I'm pretty sure that healthy fats help keep me satiated and happy. Particularly nut/seed butter, avocado, and olive oil (and now, more recently raw nuts -- which used to be a trigger food for me but which now aren't a problem). I always find a little of these items goes a long way towards making a meal both physically and mentally satisfying!

Have a nice weekend all!

I also wish everyone a great weekend. I ate too much yesterday...not a binge by any means, but I just kept eating more than necessary. I think it's because I had sushi for lunch and I feel like they must have put some sugar into the sushi because it was somehow sweet. I didn't think much of it at the time, but then the rest of the day, I was just wanting to eat and eat. I'm sure I ate at maintenance calorie-wise so I'm not upset but I know I need to reign it in today.

Also, I'm PMSing and that's when I have the most cravings. I kind of think that's the time when my body actually needs more calories but it's very difficult to navigate the fine line (for me) between giving my body some extra calories vs. going overboard.

I've stopped doing OA too. I had a bad experience with my Sponsor, but that's only part of the reason. After doing it for 5 months, I feel like I have tons of knowledge about what I need to do. If I find myself struggling with my addiction (more than when I was still attending/involved) then I'll go back, but right now, I'm feeling strong. I'm hoping these aren't famous last words. It's a bit scary to be on my own but at the same time, I feel a bit liberated. I still highly recommend it to anyone who wants support and information and I know that just about all people who benefit from that program should not do what I"m doing. I'm just doing what feels right to me at this point.

Traditional sushi always has sugar added to the rice. Sweet ingredients and even more sugar are also commonly added, especially in non-traditional, American sushi.

White rice is also fairly highly glycemic, so it can be an appetite trigger for anyone with carbohydrate issues.


On the support group issue, I'd just say that knowledge doesn't necessarily mean squat. Knowledge-wise, I've been an expert on mainstream weight loss science and research for at least 25 years. Doing is a lot harder than knowing for most of us.

If you can succeed on your own, without a lot of support, you probably are in the minority. You may find enough support from your family, friends, and here on 3FC and other online communities, or you may need irl, in-person support (which doesn't necessarily have to be OA).

I'm a person who needs an in-person, weekly meeting support group. I gave up my TOPS group, because I had issues with the way it was being run (candy and other sugary treats being brought to every meeting and given out after weigh-ins and shared in-meeting).

I haven't found a new group (because I told myself that "this time" I could do it on my own), and as always when I've tried to do so, I backslid.

I'm NOT saying you can't do it on your own, just saying you need to be aware that knowledge isn't always enough

kaplods, the sushi I had had no rice inside, but it was wrapped in rice paper and I only had 3 of the rice papers. With the rest, I only had the inside which was a combo of salmon, veggies and a crab mix. I suspect the crap mix had sugar but I wouldn't be surprised if the rice paper did too. I'm going to stick with just the raw fish and veggies next time.

With regards to knowledge, I'm not referring to diet. It's more about me not trying to control others and living in a state of acceptance, which helps me regulate my emotions and manage my anxiety (which has been out of control and I've just started taking meds for). I also refer to having a regimented eating schedule of 3 meals and one snack. Furthermore, I'm talking about having a reasonable plate of food without second helpings. There's a lot more but OA has taught me a lot about how to live my life and not give into the addiction.

It's very possible that this is a huge mistake and that I'll completely fall of track after being on my own for a while. If that happens, I'll gladly return. Right now, this feels right. I'm not justifying it at all...I know how sneaky my addiction is, but I feel really good and would like to explore a life where I can manage this on my own. Without everything I'd learned at OA, there's no way that I could ever entertain the idea. I'm also aware that in OA, we need to keep doing the footwork and going to meetings....but just like with everything in life, it's very individual and we all need to find what works best for us.

I completely appreciate your input.

Sushi can be loaded with naughty yumminess, I discovered. Cream cheeses and sugary sauces drizzled over top. Good thing I didn't really know about those on my way up in weight.

