Carb addicts...please check in here

[lcq]

Hi my name is Lisa and I am a carbohydrate addict..............folks I just had that eye opener revealed to me this weekend after reading a few posts from others who have done well and then something just snaps and they go beserk on a carb rampage and binge like there is no tomorrow............I have been doing so well and then something in my life would go out of whack and the comfort foods call.......I should add that I have not gone completely beserk but I feel I can...............

It has hit me that Carb addicts need just as much support as recovering drug addicts or alcoholics etc so I just decided to check this Addiction support board and I was so suprised to see that there are no ongoing carb addict support groups...............

I know that some of you may be in Over-eaters support groups etc but here in Trinidad there is no such thing, so I was thinking it would be great if we could have a REAL carb addicts support group right here.......where everyone has someone they can contact when the stresses of life seem to overwhelm and we need somewhere and someone to turn to urgently ......................of course if I am wrong and there is such a group here please point me in that direction...but if any of you are struggling like me......that is, you are in challenges and you do fine one minute and then feel like the wagon is closing in on you , but everyone else seems to be doing great and you just want to vent about all the other stresses in your life yet you don't know how to explain that you feel like you are on the wrong wagon or that you are close to falling off.......if any of you are like me and think a Carb Addicts support group would help you ...or can offer any other advice ...please speak up

[Sadler_Girl]

Hi Lisa,
I totaly agree with you I was doing what I thought was realy great and then like 90 days ago, I had one to many things go haywire, long story short I am up to 270 pounds!
On the one bright spot I am still wearing smaller clothes then whem I startted. Was a size 30/32 now in a 24 but want to be smaller.

I am so ready to start agian and am going to in the morning.
I realy am trying hard and want to stick with it and .....
Just know you are not alone.
Pooh

[lcq]

Thanks for replying....i am sure there are many that feel like us and I hope more will reply.

I just want you to know that if you ever feel you need an ear...I'll be here for you.
There is only one problem .......I only have internet/e-mail access from work Mondays -Fridays 7.00am-3.00pm ...unless I am by my moms house (like I have been this past week) and I know sometimes the weekends or late evenings are when we need the most support.
I hope someone/s responds that will be the *weekend ear/s*
I feel strongly that once people have someone to talk to....and it does not have to be only about LCing but about anything.....that the 24/7 support will really help keep us on track and unravelled

I have started my own personal eating plan this morning....I am trying to lose as much weight as possible by Christmas..ultimately I want to be under 200lbs by December and as impossible as that seems right now...I'm going for it...MY WAY!!

Basically I am eating meat and cheese, not too many veggies and nuts..............I lost 100lbs in 6months eating like that once upon a time....it's the things that I like and I am tailoring my diet around it...when I reach closer to goal I may change to a more induction type menu and then follow a Way of life type program...but for now I am on a DIET...I hate that word...but it is the reality


anyways I will PM you my e-mail address if you ever want to contact me via that route instead.

We can beat this sweetie...yes we can

[lcq]

Hey Sadler_Girl,

I can't send you PM's so i guess we will just have to communicate on the thread for now

[MaryMary]

Hi folks,
I am a carb and food addict as well and would be glad to participate in your support group.

I follow a structured low carb food plan and am working the 12 steps.

I get the structure from writing my food plan on paper for the next day, calling it into my sponsor, and eating 3 weighed & measure meals with nothing in between but water, tea, coffee or diet soda.

I am learning to use journaling as a way of looking at the stressors in my life. I have a question that I read and write about each day. I am using the dictionary to look up and write down words that I thought I undertstood the meanings to, but with a little more research I am realizing there is more to them. So by increasing my vocabulary, I am learning to express myself a little better.

I am open to new ideas and what works for others. But for today, my food plan is what it is and I have no desire to change it. Because it works.

I am learning to be honest about my food. No more secret binges or stashes in my house.

