Help...I think I am addicted to food...

How about you make a meal in the morning and then you simply re-heat in the evening? Or how about, if you have enough money, then you could buy one of those monthly hampers that you are able to eat from easy as that.
Sorry if i didn't help.

I got this advice from my friend when you want to reach any goal. Put down your inspiring notes or secret code that nobody knows what it means except you everywhere such as in car, your planner, your phone, your computer, or wherever that you see often. That will keep you the reminder that you REALLY want to lose the weight and don't give in! You will be proud of yourself when you reach your goal. Keep it up!

I do the same thing. I will want food so bad that i will actually talk myself into getting it. I will say to myself, who cares why cant i love me even if i am fat. and then i justify it by saying, oh this one time wont hurt. it is terrible cycle. how do you break this?

Some gentle advice - It's not enough to just admit you're addicted to food - you need to look at WHY you eat the way you eat. It is very common for people to turn to food instead of addressing real problems. Those problems maybe emotional, social, situational, etc. Some people focus on food so much because they feel that's the only thing they really have control over. Others find it is a source of unwavering comfort that they can always rely on.

Take me, for example. I'm someone who tend to eat out of boredom and I also eat when I'm stressed/upset - it's a comfort thing. I also eat more than I should in social situations because I'm uncomfortable. Now that I understand that, I can take steps to address it - arming myself with water so that I'm drinking water in social situations rather than chowing down on everything in sight, making myself get out of the house when I'm bored or finding something to engage my mind other than with food.

You have to dive deep and address your particular triggers for eating. It's great to recognize that you have an unhealthy addiction to food, but understanding the WHY is even more important. I highly suggest you check out this post: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/138417-triggers-i-notice-on-mfp

I feel your pain! I think I am addicted as well. I think about it all the time. From the moment I wake up until I go to bed. I don't know why that happens. Why is it the 1st thing on my mind in the morning? I clearly have other things to think about! It is sooo frustrating. I also feel like I smell chocolate when there is no chocolate any where near me!!! It is crazy.

I do best when I've had a real clean out of all food in the house, and the meals are all planned out. I keep a huge amount of hard boiled eggs in the fridge for unplanned meals (egg whites are very filling and low in calories: I add hummus and make a low-calorie egg salad that way). I have one cheat meal a week that I really look forward to, but I still try to keep that meal healthy so I'm not eating back my one pound a week I get to lose.

That said, I'm probably not addicted to food. I'm just saying that the ways you are saying you fail are 1) unplanned meals and 2) having unhealthy food options available. Regarding the obsessive thoughts, I have very little to say other than find a supportive group of MFP friends. I know there are overeaters anon groups here. Online support has really helped me with difficult issues in my life and I know they can help you, too.

Good luck! You can do this! You want to be healthy and I know you can get there. Be honest, honest honest honest, with your food diary and make it public to your friends. This is a way to start discipline and accountability. And cut yourself some slack! None of us are here because we are awesome and great with food and healthy living. Nobody's perfect.

When I first starting trying to lose weight I had the same problem! Because before I would pretty much just snack all day and not really pay attention to what I was eating. But now that I have the hang of what I can eat/snack on for very few calories I am good....

If you want to snack - Cut up some baby carrots in quarters. That way it feels like you are eating more then you really are. Log in the calories in the morning and then you won't have to worry about it. Air popped popcorn is great too! Put a little oil in a pan and put 3 kernels of corn in the pan.Turn heat on. Wait until they pop and then add about a quarter cup more. Cover (I like using a clear glass cover) and shake over heat until they are done! Simple! Celery, green peppers, apples, *blueberries, and oranges are all good options!

*A cup of blueberries has less calories then a banana

For dinner - Maybe put something in the slow cooker? Or on the weekend make a big batch of healthy soup (or a few kinds) and then put in bags and freeze. Then when dinner comes you have soup and then have a piece of whole wheat bread and light butter. You can put pretty much anything in the freezer (add me as a friend and I can get you some recipes! I made a ton of freezer food for my mom once)....

EDIT - remember, NOT eating is very bad. Its ok to have a piece of chocolate every once in awhile. Its better to have a small something then to break later and have a huge something! So go ahead and have a little brownie its ok. Don't kill yourself if you go over your calories for the day. Once or twice is fine. Its just when its every day or if you only eat bad things that its a problem. If you are eating really good all day and you go over, its better then eating bad and staying under : )

Good luck!

I belong in the same club as you. Food is pretty much all I think about. When I'm not planning my next meal I'm obsessing over how big I am. These blogs are really helping me wrap my head around how much changing I have to do. Not just what I put in my mouth, but why I'm doing it, when I'm doing it and where I'm doing it. There are so many more interesting things to do in life. Let's stick together gang!




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MFP works so well for me because of my food obsession!!!

I sitll get to think about food all the time, I still get to think about what I am going to eat at every meal - except now my thiinking has changed.

Logging what you eat is helpful but logging what you PLAN to eat is the most helpful part of MFP.

If you can see that your evening meal is 600+ cals then you can make substitutions to bring it down. You begin to learn about what options are 'good' and lean towards them.

I always try to log in advance, then I can shop accordingly. It also limits the temptation for me to buy things not logged as I know I shouldn't be eating them.

It all sounds a bit full on I know - but it's my way of coping in these early days and hopefully soon making healthy choices will become second nature to me!

