Food Addiction--New for 2008

[Smythe]

I went out to dinner last night and had sangria, refried beans and chips w/salsa. I don't feel guilty about any of it since I'd love to be able to have a meal off plan once in awhile. But therein lies the challenge! Can I get back on plan today? Will last nights meal start me on a binge? I don't feel like I want to dive snout first into the Oreo jar...so that's a good sign. I'll let you know how it goes. I did not indulge in sweets...but carbs can be brutal for me. We'll see...

[Pcola Girl]

Smythe, I have done that to many times. I feel that I need a meal I really enjoy every now and then to.
But when I do enjoy one of my favorite meals I cut back the next day on my carbs and keep them real low. Don't know if this is right or not but it keeps me from gaining any weight back.

[EmelineGreene]

Lora, I'm five months abstinent in Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FAIRA, as you call it--nice acronym!) and I understand the pressure of the rules. I've been in 12 Step Recovery for 5 years now (Al-Anon & AA) and I have to say that this is the ONLY way I've found peace and self acceptance. I don't think about food. I don't obsess about my weight. I don't hate myself. I just...live my life.

I'm sure I come off like a Big Book thumper, but this is all I ever wanted: peace and joy. I lost 100 lbs in 5 months, so now I'm just dealing with the emotional aspects of the program...abstinence isn't an issue anymore.

Anyone else out there having trouble feeling their feelings when you stop using food as a drug? (First time poster, by the way. Hello all!)

[amadeus4313]

Hi everyone, I have been here sporadically. I have been to our local OA and to online OA meetings. I've been to Weight Watchers. I've tried every diet. But you know what? Diet isn't the problem. I'm not fat because of what I eat. I'm fat because of how much I eat and because I use food as something other than food. Until I get that straight, nothing is going to work. I don't need a diet. I need a mental overhaul. Reading Mary's post about compulsive eating really hit home. It's not that I haven't always known it, but that I felt like I was the only one.

DH cannot figure out why I do what I do and since he doesn't understand it, he condemns it. This adds to the stress, and we all know what we do when we feel stressed. People who have never smoked do not understand smokers. People who have never used food the way we do just do not understand. DH doesn't understand that when he gets on my back he isn't helping. He's just reinforcing my own bad feelings. So I don't look to him for support. This is not a condemnation, he's just not able to give support because he doesn't get it. All he knows is that he married a 145 pound woman and now he's living with someone who weighs more than he does.

Last week I went garage sailing with my daughter and found a book in the free box. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." I know that book has been around a long time, but I thought it was about corporate management so I never read it. Since it was free, I thought I would pick it up for our school library. I just finished the first chapter and it talks about being reactive vs proactive. Suddenly things became clear to me. I am, and I bet most COEs, are reactive. We respond to our environment etc. We tend to let things outside of ourselves affect what's inside. For instance, DH may make a remark about how I eat, or how I look. Most people would deal with it and move on. Not me, I break out a bag of whatever just to show him. But what am I showing me? I've given my personal power away to someone else. I'm still figuring it all out, but I can see a huge improvement in my overall approach to life just from trying to be proactive rather than reactive.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. I need to be here. Thank you all for being here.

[doglover]

Hello all!
I just have to say that I agree with practically everything that has been mentioned here. I too am a sugar/food addict. I am so tired of trying every diet out there and getting nowhere. My latest has been NutriSystem...I did not work the program, so it is not NS's fault, only mine. I still have some NS food left over, but I am wanting to do low carb again. I feel like throwing that food away, but if my hubby founds out he would be pi**ed! But, I have to do what is best for me, right?
I also come from a family of addictions. From alcohol, pills, and gambling!
I lucked out with food!
I know that I cannot eat just one of my "problem" foods and remain sane. It will trigger a downward spin for who knows how long.
I realize now that I cannot eat certain substances. I am addicted to sugar, breads, etc.
I truly believe low carb is the best food plan for me. It will take hard work on a daily basis to make myself healthier and I will not give up.

We are all so worth it, we just need to believe it.

[Pcola Girl]

include me in with you all here. I to am a food addict. Amadeus I to wish people would just stop critizing my weight. I get it from friends, family, and sometimes from people I do not even know. They don;t understand that its not just about the food, its about other things that make us turn to food.
I get so lonely and bored because I stay home so much because of health problems and its hard to walk and get around anymore and get out by myself or drive. I tend to eat when I am alone and bored. I try not to but I just cannot help myself.
Its a deeper problem than just stop eating so much for most of us, it something inside us that makes our eating uncontrollable. We have to find what it is first and maybe then we can lose the weight.
People who do not have a weight problem do not understand this.