I am learning to become willing to be willing. A couple weeks ago my head hunger reared its ugly head when I became willing to clean out my closest and donate some old too big clothes to a Clothes Swap at a local church. Letting go of the clothes was hard because in the past, I had always gained my weight back after giving away the wardrobe. So I prayed to become willing. I realized that just because I thought about eating more, didn't mean I had to act on the thought. I survived and gave away three bags of clothes and 4 winter coats. I came home with many new outfits in my new size. My closet is full again and it only cost me willingness.

Looking forward to get to know you all.

Have a good day.

[lcq]

You sound like just the person that can help get this off the ground.

So tell me ...you say you follow some specific step and rules........are you part of a group that told you what to do or did you formulate these steps by yourself?

Also how would you recommend we really get this support group off the ground.

As you can see.......I am willing but really don't know where to begin...all I know is that I am willing to be available to anyone who needs an ear...and I am hoping for the same in return

[manalu]

Carb addict here!!!

[MaryMary]

The steps and structure that I use have been around for awhile. I attend 12 step meetings through GreySheeters Anonymous, and supplement them with OA meetings. I attend the GreySheeters meetings via a phone bridge meeting. Folks from all over the world call into this number. It is available at least 3 times a day, seven days a week. The one thing in common among these folks is that we all do the same food plan and are committed to working the 12 steps.

My sponsor gave me a copy of her food plan that she got from her sponsor, etc. The food plan in my opinion is working with the help of a God of my understanding. I have found that for some a support system like this board can be a higher power. It is something that a person can draw strength from and grow to become a healthier person - physically, emotionally and spiritually.

lcq - I am happy following your lead. Are there any low carbers on the isle of Trinidad?

[lcq]

Ok Mary i am going to look up the grey sheeters via the internet.

And I guess since it is only you and me really talking right now......I'll be leaning on you a bit when I feel the walls are closing in.

Manalu..you did not say if you wanted to be part of the support system or not..

Mary...can you e-mail me the food program....I know I am on my own beat right now..but I am curious....also can you send me the 12 steps please...I am intrigued:;
I'll Pm you my e-mail address shortly

As for me at present I am on fire and rearing to go.........I am actually suprised because this weekend was so crappy where my eating was concerned....I was outside of my home enviroment.............and I was not in control of what I could eat...it was not planned and I realise that when things go off plan that is when I can't seem to fully adapt............but I also realise that I have changed a lot because of how I feel today...I have been able to reset so to speak ....in the past I would not have been able to do that...........I know I am a low-carber for life now...and if I was at goal I realise now that I could easliy get back up on the wagon in a jiff.....thing is that my life has so many ups and downs and it is taking me sooooo long to reach to goal.........anyways I have set for myself my goal of being under 200lbs by Dec04...according to fitday I need to lose 4lbs per week to succeed......it seems impossible to me but I am going for it with all I can ....I have 58 days and I want to see how close I can get to it...........I am just praying that no MORE obstacles will come my way that I can't overcome...................thanks for letting me rant

[lcq]

You asked me about LCarbers in T&T and I forgot to answer......................Lcarbing is now starting to take off here..........but there are still a lot of lowfat foods still being marketed and sold and LC foods are hard to get......although I must confess that I recentlysaw a major supermarket chain has started selling the *carb options* products.....but personally I don't buy much frankenfoods...i prefer to eat clean......

I am actually suprised that I have not met any other Trinidadians on this board........I have seen one Jamaican though

[lcq]

I went to the * gray sheeters* site and found the following *food addicts in recovery *site and it looks so good that we may not need to start anything here cause you folk can go to support groups in your home towns....as luck would have it there is none in Trinidad...maybe I should start a food addicts support group in my country

so check out www.foodaddicts.org

[manalu]

I guess whether I will join or not, depends on the food program.
I am diabetic and have to be careful with eating plans. So I guess if you can wait til you get all the info together, I can make a decision then.

[doodles]

I am definitely a carb addict and am struggling right now. There is so much going on in my life that I'm having a hard time staying focused.
Pam

[Sadler_Girl]

Well Lisa I see people are startting to reply, That is great the more the merrier!!
I am sorry you could not pm me Lisa, I am not sure why. I went to look at my profile and it says I am not autharized!(sp)
I cannot figure out how to fix it, if anyones has a clue PLEASE PLEASE PLease fill me in.
Today is my first day back 100% I am so happy.
Lisa it sounds like your Christmas goal will be great just becareful don't over do it. Be safe about it.
Pooh

[doodles]

Sadler girl. Go to your controls, edit options and about halfway down the page is an option to allow private messaging. Is that there?

