Are you a food addict? How can you tell?

OK, gonna try and break it down.
So, if the "paranoid" croud insists that the consumption of merely one single cup of soda, for example, is EVIDENCE of addiction, then the "basicallky ok" person might actally be behaving rationally by "hiding" that behavior from the "paranoid" person/crowd. Then... the dynamic progresses.... the "paranoid" husband/friend/crowed one day DISCOVERS the "basically ok" person _caught_ in the act of hiding that cup of soda.
Totally get what you are saying.  The idea is to branch out enough (beyond the paranoid husband/friend/etc.) so that you can determine what constitutes excessive behavior.  Usually a good barometer is when it makes your life unmanageable.  Also I will reflect back to my definition of "continued use despite negative consequences".  When our eating becomes the method in which we soothe pain, avoid feelings, self medicate...followed by self loathing, beating ourselves up to the point that we are sure we are the absolute failure we think everyone believes we are and then follow that by eating again to numb the pain we just created by trying to numb pain in the first place.....well that's different than hiding a soda or two or three from a disapproving spouse/friend/etc.  I had a spouse that refused to "allow" me to add mayo to a cheeseburger because in his mind it was insane, unnessary and excessive.  I was also in trouble with the same (ex) spouse for having 3 or 4 different brands of shampoo.

Now I am fortunate that I have a few years of "Eric training" so that I can basically understand your point and I'm proud to say that I am getting better and better at hanging in there!  If you understand my reply I will have truly graduated!

Also I don't wish to stamp "addict" on every post-op's head.  It is more to hopefully provide some insight into some of our behavior and how we might go about working toward a solution in order to help us not continue the addictive food behavior and most of all not set us up to cross addict to something else or many other something else's!  As I have talked about before, my brother was the absolute worst drug addict and I've had several other people close in my life that were nearly as bad.  I see so many post-ops ride the high of the honeymoon period and find themselves coming to the end of it and saying "is that all there is"  or "what do I do now?".  Some work to find another high and some learn to ease into the life they said they wished so desperately for.  It is a complex situation and not everyone is the same but there are certainly many behaviors that are so very much alike.  I have to believe that talking about it can help some be aware of the possibility of cross addiction so that they may just maybe....just maybe.... avoid going there.
Your friend and OH advocate,  Y

1) Nice endless loop summary : "... and then follow that by eating again to numb the pain we just created by trying to numb pain in the first place....."

2) Nice : "The idea is to branch out enough (beyond the paranoid husband/friend/etc.) so that you can determine what constitutes excessive behavior. "  (Kinda necessary), BUT...  part of my original point ...   for the example I described, exactly that act of "branching out" is itself yet another high impact trigger that the "paranoid" mindset will/would cite as a form of "Hiding", etc -- for the person who is not allowed to learn what is actually real.

3) And, this was a summary I forgot earlier of what I was saying:   "I (the paranoid) have a problem with your 'addiction' : therefore it is harming our relationship : therefore it is a problem : therefore you have a problem, and if you don't see that then you are in denial, because this is hurting our relationship."

I guess I always find myself wondering how unusual my experiences have been every time I see one of those lists -- like the one you posted -- where a full 2/3 of the things can be at least 50% explained by the external conditions I described.  I have some deep memories, I guess, of people I'd met over the years who probably _were_ addicted to one or more things, but their whole social situation was so polarized/paranoid that heck if THEY would ever even have the opportunity to actually see this one way or another for themselves.  Same theme as the Nancy Regan "just say 'no' to {everything} {equally}" type of stance, if you know what I mean. (Can be hard for something to get a handle on just how grey they might or might not actually be when they feel compelled to spend virtually all of their time trying to explain how they're not "black").