[Nana Susie]

We're all in the same boat ladies. At least we are not alone. You know I used to look at certain people and think, WOW! Look at her, she has it all. You know I don't care how good one looks, or they sound or what they have....EVERYONE deals with something in their lives. Just look at some of the lovely stars in Hollywood. I think our job in this life is to try our best to understand what is going on with us and how we can help ourselves. We may not ever get there 100% but we have to keep on keeping on and try our best to work it out. As women I think sometimes we just expect too much from ourselves. We think we should be the woman in the magazines. Some of the most wonderful women I know are lovely on the inside where it really counts. Of course you do understand if and when we overcome this food addiction something else will pop up as a challenge for us. That is life I think.

[Smythe]

Hi everyone-
so, food went well even after my trip to the Mexican restaurant but...I made sangria and my DH and I drank that all weekend long! LOL. I'm not a drinker but that stuff was yummy!
Anyway, My DH has convinced me to depart from my all or nothing mentality. So, I had a small bit of brown rice with dinner one night and a tablespoon of pasta last night...ridiculous I know, but I literally had 4 ziti noodles
Anyway, In the gym still every other day but today I start back to work! Up at five, teach all day and I gotta tell ya at 3pm the last thing I want to do is go and work out. I'm going to do it anyway!

Shopping for work clothes this weekend was a disaster. My thighs are so much bigger than what my size allows! So after hours upon hours of hunting I came away with 2 skirts and 3 pair of dress pants. Pants all need to go to the tailor.
I'm off to the races everyone! Kids don't come in until Thursday

[Nana Susie]

Hi everyone, I am back on Atkins and it feels so good to feel as if I am in control again. I am being very careful to stay away from any type of sweets at the moment. I'm talking about sweets on program even. I just want to keep this as clean as possible for the first month or so before even making flax muffins. It's been SO LONG since I have felt this feeling of being in control and I am loving it!!!

[amadeus4313]

Originally Posted by Nana Susie

Hi everyone, I am back on Atkins and it feels so good to feel as if I am in control again. I am being very careful to stay away from any type of sweets at the moment. I'm talking about sweets on program even. I just want to keep this as clean as possible for the first month or so before even making flax muffins. It's been SO LONG since I have felt this feeling of being in control and I am loving it!!!

Good job and a good plan!

[Pcola Girl]

I am still doing the best I can with my eating but its not always good.

[Pcola Girl]

I have restarted on induction again so hope it will help.
I seem to do ok on induction but after two weeks and I tried up my carbs just about five more I get all messed up again and stop losing.
So I think I am going to just stick to induction for awhile, Don't guess it will hurt me.

[Pcola Girl]

Control Portions to Lose Weight


Portion control may be the most effective weight-loss strategy around. It beat out exercise, regular physical activity, fat reduction in diet, and eating more fruits and veggies for effectiveness, according to researchers at the Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio. The study of 300 overweight people who were asked to practice five weight-loss strategies revealed that those who spent the most effort controlling portion size were most likely to lose weight and keep it off.

Break the habit of casually spooning food onto your plate by keeping a set of measuring cups and spoons on hand to ensure you end up with approximately one serving. No need to get too uptight by leveling off the top of a cup of corn. The idea is to train your eye to recognize what a single serving looks like. Use these visual clues to help:



Serving Size of Fruit
Medium Piece = Size of Baseball


Serving Size of Meat
3 ounces = Size of a Deck of Cards


Serving Size of Cheese
1 ounce = Size of Four Dice

What is the difference between Portions and Servings?
A "portion" can be thought of as the amount of a specific food you choose to eat for dinner, snack, or other eating occasion. Portions, of course can be bigger or smaller than the recommended food servings.

A "serving" is a unit of measure used to describe the amount of food recommended from each food group. It is the amount of food listed on the Nutrition Facts panel on packaged food or the amount of food recommended in the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

For example, 6-11 servings of whole grains are recommended daily. A recommended serving of whole grains would be 1 slice of bread or 1/2 cup of rice or pasta. (Download the Serving Size Card for more examples of recommended serving sizes). People often confuse the recommendation to mean 6 to 11 portions with no regard to size. It is not 6 to 11 portions where one portion could mean a large bowl of pasta rather than ½ cup. Keep an eye on portion size to see how your portions compare with the recommended servings.

