Did I get your attention???

Ok, curiosity... when I answer posts here, I am always coming from a perspective of a "food addict"

But many times I have people write back...

"But I don't have an addiction to food"

Which I always think to myself YEAH RIGHT!

Don't beat me up I'm being honest!!

What can I say I'm pessimistic, I also laugh when people say they don't eat TO MUCH so they don't understand how the are fat.. I AM FAT BECAUSE I EAT LIKE A PIG (alone mostly)

Today I thought about, "what if I'm wrong?"

I mean...I am me and I am addicted, how do I know how the next person is???

I'm curious as an addicted fat person how is it for those of you who are not addicted?

Oh and on a side note if I am wrong, then I'm also jealous because I would give anything not to have this problem (addiction)

I used to be addicted. I ate my way up to 370 pounds through compulsive binging. However' date=' I saw an amazing therapist and my addiction is behind me. The problem now is that the weight is taking forever to come off. I've been dieting and exercising for the last 3+years and have lost 90 lbs, but 2.5years of that time has been spent stalled, including the last year straight, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong or why my body won't let go of the weight, but addiction no longer has anything to do with it. food doesn't control me anymore.[/quote']

I noticed that you haven't had surgery yet.. I hope that it will help it does take a long time for the weight to drop for some of us..

Going through therapy while doing the sleeve is very important I think for most of us.

As for kicking your addiction with food for good already? I applaud you! I say that because, even though I am holding my own a bit most days,

I was and alway will have an addictive relationship with food that I need to be aware of.

I was always told never to waste food and I had to clean my plate. The problem is I used to also eat what my family left on their plates as well. I no longer have that compulsion. Now, my thin family eats what is left on my plate. My how the tables have turned.

I was always told never to waste food and I had to clean my plate. The problem is I used to also eat what my family left on their plates as well. I no longer have that compulsion. Now' date=' my thin family eats what is left on my plate. My how the tables have turned.[/quote']

Yes my mom would make me sit (and sometimes for hours because I was stubborn) until I cleaned my plate....

It's amazing what our parents unknowingly did to us in the name getting us to finish our food. The left us with a lifelong struggle with food that we are just coming to terms with as adults.

It's amazing what our parents unknowingly did to us in the name getting us to finish our food. The left us with a lifelong struggle with food that we are just coming to terms with as adults.

True..I know a lot of my childhood was a struggle between two divorcing people that at some point started fighting about me having to sit at the table until finished....

It's funny though even knowing how it started (as a control issue) and YEARS of therapy I still struggle (yes even with the sleeve).

It's an internal struggle that I think I will always have...you know the self comforting with food.

Oh and I should add I don't blame my parents for my obesity problems.. It's not what they were trying to do.

My parents were both overweight and from the south. My father died from pancreatic cancer when I was a teenager which could have been contributed to by the rich greasy foods. My mother now suffers from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes which is directly related to her diet. she has lost some weight since my surgery,but how much can she do now at almost 81 years old. My wife is a professional baker and a great cook as well. However, it was me who ate the food and gained weight. I tried to workout and diet and lost weight many times but always gained it back. I am not struggling with food so far,my issue now is that I don't really care about food anymore. Eating for me now is more a matter of survival than enjoyment. That may change at some point but I am in no hurry for it to do so. My wife and I have been traveling a lot this summer and I have been very disciplined in terms of what I eat. Who knew it would take me so long to come to grip with my relationship with food?

I was the one that had to clean my plate also. As our 3 kids were growing up, trying to stay within our budget we didn't eat as many fruits and vegetables. I know that our budget was tight at times, which meant more pasta, potatoes as well as higher fat meat like burger. I was dieting on and off and they saw that struggle. I had the sleeve after my daughter had it and was successful. Now her husband is having it soon. I try and be an example without pushing because my brother and sister don't acknowledge that I have lost weight. Not sure why. When I was concerned because my other overweight brother who is cognitively impaired was overeating, they think I wanted him to have the surgery. That is so not true, but the largest steak on the plate, a hamburger and bun, and large helping of loaded potato salad is a worry to me with our family history. Sorry but I needed to vent!!!!!