[loadislight]

Hi all – my name is David and I’m a carb addict also. I have just started my 3rd week on Atkins (induction) and have not been this calm in a long time. LCing is only one part of my recovery efforts – I also attend a 12 step group that helps me deal with the emotional and spiritual part of my addiction. I believe it takes all three; physical, emotional and spiritual healing for me to stay clean. The LCing is working for me on the physical side, however, life happens and my way of dealing with it has been food (sometimes alcohol but my primary addiction is food). I do think a place to share when life gets crazy will be helpful to me as well. My 12 step group is not specific to food and sometimes its difficult for others to understand the pull that food has on me.

David C.

[Sadler_Girl]

I tried and all i get is this:
vBulletin Message
You do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
You do not have permission to access the page that you were trying to. Are you trying to edit someone else's post or trying to access administrative features? Check that you are allowed to perform this action in the Forum Rules.
If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logged in user: Sadler_Girl


I am so lost
Pooh

[manalu]

Sadler_girl,
I think you have to have a certain number of posts in order to get and send pm's. I am not sure of the number, but I believe yours is too low. So editing your profile won't help, you need to post more.
I know you cannot get on the Playground thread until you have at least 60 posts. Then once you have that #, Cheri can let you into the Playground.

[cheri]

Hi Sadler hun...

You need to have 60 posts to be able to use the playground sweetie... so keep posting away and you will hit that in no time. Then feel free to send me a PM and I will give you access to that forum.

Don't worry... you will get to the minimum in no time.

cheri

[lcq]

Did any of you not already in a 12 step program etc..get to check out the Food addicts website as yet?
Do any of you think it will help you?

For the time being I was thinking that what i would like to do is pair everone off.........you know.....having one buddy who you can talk to......or PM when you can..........you can even share e-mail addresses with eash other if you would like.

The idea is to have someone to turn to and if for some reason you and your buddy are not keeping in touch.........although I hope that will not happen........you can post back here and let us know.....actually I would like to see people posting here at least once a week just to say how you, and you and your buddy are doing........now if you have not realised it as yet, I am coming up with ideas as I write...because I don't have any experience with this......all I do know is that some of us need more than being on a challenge...we need people who we can open up to, who will get to know us , and can give us individual support............anyways if anyone has a better idea PLEASE come forth ..in the meantime....lets give this a try and see what happens:

Oh BTW Manalu...I think everyone should follow their own diet plan unless you are joining one of those official FA groups....the idea for now is just to help keep each other on track when LIFE HAPPENS:;

Ok so for the pairs:

Mary Mary & doodles
Manalu & loadislight & doodles
Sadler_Girl & LCQ


Ok troops.....go get to know each other, VIA PM or your own personal Thread etc.....I will send you folk a SOS next week when its time for roll call OK.

If anyone else wants to join this Carb Addicts support group, please let me know on this thread or send me a PM

as for you Sadler_Girl...here is my e-mail address since you can't PM as yet:

lisa.chanqui@fco.gov.uk

.....unfortunately though all our networked computers at work are down......*except for this stand-alone computer which I am on* so I won't be able to respond to any e-mails for awhile.

Actually I would like to add here that the only reason that you all are seeing so much of me here is because our computers here at work have been down since Friday....so I have MUCHO time on my hands these days

OK everyone get to it and see you next week

[manalu]

Oh thanks LCQ!!
Then count me in for the group!!!

