Newsflash about food addiction

Aside from the cavalier use of the word addiction (I am learning to live with that) the other thing that puts my panties in a bunch is when folks (generally) talk about addiction as if it is insurmountable.

Newsflash people: you can live with addiction!

Like any other disease, you can live with it. Successfully, even! That doesn’t mean it’s a cakewalk or that every day is lovely. Some days are hell, admittedly. But it is possible to live with addiction. You don’t HAVE to give in to the cravings.

You don’t HAVE to surrender to your addiction.

YES your addiction will bug the hell out of you. It’ll talk to you. Talk down to you. Talk up to you. Hell, mine even sings calypso in a perfect Harry Belafonte impersonation but you know what? I don’t HAVE to respond!

It’s hard, BELIEVE me I know that. But this is where your mind has to be actively engaged in your process. You can make strategies to get around nearly every situation that threatens to drive you into an addictive episode. But here’s the thing: you have to CHOOSE to do so.

Say when you come home from work you make a beeline straight for the kitchen and you end up bingeing (raises hand). Ok so what do you do about that? Well, what I did was sort of off the wall but it worked. I started concentrating on liquids in the latter part of my work day. Did it get rid of the hunger? No. But it did make me have to rush to the potty (upstairs) before I could even THINK about going to the kitchen. From there it was easier to not go back down until it was time to cook dinner.

And as I posted in another thread, when I feel binge-y, I tend to respond with a really protein-heavy protein shake. Why? Because in my world, it is a far nobler thing to fill up on something I know that’s good for me (and will render me unable to binge) than to try to argue down my addiction. In general that never works for me. I’m not saying YOU should respond to binge-y moments by ingesting something. My larger point is that I have a strategy and I use it.

The time to think about that stuff is right now. When you are NOT vulnerable to your addictive tendencies. Because in the middle of the moment, you don’t have good common sense. I’m sorry, you just don’t. So think about this stuff now.

Think about situations where you have succumbed to bad food choices, binge-y moments, or food addictions and RIGHT NOW think about a strategy that you can use next time to avoid it. If you are having trouble coming up with one…ask us! We love stuff like that. But addictions are not insurmountable. Using an addiction to justify addictive behavior is just that…justification. And it really doesn’t do you any good. So be empowered! And fight the good fight!

Hello Nik,

Were your ears burning yesterday? lol I was telling my mother about you and what a great inspiration that you are to everyone here on OH. My mom did not have WLS, but when I did she decided to try eat healthier and started on WW online. I showed her your Bariatric Foodie recipes and she went shopping today to try some of your healthy recipes!

Thank you so much!

Well said Nik! Thank you for this!!

 Nik,

Thank you for this post. I am a recovering addict. I know that I have to put in hard work to keep what I have gained so far. It is so nice to know that someone else understands the crazy things that addiction will do. I know that I have a hard road ahead, but it will be worth it. I also know that I will have to remain extra vigilant for this to work for me. Thank you again for your honesty. 

I'm a recovering addict. You're absolutely right about coming up with a plan on what to do when faced a choice. Whether it be food, alcohol, or whatever. I know you've had your share of challenges, but I really thank you for taking the time and energy to post. Your posts have made such a difference in the in the choices I make with my struggles. Thank you again!!

Good share. thanks for sharing what you did.  I am at the end of a month long hiatus of weighing and measuring. Consequently I have only lost 3 lbs the whole month...I am a really slow loser anyway but the past month I have had cake at my granddaughters birthday party, chocolate candy....(alot of it over a 3 week period i.e. 2 full candy bars and a medium bag of dark chocolate m&m's because dark chocolate is good for you)

I have also eaten 1 full loaf of bread in the past month and a lot of fruit in the last 4 days; specifically watermelon, cantalope and honey dew.  I am telling on myself because months ago I couldn't have imagined doing this for any foods in the world. But that little bit of cake set of my sugar addiction like CRAZIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...

I know I get addicted to the sugars.  Unfortunately I do not dump on sugar. Oh well, I agree with the protein shake solutions. When I start craving the sugar now or the carbs or the snacking etc. I grab the premiere protein shakes and voila....I am relieved from the addiction long enough for the urge to indulge to subside.

 I do hate it though and I do want to get the rest of my weight off even though I bought new clothes and fell aobut 100% better than I did 60 lbs ago....