[teawithsunshine]

Hi y'll--

To make a long story short, I was a compulsive overeater as a youngster, and put on effectively over 150 pounds in high school as a result. 8 years of therapy helped get me to a place where I'm now ready to lose weight here. (*I've lost 85 pounds since May).

I'm curious... My crutch for many years was in the form of sugar and starchy carbs (i.e. chocolate and french bread for instance). I've never been a fan of whole grains, but I've been reading The Rosedale Diet, and it calls for getting rid of refined carbs and processed sugars.

I am in a place where I am going to try it to see if Rosedale would help... After much practice, I now have good self-control over my current starchy/sugar food portions. However, I find as I lose weight, I notice a part of my brain still goes off every time I eat a starchy product and wants more and more and more (much like an alcoholic does with alcohol).

I also find at the same time now, that a part of me doesnt' really want to continue down that cycle of wanting a refined carb/sugar fix anymore.

I find that I'm nervous about starting this new eating program, since it calls for me to give up my "crutch" of refined carbs/sugar. But I also find a bit of optimism and hope here as well

How do others deal with their food addictions in the "recovery" phase of their eating habits from compulsive overeating?

[mom2mollie]

I find that I have to stay away from things that set me off. My main one is ice cream. If I keep any around, it has to be in the smallest containers possible. I've eaten half a carton before. Same with chocolate. So I usually just don't keep it in the house.
I don't know how to tell you to do the whole grains. Whole grains are SOOO good for you-- they have so many vitamins and lots of fiber and make you feel full. Maybe you can steer clear of some and add in others. For example, oatmeal probably doesn't make you want to binge, does it? Or Fiber One cereal? heehee... Can't imagine anyone sneaking into the pantry for another Fiber One fix. So maybe find out which ones trigger you and just avoid having them around, at least for now. Maybe later you can gradually have them around, in very small quantities.

[jillybean720]

heh, yup...for me, ignorance is bliss--as in, ignoring any "trigger" foods. Some people have an awesome amount of self control and can have just, say, 5 M&Ms to fulfill a candy craving and then put the rest of the bag away for another time. Not me--I'm very much all or nothing. If you give me 5 M&Ms, I just want the rest of the bag right then and there--it only amplifies my desire for that type of food.

That's not to say I can never eat junk food again for the rest of my life, but it needs to be in a very controlled environment, like at a restaurant where I can only order a single dessert so I can't binge on a whole container of ice cream, for example.

Also, on the topic of whole grains, I've replaced most of my grain products with whole grains. I use whole wheat pastas, brown rice, and whole grain breads. Once I switched over, I really didn't notice much of a difference. It is tricky, though, as not all brands are created equal, especially with breads. You may try a few different kinds and not like any of them, but I bet there IS a good one out there--I've finally found mine!

[Bikini Dreader]

Im the same, once I have something in my house I keep craving it until it is gone. In public it is different but that is a problem with binge eating. I find the best way to stop myself is to not buy that stuff in the first place. Whole grains do make you feel fuller and satisfied. Those sugar cravings can be really tough. Have you looked into the candida diet? It calls for cutting out sugar and yeast which it says have the same effect on your body I think. I did it and it actually did stop my cravings. It's very strict at first but then gets more relaxed (but at first you cant even have sauces or soy sauce because of the sugar/yeast). I was doing really well when I was on that diet but then I went to Europe, land of white bread, and just couldnt survive on my budget without scrapping the diet. Now my cravings are back in full force and I'm bingeing on that stuff again. I am considering doing the diet again to stop the cravings. I think it takes 2 or 3 weeks to really get rid of them.

[pamatga]

First of all, I believe the 12 Step approach of dealing with my food addiction has brought me to a place of real sanity regarding my relationship with foods.

If you are a person who wants more knowledge about food addiction and how other people in recovery handle their road of abstinence there is a really excellent book called "Abstinence". You can buy it for under $10 (I think). It is personal stories submitted by 12 Step OAers who talk about their journey with food addiction, how they work their program and how they struggle with food, binges, etc. I have reread that book so many times, it looks like I "abused" it!

