I'm addicted to FOOD!

[Rachel]

I used to frequent this board last year .. lost my link when our computer had problems .. but I found you all again and hope to be a regular again because I know it's the support system I need.
Here's my little story..

I've been on Atkins since January 2004 .. took abit of a break over the summer months and then came back to this way of eating only to find I'm faced with temptations I didn't feel I had at the beginning. I started out at 292, dropped down to 245 in July .. and since July 2004 have only lost 14 lbs. I keep cheating! I have two kids and a dh that's obviously aren't eating this way .. and even though I've really cut back on having junk food or sweets in the house since obviously my kids don't need to be eating that stuff anyway .. but I find myself scrounging through the cupboards for ANYTHING to eat to feel that instant full feeling. I can be good with what I eat all day .. and all of a sudden next thing I know I've popped something into my mouth, chew and swallow it. :yikes

Just the other day I really thought about what I was doing, what my goals are .. what I have to do to seriously get there without all of this messing around. I actually think I'm addicted to food .. any food. I relate this to something like what an alcoholic would feel like. Except that they can eliminate alcohol altogether .. but I can't just stop eating. I think about food ALL the time. I've even planned my cheats, and because my dh is super supportive, I actually find I hide my cheating from him so as not to let him down.
I just need to get a grip again, and find that willpower I started with way back in January. I'm loving my newer, smaller self and I haven't regained any weight .. just am not losing really much anymore.
I guess I'm just looking for some support and some inspiration from you all. Thanks for listening.

[dreamof145]

Rachael,

Congratulations on your weight loss and for finding the site again. You came to the right place to keep you motivated and get support from others who are doing it and facing the same problems that you are facing. I know for me -- I had to take it one day at a time. I didn't focus on the total amount of weight that I had to lose, I took babysteps. One of the best things I did besides reading the book and doing it exactly like Dr. Atkins prescribed was to keep a journal. I wrote everything down - how I felt, what I ate, what I weighed, measurements, dissappointments, accomplishments...everything.

Another thing that has helped me is exercise. The more I do, the better I feel about myself. At first I forced myself to do it, but now, I do it out of habit and because it makes me think clearly and feel so alive. I used to feel sorry for myself -- but not anymore. If I get depressed or stressed, I exercise.

Check out the other forums for inspiration. The Loser's Lounge is full of stories of people who are making it happen. It tells of their struggles and triumphs as they turned their lives around and became healthy.

Best wishes, if you ever need help or have questions...just ask. Everyone here is more than willing to offer advice or suggestions.

[CathyR]

Dream
you look really good in your pictures, I noticed that the 1st time I read some of your posts

Rachel, welcome, glad your here.

[Peterlock]

Hi Rachel,

It may sound cliche' but admitting you have a problem is really the first step towards solving it.

Addiction comes in many forms - and all of it disruptive and destructive to your life and your health at every level of your physical and emotional well being - including addictions to food.

For any addict, life revolves almost entirely around their drug of choice and the triggers that set off their insatiable craving for their "fix" which in your case happens to be food.

When I was drinking it was any excuse to have a drink, stress, sadness, a happy day, a sad day - it didn't matter these were all spring boards to pouring myself a drink.

It's no different from heroin, cocaine or nicotine, Except as you pointed out you can't stop eating food cold turkey. But that doesn't mean you can't stop indulging in foods that you know that are unhealthy for you, it doesn't mean you have to spend the rest of your life obsessing about food, making lists of when to cheat and losing all that precious time to an insidious addiction - it doesn't mean you can't win back control over your life.

You have plenty of wise options and all you have to do is take advantage of them. Because you obsess over food to the extent that you do you might want to have yourself checked for OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) it's highly treatable with either medication and cognitive therapy. You may find that it's not OCD but rather another cause to your obsessive and self destructive behavior. Either way you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

There are plenty of therapists who specialize in eating disorders and food addictions as well. And of course there's also OA (over eaters anonymous)

Based on the 12 step program of Alcoholics Anonymous OA is private, safe and very effective - you might want to look into a meeting in your area or even one online - here's a link to their website

www.oa.org

However based on your note I can tell you this, no addict recovers alone. I would urge you to seek out some help so you'll be able move on with your life, free of enslavement to compulsive behavior that compromises the quality of your life.


Peter ha

[Laurenfra]

I have sent you a PM but please let us know how you are doing.

[Laurenfra]

I am so sorry it took 2 days to reply to you, I worked all weekend. I not only the host of this forum, but I also suffer from some of the same food issues. Right now I am having a real hard time after having lost 44 pounds. I am sure we can support each other.
Lauren

[Rachel]

Thank you for all your support and words of encouragement! It means a great deal to me! I actually think that coming back to this board is going to be the best thing I've done for myself. Reason being .. nobody can truly know what you're going through when you talk about Atkins related issues unless you've been on or are currently doing Atkins. I've been going through and reading other forums too and have really boosted my inner strength to continue on and do this right. So thank you all!

[2big4mysize]

hey welcome back!