WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MAY 2020

SophieRosieMom wrote: »

About habitual bingeing:

I've been doing a lot of introspection and self-analysis of my eating after supper, often bordering on binging. I ran across Marc Lewis, PhD, who wrote "The Biology of Desire" about how and why our brains function with addiction which includes eating disorders. He has several good presentations on YouTube.

I watched this twice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=aOSD9rTVuWc&t=1106s and even took notes.

I thought it was fascinating. He explains how the different parts of the brain interact with habit formation. So the addicted brain acts the same during drug/alcohol abuse or binging on food, the internet, sex, porn, even falling in love. It sets up a cycle which pumps out dopamine despite harm to the person and their health and relationships.

While I don't consider this night time binging true addiction, there are many aspects that fit.

I could write pages, and will post more this week. I have ordered his book from the library - I checked it out on Amazon and the "take a look" feature actually gives a lot of information if anyone is interested.

Lanette
SW WA State

This is the limbic system:


I am particularly interested in the pharmacology of the limbic system.

In particular, a prescription medication called naltrexone blocks opiate receptors on the brain. This action reduces or eliminates pleasure from taking opiates, but it also reduces pleasure from drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and eating. It is effective in doses as low as 6.25mg/day, and either alone or in combination with other medications (Wellbutrin, for example), it can make a phenomenal difference in the "food thinking" and bingeing compulsion that many overweight people struggle with on a daily basis.

It is nearly impossible for people with this biologically-governed drive or compulsion to resist food's siren song…sooner or later, people just get worn down by the obsessions and engage in the compulsive (binge) behavior. I have this problem, and so do some other women on this thread.

I think I may start taking naltrexone at a very low dosage; I took it several years ago, and it did reduce "food thinking". I felt that it gave me distance from the eating compulsion, allowing me to see it more objectively and less in the "emotionally-deprived/I don't give a *kitten* I'm going to eat" mindset. There are other factors (HALT) that factor in to the inability to redirect one's thoughts when faced with an urge to eat, but most people, with practice and good strategies, can minimize those traps. Unfortunately, for people with addictive limbic systems, strategizing is simply not enough.

There is a judgmental mindset that exists that says that those of us who have this problem are weak-willed, lazy, noncompliant, or poor strategizers. To add insult to injury, many of us who have this type of brain buy in, as if people who do not have this hard-wiring somehow know us better than we know ourselves. It is a form of abuse. Unfortunately, many doctors still have this mindset, unconscionable in this day and age.

BeUncommon wrote: »

Barbie > Thank you hun xx

Jaxsgma > Enjoy your day and I hear you with feeling anxious, I do as well and I weigh in on Sundays You are doing great!! Keep up the good work!!

Katla > I don't think it will ever go back to the normal we are used to. I think Covid has changed alot of things and I think we will have to get into a new type of normal.

Tried these barenaked noodles yesterday that I got at muscle foods. They were a bit rubbery and not much flavour but filling. I think I need to prepare them differently next time to add more flavour.. maybe some chicken stalk or some soy sauce or something. Good as a filler and there is next to no calories or carbs in it!! lol.. it is kind of like chewing on a rubber band but with some flavouring it could at least be a flavourful rubber band!! lol

love Tonya UK xx

KetoneKaren wrote: »

SophieRosieMom wrote: »

About habitual bingeing:

I've been doing a lot of introspection and self-analysis of my eating after supper, often bordering on binging. I ran across Marc Lewis, PhD, who wrote "The Biology of Desire" about how and why our brains function with addiction which includes eating disorders. He has several good presentations on YouTube.

I watched this twice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=aOSD9rTVuWc&t=1106s and even took notes.

I thought it was fascinating. He explains how the different parts of the brain interact with habit formation. So the addicted brain acts the same during drug/alcohol abuse or binging on food, the internet, sex, porn, even falling in love. It sets up a cycle which pumps out dopamine despite harm to the person and their health and relationships.

While I don't consider this night time binging true addiction, there are many aspects that fit.

I could write pages, and will post more this week. I have ordered his book from the library - I checked it out on Amazon and the "take a look" feature actually gives a lot of information if anyone is interested.

Lanette
SW WA State

>>>

Lanette, I am very interested in this topic.

This is the limbic system:


I am particularly interested in the pharmacology of the limbic system.

In particular, a prescription medication called naltrexone blocks opiate receptors on the brain. This action reduces or eliminates pleasure from taking opiates, but it also reduces pleasure from drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and eating. It is effective in doses as low as 6.25mg/day, and either alone or in combination with other medications (Wellbutrin, for example), it can make a phenomenal difference in the "food thinking" and bingeing compulsion that many overweight people struggle with on a daily basis.

It is nearly impossible for people with this biologically-governed drive or compulsion to resist food's siren song…sooner or later, people just get worn down by the obsessions and engage in the compulsive (binge) behavior. I have this problem, and so do some other women on this thread.

I think I may start taking naltrexone at a very low dosage; I took it several years ago, and it did reduce "food thinking". I felt that it gave me distance from the eating compulsion, allowing me to see it more objectively and less in the "emotionally-deprived/I don't give a *kitten* I'm going to eat" mindset. There are other factors (HALT) that factor in to the inability to redirect one's thoughts when faced with an urge to eat, but most people, with practice and good strategies, can minimize those traps. Unfortunately, for people with addictive limbic systems, strategizing is simply not enough.

There is a judgmental mindset that exists that says that those of us who have this problem are weak-willed, lazy, noncompliant, or poor strategizers. To add insult to injury, many of us who have this type of brain buy in, as if people who do not have this hard-wiring somehow know us better than we know ourselves. It is a form of abuse. Unfortunately, many doctors still have this mindset, unconscionable in this day and age.