Chronic relapser on food addiction

carnes @carnes,

Thanks for sharing. I think most people have a food (or beverage) they cannot stop consuming even though it is not healthy. For me it is pasta and bread, love carbs.

I looked at some of the OA literature after your reference, some sound advice. Key point I took away is an Action Plan and plan your meals. When I do not have specific plan for what I will eat today, I seem to graze all day. The theory is similar to popular SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

I looked at some of your past post and looks like you tried the KETO diet years ago. Did that work for you? Do you still try and follow?

@carnes
I can't really say I am addicted to sugar but my craving for the five major food groups (candy, cookies, cakes, pies & pastry) is often overwhelming. Yes, I know what it’s like when one piece of candy or whatever calls for two, for three until there is none left. But recently I could no longer get my pants buttoned so drastic measures had to be implemented. My waist size is 32 and I refuse to buy larger size clothes. I stopped eating anything from the five food groups so I could lose some weight. I want to get back to the 140 range. I stopped eating my goodies altogether. Like you, I can't eat just one. So now my 17 candy dishes and cookie jar are empty. Once you start it’s all over.
take care,
Jake

@roch
Planning is great if you have the willpower for it. Even if I eat according to a well-planned meal, I still want dessert. That's my downfall. But candy is everywhere in my house and so easy to pick some up. So I put the good stuff in the fridge out of sight and take one piece but eventually the candy box ends up in my lap often with a few cookies and soon everything is gone. I think the problem is that deep down I don't really want to give up candy. maybe it's like cigarettes and alcohol either you stop or you don't.
Take care,
Jake

I have found that the biggest problem with any addiction is that it tends to become all I think about. About a year ago, I was tragically overweight. My eating habits were emotionally driven. Today, my eating habits are nutritionally focused.

I could not change my destructive habits by focusing on them. Instead, I turned my focus to improving my health. I started exercising, not a lot at first, but over time, I increased the time I exercised each day. I stopped worrying about what I was eating. I also saw my doctor and had my blood work assessed. My goals are health-focused, not food-focused.

It wasn't long before I started to change the reasons why I ate what I did, and little by little, what I ate changed. This was possible because I stopped obsessing about what was wrong with me and focused on what I could change.

In twelve months, I've lost seventy pounds. My bio makers have improved, and I feel my best in decades. When my attention was consumed by what I should and shouldn't eat, it was a disaster. Now, I eat whatever I want to eat, but what I want to eat has changed.

I don't know if this will work for you or not. I do know that I have detoxed from alcohol, crack cocaine, benzodiazepines, opioids, and cigarettes, and each time I had to have a reason other than just "stopping" the negative things I was doing. I needed something positive to focus on.

Maybe this might help you.

I hope you live in peace and good health.

@dfb

Thank you for sharing, I love reading a success story, it motivates me (and hopefully others) to keep trying.

I have had a love affair with sweets for most of my life, I still love candies and I always buy them when shopping for groceries. My cravings start after dinner, I get into them when watching tv and other snacks, I’m definitely addicted. I recently had blood work done and my cholesterol was high and it was my wake up call, I knew it would happen so it wasn’t a surprise, I’m a very thin woman and I can’t keep weight on me, sometimes people say I am so lucky but it’s not true, you can be thin and still have the same problems that others have, it just doesn’t show on the outside. I will now start slowly giving up the bad stuff and try to have a more positive attitude about myself, I was allowing myself to eat badly and excusing all the warnings. In defence of problem with sweets I am a cancer survivor twice in four years and instead of fighting back for my health I went in the other direction and decided I should just enjoy my life day by day and not worry about tomorrow but sadly I know it’s a foolish way to live not to mention it’s bad for cancer so now I’ve been warned and the rest is in my hands.

@frouke
I also am a cancer survivor and during treatment I was so much more aware of what I was eating. At times I drift back to old habits, but being aware of it and know what needs to change is first step. Making the change is harder.

I have same problem with late night snacking. One thing I find helpful is doing something with your hands while watching TV. I crochet, it is hard to munch on food if both hands are busy, also do not want food on my yarn. I make dish rags, nothing fancy and do not need to be accurate, just something to do with hands. Other ideas are coloring, reading instead of TV, anything that keeps your mind and hands busy.

Do you have any hobbies that you can do at night instead of snaking?

@jakedduck1

When you talk about food as addiction your right, You now candy it is not good for you but you really like it, just like any other addition or unhealthy habit.

If someone is struggling with alcohol, you would tell them not to have in house so it is not there when willpower is at weakness.

Are you bringing the candy into they house? If so can you take the first step by not buying it. If you pick candy at grocery store when buying food, shop when your willpower is the greatest.

Hiding it does not help, because you know it is there.

Are you willing to stop buying candy?

Good Morning!
My name is Laura and I am brand new to this thread. I am reaching out to get a little guidance from this group as lookin to gain freedom from living a life of reaching out for the foods that do my health no justice, but to reverse the chain to gain better enrichment of feeling emotionally under control and not have to feel I have to have my mouth be filled with foods that don't agree with me. I know that in itself is a mouthful, but I am rediscovering myself after leaving an 18 year Narsisstic behavioral relationship 6 months ago. I have been on a yo-yo rollercoaster of emotions, so I know what I know and don't know what I think I know as to how to gain back my willpower and relationship with food in addition to myself while dealing with stress related issues. Thank you for listening to my reading above. May I hope to give hope to others as I deal with my own struggles.

@lcarifi
Welcome to Mayo Connect, I hope you find it a place to talk about issues and get advice and support.
Eating additions often is not a standalone condition, many of us seek food as comfort due to another situation.

There many approaches to change your patterns:
- Talk to you PCP about, he may have suggestions or refer you to a nutritionist.
- Talk to therapist about emotions, relationships, regaining control of your life
- Most of us know what we should do, it is just the doing part that is hardest. Start by taking small steps. Pick one thing to change today and work at that making it a habit. Then add a 2nd thing. If try to make big changes all at same time, it is more likely to lead to failure.
- Set goals, I like SMART goal , see more in this Mayo article: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/setting-smart-goals
A example may be:
- Replacing soda or sugary drinks with water during breakfast and lunch each day for one week

In addition, you may be interested in a new discussion that has started in Mental Health Group:
Survivors of toxic relationship with a Narcissist: Let's Connect
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/toxic-relationships-with-a-narcissist/

Is there one thing you can do today to start path to a healthy lifestyle?