[duece49424]

Mary - nice update and explanation of the portion and serving sizes...I do believe I forget about that sometimes....thanks!

[Pcola Girl]

"3 Reasons We Eat To Much"

Almost everyone, at least once in a while, turns to food for some reason other than being hungry. Recognizing what spurs you to eat when your body doesn’t need nourishment can mean the difference between bafflement when the scale won’t bulge and finally losing weight. Take a hard look at yourself and your eating habits to see if one of these reasons is why you’ve packed on pounds.

1-Your Emotions Are in A Uproar-
Instead of coping with uncomfortable feelings of anger, sadness, stress, boredom or loneliness, many of us turn to food. “Mood eating” accounts for 75 percent of overeating and diet failure, according to the Cleveland Clinic and its nutrition program studies. When we use food to comfort ourselves to our own detriment, it’s time to work on the emotional side of overeating, says Lisa Dorfman, a licensed psychotherapist, sports nutritionist and adjunct professor at the University of Miami.



What Can You Do-“Simply being aware of which emotions trigger overeating can help you stop it,” she says. Try keeping a food journal to see which moods accompany you to the pantry. Once you see a pattern of using sweets to soothe stress or nostalgic foods like Aunt Barb’s noodle casserole to remind you of your far-away family, you give yourself the opportunity to respond to those feelings with something other than food. Turn to something you enjoy that keeps you busy – and away from the kitchen. Try playing fetch with your dog, knitting or calling a friend. By finding a positive outlet for your negative emotions, you’ll not only avoid weight-loss setbacks, but you’ll also accomplish something.



2-Your Bad Habits Can Run Your Life-
You open the refrigerator door every time you enter the kitchen. You snack throughout the day and almost never sit down to eat real meals. You finish every morsel on your plate. You grab a bag of chips when your favorite TV show comes on. When it comes to food, bad behaviors can be life-threatening at their worst and wardrobe-wrecking at their least.

What You can Do" Identify your diet-sabotaging habits by analyzing your food journal. Once you pinpoint the situations, times of day or other triggers that make you eat mindlessly, you can work to break the connections between those triggers and the food you eat.
Plan Ahead-Instead of always going to the vending machine at work for a mid-day snack, bring low-fat cheese and whole-wheat crackers or an apple.
Establish Rules- No eating while watching TV.
Pay Attention- Don’t nibble while you’re cooking or continue eating after dinner’s over by snacking on “leftovers” when you clean the dishes.
Redocorate-That candy dish looks lovely on your coffee table, but it costs you 400 calories a day when it’s filled with Skittles.

3-You're resigned to being over weight-
You’ve started a diet, stopped a diet, started again and stopped again, and you just can’t seem to lose the girth. Why bother, you think. Believing in futility can be disastrous, because giving up on weight loss often means weight gain. Maintaining a stable weight – even one that’s too high – takes some effort for most of us. The higher we are above our ideal weight range, the worse the consequences for our health, self-esteem or motivation to get back on the weight-loss wagon.


What you can do: Be realistic. Don’t expect to lose three inches in three months. What took 10 years to put on won’t come off by the time fall clothes are in stores, if you’re just getting started today.

[amadeus4313]

I wrote this in my blog today:
[COLOR="DarkRed"]So did you see the season premier of The Biggest Loser? I love this show . . . but . . . there is a meanness creeping in that disturbs me. The meanness looks scripted. It looks like it's added for dramatic interest. It looks - well - it looks mean. The scene where Jillian is beating the girl with boxing gloves hit me like a blow. I understand that obesity is a killer and these people need help, however, it is a fine line between tough love and abuse. This borders on abuse. The screaming and the yelling left me cringing. Many overweight people trace their food addiction to abuse in childhood. A large part of the Biggest Loser audience is overweight people. Overweight people may need tough love, in some cases, but this just looked disturbing.

Another thing that bothers me is the huge losses. Unless these people keep up the grueling pace that they keep now, they will gain this weight back. I would rather see a more moderate, real life approach - one that the average person could do - not a turtle's pace, but a happy medium here.
But that's just my opinion.[/COLOR]

As fellow food addicts, what did you all think?

[Pcola Girl]

Found these tips on ways to stop us from over-eating and wanted to share them with you.
I am going to practice them myself to see if they will help me.



