Transfer Addictions

As seen by Candy

Once food was no longer the mainstay of my life, I turned to shopping.  First it was clothes, which was understandable, because a size 10-12 is so much more fun to shop for than a size 26.  Granted, most of the shopping I did was in thrift stores and consignment shops, and some at the department stores when I had lots of coupons and things were on sale.

Then came the shoes.  So many shoes.  Considering the fact that I pretty much live in sneakers, there are a lot of shoes in my closet that were impulse buys that I've never worn.  And most of them were purchased new, although on sale and with coupons.

Then came purses. I love purses, and it's fun to have one for almost every outfit.  Although, I seldom switch from my everyday purses...one brown, one black....

Now it's coats.  That actually makes some sense, as I live in Western New York, and other than the recent very hot summer, I've been cold year round for over three years.  But just how many can I possibly wear?  I could wear a dufferent one every day for a month....and then some....

I've spent the last two days cleaning out closets.  I have bags and bags of items to take to the thrift store.  The car is FULL!!!  And I counted over 200 short sleeved tops THAT I'M KEEPING!!!!!  That does not include T shirts and tank tops.  I must have 12 pairs of black dress slacks.  I wear black dress slacks approximately 3 times a year.... Short sleeved tops are only wearable for about 3 -4 months in my neck of the woods...

I have many, many things in the to-go pile, but why can I not make myself get rid of those other things that I will never wear?   It's a good thing that all the closets in the house are MINE!!!! 

On the positive side of things, the compulsion to buy clothing, etc seems to have run its course.  I no longer have to shop for clothing, etc, every time I leave the house.  Maybe I have a handle on it.  Hopefully it's out of my system.

I wonder what's next....

I imagine I'm not alone in this.  Anyone?

Candy

Nope, it's another boat all together that this subject goes into. Can't go into it now as I have to leave for work, but I'll be back!

Transfer addictions are a common thing to happen after WLS....to some like yourself, it's shopping, others alcohol, and the one that disturbs me the most is too much exercise, believe it or not.  I have a guy in my support group - 6 ft. 1 in. tall who now weighs in at 162 lbs.  He was over 400 before WLS.  He has had both knee joints replaced since his surgery.  He rides his bicycle 65 miles a day -- yea, 65 miles.  I have talked to him till I'm blue in the face and he won't listen....he doesn't eat right, doesn't take vitamins or other supplements and has never had labs done since surgery.  He's afraid he will gain wt and the knee replacements won't hold up.  Talk about stupid -- I just know one of these days I will pick up the paper and find his obit. saying he has dropped dead from a heart attack.  Some of the other guys in my group were talking after our meeting last nite and suggested maybe if they talked to him it would help -- I told them to go for it, cause he sure won't listen to me.   Talk about going to the extreme!

Pat R.

In the few conferences I have attended since WLS that is a topic discussed.  It appears to be a common afliction.  Alchohol and drugs come up most often.  If it is any consolation at least your issue will only break the bank and now someone will get use out of all those doations and hey its a tax deduction.  More than likely you just got caught up in being able to shop.  There was a time when all of us shopped with dred because we could never "shop for" an outfit we just bought what they had that would go around us.  Its a heady feeling to have choices.  Glad it seems to have run its course.  that'll give you more funds for travel!! 

Candy,

You are not alone. My compulsions are many. The top three are craft supplies, eye make up and coffee.

there must be at least four dozen eye liners that I bought, used once and never touched again. Eye shadows of every imaginable color - not used. Lipstick, glosses, liners, stains, even the tube of lipstick I bought for our wedding day decades ago.

Yarn is in huge plastic containers. I could make afghans for an army.

Coffee - Some people keep track of how many cups they drink per day. I count how many pots consumed.

I could go on for a full length novel.

Kisses
Annette

Candy....sounds like you are working hard on getting through this shopping addiction...good for you!!

Wish I lived near you...I would gladly shop at your place!!!

I love shoes and purses and would have a lot more but I can't afford to let myself go that way. Wish I could!!

