioned, I just skim over the posts....which apparently is what I did yesterday. When I got to the 'treat' of choco taco' I just closed the thread...so naming foods does do things for different people. Over here....the obesity issue is HUGE for kids and adults!! Seems like you can be 14 yrs old and get bariatric surgery!! They don't go thru the rigorous exams/psych interviewing, etc that is done in the USA. Sad too!! That is slowly changing as more and more hospitals are trying to get some sort of Accreditation, so there will be more rigorous selections/exams before going to the extreme of a lifetime change by getting surgery. Just yesterday, I was talking to one of our secretaries, I told her that I noticed her cute little girl in the car with her husband, waiting for her mom. She laughed and said, 'Yes...we told her if she was good I would bring her candy'! This is the mindset here....hard to change it. Drinking soda (full calorie) is a HUGE problem....they only have 2 no calorie sodas....coke and 7 up that are made here and it was such a HUGE problem they banned selling the stuff in hospitals, and schools. Of course you can bring you own in from home. So I was really taken back when I heard the 'reward' that the child of our secretary was getting. They also have a HUGE problem with dental carries for kids here.....it is extremely common to have several 'kids' under the age of 6 on the OR schedule to have their dental carries fixed....all due to the stuff they put in their mouths.

OK I just stuck in my 2 cents worth. Whatever is posted, I have the choice to read it or skim over it.

nancy

Hi all! I have just joined. It is good to see some activity on here