Frisco Small Rant !!!

This is one of the few areas where Frisco and I have a disagreement.  I do believe that food can serve as a basis for addiction.  There are many reasons why I believe this: 1) the prevalence of cross addictions when food is taken away, 2) the biochemistry involved with sugar and carb withdrawal, 3) the similar behavioral patterns that can be observed in food addiction and other addictions, and many other factors.  In addition, there is quite a bit of research showing that SMO people have strong addictive tendencies.  This should not come as a surprise to anybody here.  It is clear to most of us that we do not get to be hundreds of pounds overweight just by eating a bit more than other people.  For some of us, the addiction seems to be harder to control.  This too should not be surprising, since every single disorder presents on a spectrum. 

Here is where Frisco and I do agree: this should never be used as a way to rationalize or excuse our behaviors.  We do ourselves a disservice when we point to our addictions as the reason we can't do something.  I think Happy is a great example of working with our addictive personality.  We must use whatever we can to find strategies that uniquely work for us to get healthy and stay healthy.  This is not about who has it harder, this is about staying focused, determined and committed to stay the course.  Those that are willing to do this day after day for the rest of their lives will find and keep their health, those that point to their limitations, regardless of what they are, are destined to stay limited. 

I am glad to see you post Frisco, this board is boring without you.  I love reading your rants, please don't ever stop.

Awww the infamous "I have it worse" game. It happens here and even in the military wife world I live in.

See, my husband is Air Force, standard deployments are 6-7 months, Army guys get 12 months.

My Army wife girlfriends have it worse because their husbands are gone longer, or they don't have the nice living quarters the AF has, I mean as in, they actually get pillow cases in their tent cities over the army guys who don't get pillows. So, because my husband is only gone for 6 months, I'm not allowed to miss him, struggle being a single mom, or get overwhelmed because they have to endure 6 more months than we do. I honestly don't get it.

I give up trying to explain it so let them "excuse" it away and when they have stalled out for 4-6 months, or haven't achieved goal, or have regained, maybe they'll realize we all have our own battles. I call it like I see it, I can't do deprivation, but I can do modification and moderations. I don't think my struggle trumps any other humans. It's a struggle and it sucks in it's own way. 

 
I think I need to chime in here.......

Perhaps it's my fault...... I was very careful to not sat the food addictions were "NOT REAL" or any other eating disorders...... I didn't get to 350lbs. by eating a few to many Tic Tacs......I probably have every disorder I mentioned....... to what degree..... I don't know.....

My point is why use it to make a point that it is harder for "you/we/us"...... We all have some or all of those issues.

When I read/hear someone say they can't because of their addiction.......I just wonder if they don't realize who they are talking to......

Would they say the same thing if this was a Crack Forum? (this opens a can of worms)

Just please understand that I'm not saying disorders are not real..... Hell..... I got more...... but it would take more forums than this one......

frisco

I may be an addict, or a compulsive overeater, or whatever, but I chose every first bite I took, especially once I realized what was wrong.  Maybe not the second or third, maybe I did.  But I *know* the first one's on me.  It is really frustrating to see people use the addiction model used as an excuse for not doing our part.  Am I broken around food, yes.  Does that mean I can't get better, NO!  It means I have to quit doing addict behavior, which is more than stuffing my face.  It's all that other stuff - starting with lying to myself and others.

Never-mind my earlier post.  Just "ditto" to everything Frisco writes now and in perpetuity.  That should cover it. 

Perhaps, down deep, these people do not want to solve their issues. They cling to what they know or don't know and won't let go. So much of this journey for me has been letting go of what I thought would work for me and being willing to take advice and give new ideas a try. Low and behold, they work and the blessings abound. Also, being grateful for blessings and staying positive goes a long way. A Grateful/Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart.

Frisco, what I tried to state in my post is that there are individuals who are posting here who have obvious phsyc issues be they personality related or otherwise. They have to one up everyone with the poor pity me or my issue is worse than yours. Or, they obviously have no intention of following any rational eating plan, but somehow think that the pounds will magically come off. This is NOT any easy fix. Unfortunately, there are some doctors who are now performing this surgery who do not adequately prepare their patients or adequately screen them prior to this surgery. That is very very obvious by some of the posts that have been happening on this board. Of course, some of it could just be nerves, but come on, some of it .......

 I think I disagree.  In my opinion a person's struggle is all about perception.  It indeed may be harder for that person then another person with similar issues.  I am not here to judge.