I feel like I'm addicted to food...help!

It's very common to have a chemical addiction to food in general, or to particular compounds in food (like sugar, etc). You're not alone, and cold turkey seems to be the only way to break it. Most ppl on here find that if they cave more than once a week they have a hell of a hard time getting back on track.

MFP is seriously not good for people with food addiction (or compulsion). I myself am compulsive when it comes to food and was able to overcome it by myself in my own time. However, I highly recommend not logging food/exercise if you really think you addicted. It's just going to make it worse. I logged for about 2 weeks and found myself feeling the urge to eat more than ever. I stopped logging a viola! that desire to eat just to eat was gone. You really have to over come the mental part if you want to lose weight and keep it off. I suggest talking to someone (a professional) or going to over eaters anonymous. I started my journey by reading "Women, Food and God" - it truly was an awakening as to why I was almost 300 lbs. 94 pounds later I'm the happiest I have ever been, and it's not because I lost the weight, it's because I understand myself better than ever and I'm emotionally healthy. Good luck!

Get a journal and start writing down the times you are wanting to snack. Write down your feelings and thoughts. Watch for patterns...and replace them with better patterns. Start a new hobby. Crochet, drawing, music, poetry, etc. You cannot get rid of habits. You have to replace bad habits with good habits.

Keep it up! I look forward to seeing your success on here.

i agree with LBATL. if you really have an addiction you need to see a specialist or at least learn to understand it:

i was fixated on calories, weight watchers points systems, their colour system, bread units and alike and wasn't able to enjoy food as it is... i was almost phobic, but still very overweight, without eating a pizza in 6 years or having a single frie over that period of time, just eating everything low fat, sugar free and light. starving myself of the real flavours.

then i read a book of a therapist that changed all.
now i can eat healthy without fear of calories, can enjoy and lost my food fixation altogether.
this book was in german, so i can't give you a recommendation, but there are tons of books on amazon that have been rated. i'm sure you'll find something that will match your issue.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_16?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=eating+disorders&x=0&y=0&sprefix=eating+disorders#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=eating+disorders+food+addiction&rh=i:aps,k:eating+disorders+food+addiction

I feel the same way.. excuse I "felt" the same way! It is hard, I have never had an addiction in my life, Now I understand what it is like to have one. I enjoyed fast food. I would look forward to lunch break, and often think about whats on all the different menu's and what I wanted, before I even got there. Some people didnt take me seriously when I told them I have a food addiction. Yes, just like any unhealthy thing, you can be addicted to food. I think my favorite saying that I keep telling myself is "eat to live, dont live to eat. I only need food to nourish my body!"
Alittle about my story:
Jan 9, 2011 - new years resolution was too loose weight, I signed up to a gym and started eating healthy, I quite eating candy bars, fast food, cokes etc cold turkey.. I found the best thing to do was to find lots of healthy food that you like, and your going to need a wide variety. Ps - slimfast peanut butter bars taste just like butterfingers, and they are only 100 calorie.
I did really good on my diet until week 6.. (up until that point I had slipped a few times but nothing major, maybe a hot dog here or and extra serving of dinner)
WEEKK 6 - I had stopped tracking my food on MFP.. THis where I went wrong I could no longer see how much I was eating. week 6 came and I felt like I was doing good, I also thought that my metabolism would counter act what I put in my mouth, I was eating more breads, corn dogs, drinking lots of gatorade, and my week 7 results hsowed it, I had only los 1.08 inches and gained 4 lbs.
New plan: back to my diet and tracking food on MFP, All last week I had stuck to my diet, logged my food and worked out.. Im happy to say that it is: the beginning of week 9, I have lost 11.4 lbs total, 8 lbs alone this week, Ive lost 33.25 inches total and almost 9 inches in this week alone.... ANNDDD.. I havent had a candy bar, soda, or fast food in 8 weeks.. Now I look back and see how hard it was but its all worth it. Dont let food win.. The good thing is with alot of perserverence, and mental arguments with yourself, you can get through this. I actually cooked my husband bacon, eggs, grits, pancakes, toast this morning for breakfast, and made myself fruit and oatmeal.. its possible!! Sorry if my post is so long I am very emotional over my achievements today! good luck! Trish

Whenever I feel like I want to eat but know I dont need to, I replace that feeling with excercise and lots of water .Hard at first but it works. After a while it becomes habit.YOU CAN DO IT!

I have the same issue. I will gain/lose 15 pounds continuously. I’m only 5’3” so 15 pounds on my frame is very noticeable. I go from a 6/8 to a 10/12. I starting on MFP 3 weeks ago and was doing well until this weekend and I binged Sat. & Sunday. I have been thinking about eating all day today. I have to meet my running partner after work and all I can think about is getting my run over so I can go eat a big fattening dinner. I’m so sick and tired of wasting so much energy thinking about food. I wish I could just be normal.