Kaplods, I had to leave TOPS too but for different reasons. I find the stress of weekly meetings, weigh-ins and external pressure to be too much for me and I get out of control. It doesn't take much to stress me out, I guess.

I was going to try an online OA meeting but not knowing how an online meeting works has kept me from making the necessary steps. Has anyone participated in one?

I misunderstood, because sushi isn't technically sushi without sushi rice (sweet rice, rice vinegar, and sugar).

Once you remove the rice, it isn't sushi anymore, because the word sushi refers to the seasoned rice. Just like a scoop of chicken salad on a plate isn't a chicken salad sandwhich - no bread or bread substitute, no sandwhich. No vinegar/sweetened rice, no sushi.

The only ingredient needed for sushi to be sushi is the seasoned sweet rice. Without fish, it's still sushi, but without the rice, it isn't sushi anymore.

Hahahaha, ok, I guess I called it the wrong thing. Either way, I learned my lesson to stay away from whatever the heck it is that I had.

Hi All,
As usual, very interesting stuff to read and learn here on 3FC! Luckymommy I hope you will keep posting about how it's going. Who knows what works until we try it? Following what feels right is about all we have to go on. If it turned out to be your addiction speaking, well then you would be that much more attuned to recognizing that wily entity.

I have mixed feelings about OA, but right now the fellowship & support is helpful. And their pamphlets are amazing for how to handle urges. I haven't committed to 12 step or sponsor and feel no pressure to do so. Like you though, I hope to do it on my own someday soon. I'd like to diet off the 10 lbs I've gained, but am on the fence based on what the program says, and part of me feels so done with dieting.

CoolMom The OA website will prompt you how to join a meeting. Under Find a Meeting, then click the "online meeting" tab and fill in the search items--it asks you for language, time zone, etc. A list of meetings will show up and you can click on any of them and it will tell you what to do, which isn't much--just pick a temporary name (I think). I tried a couple of meetings and while I didn't feel an "aha this fits"moment, it still got me re-focused on healthy eating. It's so convenient, too!

Still have my dry eye thing going on. I work in a dry environment too, so I guess it's a combo of things. But the eye doc says it's become very common with computers and smartphones. If you must be on the computer a lot, be sure to blink! Now who remembers to do that???? :)

mars, I'm so sorry you're still dealing with the dry eye situation. (please blink) I appreciate all your support so much. You're very level headed and wise so it's that much more meaningful. (please blink) I'm glad you're getting so much out of the OA meetings. There's lots of great info and there's also some info that isn't that great but you can see what helps you and use it to your advantage. (please blink). ;)

Hi peeps! Sorry I've been MIA, my laptop crashed. I had to get a new hard drive (boooo). The upside is that I'm still on track! I'm down to 225! Yay

BamaGalRN, I'm sorry you've been having computer issues again, but am glad you're back and doing well!

I wasn't doing well last week. I realized I do still need OA in my life. I went to a meeting this morning and feel recharged. Yesterday I managed to have a good day because I forced myself to work out in the morning regardless of how much migraine pain I"m in or how little I slept. This morning, despite a horrible headache, I also did a light workout. Just sweating helps me put my head on straight. I still don't have a Sponsor and I'm going to see how it goes. If I see that I still need one, I"ll go ahead, but right now, it's too overwhelming. I need to get adjusted to the meds so that I'm sleeping better and hopefully the migraines will become more manageable.

Anyway, I'm actually feeling really relieved to be back on track. I don't have the insane cravings that I'd had over the last few days. Luckily, I remained abstinent but I was eating too much. I just couldn't get enough food in me. It felt very out of control and I had no idea when I would get my sanity back, so it's nice to have it for now.

I hope you're all having a peaceful, pleasant weekend.

Hi All, Eyes are still red but now it's just at work. ;) Thanks for the good wishes Luckymommy!:rofl: ;) I'm so glad you are feeling recharged and hope the meds are part of that too. I like OA's motto 'take what you like and leave what you don't like".

