Food addiction

[vlp1968 83]

I am wondering if people consider themselves addicted to food. If so, do you think you can never eat high fat/high sugar foods again? I have other addiction issues and consider food to be one of them. I have to abstain from the gambling et... and feel like it is the same with certain foods.

That being said, I am having lots of food cravings and wonder how long I can keep it up. Also, I have a trip planned in a month and worry about what I will eat then.

Your thoughts on the subject are greatly appreciated.

[mominkansas 2]

I think I can finally say I have broken my addiction with food. i do still miss food and I totally went though a mourning period but I can take or leave eating and often times have to remind myself to eat when I have a good fill.

[arthukd 1]

I LOVE food! I don't have a very addictive personality though. When I quit smoking, it was no big deal, I just didn't buy cigerettes.

I still eat food that isn't good for you, but in moderation and only once or twice a week.

Every now and then I am going to eat a burger and fries. after the band, it will only be half of a small burger and just a few fries but I will still eat it.

I don't know how helpful that is. I still eat those foods that many people consider forbidden, but I can have just a taste and be satisfied. My sister can not keep chocolate in her house b/c she will eat an entire bag of hershey kisses in one setting...I still have Easter candy from 2009 in my pantry! So I guess it all varies by the individual.

[TracyNYC 4]

Without a doubt I consider my self an addict as far as food is concerned. I feel it would be dangerous for me to EVER say I have broken the addiction to food. Like all addicts we can be in recovery and managing the addiction, but we never beat it. In fact I feel food is one of the hardest addictions in a way. Imagine telling a crack addict to "just have what you need to survive". Food addicts need food to survive. I am more obsessed with food than ever now that I am banded.

"What can I eat?" "When can I eat?" are always in the back of my mind. I had Kashi Cereal, almond milk and fruit for Breakfast at 8am. It is now 11:15 and I am stalking the clock, waiting for noon so I can have lunch. It is horrible. I hate that food has such a hold on me. I work on this in counseling all the time.

So, yes, I am a food addict.

[illuminationlady 7]

In any other addiction, people completely give up the thing that they are addicted to. An alcoholic completely gives up alcohol. With gambling the same thing. Drugs, the same. We can't completely give up food! That being said, yes, I consider myself addicted to food. I hope that someday, with the help of the band and my friends (here on this forum, support groups, and my family), I won't be looking for that next meal and worry about hunger all of the time. I know many on these boards who have overcome this addiction... Best wishes!

[steelergirl 0]

Without a doubt I consider my self an addict as far as food is concerned. I feel it would be dangerous for me to EVER say I have broken the addiction to food. Like all addicts we can be in recovery and managing the addiction, but we never beat it. In fact I feel food is one of the hardest addictions in a way. Imagine telling a crack addict to "just have what you need to survive". Food addicts need food to survive. I am more obsessed with food than ever now that I am banded.

"What can I eat?" "When can I eat?" are always in the back of my mind. I had Kashi Cereal, almond milk and fruit for Breakfast at 8am. It is now 11:15 and I am stalking the clock, waiting for noon so I can have lunch. It is horrible. I hate that food has such a hold on me. I work on this in counseling all the time.

So, yes, I am a food addict.

I could have written this post! I also stalk the clock. I am and always have been obsessed with food and all the things surrounding it. I pray daily that sometime in the near future I will be able to go a day without the constant obsessive thoughts. I believe that this is where there is a HUGE difference between those of us that have had weight problems all of our lives and those that have gained weight in the last few years. Looking back over my life....I can't ever remember a time when I wasn't losing/gaining weight, counting calories, reading labels, exercising or Binging. I have never ever, not more than 3 days, had a period of time in my life (40yrs) that my weight stayed the same. This makes me sad and at this point in my post surgery....nothing has improved. I'm still dieting, gaining and losing and obsessing with everything!

[vlp1968 83]

Thanks for all the feedback! Steelergirl I could have written your post. Only difference is I am 41 lol. I have never kept a stable weight either. Always gaining or loosing. Nice to know others are in the same boat.

I am thinking due to my generally addictive personality, I will just have to resign myself to staying away from high fat and high sugar foods. I am feeling so good (44 pound weight reduction) it's just not worth it.

