Junk food addict

[JustLifeOnEarth]

Sorry if this is in the wrong category but it’s not about weight loss.
I’ve been alcohol free getting on for 10 years. All that time I’ve been trying to kick the junk food habit. One time I went 6 months free—thought “I’ve got this now,” then one mouthful and back to square one. The best I can manage at the moment is a couple of days.
I know it isn’t in the same league as alcohol, but it’s is still harming my physical and mental health. Is there anyone who knows what I’m on about? Or should I just forget about it and be grateful I am no longer drinking?(I am so grateful).

Sadly there wasn't time for a walk, but I stood at the back door for 5 minutes.
I feel great in that I feel proud for the way I coped, but the cravings are still strong. At least that's a day done though.

Oh my mistake 😆 Air is air! Definitely be v proud.

Sounds like you are doing great. Each day we stay free of it will make it that little bit easier to resist cravings the next day. 💪🏻

Congrats on getting through the day 👏🏻

@fourelementary Welcome I’m so glad you have followed 👍🏻. Thank you for the encouragement ♥️
I am absolutely all or nothing, but I really feel this is the nature of addiction. Once a substance has its hooks in me, I cannot just have one sip, or one bite. It’s my brain wanting the same dopamine hit over and over. I have to teach my brain healthier ways to get happy.
I have had long periods of successful abstinence from junk food in the past, but it’s almost like I then get complacent and I then actually believe the “one won’t hurt” voice when it pipes up—because I’ve been so successful for a long period of time I think I’ve got a handle on it.
What I’m trying differently this time is likening all junk food including bread to alcohol (there’s no question of me believing the “one won’t hurt” voice when it suggests a drink). So when I get a craving I’m saying to myself, “would you pick up a drink now? It’s exactly the same thing.” Because I have a very strong mindset towards alcohol abstinence I’m leaning on that to help me with the junk food. It needs to be a non option. Unthinkable. Foul poison. What could I possibly gain from eating it? Zero.
I’m hopeful that I won’t then think the “one won’t hurt” voice is speaking the truth in future, no matter how much time I notch up. It needs to never be an option.
“One won’t hurt,” is a blatant lie. One always hurts, because a thousand is never enough.

So true. And all so familiar, the addict voice getting back in to say 'just today, treat yourself'... we all know where that ends up.

I feel somehow sad and frightened at the thought of ‘never again’ for the junk food that I’m addicted to.

I get that, it feels like a sadness, a loss of a best friend but one who betrayed you. For me, I just say 'not for today' an meanwhile reap the benefits daily. As they say the habits you set today, will make you the person you will become. Try not to dwell too much on that sad feeling, it is the addict brain again, telling you you're missing out.

‘Not for today’ is something I’m going to try today. A good tip, thanks.

How are you doing @JustLifeOnEarth?

@ReleaseTheGoats I’m doing well, thanks. It’s day 5 for me and a relief again this morning to wake up free of the disappointment and shame associated with bingeing.
Hope you are doing ok?
I totally get that fear around “never again”. If “just for today” works better for you then that’s what you need to do and I’m sure you will be successful!
Whenever I find myself saying “never again” there’s always a counter voice that says sarcastically “yeah, right!”. As if it is impossible. But I know it’s possible because I’ve left alcohol behind and I am very happy and relieved to have done so. I wouldn’t take a drink now if you paid me. I’m not missing out—I’m free. And because this is the mindset that worked for me with alcohol I’m going to lean into it for junk food. I’m going to lump them together. Just tag junk food onto the alcohol part of my brain and dismiss it the way I dismiss alcohol.
I don’t think I’ll be missing out at Christmas, Easter or on holiday. I’ll be delighted to be free and never want to go back.
The key for me is that I work to maintain this mindset and not allow societal brainwashing and advertising around junk food to chip away at what I know to be true—ie it’s not a treat, it is slavery to the junk food industry.
It is difficult to maintain, but not impossible. It’s like stepping outside the Matrix. You have to look at everyone still in there as unfortunate. They don’t know they are, because they can’t see the truth from the inside, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be better off out of it.
It’s also really important that I don’t voice this to other people in real life—I just keep it in my head because no one likes to hear that. It’s just a technique that has worked very well for me and I’m hopeful it will work again.
I’m very grateful for this space and the support on this thread.

Oh, that waking up and not feeling shame is fabulous. I wake in the night most nights (menopause is a shitshow) and last night for the first time in ages, I didn't go into a spiral of anxiety about what I'd eaten. It was great.

Went out shopping with DD this morning and we inevitably stopped for a coffee. I successfully swerved Diet Coke but did have a muffin. However, I already know I'm not going to have ice cream while watching Strictly tonight, so I feel I haven't lost control.

Lumping together junk with alcohol is clearly working really well for you @JustLifeOnEarth, it sounds like you're doing brilliantly. I never drank or smoked, so I don't really have an equivalent.

Keep on trucking, anyone who is posting or lurking here.

That should probably say "I feel like I haven't lost control entirely."