Fortunatey, this is probably moot for most. The issue is there, known, and something to be dealt with. (I sense this from the vast majority of the posts here). My heart goes out, however, to those {few?} whose dysfunctional social environments (i.e., environments simply lacking interest in ascertaining the other's "true self")  wind up in a pitfall of over-accepting and overinflating the "addicted" label as it applies to themselves as a type of excuse from accountability. I mean, as a thought experiment if nothing else....imagine if someone applied the 12-step philosophy to EVERY little thing they did wrong. .... "the light turned red while I was still in the intersection... I accept its completely out of my control...the best I could ever hope for is to _manage_ my addiction to running red lights... " etc).

Hmm.. ok, guess I can shut up now.    Been wanting to articulate that 'caveate' the last 150 times one of those lists has come before me.

I love this list! Thank you for sharing. I am going to refer to this in my practice. I definitely agree that overeating and eating disorders in general typically share characteristics of addition. This list really highlights that. I dont think the type of food is the addiction though (like "carb" addict). More the cluster of thinking/emotion/behaviors in general

I also think that a great deal of the addictive behaviors stem from the rigid control of dieting (which is more likely when self-esteem is low). What do you think? 

I also agree with a previous post that not all folks who have obesity have eating "disorders" or are food addicts. It is pretty easy to gradually gain weight every year without being addicted to food.

Thanks for all of  the interesting posts!

Lindsey

Hello my beautiful GORGEOUS Dr. Lindsey!  So glad you enjoyed the list.  I think this is such a complex problem and I hope that calling attention to things like addictive personalilites/co-dependence/ eating disorders etc. will start someone on the road to understanding their disease and what to do about it.  It certainly is meant to help them walk down the road of success and not meant to put yet another "label" on us to make us feel "less than".  I was sort of relieved that I saw the addiction characteristics even though I was also one that put on more weight because of a destroyed metabolism from starving myself since I was 9 years old.  I believe my situation sort of went hand in hand.  There is also a lot of addiction in my family...severe addiction issues.  Regardless or how or why, I think we have to move to do the next right thing for ourselves and learning to not self medicate fear and pain away with "anything" is a great start.

I hope you are doing well.  It makes me smile every time I see the video we did together.  I miss you bunches and hope I get the chance to see you again some day.
hugs, Y

I finally accepted (could tell) that I was a food addict when......or am I?  "Food addict" is too general of a term for me.  Breaking it down...I am obsessive about meal planning.  Always have been, but since RNY even more so.  Every morsel, calorie, bite, lick must be accounted for calorie wise, nutritionally and for taste.  This is a full time job - easily. 

I love to cook and bake, read recipes, surf the net for new recipes to try, and watching food network.  It doesn't make me hungry watching and reading, but it keeps me thinking about it. 

Eating...again, obsessive.  I eat 6 times per day.  I eat by the clock, not my tummy.  My tummy switch has never worked and RNY was no magin cure.  In fact if anything it's worse.  At least in the past if I needed to stop and eat I had other signals like dizzy or naseaus.  Not now.  Now I pass out if I don't remember to eat.  So there is another reason I'm always thinking about food.

If I'm going to leave the house for any amount if time I have to know how many times I need to eat while I'm away.  I must pack the apropriate snacks, meals, shakes and drinks.  I never - ever leave the house without a drink and something to eat. 

OCD or addict?  I don't know.

 Are you a food addict? How can you tell?

Yes....I AM a food addict.   I know I am one ( recovering but fall back quite often into my "old habits") because...sometimes I find myself rummaging through my pantry for food when I am not hungry.   Since my RNY almost 5 yrs. ago I have yet to feel real hunger pains.    I also am one that hid food from my family and sometimes I still find myself doing these crazy things.   I believe that I will always be a food addict.   I love food and always have....the only difference is now I try to eat foods that are good for me and healthy.   I try to make good choices and watch the calories and carbs and especially the amount that I eat.    Guess once a addict always a addict.   Just I am now controlling this addiction.

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian Prouty

I had to read ALL of the above responses to really dig deep and try to answer this question. My initial response is well maybe I am since I had to have WLS.

This topic was discussed at one of my fellow OH Support Group Leader's meeting two weeks ago. She had a Therapist come in who specialized in Addictive behavior.

