Food Addiction Resources

I've lost 100 pounds and now I've gained a few pounds back. I still think about food all the time. I want to eat all the time. I eat sometimes even when I'm not hungry. I know in my head that I'm messing up but I don't know how to fix the compulsion. I know the standard line: I had surgery on my stomach, not my head.  I'm a food addict. I admit it but that doesn't fix it. Other than counselling - which I have tried without a lot of success, are there any good resources out there for kicking the habit? I have a couple of books on order about food addiction. Are there any in particular that have helped you? Are there any other resources out there to help with this? What has worked for you?

Go to Support Group as much as possible.   This is the best way to hear other stories and for accountability....Go - even if you regain some weight......This helped me the first two years....Also don't let up on the exercise......It gets harder as you get further out, so try to learn to live with it know while you are still in the honeymoon stage.....Get up each day and start over and try to abide by the rules....Keep only allowable food in the house, not the easy snacks........It is too easy to go back to the evil carbs that taste so good and go down so easy. Good Luck!!  It is a great tool and if you pay attention and don't graze, it will keep you from going too far back up that path you just walked.  Unfortunately, it will always be a struggle....Thank God for our small pouches that we can't go crazy and eat too much at one sitting......Just don't get in the habit of grazing.  Support Groups worked for me. I wish you the best on your journey. Thanks, Stormdancer

I have to comment on support groups.  I go to three different groups, but there are mostly newbies there.  I have mentioned at my surgery hospital that we need a group from people two years out and further, but it does not seem to be helping.   I guess there is just not enough interest to get a group started.   Patricia 3/11/2005 262/125/136.6 hi/lo/today  

I have the same problem here. Most people in our group are newbies. People seem to disappear after they've lost the weight. There is a Food Addicts Anonymous group here in town. People I work with go to it. Those are not people who had surgery but it sounds like me. Maybe I'll try that.

Yes, you are in the ranks with the majority of us. I am seeing a psychologist who specializes in addictions and eating disorders, as well as a nutritionist. I lost 126 pounds and have gained 30 back. Once again I am over 200 pounds. I am thinking about food more than ever. I had a bit of an epiphany this morning though. Prior to the surgery I had no luck in losing weight. I would lose about 30 pounds tops and gain it all back again. It would take months to lose that 30 though. When I had the surgery, it came off like crazy, as you know. I was really happy with that. Now that I hit bottom and have bounced back by 30 pounds, I am struggling to lose it. I find it very frustrating that it comes off so slowly now. I think that's why I could never lose it in the first place, I have no patience. I like instant gratification, and it's that way with everything. I buy things on impulse, do things on impulse etc. I like instant gratification. I could never save money. I want it all right now and if I can't have it I abandon. So losing weight is almost impossible because it happens so slowly. Eating is instant gratification. I have no solution as of yet, but for me, this is certainly something to explore. I wait for nothing, and maybe I need to learn how to do that. Just some thoughts... -=db=-

Judy, three years ago before WLs, I gave up Diet Cokes.  I LOVED them.  Monday morning it occurred to me if I could give up Diet Coke, I could give up white bread and crackers.  (They have been the monkey on my back lately.)  I have not had either this week.  I drink a lot of protein drinks and a few protein bars.  I can not buy one bar at a time if I buy more, I eat more. My advice is to give up the white carbs and drink protein drinks--take it one day at a time.    I feel your pain.  Good luck.   Patricia 3/11/2005 262/125/136.6 hi/lo/today         

shrinkyourself.com is a site I heard about here....it has an online program that teaches people how and why they eat, and how to overcome emotional overeating;  they also have forums that are helpful. I am finding the same things about the support groups in my area, they are geared for newbies, and once you are a few years out, no one really wants to meet any more. 

another website with a lot of information is http://www.makeitalifestyle.com/joomla/content/view/119/42/ Diona

Another great one. Thanks Diona. I'll look into that website too.

shrinkyourself.com is just the sort of thing I was looking for. I'll check into it.