Bamagal :bravo: Hope your computer stays up and running. It's practically a vital organ these days!

I have found OA to be a big help with keeping my focus. Their printed material fits me so well, esp the Q & A pamphlet and 'Just for Today' white pocket book. I'm not ready to stop dieting and don't have the mental energy for the sponsor thing. I'm looking forward to a hike tomorrow with a local chapter--can't wait to experience a social event with like-minded eaters & no agonizing about how to handle the food :)

I'm glad your eyes are better, mars! Just for Today is awesome and it's good to keep in your purse so u can read it when you need to get focused. It's awesome that you guys have hikes locally.

So far so good on my computer. LOL A new hard drive and it's working great!

I'm glad your eyes are doing better, Mars... And OA is integral to my success, LuckyMommy.

I decided to go low carb a couple of weeks ago and it has been WONDERFUL for me. No gluten, no processed sugar... It's made SUCH a tremendous difference in how I feel! I LOVE it!

And yet today, we were on a car trip (5 hours) and my low carb diet took a hit by "on the road eating." Meh. But, OK... Then, we get here and there is cake for my son's birthday. I had some icing from the ice and then half of a cupcake earlier and I feel yucky now. So... No no no. I can't do that again. It's definitely a trigger. Ugh.

Other than that, though... I'm doing OK. Heck, I'm doing WELL even. I'm so excited!

Bama, I'm so excited about all your progress! In OA they say when we see those certain foods, we eventually recoil from them like from a hot flame. It makes sense because they do hurt us so much. I'm glad you recognize your triggers..that is huge! :)

I'm not doing so good the last week. Hubby picked the menu and even cooked some of it, which was a nice break. The recipes seemed benign and I know he was happy to have yummy foods but they were way more calorie dense than I thought...a chili, a chicken enchilada with corn tortillas. I overate and it depresses me to think I can't trust myself to share a meal with the family.

I feel like I can't win. I make a healthy food that I can manage and the kids complain. The family gets the foods they desire and I can't control myself. I'm feeling extra urge to eat right now and trying to white knuckle myself back on plan.

Hey CoolMom, that's really tough. Having foods you can't control around you is like keeping alcohol in the home of an alcoholic. People wouldn't dream of doing such a thing (at least I don't think they would...but I guess you never know)....but us food addicts aren't always given the same level of consideration. I get it..it's harder with food, not to mention that most people don't even believe in food addiction.

Anyway, sorry...I couldn't help but vent a little. I have similar situations though so I can relate. All I can do is share how I handle it. I just don't take a single bite of those foods I can't manage. I have separate food for myself. When I see them eating it, I just say that it's not for me. It's that simple. It's also incredibly difficult and complicated. However, these situations will arise all the time. We can't always shield ourselves from those foods. Alcoholics also encounter this at parties or even just on an airplane.

I don't remember if you've done this or not, but for me, it really helps to have a list of trigger foods (red light), which I plan to never eat in my life. Those are foods I can't have a single bite of without having a huge risk of a binge. I also have a list of yellow foods. I can eat those but I have to measure them (I don't use cups or spoons...I use scoops of a big serving utensil...just do whatever works for you, but measuring too well awakens the food obsessive in me so it's not ideal). Then there are the green light foods that I can eat without any issue at all.

I really feel for you CoolMom, and I don't know if any of this is helpful or not. I know a lot of people believe in eating in moderation and intuitive eating but that's just not how my brain operates. I have a big giant monster in my brain that requires my constant vigilance to keep at bay.

Hang in there. Once you figure out some good strategies, things can get better a whole lot faster. Sending you peace and calm.

Hi CoolMom, I hope this week is going better. I salute everyone who is dealing with food addiction while feeding &/or eating with a family. I think LuckyMommy's suggestions are spot on, especially sticking with your own food. You will still have the enjoyment of a shared mealtime. Another thing that may be totally beside the point is that your kids could potentially one day be dealing with some food issues. Your example will serve them well.