It’s really hard isn’t it, for me I think the organisation required seems the biggest challenge. To have healthy options requires foresight and planning and then I put it off to another day and that day never comes.

Going to listen to that podcast though… today I didn’t binge, but it wasn’t healthy foods I chose to eat. But onwards we go…

Well done four for not bingeing. That's a win.

@ReleaseTheGoats @fourelementary well done both! Keep going, and so will I 👍🏻

Morning all. Hope we're feeling full of verve and resolve. My head is feeling a bit thick (lack of Diet Coke I think) but generally feeling good.

I was struck this morning by how junk food is interwoven into all aspects of my life. We considered going to the cinema today, and instantly my mind went, "great, I can have pick 'n' mix". We're not going to the cinema, too much of a risk.

Morning! The thick head will pass in a few days. You are doing amazingly 💪🏻
I used to be similar with the cinema—for me it was ice cream or popcorn every time. Even though I’ve struggled with the junk generally, I have managed to get out of the cinema food habit. It just means going repeatedly and not buying junk there (you could take healthy alternatives with you if you need to munch on something?) and after enough repeats, your brain knows that’s not something you do anymore. When I go these days, I don’t crave anything—it’s all about the movie—even though in the past the food was a huge part of the experience. The best thing about this is I save so much money!

My challenge today is we are off out for a walk and lunch. I’m putting some fruit in my bag and a microwaved jacket potato so I’m not tempted to buy chips and cake 🤞🏼

You're doing so well guys.

Something to consider that helped me - reframe things, we are not missing out, as you've said we are the free ones, the lucky ones. We are giving ourself a great kindness and we can do that in other ways too which I find help - a wardrobe clear out, a shower and favourite body lotion, an hour on the couch with a book and a hot lemon water (or other), an early night, a nap, a coffee with a friend etc. These things nourish the soul.

The idea of being better off struck me a few weeks ago. I was playing my competitive sport and at the break we stopped for water etc. All the others are scoffing jellies, protein bars and sports drinks. I have my water and a bite of a banana. I know I'm doing the right thing. No I would never say it either but if someone asks me I will share what I'm at.

Have a lovely Sunday everyone, enjoy the walks, the getting ready for the week jobs that set us up well and the chance to laze.

I just get nothing now in the cinema. The last time I had sugar in the cinema ( a tub of pick n mix), I fell asleep from the effect of them.. just imagine. I wouldn't say to anyone but I knew and I felt quite ashamed. Sugar is just not for me.

Reframing is the way to go, undoutedly, but I'm finding today tough. Normally a Sunday afternoon would be sofa time with a big bag of Twirl Bites and a Diet Coke. I'm missing the feeling of a treat, a reward.

I think what I struggle with is that healthy people sometimes eat these foods, I know slim people who have chocolate and sweets sometime. But I suppose the 'sometimes' is key, I eat (ate) that stuff every day, in large amounts.

I can relate. I often feel the need for a reward, a boost or a distraction. Other people do it, so why can’t I?
The thing is, I’ve shown myself over and over that I can’t stop at one. I can’t even stop at ten. The treat ends up as a waking nightmare of shame and self loathing.
As @mikado1 says, there are other things we can reward ourselves with that are not harmful to our health, confidence and self esteem. We can learn to value these things above substances that disguise themselves as a reward, but in reality are a punishment.
Nothing wrong with a bit of sofa time as a reward. Maybe have some nuts and raisins instead of chocolate and a fizzy water mixed with juice to replace the Diet Coke?(if those things are ok for you to eat/drink)

Urghhh not a successful day. Period due so already feeling crappy, then had a long journey to take alone and felt crap about being alone- as I am part of a group that all have lots in common and get along and I’m the one on the sidelines who doesn’t really gel with the others. So I tried to feel okay about it… and then ate a chicken Big Mac, and a cheeseburger and chips on the way home… stopped at services to purge. And now just few shit both physically and psychologically ashamed and deflated.

Fanily coking round for tea so will put my face on and hide from my true feelings- probably eat them or drown them with a glass of Rosé… and start a week feeling like a failure.

Oh four, that is a really rough day, I’m sorry you’ve had such a shit one.

Feeling lonely and left out is a horrible emotion to experience.

The week doesn’t start til tomorrow, could you write this day off, and resolve tonight as you go to sleep not to look back?

That's all really hard stuff. Don't be too hard on yourself, just imagine if a friend told you what you'd just typed there. I'm sure you'd be full of kindness. It's done now but you can move forward. Period time is a killer, we need more cals in the week before so I make sure to do that and that helps! Otherwise we can get mixed up with cravings and real hunger. I've not moved a muscle all day but it's stormy so couldn't. Period for me too so early night to try to lessen the energy drain effect.
Four, while absolutely knowing how sugar seems the answer, I try, try to keep in mind that sugar will make things worse not better, and the craving will pass whether you give in to it or not. What we actually get when we eat it, is relief from withdrawal, rather than actual enjoyment. Connection is the opposite of addiction so no wonder when you felt disconnected from your group, that you reached for your old 'friend'. Keep going, don't give up giving up.