As a FYI, there is a "theory" among some experts that say that alcoholism may actually be a "covert" sugar addiction and that would also explain food addiction. It is a "theory" but as you know alcohol is no more than fermented carbs and sugars and might explain why a lot of recovering alcoholics end up with a food addiction after they quit drinking. Trade one substance for another, so to speak.

For me, I have had to experiment and find out which foods trigger me and which ones don't. If a food makes me want to eat and eat and eat then it will not be in my home. Period. I have been able to return to some "favorites" but the ironic thing is not always at the same time. I am not sure if it is hormonal but sometimes I am great with some former trigger foods and then all of a sudden I'm not. I am sure a hard core 12 Stepper would say-"Get that permanently" out of the house although they do acknowledge we are created differently and that is why it is really an individual path you must walk---not alone but it is YOUR path.

Eventually, certain foods really won't be calling your name. It takes time but there are certain foods that I rarely eat. In fact, last Sunday I was far away from home and I had to pee so we stopped in one of those out of the way gas stations. We got gas and I told my DH I was hungry. Can you imagine trying to find something "healthy" in a gas station? I settled on a diet soda and a small bag of baked potato chips. It dawned on me that was the first time in YEARS I had had potato chips ----one of my favorite snacks of long ago. Funny, but I really had forgotten how much I really loved eating greasy, salty potato chips.
I ate those chips and I said, gee, these don't taste like how I remember they tasted. Granted, they were baked so they weren't greasy greasy but they were a processed, high salt (some fat) junk food. I didn't want any more and I added them to my food diary and that was the end of that.

I know it's hard to imagine that some day you will get to that point but it will happen.

Oh by the way, there is (yet another) saying in OA: (definition) A NORMAL EATER IS SOMEONE WHO CAN EAT TWO COOKIES AND STOP THERE.

I think that has always been the yardstick for determining if you are a Normal Eater in OA. Someone said it as a joke actually and I think it stuck because, of course, we all know we are not "normal" eaters and maybe we never will be.

I've relaxed about food lately and I think it might mean that my old addictions have lost their power over me. Now, when I get upset, I don't want to eat. I want to cry or yell or move quickly. I just don't want to eat.

For me, that is a victory. I hope, now I will have many many more.

Thanks for sharing.

[CousinRockingChair]

A NORMAL EATER IS SOMEONE WHO CAN EAT TWO COOKIES AND STOP THERE?

Nope, because the same person can then restrict for a week, or purge them back up, or eat healthy foods but all day and for *something to do*.

IMHO ANY kind of diet is TERRIBLE news for anyone with an eating disorder, including COE. Because any kind of restriction in a planned way leads to bingeing. Always. Might last a few months, but it will lead to bingeing! And a difficult feeling, because you are reinfotcing the idea *I cant control myself, and something is wrong with me*.

I don't know what my point is. Just..diets, no no no for anyone with an eating problem. You deprive yerself of something, it becomes a forbidden, evil fruit. And food isnt. Its not a moral thing, here! Its just needing to develop practical skills - eating until you are full and no more, leading a happier lifestyle so you don't NEED a crutch..taking away the crutch doesnt mean your leg is healed.

[tommy]

My primary "drug of choice" is food, and alcohol came into play when I was in my early twenties and it was acceptable for woman to drink, but not to eat in quantity. I was anorexic for a year around age 15, but then it was back to overeating. At age 50 I stumbled into a program (12 step CEA HOW complulsive eaters anonymous- honest, open and willing) that resulted in no starchy carbs (basically only veggies except corn/potato/peas and protein) for first 30 days, and then introducing whole grains. The concept was not a diet, but getting rid of the cravings by taking away those refined products esp sugars that make you want more, more, more. It has been working for me for 180 days! My son's girlfriend's mom handed me a 2 pound box of See's candy today and I am not plotting a "reason" that I should have some- I am actually not craving them which is miraculous. I may eat a piece of candy some day, but because that craving is gone I actually have time between the thought and the hand to mouth thing, and am able to honestly say it is not worth it on this particular day at this time. Just my experience.