Who ever heard of THAT?

On Wednesday, Dr. Cirangle reiterated one more time that we are not addicted to food. I love the man, but he is just plain wrong or else he uses the term addiction in a totally foreign way to my way of speaking. OK, he uses the the DSM definition, I get it, but what else would you call the following experience? A few weeks ego I discovered a new favorite food, TJ's seaweed. I started off eating one package of it a day. No problem as a package only has 60 cals. and 2 carbs. It is really good for you. A normal person would stop there, but in case you guys don't know me well enough yet, let me tell you, I am not normal. I am now up to three packages or more a day. I am totally addicted to this thing. I crave it, think about it, bargain with myself about it, you know the drill. It is SEAWEED, but it could be cocaine without much difference. I even realized yesterday that I am rationalizing it by saying to myself, "it has iodine in it and because of the possibility of radiation on the west coast, I can eat more of it". Needless to say, no more seaweed. Am I doomed to this insanity for life? I think I am. Just when I think I have this thing licked, I see it's ugly face again. Addiction sucks, no matter who's definition you use.

You're so funny, Elina! But I totally get you on this. And if there were a TJ's much nearer, I would be having a bigger seaweed problem as well--I too love the stuff but we only get to TJ's once every couple of weeks, so I have to ration myself. One can only put so many of those little green packages of perfection in a shopping cart before they call the funny farm!

Lizanne

That explains the weird looks the checkout guy gave me when I put two 2 (40 packages a piece) boxes in my shopping cart.  He wanted to know what I was doing with it.  Umm... eating it?  He just shook his head.

He was probably wondering where you fit it all. :) Tell him you have some giant goldfish in your pond at home. LOL.

Oh, wow! Mine doesn't have them in boxes, just loose. 2 boxes doesn't look NEARLY so weird as 40 individual packages!

I wonder if he thinks there was no holocaust either? It's a shame he doesn't believe in food addiction since he could encourage all of his patients to also focus on the psychological component too, while he works on the physical. He could be making a lot of money on referrals to therapists.

I'm glad I haven't tried those seaweed things yet because I'm sure I'd be addicted too! Drat! I don't think I'll ever be normal either, which means I will always need to be working on this, no matter my size or weight. I have accepted this reality for me.

The good thing about it is that I've met so many wonderful people like you who share this struggle with me and for that I am thankful. Hugs...

Cracking me up!  Unless you've been "one of us" (no excuses, or poor me, but seriously) then I think it's hard to understand the sway that food has over us.  I wish, oh how I wish, that I was more like my brother who just eats to live.  I get excited to unhealthy levels about food, and I'm convinced that this particular burden will not ever let up.

So, yes, Ms. Elina, I feel your pain.  I had to remove the roasted edamame from my desk last week. 

And, if someone doesn't eat the rest of those damn girl scout cookies and m&ms that are on the department table just feet away from me, I'm going to go postal! 

We are all in it together!

Theresa

I love you guys!  Really I do.  Who else would ever understand this?  My whole life I felt so alone with this craziness.  I kept wondering what was wrong with my ability to control myself around food.  Why didn't I have enough self-control?  I could do the right thing in every other area of my life, but could not control food intake long term.  I felt very alone and ashamed with this.  Having you guys, get it, makes all the difference in the world.  Thank you.

Chocolate is my crack! I just can't have "1" piece.  So if that's not addiction, i don't know what is.. It's like being in AA- I gave the stuff up for lent, and as long as I don't touch it, I can resist it.  But if I were to have one piece, I'd be off the wagon!

I did the very same thing.  That's why those m&ms, as harmless as a few would seem, are like little grinades calling out to me. 

I leave on a cruise on Good Friday.  Chocolate can wait until then! 

We WILL survive!