[lcq]

I was just reading over my previous posting of the Pairs and saw I made a boo boo


let me try again:

Mary Mary & doodles

Manalu & loadislight

Sadler_Girl & LCQ

[trishthedish]

hi everyone... lisa was kind enough to link me to this thread. i too struggle with food addiction. i honestly have to say at this time i am a food addict in general, i dont think its a 'carb' issue per se. i will overeat anything and everything in a stressful time. i am currently controlling this by committing my food every night (MaryMary influenced me in regards to this) and keeping portions moderate. i am keeping carbs lower, but not following anything as strict as atkins. i do weigh and measure my food.

at this time i am not involved in a 12 step or addiction program. i am working the keys of dr.phils 'ultimate weight solution' and for now it is working for me. i find i struggle with the emotions and the urge to overeat more then i struggle with wanting certain foods. a craving for me isnt food specific, its the process of binging that i crave. does that make sense to anyone?

ok, i'll check in on this thread and hope everyone finds the peace we are looking for.
tricia

[fla gal 57]

i know i sure am a carb addict. before i went on the atkins diet plan i never knew what a carb addict was until i read it in a magazine one day. Only then i did some research on hig carbs and found out it could help you lose weight. I just happen to find the Atkins low carb plan and decided to give it a try and what amazement i had, i lost ten lbs. the first week. so i stuck to it and now three yrs. later i am a 100 lbs. lighter. still am not to my goal yet but working on it with low carb.

i want to know why doctors never tell you about low carb diets! all my doc ever told me was i needed to lose weight but never gave me anything to go by in order to do so.
I feel if the world knew how sweets and white flour products and starchy foods hurt us health wise they would make us get a prescription from the doctor to eat it. Because it is harmful to us who are addicted to carbs just like drugs would be.

i now longer keep any foods in my house that are high in carbs.
my hubby and i eat a healthy low carb meals now and are feeling better than we have in ages..........Of all the horror stories i have read in the news media i find that they are full of bull and are trying to do away with the low carb diet industry because they feel threatened.

I know its healthy for me, all my doctors tests prove it with my blood pressure almost to normal now, my sugar level is normal and stays that way now, i exercise ,,something i never did much in the pass but now love it.

i can eat one piece of birthday cake and it will make feel almost nausea and tired. This year i just stayed away from all the cakes because its not worth feeling bad just for a little taste of cake, not to me it isn't. even for my birthday last month i made everyone promise not to bring me any cake so no one did, but i did get some nice gifts though.........the gifts were so much sweeter than any cake could ever be..................

but as far as being a carb addict i admit i am one and i am doing something about it to by keeping with my low carb plan for the rest of my life.

[MaryMary]

Hi Everyone,

I did check out the FA site back in December, when I looked at Greysheeters Anonymous (www.greysheet.org) and Overeaters Anonymous (www.oa.org). Based on the research for myself, the GSA program more closely fit my personal goals. They all work the same 12 steps and the main differences are in the details. I attend OA live meetings in my geographic area and GSA phone bridge meetings on any given day since they are available worldwide.

A support system on this board is a great idea. I have found for myself that since I started having a structured low carb approach that for me the problem is no longer with the food. But occasionally that head hunger (also known as compulsion) does rear its ugly head and wants to make me think I am hungry. Because I weigh my meals I know I am getting enough food without a doubt, so any food thoughts are not really food thoughts but my internal system wanting to turn to food as a comfort source to bury some other feeling that I don't want to feel. Knowing this helps me to know that just because I think it, doesn't mean I have to act on it. When life's stresses come my way, today I have an alternate way of dealing with them instead of turning to food.

Some days I feel overwhelmed by all the stuff I have yet to finish in my life. I am working on it one day at a time, one item at a time. Anytime I do one little thing toward resolving my issue, I feel wonderful. I don't have to have food to feel better anymore.

Holidays, birthdays, vacations, illnesses can come and go. I don't need food to enjoy/endure them any more. Eating is not going to change the results. Instead I can feel what I am feeling and take the next right action.

Today I plan my meals, I carry a scale to weigh my foods in my car, I carry backup meals whenever I go anywhere because I will not let the enviornment I am in determine whether or not I can eat my healthy whole food. I carry phone numbers so I can call folks I have met in my program that have been there and succeeded, so they can talk me through a difficult time period. We help each other.

This is what works for me. I had to figure out what I needed to stop eating compulsively. I know I need God in my life today. I am coming to know Him better since what/how I believe in God is not based on anyone's definition of God but my own interpretation o