Lucky, my twin, I have that hungry monster, too, of course. It seems more peaceful if I avoid dieting. Strangely enough, I'd really LIKE to do my fallback, Ideal Protein, and get back to skinny. I think this might be the flip side of compulsive overeating so I'll just work on healthy eating for now. Lately, I'm more peaceful when not dieting anyway.

CoolMom, I also hope things are getting better for you. I forgot to mention that over time (for me, at least), eating my own way has actually gotten easier. I don't expect to eat what everyone else is having and it has become normal. There are times when I see them eating something and I struggle but that's usually when I"m hungry or my own meal is lacking in flavor/fat.

mars, it's nice to have a twin, although I don't wish these problems on anyone....it's amazing that we have so much in common. I totally get the flip side of binging....the restricting. I definitely struggle to keep things "normal" and I often find myself trying to find the balance between the two extremes which is incredibly difficult for me. I thrive in structure and rules and that's why I can't ever imagine doing intuitive eating...which is the holy grail. I would so love to be able to have a healthy relationship with food.

However, there's a member on here who said that he took his obsession with food and he turned it into an obsession with health. I kind of like that idea. Maybe, instead of pathologizing (sorry, not sure if this a word or how it's spelled) myself, maybe I can just look at myself as someone who is focusing on my health and longevity. If we can change our internal dialogue, the rules don't have to be a negative force in our lives. After all, we're not intuitive about brushing and flossing our teeth? We know we will do it that at least twice a day. Why can't I have rules about how much I'm going to eat? Just because my mind wants me to keep going, doesn't mean I can't say to myself, "hey, this is all you're going to have here and that's that." There are plenty of times I don't want to brush and floss. I might be tired or sick or whatever it might be but I know it's just how I have to handle it.

This is a major ramble and I don't know if it even makes any sense. None of the above means that I don't take my addiction seriously. I know how easy it is for me to slip back into old habits. Even though I avoid sugar and flour, I can easily binge on other things too, but I have to eat. I can't just live off broccoli. ;)

Luckymommy, Your "ramble" makes a lot of sense. But whoever said IE is "the holy grail"? I think it is based on a lot of flawed premises anyway. The thing about all of these regimes & philosophies of diet and eating is that someone else is dictating what is real and what we should do. That's the biggest problem for me. NO ONE knows what it feels like to be our bodies and deal with our day to day lives, let alone our histories.

I feel that any diet that talks about a healthy relationship with food is bogus in the first place. Reward pathways, including but not limited to those found in addicted individuals, remain forever. This is well documented in the scientific literature and has been for some time. But that's just me. I'm fine knowing that I have challenges--looking at old photographs of my great grandparents and extended family, it's pretty apparent that obesity is my default mode unless I expend some effort. Staying alive is also about expending effort in the face of entropy, lol!

Talk about a ramble! I guess my point is that most of us have great wisdom of experience and can figure out what to do using pieces of different WOE/philosophies. It pains me to read everyone, self included, getting in our own way by saying we shouldn't do such and such because some plan or philosophy purports to know better. Having grown up being told a load of lies & myths by the RDA folks and the 'don't eat eggs, don't eat fat" folks, et al, I discount ANY and ALL experts hugely! Its an industry and there is much that is yet to understand about an extremely complex phenomenon. Each of us is the expert with our own WOE.

As a successful maintainer on another thread says, know thyself! :)

mars, very interesting stuff. You're a gifted writer and your background and understanding of this addiction is much appreciated. I totally get what you're saying and it also pains me that people don't acknowledge this issue simply because they haven't experienced it for themselves, or they have but are in denial about it. As I make comments around this site, I try very hard to let people know that my advice is simply what works for me...because we are all so different. That said, us addicts do have so much in common and it makes me feel so much better to come here and share these feelings with you guys....it makes me feel more sane.

Again, I find myself lost in thought and not really sure what I'm trying to say, except that I get it and I'm grateful for this place.