I was the one that had to clean my plate also. As our 3 kids were growing up' date=' trying to stay within our budget we didn't eat as many fruits and vegetables. I know that our budget was tight at times, which meant more pasta, potatoes as well as higher fat meat like burger. I was dieting on and off and they saw that struggle. I had the sleeve after my daughter had it and was successful. Now her husband is having it soon. I try and be an example without pushing because my brother and sister don't acknowledge that I have lost weight. Not sure why. When I was concerned because my other overweight brother who is cognitively impaired was overeating, they think I wanted him to have the surgery. That is so not true, but the largest steak on the plate, a hamburger and bun, and large helping of loaded potato salad is a worry to me with our family history. Sorry but I needed to vent!!!!![/quote']

You have a right to voice your thoughts and opinions. I wish your and your son in law well on your journey.

I used to be addicted. I ate my way up to 370 pounds through compulsive binging. However, I saw an amazing therapist and my addiction is behind me. The problem now is that the weight is taking forever to come off. I've been dieting and exercising for the last 3+years and have lost 90 lbs, but 2.5years of that time has been spent stalled, including the last year straight, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong or why my body won't let go of the weight, but addiction no longer has anything to do with it. Food doesn't control me anymore.

Congrats on your ditching your addiction for food. I know that I am addicted to food and that it still hinders me. I am a therapist and even with all my coping skills to deal with the addiction, it is still there. I have to resist anything that has sugar in it because my brain wants more. In the first 6 to 7 months, this wasn't a problem for me. Now I do struggle with it a lot. Once again congrats on your success of kicking your addiction........

I was always told never to waste food and I had to clean my plate. The problem is I used to also eat what my family left on their plates as well. I no longer have that compulsion. Now, my thin family eats what is left on my plate. My how the tables have turned.

Same thing here. My husband was eating my leftovers but was gaining weight so now I won't let him eat off my plate. I take it home and he takes it to work the next day.....this is basically his decision...perhaps he's learning from me for the past 2 years.

What I find interesting is when I share with people that I have this surgery, people instantly report to me how much weight they've lost. I congratulate them and tell them how happy I am for them. I keep a positive outlook on it. I do want to ask them how often have they lost that 40 lbs and did it stay off......my sil told me she didn't gain her 70lbs because she was drinking some kind of mexican tea......?????? She has had a problem with me ever since I married her bil. It's her insecurity as well. Sorry for the rant............ I love my sleeve...

Congrats on your ditching your addiction for food. I know that I am addicted to food and that it still hinders me. I am a therapist and even with all my coping skills to deal with the addiction, it is still there. I have to resist anything that has sugar in it because my brain wants more. In the first 6 to 7 months, this wasn't a problem for me. Now I do struggle with it a lot. Once again congrats on your success of kicking your addiction........

I admit that I avoid sugar too because it triggers the physical need for more of it. I switched to the ketogenic diet 15 months ago and I think that's done more for me than anything... therapy helped me with the mental addiction, cutting out sugar and grains helped with the physical. But you're right, it's always a struggle and I don't think it ever completely goes away.

I admit that I avoid sugar too because it triggers the physical need for more of it. I switched to the ketogenic diet 15 months ago and I think that's done more for me than anything... therapy helped me with the mental addiction, cutting out sugar and grains helped with the physical. But you're right, it's always a struggle and I don't think it ever completely goes away.

I've heard of the ketogenic diet and know that it's very affective. You have worked very hard to lose your weight and I know you will Rock the Sleeve when the time comes......you are determined....that equates to success!

I AM A FOOD ADDICT!!! No if ands or bits about it. Drug addicts and alcoholics that are in denial don't like to be told they are addicts too,so expect those who are in denial about it not to be receptive to hearing that word. Most of us who have gone through wls are addicts and we learn other ways to cope or what have you. Not everyone who is obese is an addict, but I have to say majority of us are. I'm glad I got to the point where I knew I needed help and did something about it before 284lbs turned into 384lbs and at the rate I was going, I would've been there with in the next 5 yrs or so. Thank Jesus for wls...it saved me and my life. No regrets!!

I have not read all of the posts on this subject but my opinion isthat most people are food addicts but not all. I was good until after menopause. Now its a struggle. My surgeon told me that once you are over a certain bmj snd you have dieted every diet..it is virtually impossible to get back to a normal weight. Those hormones in your stomach don't let it happen.