What Makes You Eat?

So, here’s the thing.  We all talk about glider food and stress eating and all of those key words and phrases that give us that common glue that binds us together as either food addicts or overeaters.  What I see, when I read others’ posts is that many of us have a singular issue with food.  Some are stress eaters, and when things are really bothering them, they head for the vending machines; others eat out of boredom and feel the need to have a snack when nothing else occupies their time.  Then there are those who feed their emotions.  Anger, sadness, even happiness deserves a chip or two or ten. What I did, and I’m sure there were others like me, was eat for the taste of food.  I loved the textures of food and the taste.  I needed, like a drug addict, sweeter, saltier, spicier, and richer to satisfy these taste buds.  When I see a heroin addict on television, I can relate to how they had to have more and more.  I followed sweet with salty and crunchy with creamy.  I know that sounds weird, but that is how my taste buds controlled me.  I could never just go get an ice cream, because as soon as the sweet left my tongue and I was full, I would crave a chip or nuts or something salty.  A nice crisp salad had to be followed with a plate of rich gravy and bread and meat and cheese and…well, you get the drift.  So, over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed the triggers that set you guys off on an eating binge, and it has made me evaluate what my biggest fear is in this quest for health.  The dietician says, in a very nice way, that my ulcer is the cause of my nutrition problem, but that she senses some resistance on my part to overcome this dietary dilemma that I am in and she is correct.  I am happy that I cannot eat and while I am trying to get back in shape, I dread the day that I start to gain and am away from this place where I like being.  So, I thought this might be a good day to come out and say what our triggers are and why we do what we do.  This has probably been done and if it has and you guys don’t want to play, that’s fine, but for those of us who can never get enough of self evaluation, let’s talks. 

lightswtich, I believe we are sisters!

I'm a food addict, food is my drug of choice. I eat when I'm happy, sad, depressed, bored.
So what did I do?
I chose exercise as my "transfer addiction"

Yes, I still eat but I try not to sit down in front of the boob tube, because then I start to graze.
Because of my surgery of course now I can't eat 7 candy bars and a pint of ice cream in one sitting. BUT...I now can eat 1 candy bar and stop there!

I do try and stay away from fast foods but if I have a McD's double cheeseburger that is 1.00 and I can't fini**** most of the time...well I don't eat any fries.

I like being a size 6/8
I exercise to stay this size. I enjoy my workout classes with my buddies. If I'm not there, I get a call from them saying "Where are you"????
Not only am I accountable to myself, my workout buddies also hold me accountable.

Attending bariatric support groups are a must for me. I regularly attend 2 different support groups and will fill in when needed for the leaders.
I love mentoring the newbies.
I love getting people involved in exercise...and it doesn't have to be in the gym either. Go Dancing, roller skating, walking, work out at home with a video.
Work out with Richard Simmons!! dance to the oldies.

So ummmm...yep, I will still have a chip or two but I stay away from the ice cream...dump city there! did that twice and I won't a 3rd time.

This is the third time I've tried to respond.  It's good that you have it under control.  The worst thing is to lose control and have to fight to regain it.  I'd rather fight not to lose that to regain.

I don't know that this has really been put out here like this, and I'm glad you've done it. So, like you say, if it's been done before, so be it. Never too late for someone else to jump in or have a good thought to explore.

I too am addicted to food. I love cooking, cooking stores, cook books, grocery shopping, meal planning and eating. I used to say grocery shopping is the only place in the budget where I could justify spending money and not feel guilty over it. If I try a new recipe I can recite it down to the teaspoon to the girls at work the next day. One even commented on it, asking how on earth I could repeat a recipe like that?  I don't know. Some folks have a talent for numbers, you, Jeannie, for languages, me.....recipes. Now I've transferred some of that additction from actually cooking/eating to journaling and keeping track of what I've eaten. Heaven forbid I should go over those allotted 1440 calories!!!

As far as triggers go, a few things come to mind. If I'm at work, where I take all of my food for the day, and I'm in the color room mixing a color for a client, I will snack on the jar of almonds that are in there. They're there. They're an allowed food (yes, I count them and record them), that I will eat even though I have just had something to drink, or maybe my planned snack 30 minutes ago. I eat them because I can, not because I need/want them. Then, there's sweets. You mentioned the order you would eat food in. If I have something spicy, say Mexican food, then I REALLY crave something sweet. It might be a square of dark chocolate or even a calcium chew (I use them for thier Vit K) if I'm out of chocolate.