Thank you for the great feedback! It is a good idea to just accept I will have to have my own food. I definitely know it is easier to never take that first bite than it is to portion control and not go back for seconds. The hard part is making sure my go-to food is re-stocked as soon as it runs out. That in-between time is dangerous.

Hi everyone, Hope the week is goin' well! CoolMom This is easy for me to say since I don't have a family....Keeping you go-to food stocked is as important as feeding your family. YOU are important and need to take as good care of yourself as you do of others. Hopefully there aren't too many situations that feel like 'either or'!

Luckymommy Thank-you so much for the compliment--it means a lot coming from you. I often think after reading your posts "I wish I had written that!"

I've been airing opinions a lot and hope I haven't invalidated anyone's experience or feelings around eating/dieting (esp. IE).

My Ideal Protein coach just started sending me their daily short videos. They are talking about habits and how powerful they are. A friend just told me about a book re habits. I think this piece is huge in regard to understanding addiction. It's a shame that so many people associate the term addiction with the stigma around classic alcohol & drug addictions. It's much broader phenomenon of which those things are a part. And so are a lot of other things.

I'm reading a book by Gerald May, MD written in the 1980s called Addiction & Grace. I highly recommend it. He lists over 30maybe over 60 things that fit the addiction model. It's a beautiful book. I'll try to describe it more fully--maybe soeone who is interested could find it at the library. I should say that he mentions Christianity and quotes from scripture sometimes. I'm neither Christian nor religious and it absolutely was not an issue, though for some it might be.

In other headlines, I finally found the right eye doc. They're so sub-specialized nowadays. I have evaporative dry eyes. She told me we blink about every 10 seconds and each blink lubricates and moisten the eye with tears. She put some dye on mine and said my tears evaporate in 3-4 seconds, so 6-7 seconds of exposure without protective coating of tears. It's a common problem in post-menopausal women. So when you're struggling with TOM, remember to enjoy your eyes :rofl:

mars, with regards to your dry eyes (sorry if you already know this), but have you tried taking fish oil supplements? Also, I read that using a humidifier can help too. I'm sure glad you finally got the right doctor! Sending you hugs.

Thanks Lucky, back atcha! The first doc told me to take omega3 which I've been doing and I think my overall mental functioning/mood/sleep has really improved as a result. Today she mentioned a humidifier several times but my workplace requires low humidity (OR). My eyes seem okay at home, but maybe I'll get one just in case. She told me to put hot compresses using microwaved rice over my eyes and then massage them to get the oil moving on to my eyes where it should be. She said it was not a severe case & there are further interventions if needed.

Hey all! I've been MIA as I continue to struggle to deal with my migraines. But I'm here with y'all in spirit. I just got out of the hospital after 4 days, and please, don't ever make me go back there!

On the obsession with health concept replacing food addiction: I have found that, for myself, I have to be quite careful about obsessing about health and healthy eating and exercise. I slip in orthorexia really easily, unfortunately. At one point in my life I was measuring and weighing tiny squirts of mustard and single lettuce leafs. I was obsessive about getting exercise in, to the point of over-use and injury.

I guess I have an addictive personality which looks to soothe itself with ritual -- whether that ritual is stuffing myself with Swedish fish or obsessively counting the calories in pickle slices. I think it is my way of trying to exert control over things we have no control over -- which is most of life, sadly. So I have to be careful with both sides of the health equation. I only mention that in case someone finds themselves headed in that direction <--- beyond a certain point there be dragons, people, so watch out! :) There is a delicate balance for me between embracing healthy goals and not going batsh*t crazy trying to be perfect. It can be hard!

Mars -- I'm with you about Intuitive Eating as it applies to me personally. I think IE can work GREAT for some people -- just like many different things can work for different people. I just don't think there is one solution for us all, that's what makes this so hard. We each have to find our own way through our own quirky problems. I'm always open to ideas, but I also am open to rejecting things that don't work for me personally, no matter how good they sound on paper or work for other people.

:getwell:Oh I hope you are feeling better Mrs Snark!!!! :getwell:

I'm with you re having to work at maintaining balance and avoiding them dragons! When I'm "in control" of my eating, it's but a small step to get obsessive about tracking food.

