Let's get this forum going -- thought for today

SilkAsha · 12-16-2004, 04:53 PM

I notice not too many people are posting here, and I think that's too bad. Do some people have fear about talking about food from the standpoint of an addiction? Most of us who are seriously overweight didn't get there because they just didn't have any willpower...

I think I will make a commitment to start one new thread a day for the next week. Anyone want to join me?

My suggested topic for today -- Perfectionism

How has perfectionism been a handicap in your life? How has is thrown a wrench in the works when you try for healthier eating or a healthier lifestyle?

my answer; every time I start to lose weight, I go from feeling like I am on top of the world, to feeling like it's never enough. I swing from compulsive eating to compulsive restricting and exercising, until my bodyfat gets to a level I can't maintain, I start to eat again, and it snowballs.

I lost 60 pounds on low carb, then started body for life and got down to 16% bodyfat. An experience which I decided to take personally reminded me I still wasn't perfect (for some reason I continue to believe that I must be able to achieve perfection, unlike the rest of the human race) and I started eating. Because I had been working out like crazy and eating next to nothing, it snowballed, and I find myself up 80 pounds. It didn't help that's it's taken me 2 1/2 years to begin being honest with myself again.

anyone else?

MaryMary · 12-17-2004, 03:10 PM

Perfectionism - That's a good one.

I would guess that thinking that I had to have the perfect weight and the perfect diet and never lose my temper or patience is what got me up to 376 lbs. Today, I know I am never going to be perfect in my human body. I make mistakes, but the key that I have learned is that I need to learn from my mistakes or I am doomed to repeat them. Today, when I make a mistake, I write about it, what could I have done differently, and make a plan for how I will handle it when it comes up the next time. I also pray for strength from my Creator to share the Power so I can make it through another day without food being my idol. Today, I live in peace with the food. I plan my meals ahead of time and write them on paper, I call them into my sponsor and weigh & measure the 3 meals no matter what. I don't eat between meals except for water or decaf tea. This is all part of a 12 step program that I work now to support my low carb lifestyle.

SilkAsha · 12-18-2004, 06:57 AM

Mary, thanks for posting. I went to the greysheet site, and I like their attitude. I've been frustrated with some of the 12 step groups I've tried because it feels like a lot of war stories, and a lot of people talking more about their "feelings" than about the work of just staying abstinent. I agree with one of the writers that you can't effectively deal with the feelings until you've had enough "sobriety" for the food fog to clear, although at the moment I count myself as a stellar example of someone who has been sliding down the wrong side of that hill for the past couple of years.

I have 2 days clean now, and already things are clearer than they were....

puttchikins · 12-18-2004, 09:21 AM

I am totally addicted...I am thinking of food now just like I did when I gave up smoking and drinking...I am terrified to eat sugar or carbs for what I might trigger...Actually I do eat carbs good carbs I am on south beach not atkins, I managed to gain 40lbs on Atkins with all those high calorie locarb foods.

Just wanted to say most of here have buddied up on this site and we email with "our" buddies instead of posting...Sorry about that I'll try and be better about checking the site....

12-16-2004, 04:53 PM	#1
SilkAsha Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Albuquerque, Land of Entrapment Posts: 222 Gallery: SilkAsha	Let's get this forum going -- thought for today I notice not too many people are posting here, and I think that's too bad. Do some people have fear about talking about food from the standpoint of an addiction? Most of us who are seriously overweight didn't get there because they just didn't have any willpower... I think I will make a commitment to start one new thread a day for the next week. Anyone want to join me? My suggested topic for today -- Perfectionism How has perfectionism been a handicap in your life? How has is thrown a wrench in the works when you try for healthier eating or a healthier lifestyle? my answer; every time I start to lose weight, I go from feeling like I am on top of the world, to feeling like it's never enough. I swing from compulsive eating to compulsive restricting and exercising, until my bodyfat gets to a level I can't maintain, I start to eat again, and it snowballs. I lost 60 pounds on low carb, then started body for life and got down to 16% bodyfat. An experience which I decided to take personally reminded me I still wasn't perfect (for some reason I continue to believe that I must be able to achieve perfection, unlike the rest of the human race) and I started eating. Because I had been working out like crazy and eating next to nothing, it snowballed, and I find myself up 80 pounds. It didn't help that's it's taken me 2 1/2 years to begin being honest with myself again. anyone else? __________________ Low carb since June 2000. And now that I've gained it back, I at least know what DOESN'T work You can fool your brain, but you can't fool your body

12-17-2004, 03:10 PM	#2
MaryMary Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: New Hampshire BMI:57/24-Maintaining Posts: 4,839 Gallery: MaryMary Stats: 376 lbs/155 lbs//Age 60// 5'7" BF%:47+%/28.4%/25% WOE: GSA Cambridge Greysheet "www.greysheet.org" Start Date: Atkins 1/22/01; GSA 12/23/03 - Total Loss 221 lbs.	Perfectionism - That's a good one. I would guess that thinking that I had to have the perfect weight and the perfect diet and never lose my temper or patience is what got me up to 376 lbs. Today, I know I am never going to be perfect in my human body. I make mistakes, but the key that I have learned is that I need to learn from my mistakes or I am doomed to repeat them. Today, when I make a mistake, I write about it, what could I have done differently, and make a plan for how I will handle it when it comes up the next time. I also pray for strength from my Creator to share the Power so I can make it through another day without food being my idol. Today, I live in peace with the food. I plan my meals ahead of time and write them on paper, I call them into my sponsor and weigh & measure the 3 meals no matter what. I don't eat between meals except for water or decaf tea. This is all part of a 12 step program that I work now to support my low carb lifestyle. __________________ 2001/2002/2003 - Lost 105 lbs. on Atkins & exercise 2004/2005/2006 - Lost 116 lbs. on the Cambridge Greysheet & GSA (www.greysheet.org) - A 12 Step Program for Carb Sensitive Folks 2006- Panniculectomy - Surgically removed 6 lbs. hanging skin 2007/2008 - Maintaining Free from Compulsive Eating Abstinent since 6/21/2004 by the grace of a Power greater than myself My Journey in Pics from Jan 2001 to June 2006 --LOST 221 LBS. - PEACE !!!--

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12-18-2004, 06:57 AM	#3
SilkAsha Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Albuquerque, Land of Entrapment Posts: 222 Gallery: SilkAsha	Mary, thanks for posting. I went to the greysheet site, and I like their attitude. I've been frustrated with some of the 12 step groups I've tried because it feels like a lot of war stories, and a lot of people talking more about their "feelings" than about the work of just staying abstinent. I agree with one of the writers that you can't effectively deal with the feelings until you've had enough "sobriety" for the food fog to clear, although at the moment I count myself as a stellar example of someone who has been sliding down the wrong side of that hill for the past couple of years. I have 2 days clean now, and already things are clearer than they were....

12-18-2004, 09:21 AM	#4
puttchikins Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 992 Gallery: puttchikins	I am totally addicted...I am thinking of food now just like I did when I gave up smoking and drinking...I am terrified to eat sugar or carbs for what I might trigger...Actually I do eat carbs good carbs I am on south beach not atkins, I managed to gain 40lbs on Atkins with all those high calorie locarb foods. Just wanted to say most of here have buddied up on this site and we email with "our" buddies instead of posting...Sorry about that I'll try and be better about checking the site....