I think we all struggle with some sort of addiction. I have to fight hard to not go that way. At one point I was drinking too much...nipped that in the bud!!  Then it was exercise...broke that hip and haven't been able to do what I did by any stretch of the imagination. My body just isn't the same anymore.

Hope you enjoy your day....hugs...connie d

Candy my addiction is gardening and buying plants and seeds and anything pertaining to gardening, benches etc.  we have 3 1/2 acreas and most all of it is pathways , outdoor rooms and flower gardens. it is a massive undertaking, i could almost be considered a botanical garden lol. i have shade gardens, sun gardens , bog gardens, water fountains , ponds ,arbors, trellisis, fences, vines of all kinds, window boxes, name it and i probably have it I even have a beautiful cedar and glass green house. . 
I dont like to shop for anything but this stuff. Clothes i only buy if i have to have something ...you can send me some of those size 10s you have , would be glad to take them off your hands. since i wont go buy myself anything , when we go somewhere i never have anything decent to wear lol .....

Candy,
Your post is so real girlfriend! Let's put a face and name to it...."Transfer Addiction" is so real for all of us. Why? Well I know that I have an "addictive personality" so to speak. I picked my transfer addiction before I even had surgery...I chose "Exercise".

Now am I really addicted to exercise? Nope but my body does crave it once you really get into the routine of exercise. It just makes me feel better.

I'm really careful about drinking alcohol. Why? Because my father was an alcoholic and died at age 52. It's in my genes so I really stay away from alcohol and when I was younger and didn't drink to be cool like my peers I'd just laugh at them and say I'd rather have a hot fudge sundae then beer!! 

I too Candy buy all my clothes at Thrift shops, Salvation Army and garage sales. But I no longer go clothes "shopping" really...we usually just wear the same 10 outfit/clothes until we tire of them. Purses and shoes too...but like you I never change them, but now that I'm typing this I need to change my summer purse to my winter purse!

So now that food is limited to us and hopefully we have changed a lot of our negative eating habits...what replaces food? Yep...shopping, sex, alcohol, exercise, working....oh yeah, some of us become workaholics, some people really go through the mill especially the younger ones...almost a personality change, more sexier clothes, drinking, makeup and some even get addicted to plastic surgery! The list can go on and on. Go to several bariatric support groups and you will see all the different dynamics! ...great post Candy!

Hey Candy and others.  Still early days for me yet but a real interesting read.  Will keep on my toes and try not to get into transfer addictions. Parents alcoholic too so no chance of it being alcohol.  Sex - nah although hubby might like that one! haha! Not enough money for shopping but i am waiting for the xmas sales. I should have lost enough weight to be able to buy off the shelf at sales. Will be interesting to see what mine will be.

Jules

No, of course, you're not alone. Everyone who's been on here long enough knows I have a spending addiction ... clothes (but not shoes and purses ... I stick basically with one purse at a time and one pair of shoes at a time, unless I have to get a pair of dress shoes for a job interview ... I have real issues with shoes ... I like my New Balance shoes and that's it); books, CDs, DVDs, new  electronic toys, if I could afford them, sports collectibles (i.e. bobbleheads), jewelry ... I have so much stuff that when I moved in June, I had to really pitch a lot of stuff to make sure I didn't have to pay too much to the movers.

I had the spending addiction along with the eating addiction; after I had WLS, I had to declare bankruptcy to get out of the hole I was in financially. Now I don't have the big debts and no credit cards; I've learned I can't have credit cards ... they are poison to me. I still like clothes and jewelry and books ... you name it, I like to buy it. Wish I had an exercise addiction, but with my bad knee, well, I can't really do too much. Even standing in line at Walgreens for an hour (long story) caused serious issues today. I could have a cat addiction but since I live in an apartment, that ends that. Don't drink much anymore ... one beer or glass of wine, and I'm drunk.

I too have too many clothes, and hardly wear any of them. I wear mostly jeans and tops, and I dress nicer than most of the people I work with. So yeah, Candy, I do understand you ... I am you, except for the purses and shoes.