I have sometimes become hooked on certain music, and while it's something I consider harmless, it tells me I have addictive tendencies. At first I'll notice I like hearing a particular piece of music. Then I play it over and over. Before google & itunes, I would spend hours trying to find the title/artist and then finding a place to buy. And play it over and over until after about a week, the pleasure began to wear a little thin. It was almost a physical sensation of pleasure that I could clearly sense as it wore off.

Hope everyone has a relaxing weekend :)

Mrs Snark, I'm so sorry you have been struggling so much with migraines. As you may recall, I have chronic daily migraines. It is incredibly tough and has a huge negative impact on my quality of life. I am lucky though that I only have insane pain levels about once a month and the daily pain is much less severe. Not sure if lucky is the right word, but I'm not sleeping much and struggling to think of the right words. I just really hope you are doing all better and that this doesn't happen to you anymore.

Because of the insomnia, I'm having a hard time keeping my calories at a deficit. I've tried working out to compensate but that is really difficult. Still, I refuse to give up. I'm starting every morning with a renewed commitment to do my absolute best.

I hope everyone had a great weekend and look forward to all your insightful posts.

I hope you are feeling better luckymommy, and getting some rest. I wish there was an effective cure for your migraines. I've had insomnia before, most recently when my calories have been low. Because of my dry eye problem, I added omega 3s and daily avocado and made sure to eat more fat, and the insomnia went away, my mood and thinking improved too. I don't know what it was that helped--more calories? more fat? I also started eating a 3:1 carb to fat ratio for dinner and making sure not to go to bed hungry. Usually the carb would be butternut squash or kidney beans, nothing too wild, lol. I read somewhere that some slow carbs a few hours before bedtime boosts serotonin. I defintely sleep better and wake up in a happy mood.

Aplogies if I asked you this earlier....is it possible that you don't need to have a calorie deficit (looking at your ticker)? I know this is highly individual. Just something to consider. I'm coming to the opinion that I need to weigh/eat a little more than my previously assumed ideal weight in order to sleep well and feel energetic.
:hug:

mars, you're always so insightful. I'll definitely try to increase my fat intake, but with my restrictive inclinations, it's not easy. Tonight, my husband is out of town so I'll try having some slow carbs and fat for dinner. I'll also have some fish oil, which is a great idea. I was taking it in the past but then I read a study (I think from Harvard) that it doesn't do anything...sorry, I don't recall the details, but the point is that I just stopped taking it a long time ago (maybe 6 months or 1 year).

Calorie wise things are ok. I don't feel hungry when I go to bed, unless I"m just feeling like I want to binge, which is just more of an intense mental craving. I make sure to have some calories for the night but I'll tweak things a bit and see how it impacts my sleep.

Take care mars and everyone else here too.

I'm having a great couple of weeks, keeping food prepared that I can eat readily available.

I roasted up a giant batch of vegetables and bought some chicken sausage to eat with it. It's a nice, satisfying meal! The only trouble is family members will eat my sausage and leave the veg. It would be cool if they were getting onboard with my eating but they are just taking the sausage. Grrrr!

Between the veg and a batch of chicken noodle soup, I was able to stay on plan while the family had pizza. Yay!

Snark and Lucky, sorry about the migraines. I've had only a small taste of a migraine and it is awful!

Snark, four days in the hospital sounds serious. I hope you're doing okay.

I had some success with OA for a while but everything has gone downhill lately, I cannot get any consistent days with no bingeing/overeating and have totally slipped from program. My weight will creep up again in no time. I have also been in a terrible place mentally and have really lost all motivation for anything including dealing with my eating. Any suggestions on a good first step to get started again?

