Please help...desperate :( problems with food addiction :-(

[user1496778897]

Hello

I'm 35 and we are planning our first baby in the next three months.

This is so difficult for me to write...but I think I have a serious issue with food. I'm in a really dark and miserable place.

I am addicted (I think) to foods which are 'bad' - high calorie and high fat. What most people would deem a food treat or a blow out - I am having these nearly every day.

I thought it was an issue with will power...however, although it's hard to admit...this feels like it is completely out of my control. I feel I have absolutely no control over the urges to eat these foods. Every night, after a blow out I say to myself 'that is it!! No more!!' but by the next day...I'm doing the same thing again.

I think, 'oh I want to eat something really nice!' And before I know it, I've bought what I want and have eaten it. What follows is me feeling like this - disgusted with myself and guilty.

I go to slimming world but that only motivates me for a few days before I'm back to my old ways. I have lost 2lbs in total over two months because I can't control myself around food.

Tonight I sat crying in the car outside the supermarket. I didnt want to go in and buy 'bad' food. I was shouting at myself not to give in to the urge but then I found myself going in the supermarket and as if on autopilot, bought lots of bad food and ate the lot.

I am not far off 15 stone. I am tall and 'hide it' well but if I didn't exercise as much as I do, the reality is I'd be a lot bigger.

Does anyone have any experience around this? It would not be ideal to have a baby at this weight. I am desperate to get some weight off as soon as possible.

There isn't much in the way of therapy and support groups around where I live.

Has anyone got any tips for staying motivated. Can't continue to go on like this :-( xx

[Ellieboolou27]

I'm reading the book user trying to control the inner pig, only a quarter way through it but feeling more in control already, cam I ask what your "nevers" are? I am frightened to put anything down on that list so far!
Thank you for starting this thread it has been so helpful.

[user1496778897]

Hi Ellie
So pleased!
My 'nevers'.....I kept it very simple and made a slight adaptation as well:

Nevers include all junk food:

ice cream
Crisps
Chocolate
Pasties
Desserts
Chips
Takeaways
Bread (and real butter!)
And many more.

I consider these 'never' foods because I don't want my brain to think it's only a matter of time until I can have them again (which is what my brain/pig always did which led to me just going back to binge eating after weight loss and putting all the weight and more back on).

Also...I will 'never' have anything that is outside the 'syns' of my food plan (I'm doing slimming world (properly now 😂) alongside).

So good to talk about this - thank you for joining in! Xx

[user1496778897]

Ps when I get that thought now...'I want gorgeous/fatty food in masses of volume' I go, 'ah ha! I know what this is! It's pig squeal!' 😂 xx

Also...what helped me was when I saw such thoughts as a symptom of an illness (food addiction) and said to myself, 'that thought is a symptom of this illness...it's trying to trick me into a binge again. The only way to break this cycle is not to feed it (literally!)' xx

[Ellieboolou27]

Thanks user, I think I need to stop letting the pig deter my list of never's!
I've got my kindle on charge so I can read some more tomorrow.
I am a bit scared but I'm starting to see that it's the pig in me that's trying to put me off setting up my lists.
Will let you know how I get on, thank you so much, I really think this is going to be the one that works for me.
I like the simplicity of it and also the psychology behind it. Im looking forward to reading some more, if not finish it by tomorrow

[user1496778897]

Good luck, Ellie

I think it's already working......you can see where it's coming from by the sounds of it :-D

Yeah....you might be right there..it might well be the pig trying to corrupt you....'oh don't put that on the list. I NEED that!' I think it might be still in control if you're finding it hard to put them on your list.

Perhaps a blanket ban on all junk food may help....the book says some people can't believe that would be sustainable, however, why can't it be? There was loads of other 'nevers' we adhere to in our lives xx

I think with food addiction...the only way out really is to break the cycle with the naughty foods.

My pig said to me the other day (obviously losing power), 'ok well you can get to target weight and then I can't wait to have a day of eating anything I want because I'll deserve it after shifting all those pounds!'

Also - knowing about the pig has made me a lot more aware of triggers....I can hear it after exercise, after a hard week at work, on special occasions etc etc!

Would love to know how you got on :)

[GoingRogue]

Hello, just did a search on food addiction and this thread popped up.

Just wondered how you are a doing now? I don't have a kindle but dh does, so thinking of asking him to sort out this book for me (I can't stop thinking about food all day, snackingn gaining weight etc and it's taking over my life).

[fishonabicycle]

I've just been looking at a really interesting web site - posted somewhere else. I think it's eatlikeanormalperson.com. You might find it helpful.

[GoingRogue]

fishonabicycle thank you so much - looks fab

[Emorris77]

This really moved me! I totoslly understand and it make sense to make sure you are healthy before giving up your body to a new resident ☺️☺️ Good luck by the way! I would love to talk to you about what your goals are and how we can help change that mindset! I used to be the same, bar and chocolate or three 😜 And a bottle of wine every night! Diet pills and dieting don't work properly as they always have a yo yo effect, I have been on a nutritional system which helped me lose from 11st 1 to now 9.8 in less than two months! It works on filling your body with the nutrients needed to absorb the right food and break down fat! I would love to tell you more if anyone is interested!! Xx