"TIPS TO HELP YOU STOP OVER-EATING'

Tip #1
The first step you should take is to drink more water. Drinking a full glass of water or two before eating each meal will help you stop over eating. You should drink 8-12 glasses of water throughout the day. This step alone can actually lead to weight loss.

Tip #2
Another way to stop over eating is to eat your foods more slowly. Many people gulp food as fast as they can when they are hungry. They are not giving their brain enough time to realize their hunger has been satisfied and as an result, they over eat. It takes your brain several minutes to realize your hunger has been satisfied. Eating more slowly will help you stop overeating.

Tip #3
Many people over eat because they are not paying attention. When you eat do you actually think about what your doing? More often than not your mind of else where. Pay attention to how the food makes your feel. Has my hunger been satisfied? Do I need To eat more? You should only eat at the dinner table. Do not eat while at an computer or watching television or you will find it hard to stay focus.

Tip #4
Many people who try to stop over eating start by fixing smaller portions of meals. If you fix smaller portion meals you should use a smaller plate. In your minds eye, a lesser portion on a larger plate is going to make you feel as though there is not enough food on the plate. A full plate will give the illusion your eating a larger portion meal.

Tip #5
Many people often eat simply because they are bored. If hunger strikes, wait several minutes and find something to occupy your time. If your hunger is still there, you should eat something. If your hunger subsides, it was just because you were bored

Tip #6
As humans we are creatures of habit. You have to become more aware of what you eat and when you eat. Make a daily list of everything you eat and when. By doing this you will be able to identify habit eating patterns. You can eliminate these habits by sheer will. Ask yourself, do I really need to eat this? Am I really hungry? Could I go without eating this?

Tip #7
If you think you are about to break down if you do not eat something, try eating something healthy like an apple instead. Apples have been known to produce negative calories. This simple means your body burns more calories in the act of digesting the apple than the actual calories of the apple. Do not resort to ice creams or junk food. Just eat something healthy that will fill you up.

[rvcrazy]

I think in general most of our society is food addicted. We use it for everything/every occasion. (wedding, "B" day, graduations, etc.) The trick (I think) is a) admitting that you are addicated, and b) following whatever plan is suited for YOU. I am following LC, and the high carbs just don't CALL to me anymore. I have only lost 9 pounds, with another 20 to go. I am not telling anyone how I am doing it, as everyone has an opinion. If it works for YOU, then just do it.

It has become very big business for the HC food industry. Way back in our Great Grandparents time, if they didn't make it, they didn't get to eat it. Today, every isle has something to keep people addicted to HC foods. The food pyramid helps them out. They are not about to tell us the truth.

I was a previous Waight Watcher. They NEVER told me that if I start with HC, I will want to continue with HC. I am very calm and happy that I have rediscovered LC, and the many foods that are out there now, to help us deal with our addictions.

Just me rambling, hope it helps someone.

[Pcola Girl]

http://

RV I am doing LC to and its workg for me so I think people should find which diet is best for them. Whats best for you or I may not be the best for someone else.
When I began LC I just cut out starchy and swets and breads and lost most my weight that first year just by doing that and not really counting the carbs.I knew they were low because I was eating LC foods but have no idea how low they were, I just knew that I was losing weight.
I may still ceat sometimes and eat some birthday cake etc. but I have learned not to over do with it anymore. I watch my portion sizes really well now so I won't over eat. And when I eat out I watch it to. Most times when I eat out I only eat half my food and bring the rest home and eat at a later day. So I make two meals out out one they serve you in a restaurant.


People are obese now because we they eat to much at one time and is not burning it off. Thats all there is to it. I think fast food is made to easy to get and they are so full of fat and calories to. Its not like eating a good balanced meal you cook at home. I heard one giant hamburger meal has more calories
(1300-1500), in it than you need for the entire day.
I just think we people of the USA have gotton out of control with out appetites and jsut eat to much thats all. I know I use to be like that before finding LC and losing a 100 lbs.

[jrc207]

Hey everybody! I haven't posted in a while, but I have to today because I am just so - perturbed. I binged last weekend, but came out ok on Monday (mental-health-wise). Was very stable with my eating all week, but last night randomly muched some leftover spaghetti my husband had in the fridge. Didn't get crazy, but afterward I was like "Why did I do that??" It was so clearly a way to not do the other chores I had planned on last night.

I feel okay today, but am just reminded of the constant battle of it all! It's a never-ending series of choices to do what I need to do to nurture my body, or do go "off the wagon" and zonk out on any given night or weekend (When I am at work, I have no problems whatsoever, it seems. Not the slightest urge. It's when I am home alone.)

