I'm a food addict, thinking of permanent abstinence from certain foods

[RussellSprout]

I'm a food addict and always have been. One of my earliest memories as a child is of eating some sweets and really enjoying them. I then grew up into a fat girl, always trying to eat more than I was given, always trying to get sweets and chocolates. I remember having an advent calendar as a child and opening the back to remove all the chocolates without my mum realising.

Over the years I've been able to control my weight somewhat my interspersing periods of bingeing with periods of dieting. However, in the last year or so I seem to have lost all control and it's been 90% binge. I've just had another period of bingeing and feel like rubbish, none of my clothes fit me and my flabby gut has expanded even more.

I successfully resolved another addiction by using the rational recovery method where you dissociate from your addictive voice and any desire to indulge in the addiction is seen as separate from you. That worked. I'm now thinking of using this with all unhealthy (sugary, processed carb food) as these are the ones that make me binge and out of control.

Whatever I do though, it has to be permanent as I can't keep going through this cycle , it's ruining my life. I've done this on a temporary basis before, to lose weight, but the bingeing has always returned.

So I'm seriously thinking to treat my food addiction like alcholism and admit that never again can I eat sugary, processed carb, junk foods - not if I want to stay in control of my eating weight and life.

Has anyone used this approach on a long term / permanent basis? Is it a realistic approach? I'm beginning to think it's the only way. I don't know how to do moderation... moderation always leads to more and before I know it I'm back bingeing and out of control.

[Fuzzyend]

Hi - sounds like I'm in a very similar place. It feels like a rather big step, but possibly the only answer.

Have you made up your mind yet?

[endlesslyrepeating]

I’ve often thought that sugar and white carbs are the key problem. The only thing is that the conventional recovery is always eat everything and limit portion size - they’re probably right for a complete recovery but if you’ve struggled with it for 20+ years as I have I can see why a partial solution would be a win.

[Fuzzyend]

@endlesslyrepeating is that recovery from binge eating or carb addiction? If its binge eating, I can see the everything in moderation argument is sensible. Ut if there is also an element of addiction to one particular type of food (i.e.carbs) wouldn't they need to be cut out completely?

I think I have issues with both BED and carb addiction, which I guess is quite common?

[endlesslyrepeating]

Bulimia and anorexia certainly they say restricting categories of food is not a full recovery. I’m not sure about binge eating as I’ve not had therapy for that.

[Aroundtheworldandback]

I know someone who did this. She has not eaten chocolate for 6 years. Kept the weight off but wouldn’t work for me.

[ValancyRedfern]

I find eating low carb high fat (see low carb bootcamp section of MN) has really helped me. I do still binge sometimes but much less. I've also had a lot of therapy as well.

[ValancyRedfern]

OA (overeaters anonymous) also advocates giving up sugar. I certainly can't stop eating once I've started on the sugar.

[Lookingatthestars89]

I tried this and succeeded OP. It's HARD but only for the first little while but now I barely think about it and that's the God's honest. I started last May and I was 15st and now I'm 9st 4!! It's shocking how much weight you put on/keep on by eating sugar.

[BeetrootBasil]

This is really interesting. It has been the most effective approach for me. I managed three months and lost a stone. It was interesting as I noticed what a visual eater I am. I can abstain at home but as soon as I am in the supermarket the inner monologue starts 'you could just get x etc' then me retaliating 'no I'm going to ignore that'. I got quite used to it. The downside is if you spiral it feels hard to get back. I managed to stop smoking so I think the key is to not stop trying, learn and improve from each attempt.