[MaggiesMom1999 0]

I am a TOTAL food addict. I guess I always will be. But I am finding that if I can restrict the portions in front of me, or immediately available to me, a bite or two of the "forbidden" food will mostly satisfy me. For instance, if I just have a bite or two from my husband or my daughter's plate but don't have it sitting on the table or a full serving on my plate, I can be okay with it. It if is available on the table or on my plate, I will eat all I can get of it. My dessert of choice lately has been graham crackers. Whatever number of crackers are laid out is how many I eat so I try to only put out 2 or 3 at a time and "hide" the rest of them for another day. Just trying to psych myself out and it usually works. I also have thus far (19+ months) been able to not go back for seconds on anything, even when I could eat more. So it is still a mind game even this far out.

[Kalipso2 25]

i'm almost 2 years post-op and i still have a hard time when it comes to my food addiction.

it's sad but i have a list of "vomit worthy" foods and when the craving gets too intense, i give in. it's not often but i do occasionally give in to the temptation.

with my band, i can't eat bread or ground meat anymore so pizza and burgers are out of the question... unless i'm having a "vomit worthy" moment.

i can't stop at one bite... or two. i've often wondered if i have an addiction to food and should attend Over Eaters Annonoumous or if i have more of an eating disorder and should seek a therapist...

[illuminationlady 7]

My therapist and I have thoroughly looked at why I'm addicted to food. I have not only been an overeater but also obsessed with diets. Most of my life I've either been fat or on a diet. I've been successful with diets in the past because I soooo obsessed about food. It's been very interesting exploring this in therapy. We looked at my childhood and how my family glorified food with big Sunday dinners and celebrations. I've learned a lot and hope to one day not have food, in an sense, have a hold on me!

[abandnewday 0]

This thread hits home with me too. food has had and I feel will always have a tight control over me. I constantly think about/dream about food. What/when/where/how will I amI eat again. I am on day 1 of my pre-op diet and I had a complete anxiety episode last night at the prospect of severing ties with high fat/high sugar 'bad' foods. As part of my journey this area will need real evaluation and control. I know I will never be able to quit cold turkey forever, but I want to believe that once I start losing a good majority of my excess weight I can gain some self control, potion control and the ability to just have a bite or two here or there.

[ladykcusa 1]

Yes, I am a food addict. Began therapy last week to address how I can work with the band and gain control over food in my life.

2nd appt with therapist is tomorrow and surgery on Monday the 22nd of Feb.

Good luck to all of us in this battle. May we achieve success.

JC in KC

[ElfiePoo 109]

Until recently I thought I was addicted to food because I would be thinking of lunch when I was still eating Breakfast, obsessing about my choices. One of anything was never enough.

I have to say, though, that since reaching real restriction with this band (about 3 weeks now), I am not constantly thinking of food. I don't obsess about my next meal. If I go to my mother-in-law's and she offers something I absolutely love (like her chocolate chip cookies), I am able to take one and leave it at that without continually thinking about the other Cookies on the plate. Even better, I'm usually passing them up completely.

So I think I am not one of those addicted to food. It's just that until restriction, I was just never full or 'content'. Now I am.

.

[BetsyB 9]

I'm torn on the idea of addiction. I recognize that food can be used to anesthetize, and think I've probably done that to a certain extent at times in my life. But I have trouble with the concept of addiction---at least for me. It doesn't really fit with my M.O.

I don't think that I was as married to food as a short-term intoxicant as I was to its long-term effects; instead of eating for immediate comfort, I overate because fat served an insulating purpose for me.

I've eaten relatively cleanly for several years; I'm not fanatical--I eat cake made with sugar on birthdays and pie on Thanksgiving--but by and large I eat very carefully. But I ate TOO MUCH. And too much of even good things packs on pounds.

For a period of my life, that worked for me in a dysfunctional sort of way.

It seems as though there are as many psychological profiles for obesity as there are obese individuals. The one thing I've figured out for sure is that none of us seem to fit the self-indulgent, gluttonous, weak-willed mold that is used so often to portray us.

ETA: To answer your question, no--I don't have foods that I think I will have to avoid for the rest of my life. In order to keep myself properly nourished, I will have to make healthy choices the backbone of my intake. In order to achieve my weight goal, I will have to say "no" to some foods, some times. (Thankfully, the band makes it so much easier to do so.) But I don't fear food, or believe that occasional indulgences will derail my success.

In comparison, I know that if I had just one cigarette, even though I quit smoking a decade ago and haven't craved one in years, I would quickly be right back to smoking a pack a day.

Edited February 18, 2010 by BetsyB

[steelergirl 0]

Nicely put! WOW.....exactly:)