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Healthy Addictions

HypnotizingHazel

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HypnotizingHazel    39

HypnotizingHazel
Posted

For a long time, I've told people I'm fat because I love food. I'm realizing that I need to change the way I think about food. If I can convince my brain that the only reason I need it is for fuel, then maybe I have a chance at being successful this time. They say you replace one addiction for another... What HEALTHY addiction will you replace your food with?

I'm going to find exercise that I enjoy! What about you?

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Cristin    73

Cristin
Posted

You're so right. For me it's not so much finding a new addiction, but finding a passion and all sorts of healthy methods of self expression.

I'm teaching myself to play the guitar and the feeling I got when I played the melody of a song I loved was just as rewarding and fulfilling as food was.

It's totally about re-routing the neural pathways in your brain so that it learns to connect other activities with pleasure.

It's amazing how complicated out relationships with food can be. :)

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HypnotizingHazel    39

HypnotizingHazel
Posted

No joke :)

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jen1211    203

jen1211
Posted

My healthier addiction? My son, I really want to be an active person in his life and I want us to become more active together! We are moving to a nice new neighborhood with a few parks and we will have a pool at home, so looking forward to this! ;)

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KRB829    47

KRB829
Posted

You guys are so right, food addiction is hell;0( I have started going to over eaters anonymous, so that I can understand why I have/had this addiction in the first place. Now that I understand, I will not convert back to my old habits and It's been working! I feel like I am addressing all of my issues so that I can stay healthy and I will never look back and I can continue to enjoy the new me:)

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mykidsinspireme    17

mykidsinspireme
Posted

Wow. I am so glad I can finally express myself about this subject. My surgery is scheduled for March 22nd, and I am getting so nervous. I realize I have had a lifelong food addiction. I am so scared that I won't find a healthy addiction. How can I stop depending on food for my comfort and happiness? I can't exercise too much right now because I have a torn meniscus. My fiance is supportive of my surgery but he doesn't understand my deep thoughts about my food addiction.

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Cristin    73

Cristin
Posted

Wow. I am so glad I can finally express myself about this subject. My surgery is scheduled for March 22nd' date=' and I am getting so nervous. I realize I have had a lifelong food addiction. I am so scared that I won't find a healthy addiction. How can I stop depending on food for my comfort and happiness? I can't exercise too much right now because I have a torn meniscus. My fiance is supportive of my surgery but he doesn't understand my deep thoughts about my food addiction.[/quote']

I know how you feel. What worked for me is baby steps. When I get a craving or I'm dying to eat to help myself feel better or something, if the craving isn't too strong, I resist it. If it was REALLY powerful I'd cave. But before I knew it it wasn't even a challenge to resist those smaller urges. So I stepped it up, and started trying to tackle more powerful urges. And so forth. It's just like physical conditioning. You have to learn to walk before you can run.

It's even easier to fight those urges if you do have a distraction. Paint your nails. Tweeze your eyebrows. Start browsing around online for cute clothes. These little distractions help me get through waiting for the desire to eat to pass.

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HypnotizingHazel    39

HypnotizingHazel
Posted

Wow. I am so glad I can finally express myself about this subject. My surgery is scheduled for March 22nd' date=' and I am getting so nervous. I realize I have had a lifelong food addiction. I am so scared that I won't find a healthy addiction. How can I stop depending on food for my comfort and happiness? I can't exercise too much right now because I have a torn meniscus. My fiance is supportive of my surgery but he doesn't understand my deep thoughts about my food addiction.[/quote']

When you see food you want, consider your kids. Are you willing to leave your kids without a mom for the one moment of satisfaction you'll get from that craving? If the answer is no, you've found your distraction. Take them to the park, go skating, go bowling, something, anything other than eating! *HUGS*

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mykidsinspireme    17

mykidsinspireme
Posted

wow! thank you all for your responses. It is so good to hear from folks that understand. I will take this advice and use it wisely!

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wannabehealthy2    7

wannabehealthy2
Posted

For a long time' date=' I've told people I'm fat because I love food. I'm realizing that I need to change the way I think about food. If I can convince my brain that the only reason I need it is for fuel, then maybe I have a chance at being successful this time. They say you replace one addiction for another... What HEALTHY addiction will you replace your food with?

I'm going to find exercise that I enjoy! What about you?[/quote']

I think I will replace my food addiction with jewelry making and crochet in addition to exercise

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Cristin    73

Cristin
Posted

Awesome. Definitely start now, before surgery if you can.

90% of the battle is making it a habit.

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LaserSkinGirl    147

LaserSkinGirl
Posted

Wow. I am so glad I can finally express myself about this subject. My surgery is scheduled for March 22nd' date=' and I am getting so nervous. I realize I have had a lifelong food addiction. I am so scared that I won't find a healthy addiction. How can I stop depending on food for my comfort and happiness? I can't exercise too much right now because I have a torn meniscus. My fiance is supportive of my surgery but he doesn't understand my deep thoughts about my food addiction.[/quote']

I am also March 22... Where are you being sleeved?

I feel you.. You have to WANT to change and the fact that you have even considered this surgery is saying something!

Im looking to improving ME for my comfort and new addiction... I feel like im missing out on so much in life and held back because im fat... Im a mom of 5 boys, i want to be here for them, i want to run with them and not hurt daily or be "the big girl" of the group anymore... Im learning to look forward to making better food choices also which I never thought i would consider... Im gettin comfort from that and changing my way of thinking.. My goal is to run the Disney Princess Marathon next february, heck even walk it!! :)

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mykidsinspireme    17

mykidsinspireme
Posted

I am 1 week post op and have lost 18 pounds. I went in weighing 307, and now weigh 289. However, I still find my food addiction is still there, but I am forced to deal with it. I was out all day and took my daughter to taco bell and wanted to cry that I couldn't get a taco and churro..but this is a daily battle that I will overcome

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Go To Topic Listing PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

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    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

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