addiction

Addiction was the one of the major problem for our society. So we must try to control it otherwise we may face lot of problems. Addiction was the main reason for all health problems.

Illinois Treatment Centers

Yanno, realizing I was addicted to food was the best thing that ever happened to me because it made me aware that on any given day, I could end up going off of the deep end.     Unfortunately, we can't give up food, but we can make the right choices about what we put in our mouths.  Each time I make the right choice, it gives me strength to know that I am a mature adult capable of doing what's right for my body.  And each right choice is a small victory that leads to another small victory which eventually leads to SUCCESS.  If you keep walking, eventually, you get there!

I have a friend who traded his addiction to food for an addiction to working out.  I'm STILL waiting for that one to happen. But I'm pretty convinced that my endorphins just don't work!  

Mary 

Once upon a time we had a discussion here about whether food is truly an addiction if I may paraphrase. So, okay, it is not EXACT-ly like a drug or meets the textbook definition of addiction.  I do know that overeating does indeed cause a chemical reaction in our bodies. Eating certain types of food can cause it too. Food intake in general causes chemical reactions.

So, for that reason alone, when I began to treat my food compulsion/addiction/obsession like that, it became more clear on how to get out of the cycle. OA uses the same language as AA...and where it gets fuzzy is when it comes to the abstainance part.

We don't stop using food, per se.  We can however, stop using it in an unhealthy way, therefore the concept of abstinance does fit. We can abstain from eating food in certain amounts or by avoiding certain foods.

Important to note here that OA does NOT promote any one way to eat. Its principles promote to use food as fuel, not to feed or fill some hole in our souls.

My food compulsion/addiction/obsession is still alive and kicking.  I never forget that. I've learned however how to avoid slippery places with choices by not getting too hungry, tired, angry, lonely.

 

Neecee, I'm sorry I wasn't here for the conversation on food addiction...sounds like it was interesting.  I wouldn't be able to give you any scientific reasons for food being addictive other than the way I felt detoxing off of white bread and Pepsi sure FELT like a drug addict coming off of some serious stuff.

And being insulin resistant, my body metabolizes white bread, alcohol, and sugar the exact same way.  It sees no distinction between them.  They all raise my insulin level.  I'm just sayin'.

Mary 

It took me many years but I am confident that overeating is definately an addiction. When I was younger, I just could not accept that, I felt that I just could not say no to a good meal. Now however, I know better. I have been on the So. Beach plan for just over 17 days. After the first 7 days of phase one I no longer "craved" carbs and was ok without sugar. Then after the 14th day I reintroduced fruit. I noticed as soon as I did my joints started hurting alittle. Not like before, but noticable. Then when I added a little whole wheat action, I noticed when I woke up in the morning, I was STARVING, like "sick" hungry. I agree with you about the bread and pepsi, I love Coke and that is one thing I know I can not have ANY, otherwise I would go right down the drain and back to my old habits.

HI Sandra

I so agree with all you say and have found much the same thing. When I tend to eat more meats/dairy/fats/greens, my hunger feels more in control.

I have been listening to podcasts about addiction and the brain. One thing I find fascinating is the notion that we get addicted to bad feelings just like we get addicted to good feelings.

So, this guilt/self abuse cycle of when we overeat, then kick ourselves, then kiss/makeup, that is a cycle we can get past once we recognize it. We have to realize we are at times exactly like mice in a treadmill, looking for food rewards - and to some extent, looking for that unhealthy cycle!

What do you think????

Well, I am 46 years old and mentally I am 17! I love to have fun and do silly things and basically do not want to grow up. I remember thinking "at what age will I feel like an adult?" It's taken a long time, but I realized for me, that will be NEVER. Which brings us back to the food problem. I will perpetually be the "kid" inside that still wants to eat doritos and drink coke, and since I will never be an adult and say NO, I will have to work twice as hard to eat the right foods. I agree with you about the food rewards, to me it's just the kid in us, but I will say from 30 some odd years of dieting, I have not grown up but I have reached a comfort level that allows me to "slip" and even "slide" without beating myself up any more. I guess that's better then nothing.