Rant......I think my first ever.....Addicted to Food

This is sure to **** some people off...... but.... WTF !!!!

I'm getting to really really hate when people say "You see, I'm addicted to food" or "I have a food addiction"

OK.... I get some of the eating disorder issues..... pretty real.....

At what level are you addicted to food???? In reality were all addicted to food....... without it we die.

Is there a certification process??? Do you get papers??? A patch, a handshake, a membership card.....????

If your fat enough to need WLS..... you got multiple eating problems......

My take is that everyone of us is "special" in that way...... 

When someone says "You see, I have a food addiction"........ insinuating that it will be harder for them and my effort was/is less or easier.........****** me off kinda.....

I may not have picked through garbage to get food...... but I have got up in the middle of the night to make a run to Jack in the Box..... same thing......I was just smart enough to get in the car..... I'm a smart addict....

If someone says they have a food addiction.....does that mean it's an excuse so they don't try as hard???? If another person has a stronger desire to do well with WLS and that desire was/is stronger than the "addiction"...... what does that mean???

I think I'm gonna start saying that I had an undiagnosed food addiction........ the unofficial food addict.....

frisco

I luv you Frisco!!!

I think this seriously downplays the role of eating disorders.....it's not the same as calling it "addicted to food".  

Welcome Frisco!
Hello, my name is Julie and I'm an undiagnosed food addict....

Frisco, please rant more often. You crack me up! I have no need to make excuses anymore, I think having WLS put it front and center that I had a problem and this was my resolution. I am a control freak, VSG is giving me the control back. 

Excuses are excuses, they seem to be endless! Rant on Frisco, rant on! I love reading it!   (imaginary beers have no calories) 

I don't believe it's an excuse. I fully believe that food addiction does exist as do many physicians and psychiatrists. This doesn't belittle your effort or have any effect on your journey. If you don't feel that you are a food addict, then I'm happy for you. But that doesn't mean that food addiction and eating disorders that go along with that don't exist.

I think that may be my point....... am I or was I a food addict ???

Does picking up a pizza before going to dinner for after dinner count??? and knowing I have Ice Cream in the freezer and left over pastries gives me comfort ???

frisco

Maybe you were (are?) a food addict.... I do feel that I am.  No one wants to be 350 pounds and I knew the horrible consequences of eating the way I did but I didn't stop.  I continued to do what I did because I felt out of control.  I wasn't dealing with my "addiction" and I let it have the control for a while.  I have never had that problem with alcohol.  In my 20s, I would go out and drink way too much on the weekends and when I started seeing it creeping into my mid-week life, I stopped.  I allowed myself to only drink on Friday nights and not to get ****faced drunk. I limited my consumption.  I had no issues with that.  So why couldn't I do that with food?  Am I predisposed to being out of control when it comes to food?  I have memories of sneaking cookies and Little Debbie cakes from the pantry when I was 5.  I was a food hoarder back then.  I have no idea why.  I wish I knew.  I wish I knew what was so different about me from my sister that she has maintained her 115 pound weight and has never been fat but drinks alcohol every night and I don't touch alcohol but I ate myself up to 360. I really wish I knew....

I can see your point but I think even your example of getting up in the middle of the night to make a run to Jack in the Box is an example of addictive behavior. I believe you probably were a food addict and just like anyone who is an addict and actually succeeds you managed to overcome. 

I am not sure you realize how dedicated you really are or maybe you do and you think everyone can be like that. I am not claiming that I am nor have I ever said I was a food addict but the thought has crossed my mind. We have an emotional connection to food on a different level than someone who has always eaten normally. Addiction or not I am not certain. I think we like to have labels for things that we can't explain. The reality is that is probably just some level of laziness but because we as American like to be able to claim to be a victim (we blame McDonalds and Coca Cola for our weight problems instead of blaming our in ability to eat a reasonable amount).

I know you worked  your ass off to get where you are because I know how hard I have to work to do what I do and I am not doing as well as you did so I know from personal experience that you were dedicated to under eat, to get your exercise, you kept your eye on the prize. That is your personality, maybe it is because you played football and you were able to channel that competitiive warrior spirit, but I am certain the majority of the people on here are not like that. There are some superstars, like you, Elina, accbrown (not sure that's her name), MsShell, there are some of you here that we all look up to.

Your Rant has merit but I think there are probably some compelling reasons to compare our eating behavior to addiction as well.

Hey ther!  Generally enjoy the Frisco-ness, really!  But I think that there probably are some people who get to obesity b/c of chemical **** up in brain chemistry. Might be from alcoholic/issues in parents, etc. so, the way I see it, with any addiction, you get support in any way. I'm a firm believer in needing to keep working with whatever the issue is, so I don't see this as an excuse any more than I would from someone who can't control drinking, drugs, or smoking. There's some interesting new stuff coming out about brain chemical and food. Just something to think about.