Here comes the justification.  My Nut  was PLEASED that I allowed myself a couple of pieces of dark chocolate. Antioxidants, endorphines, yada, yada. So, there it the permission I needed to have it. I don't dump unless I eat a lot of sugar, so  my  WLS "sugar cop" is of little help.  And, if you'll notice, I justify the calcium chews because of the Vit K. Yeah, right. More like a big ol' pile of stinky poo!!!!

I could go on and on. Obviously this is a subject that many of us need to explore more deeply while we're on this path together. Maybe, in our own sick way we can help each other understand what goes on inside our heads. At least until they come up for a surgical procedure for our brains!

Take care, and thanks!

Doing the healthy foods is so much better for us and the guilt isn't quite as bad.  I'm happy you are doing those things you need to do to maintain your weight.  Nuts are good and I sure do miss them but they make me so ill.  I also miss pretzels and they, too, make me sick.  Maybe when I get these ulcers under control.  I'm happy you are doing so well.

ok i admit i am a food addict still....i wish i wasn't because i can eat ANYTHING and not dump...why do i eat you ask...well i eat because i am hungry...bored...stressed...angry...upset...because its there....i try so hard to eat only a small "taste" of the forbidden foods but ya know something? just taking a small bite makes you say OMG THIS TASTES SOOO GOOD!!!! and then you continue to keep on eating it...atleast that is what i do up until i am stuffed. i try not bringing those foods into the house but its hard when the other half wants sweets or snacks for him to eat...i said before and i will say it again....i wish i could go back to being fresh out of WLS and i would NEVER EVER taste the forbidden foods!!!!!

I agree that those months right after wls were the best.  The best thing that happened to me was that I dumped really badly on diet syrup and it made me so ill and so weak that I am terrified to try anything else that might trigger that response; therefore, I've not had sugar.  My son, who had wls a little over a year ago, can eat anything.  He does not dump and has only had the foamies a couple of times.  He says he wishes that he would get sick.  It amazes me how some dump and some don't.  I'm lucky.

Hi my name is Eileen and I too am a food addict.

I am responsible for my addiction (unlike someone who wrote in our newspaper recently that he wasn't responsible for his marijuana addiction, just his recovery ... ha!) I am also an overspender and I know it. I am still in therapy for both of these addictions and probably will be for the rest of my life. The only thing WLS has cured me of is fried foods and ice cream. I can't eat a lot of them or I get sick (and with ice cream, a lot is  more than two tablespoons full). The smell of food makes me salivate. The thought of a meal makes me hungry. The thought of getting home at the end of work makes me hungry (because I'll be able to eat again). I don't eat much when I'm at work (except at night, because I do need my dinner). But I don't hit the vending machines, I pack in a healthy meal now (I was never a lot on the machines, because I've never had a lot of money).

I really fear gaining my weight back. I found 10 pounds and while I know some of it is water weight, I'm afraid some of it is real weight. I don't know where I got it; I know I don't exercise enough (some due to my knee problems, some due to my money problems because I can't get into a pool).

What triggers me? Emotional eating is still a problem; but I've always found the main thing is boredom and loneliness. I don't have family here, so I spend a lot of time by myself. And when I'm by myself, I turn inevitably to my old friend, food. I try to make it healthier choices now. I try to find other things to turn to instead of food. I try calling people instead of eating, but one of the main people I called was Margie, and she's no longer there for me. So I'm lonely a lot. It's hard to make friends who are going to be close ... most people have husbands or boyfriends or significant others or other family members nearby, and a lot of times they don't have time for me when I have time for them. So I have to force myself not to return to my old habits.

Eileen, I know what you mean about thinking of food and being hungry.  I, too, rush home to make dinner. I am not always able to eat what I fix, but I just get such comfort out of making the meal.  I still eat out of a baby plate because I'm afraid of getting out of control.  Also, loneliness is one of those things that drives me nuts.  When hubby is at work and I am alone, I call friends to talk or to go to a movie or out for coffee.  Do you go to support groups?  I belly dance, I know, not a pretty sight, but I've met a lot of friends doing the dance lessons.  I only pay for the ballroom, the rest are free via the community service center.  I love the socializing and am certainly not a good dancer because of my knees and hips but I do get a work out and have noticed some muscles starting to develop around my belly and thights so it may be working.  Are there community centers near you where you could join a class of somekind? 

Well, there are community centers, but most of the classes are at night, when I work. I would love to take some classes. I did take ceramics for a while and loved doing that, but had to quit that because of expenses. I loved painting, but mostly it was for socializing. 

Because of my schedule, I don't get a lot of social opportunities. That's why I depend on my online friends. I used to go to a support group, but again, around here, they are all at night, when I work.