At that meeting I tried to objectively go back over my 60 plus years and look at any addictions I may have had. Yvonne's description above is right on.

I used to smoke. I smoked from about 12 years old until I was 31. I was finatical about my cigarette case, my lighter and carried them with me everywhere, even to the bathroom.

I usually bought a carton and it lasted me about 10 days to 2 weeks. If you had told me on Sunday that I was going to quit on Monday I would have laughed in your face. Why I had the REAL Leather tooled case, the Turquoise lighter and those cool long brown MORE cigarettes to enjoy.

I drove a Catering Truck. And at 3PM on Monday I realized I hadn't had a cigarette all day because I left them at home. Never smoked one when I got home. Next day I TOOK them with me. Never had one. That night I was making a bank deposit so I lit one up as I was driving. Had to pull over on the side of the road as I got sick. Never NEVER had another cigarette nor did I want one.

My weight gain started when my daughter became a crime victim and fought to live but eventually passed at 30 years old. My depression and anger and whatever it is that happens to a parent that isn't supposed to bury their children took over.

I became a computer potato rather then a couch potato. And for 9 years I put on so much weight that at 467 pounds I was headed to SERIOUS medical issues so the Doctors were telling me.

BUT, and this is where I really searched my deepest inner soul to answer this question honestly, I did NOT have ANY CO MORBIDITIES at 467 pounds. No diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis/joint pain, heart or circulatory issues. My blood tests were good, I have NEVER IN MY LIFE been on any prescribed medicine for a chronic issue.

I have always eaten well balanced meals. I prefer home grown garden vegetables, hunted deer and elk and moose or Buffalo or home grown chickens for my meat. I used to can and freeze most of my food. If I was lucky, I felt the need to go to the store 4 times a YEAR. And that was mostly hygiene, cleaning, flour, meal and coffee products.

I understand what an addictive personality is, and I honestly do not believe I have one. The therapist at the Support Group meeting told us about a GENE that is inherited that is a major contributor to weight gain. I felt almost a validation when hearing her.

BUT for this topic to be discussed, I EMBRACE it. I embrace the fact that ANY step one takes to try to understand their inner self is a MAJOR accomplishment. You cannot fix a problem unless you truly understand it and own it.

Blessings.

Thanks so much for liking the list.  Also I bow at your perseverance at quitting cigarettes. I have known so many that have tried so very hard and could never quit.  I am so grateful that it is one habit I never had to quit.  It's also pretty amazing that you didn't have any comorbidities at 467! WOW OH WOW!  Of course I remember when I was going for my first consultation for WLS that I was praying for comorbidities! (My prayers were answered)

I especially LOVE "I EMBRACE it. I embrace the fact that ANY step one takes to try to understand their inner self is a MAJOR accomplishment. You cannot fix a problem unless you truly understand it and own it". 

Many blessings for you too, Y

Thank you Yvonne,  I have followed you for many months on your postings and YOU are an inspiration to so many of us.  

I dug real deep and thought long and hard before I responded to Eric's post.  To this day it surprises me how I was able to quit smoking so easily.  

I have even taken "tests" to see if I had an addictive personality.  Fortunately I have tested that I don't.  But when my weight got so out of hand, and I made the decision to have the surgery, I really had to ponder an "addiction".  

I fight "carb" issues because one of my favorites is sweet potatoes and corn on the cob.  But I try to keep things in balance.  It is NOT easy.  But I will not let the "carbs" win.

Thank you so much for your comments and for all you contribute to this Forum.

I hope to able to come to the OH event in Cinn, Ohio.  Will you be there?

Blessings 
tannis

Please know that you are also an inspiration to me as well.....the reason I continue to walk this journey.  I think you are doing so well and it seems like you are ready to fight this battle for sure.

I so hope you can come to Cincinnati! YES I will be there.  In fact there is a code in my signature that will help you out if you need it!  I would very much love to meet you.  Thank you for your kindness.
hugs, Y