sugar addiction

What is wrong with some people - why do people NOT understand that a sugar addiction is real?  I hope you don't mind if I vent a little here -

I was at my school's luncheon today - I had called ahead and orderd a special, not fried, peice of chicken with sauce on the side - still a little weary about too much sugar in marinara sauce, and was very proud when I ignored the bread (Not without a little compaint) and had just a bit of the salad with a Balsamic Viegrette dressing on the side.  I ate well - about 1/3 of the HUGE piece of chicken and was thouroughly full when I stopped - then out came the end of year cake - mmmmmm....my favoit e- buttercream icing.  I have wonderful support at school and great people who are thrilled with my success thus far - however, the icing on this cake is my biggest addiction!  So I began to talk about it - Did not eat it of course - again, for fear of dumping - (Fear is my friend!)  so I was trying to explain about how a sugar addiction to me is as powerful as drug are to a drug addict and alcohol is to an alcoholic.

While they shook their heads in agreement, I really felt that they thought it was NOT the same.  I was talking about getting a "high" from anywhere - ie...a peice of candy or cake that might have been made by some student.  That when I need my "fix"  I didn't care where it came from - they were a bit skeeved about the fact that I would have eaten anything when I wanted it - and it bothered me that they couldn't understand the point I was trying to make was that this is a serious addiction - and everyone around me eats sugar and then says - "yeah -  I understand - I have to have sugar too!"  

They totally don't get it!  It drives me crazy when they try to "jump on the bandwagon" so to speak.  I just want people to understand that I didn't just have this surgery to lose weight and look better - I truly needed to save my life from the addiction....

Thanks for letting me vent!  It is amazing to have found you all who do "get it!"  For so long, I thought there were not that many of us out there!  Boy am I glad I was wrong! :)

Ah Steph... no, you're not wrong.

I think we all contribute to the problem by using the "holic" terms too lightly... bragging about being a "chocoholic" or complaining about being a "workaholic."  That seems to inure people to just how serious ANY type of addiction can be.  I know I've described myself jokingly (and more recently NOT so jokingly) as a chocoholic... but it's only in recent months that I've realized just how close to the truth that is.  It's not the chocolate in and of itself, but the sugar high it gives me that is unparalleled.  And the level of craving is just as strong, I'd argue, as an alcoholic or drug addict.  I've driven out of my way to find a store selling sweets, I've hidden wrappers and evidence of binges from my family, kept a "stash" where no one else could find it, gone into jealous rages when someone has eaten "my" fix, etc.  If that's not addict behavior, then I don't know what is.  And that's not something I've even been able to admit publicly (or lightly) before.

I think it takes a combination of education (where you think it's worth it and will be received) and misdirection (I'm allergic to sugar now, or Sugar is poison to my body now) where you know that people just won't get the message.  Not everyone will understand or can understand... and for some, they may actually BE struggling with the same addiction but be un-self-aware or unwilling to confront just how serious it is for them... if they're not at that point, they literally CANNOT hear what you're saying.

But all in all, i'd say you did just the right thing by talking about it instead of sitting silently, suffering, and possibly acting on the impulse.  Talking defuses it and can bring you allies... and can also prevent a mistake just by making sure that others would know about it!  (at least in my case).

You Dun Good, Girl!

Congrats!

Karen

I agree with you--The sure cure for this addiction ....

DUMPING SYNDROME!! 

Most people just do not "get" us.  I was shocked to discover that after surgery most people, even though for 6 months I schooled everyone that I told, thought I could eat ANYTHING...just less of it.  UGH!  I get sick of repeating myself to the same dang people!!  I yelled at MIL (well, my yell lol) at the Diner and said "HOW MANY TIME DO WE HAVE TO TELL YOU??" when she wanted us to have something to drink with our meal.  And my friend suggested a grilled cheese to make me feel better.  OMG!  Really??  This put us in such a unique situation that unless you are talking to another patient you may as well talk to the wall!! 

Good luck on your quest to teach the masses!! 

I have a friend who has been in recovery from another addiction for about 20 years and whenever he is faced with someone who just doesn't get it, he always says:

"If you don't got it, you just don't get it" 

Lou

My sister has a serious sugar addiction - she actually hides candy and cookies and things like that for herself and always has, so she couldn't understand why I can't eat sugar anymore, and honestly sugar was never my big problem food - carbs were (and are) - so I rarely miss sugar-laden foods. Don't get me wrong, I'm human - if someone puts a piece of chocolate cake with chocolate icing in front of me I am literally drooling, but I know I dump big time on even minute amounts of sugar so that keeps me straight and sane.

You're never going to satisfy everyone's opinions about this surgery and there are some out there who will never understand the changes our bodies have gone thru. They don't get it because they don't want to get it.

You know where your problem foods lie, and you know how to stay away from them - and in the end that's all that really matters.

Sorry Steffi that you had to endure the skeeved looks you got.  You are right, it's not the same as craving a sweet and getting one bite and saying "ah" or even using Dumping as a means to scare yourself straight; not everyone dumps.   Lou put it right.   "if you don't got it, you don't get it" but I might add that it's a sad thing that "holics" are looked at as weak persons for a chemical/hormonal imbalance in the brain.  Most holics don't strive to be that and support is what they need most.  I also don't know if I'd run around telling folks you are one so emphatically, as in my experience there is extreme prejudice about it and misunderstanding.   I understand and support you and wish you the best of luck.  My advice, let exercise be your transfer addiction.