I think that happens to a lot of people when they start dieting. I know i was like that for a while. Now, I don't really think about it too much, because I try to keep myself busy all day. If I've got the day off, I try to think of stuff to do and only eat when I'm hungry.

I try to:
- do laundry
- clean
- work out
- stay away from the TV (temptations)

I feel I am the same way. That's all we talk about at work. where, what, and when and sometimes about the next day to. I work with a great person but she has bad eating habits and I find myself wanting the same thing she does. I tell her everyday we need to eat healthy. She is very small and dont have to worry bout her weight although she wants to be healthier. I try and try to do better but the junk just takes me over. I even bring my own meals sometimes but when I do the weight watcher meals and any healthy meals my sugar drops everytime so it's just not enought but eating 2 of the meals are to much for me. I dont have the will power to just eat the way I should. I'm at a lost.

I also have found that I love food so much and I do think about it all the time as well!

But here's what I'm doing - I'm altering my thoughts towards PLANNING my HEALTHY meals instead of planning trips to the drive through! I'm reading everything I can find on healthy alternatives, and on foods that help keep me feeling full to stave off that "I'm starving, I have to stop and get SOMETHING" feeling, which usually results in a fast-food binge!

You know who else thinks about food all day long? Rachel Ray! Have you ever seen her on TV? She has SEVERAL cooking shows, plus her talk show where she talks about food and cooks at the end of the show. And do you know what she does when she gets home from her very long work day? SHE COOKS for her hubby, because SHE LOVES FOOD!

But somehow she has learned to LOVE food, without LLLLOOVVVINNGGGG food, if you know what I mean! She's a tiny little thing, and I know she exercises, but she must be a master at portion control as well!

And gee, for her, all that "thinking about food" has also turned into a line of bestseling cookbooks!

I love the advice you've gotten already on this post - thank you for starting it! So, of course, first of all, PLAN PLAN PLAN! Pack meals and pack snacks so everything is handy, less chance of bad choices.

Then, READ READ READ! Start right here on MFP, read the different posts that address what you're looking for - take a peak at the recipes here and find some things that appeal to you, so that you're thinking of that healthy dinner you can't wait to make and serve tonight instead of the "fast food" that would be easier, but you KNOW it's not what you REALLY want to have!

Good luck, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, and just imagine a thinner version of your already terrific self!

Ice :bigsmile:

"Outing yourself" is the best thing for you right now. Food is not your friend! It may be comforting now, but results of overeating leave you feeling alienated from who you really are, others around you, and who you want to be. Any of this hitting home?

Step 1: Get a journal. This journal should serve two purposes. Purpose #1-- Everyday you need a new mantra. Write this at the top of your daily entry (i.e., Food is not my friend! Food is not for comfort, it is to fuel my body only for what I need to do.). Purpose #2--Let those feelings out. Write them down and tell your journal exactly how you are feeling so you're not damaging your body with these feelings.

Step 2: Get a week of progress under your belt. It will be a horrible week, but this is essential for your journey. After this horrible week you need to have something great set up for yourself. A reward (i.e., salon, day spa, shopping). It has to be something you really love, but cannot revolve around food at all.

Step 3: Make a list of To-Do's. You have to stay busy. This will help with weight loss (being active) and will also help to distract you from your hunger/desire to eat. You will feel like you're accomplishing more and gain some confidence. This will help to get on your way to meet your goals.

Step 4: Don't be so hard on yourself! There are good things about you. I know this and I don't even know you. Some positive self-talk can go a very long way. You are not only trying to lose weight, but you are also on the road to LOVING YOURSELF.

I hope that this helps. I do therapy with overeaters and these are some suggestions I have given to my clients. If you want to talk anytime, let me know. I am here.

GREAT TIPS!! THANKS!!

This is becoming my fav post. I will come back to it when I think I need to put something in my mouth. Instead I put something positive thought in my mind. Dreaming about sucess can be powerful!

I'll say it sucks having something have that much control over you. Whether it be food, cigarettes, alcohol, working out, etc. But we are strong enough to overcome our weaknesses. I'm not saying there is only one answer. Just as there are probably several reasons why these addictions have a hold on us. It doesn't make us any less of a person. Sometimes we just have to step out of the box, take control and beat it with a stick.
You might try setting some short term, mid term, and long term goals and write them on paper. They tend to make you accountable if it's written down.
I found that having the same routine every week, helps keep me focused. I have my cardio set for certain days as do I have my weight lifting routine. I also plan a weekly menu for my family that way everybody knows what's for dinner each day.
Sometimes having sticky notes posted on your mirror, in your car, above you sink with positive comments will help build confidence. My notes have comments that start with I am, I have, I will. See yourself the way you want to be in the future and write what you see using those beginning statements. EX. I am losing body fat and reaching my goal weight of XXX. Another example in your case could be, I strive to constantly improve my body and see food to help me look good and feel good. Always make it a positive statement. Visualizing is so powerful. It's time to change your subconscious mind. WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT REPEATEDLY EVERY DAY IS EVENTUALLY ACCEPTED BY YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND AND YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND GUIDES YOUR ACTIONS ON AUTO-PILOT. Since we become what we think most of the time, whatever we are thinking now, we are unconsciously moving toward the achievement of that thought.
Food can be our friend. It can help us get stronger (along with weight lifting) by eating the proper macronutrients and it can build our immune system and also help us reach our weight goal.
Remember, there is no one right answer.