CoolMom Way to go!!!! :bravo: There needs to be refrigs with locked compartments for moms. :D I hear often hear this from friends--the kids eat even their Jenny Craig diet food!

davina It's good to see you here, though I'm so sorry to hear you're discouraged. Since you found OA helpful for a while, I'm wondering if you tried out having a sponsor. Or considered being a sponsor? Is there a way to renew your motivation through OA? They can be so helpful and supportive, especially in the hard times. Also therapy can help, the right therapist which can be as easy as finding the right person to marry, lol.

I think the emotional component to eating has been the most difficult to handle, for me anyway. Lately, I've been thinking about this: do I eat to self-medicate low moods or are low moods the result of being/having been overweight? I think both apply and reinforce each other. But the driving force in my overeating is an effort to feel good in the moment--to feel loved, to soften negativity whether it comes from within or perceived from the outside world. Not sure if boredom counts as an emotion, but it is a huge reason I eat.

I've learned that the slightest negativity will make me want to eat, even if it has nothing to do with me. Especially being around someone else who I perceive as negative. The better I am at managing this one thing, the less inclined I am to eat. Boredom is a frequent factor in my life right now, and I somehow think of it as a given. In a way, allowing ourselves to get bored is a form of self-neglect, of not feeding our minds/spirits. No wonder food becomes appealing during times of boredom :idea: :)

thanks mars735. i've gone through 2 sponsors already and done the steps twice... I think the real problem for me is the turning to HP part, I just can't get there. not having really experienced any of the promises leaves me just reciting words with 10 and 11 step you know? because of this I was hesitant to sponsor anyone, well that and the fact that I have not had any consistent recovery in at least 2 months now. I just don't feel I can adequately pass on the program to someone else when I have not felt recovery with it myself. But a lot of people say you will never be truly recovered until you start sponsoring .. I could start out by listening to a couple of phone meetings again or big book studies I guess. I just have ask for willingness and try to go through the motions until it comes.

i hope you guys don't mind but I am going to post for accountability right now, my roomate is leaving the house and I am planning some binge ideas in my head. It's time for my meal in about1 hour and a half and I need to occupy myself until then. going to try and read some more of this forum.

Davina, HP was why I didn't stick with OA either. Just wasn't a good fit.

I hope you find IE to be useful. What's worked for me in maintaining and feeling sane with food is keeping what I like from many sources and not forcing anything that doesn't fit. All of your accumulated trial and error have given you wisdom of experience that no one-size-fits-all plan can match.

I have been really struggling the last few days. My son (who has a bunch of special needs issues) has this horrible tic that makes him shake his head very hard. It comes and goes and meds are horrible and generally not recommended. Anyway, he is having it so bad lately and it gives him headaches and is just hard to deal with because it's every few seconds. I have been numbing myself with food. I haven't had sugar or flour but I have had way too much food so I'm not weighing myself for a while. I only slept 3 hours last night even though I'm on a new medicine and I feel like a mess. I know things will get better but to watch your child suffer from so many things is tearing me apart.

I think having something that I have no control over is what is really getting me. If it's my migraines or insomnia, I'll take it and deal with it somehow, but my son. I just can't handle it right now.

Sorry for the rant. I am wishing you all a wonderful day and I know I have great days in the future. I just need to get through it and thank you for reading.

Luckymom, that would definitely be tough. I'm so sorry your son is hurting and I hope it eases up soon. You must have really made the leap to lifestyle change to be able to still avoid flour and sugar. Hang in there and get a mom break when you can.

So far, so good over here. The weight is moving in the right direction and will power is good.

Thanks CoolMom, I'm really glad that things are headed in the right direction for ya. I went to an OA meeting today and even though I didn't like the actual meeting, something about going there set me back on the right path. I'm also starting to work with a new sponsor. She's kind and supportive and the opposite of the sponsor I had to let go.

Anyway, I wish everyone smooth sailing.

LM I'm glad you are finding some kindsupport. You deserve the same kindness and generosity of spirit that I read in your posts to others (incl me : ). I hope your son is feeling better :hug:

I found OA to be a great help when I needed refocusing. I am still still a yoyo dieter but the weight range is way narrower than before. I will have to sneak up on abstinence, lol.