Hope everyone else is out there and doing ok!

[Pcola Girl]

Jess, I think all of us who are addicted to food are in a constant battle with it everyday. I know I am. Sometimes it gets the best of me to no matter how hard I fight against it.
We just have to fight even harder when we get that way and beat it. I know we can do it and not allow food to control us like it wants to do.
I have been praying about it to God and this helps me alot.

[jrc207]

Thanks Mary - and all of you guys! I'm feeling stronger already And yes, prayer and faith are a big help!

[Pcola Girl]

Hi Angela, nice to have you join us here. Hope we can help you get control of your eating.
I think we all here are trying to do that same thing.
Post often and keep us up on how you are doing ok.
http://

[jrc207]

Hi all - just thought I would drop in and say hello! How is everyone?

I'm doing pretty good these days, even though the weight doesn't seem to want to drop very much. Feeling good and pretty at peace with eating though.

[Pcola Girl]

http://
http://

I am still here, just busy thats all.
How is everyones low carb going these days? I know the Holidays will be coming up soon and alot of temptation will be around us, it will be for me and I hope I have the strength to resist all that food that will be around me. I don't good with my eating whyen I am under stress like that. I see everyone else eating and I want to eat to like they do. Of course I know I can't.
I just do not understand how others can eat alot and stay thin. I have friends who eat all the time and never gain a pound. Whats wrong with me, why am I not like that?
I guess its in my genes and dna makeup somepleace to hang onto to fat in my body.
Fat loves me I guess.
But I am going to try my best to not over induldge in all the food during this Holiday season. I am not saying I can do it but I am going to give it my best stab at trying.

See you all later. Post often and be good...............Watch out for that Halloween candy to.

[Jammer]

So, I've been contemplating going to a OA meeting. (Overeaters Anonymous). Has anyone had experience with it? I am definitely a compulsive overeater/binge eater. I just feel SO ashamed and embarassed about it all, but I feel like I've got to reach out and have some sort of support. But I can't fathom looking into a bunch of strangers' eyes and revealing my darkest deepest secrets. It's almost like it would be better if I was bulemic. At least then I would be "cleaning up my own mess" so to speak. Though I know that it would just be adding one more disorder into the mix.

Anyway, just wanted to throw my hat into the ring and say that I am not doing well these past few weeks. I use food as an emotional crutch. And it's not the FOOD that's the problem, it's how I use food to avoid the really awful things that I think about myself.

Just hoping for some comfort in the great anonymity that has always been here for me. Hoping to get up my gumption to maybe attend one of these meetings someday. Or hoping that I won't have to, if I can reach out here and connect with others who sincerely want to work a program of daily support, along the lines of OA or some other program.

Best wishes to all of you!

[Pcola Girl]

Jammer, I joined weight watchers once but never did good with it. I have never been to OA but I have heard it helps alot of people. I just cannot get out much anymore due to some health problems so its hard to go to any meeting anymore.
Hope it helps you.
I get so tired of my weight problem, I just wish we didn't have to eat at all and just take a pill for our nourishment. Maybe we wouldn't get so addicted to eating.

[jrc207]

Omg I wish for that food-pill all the time! I get so exhausted with the trials and trevails of eating too!

[Jammer]

Ha ha, I've often thought that food addiction is one of the hardest, and sticks out as totally different from other addictions. It's not like we can't eat. We need it for nourishment, we need it to live. And I for one, would like to truly ENJOY my food. There's nothing like a succulent peach, or in-season strawberry. And yes, even an ounce or two of dark chocolate is great and even healthy. Would I trade not eating for being addiction free? Hmm, that's a tough one. Food I think is a gift meant to be enjoyed. But then again, priests and religious who take a vow of abstinence don't really need sex, and it is one of life's greatest pleasures. And life-giving and sustaining, just like food.

Just wanted to throw out there something I finally learned after ten months of therapy: That if you tell yourself you can't control yourself around X or Y foods, then you will set yourself up for binges when you do give in. I learned that I CAN have just one slice. I really could do it, and managed for a while. But since restricting myself again after indulging on the honeymoon, I have had a few big binges.

I'm also going through a book called "Feeling Good." It's about cognitive therapy and combating the negative tapes that play in your head. I'll let you all know how it goes.

[Pcola Girl]

Jammer. I to try to taste the foods I like and just not over eat them. It does help keep the cravings down some.