Main Entry: en·abler

Pronunciation: \i-ˈnā-blər, -bəl-ər\

Function: noun Date: 1615:

one that enables another to achieve an end ; especially : one who enables another to persist in self-destructive behavior (as substance abuse) by providing excuses or by making it possible to avoid the consequences of such behavior

food ADDICTION

Food addiction manifests itself in the uncontrollable craving for excess food that follows the ingestion of refined carbohydrates, primarily sugar and flour substances that are quickly metabolized and turned into sugar in the bloodstream.

Due to those uncontrollable cravings, a food addict's quality of life deteriorates when he or she eats sugar, flour or wheat. It can deteriorate physically, emotionally, socially and/or spiritually.

If any of the following symptoms are familiar to you, you may be a food addict:

Physical Symptoms of Food Addiction

• Do you think you cannot control your intake of food, especially junk food or high sugar foods?

• Have you tried different diets or weight loss programs, but none has worked permanently?

• Have you found yourself vomiting, using laxatives, diuretics, or exercising a lot to avoid a weight gain after you have eaten a lot?

Many food addicts are obese and have tried numerous methods for weight control (diets, drugs, surgery, etc.) yet nothing has created a permanent solution. Other food addicts have never been obese. Their physical weight has been controlled by extreme measures such as excessive exercise, purging through vomiting or laxatives (bulimia), or the severe and unhealthy limiting of food substances(anorexia). No matter which version of food addiction fits you, all of these symptoms become more severe with time and eventually lead to physical problems that can create an early and sometimes painful death.

Emotional Symptoms of Food Addiction

• Do you find yourself feeling depressed, hopeless, sad or ashamed about your eating or your weight?

• Do you find yourself eating when you are upset or reward yourself with food when you do something good?

• Have you ever noticed after eating sugar, flour, or wheat that you become more irritable?

Food addicts notice that their emotions become more severe, intense, or unreasonable when eating the addictive substances. For many food addicts, emotional life may deteriorate into despair, depression, or thoughts of suicide.

Social Symptoms of Food Addiction

• Do you eat in private so no one will see you?

• Do you avoid social interactions because you feel you do not look good enough or do not have the proper fitting clothes to wear?

• Do you steal other people’s food?

• Are you more interested in what food is served at social gatherings than looking forward to the warmth of being with the people attending?

A food addict’s social life is affected by intense obsessive thinking about food. Making eye contact with people and taking an interest in developing friendships or intimate relationships become secondary to locating and eating addictive foods. Food addicts often hide or steal foods and eat in secret.

In my defence and in reference to the 'other thread'. After seeing the inaccuracies and sensationalist rhetoric being promulgated (not just about the sleeve), I thought a bit of balance in the form of objective academic research would be useful. Primarily to those who, as this site is advertised as being targeted to, may be researching the pro's and cons of the various procedures. As I have oft been chastised; if there is no 'other side to the coin, information is mis-interpreted and people could get an inaccurate view of the 'journey' to which they're embarking; ultimately using it to 'exonerate' their negative food-related behaviours'.

Sadly, because of that lack of objectivity and ability to accurately extrapolate all relevant data; all that might be taken from these issues on a freely combined forum, is the 'club' mentality.

If cross pollination and healthy debate (without the accusations and assertions) cannot be generated - is there a point? If it is the case we should support in 'silo's', we are not helping the uninitiated much with their ability to analyse the daunting variables of choice which are in front of them. Not everyone is gifted in being able to do that type of analysis on their own and I refer to my previous post about those with 'stronger voices'.

With regards to the surgery choices? Each to their own. I personally couldn't give a rats as* whether you choose the band, the bypass, gastric balloon, or want to hang your backside out of a third floor window painted with the face of Kim Jong Il - if you think it'll help you lose weight and get you healthy.

Just make sure that whatever you're stating, it is balanced and it is accurate. If it isn't... and you know it isn't... you have to prepare yourself for someone to throw in some corroborated facts - whether or not it is inaccurately perceived as a targeted proverbial hand-grenade.

As it stands; I have my kevlar and it's all good in my hood.

With regards to the surgery choices? Each to their own. I personally couldn't give a rats as* whether you choose to hang your backside out of a third floor window painted with the face of Kim Jong Il - if you think it'll help you lose weight and get you healthy..

Dang! if I knew about this method I would of forgone the sleeve!!

Would you have to do that painting by yourself, or can you hire it out?

Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NARBP60iU2E

And in honor of my profession, it's musical.

O M G!!! PAAAHAHAHA!!

Believe it or not I've already received 4 PMs offering to help me out with that..

Oh and butter? Ok! ok! I'll consider your services..

I bet the dancer would help you. I hear he's very talented with a brush.

OMG! I just watched that last video...

VERY DISTURBING!

It's quite interesting to google "funny naked dancing videos" and see what pops up. Erm, literally. Can't wait for that targeted marketing to hit.

For all intensive purposes,

Did you do that on purpose? Since you said you'd like to improve, I'd like to correct you. But you may have been taking the Michael, in which case I'll look like a nerd...

I TOTALLY did that on purpose. LOL

(And the irregardless too. It's regardless.)

Ok! I'm a (happy) nerd! Always knew it.

I'm a grammar nazi. I once corrected the interviewer in a job interview (didn't get the job) haha! He said "to who..." Arrgghh! Drives me NUTS!

There are some very angry people there on the band site. I posted my comments and reminded them that we are all fighting the same disease know as obesity. I'm sure someone will take issue with my post but I don't care. We all have a right to our own opinion and ability to address misinformation. How we choose to fight our struggles is a personal decision and should not be assailed because we didn't choose the band. My brother in law underwent a bypass, it was not for me but I didn't call him stupid because I went with the sleeve. I don't understand why they are so upset with other procedures.

It's like anything else, I guess. The ones who are posting so much seem to have had success with the band and are resentful/disbelieving of the reports of complications. The several studies I read said up to 60 percent require a reoperation. My own surgeon said that he has read this also but his complication rates were far lower. And they probably are as his practice is a center of excellence.

My decision to "be stupid and cut out my perfectly functioning stomach" was probably made in my head for much the same KINDS of reasons that banders make their decisions. It was a combination of research and instinct. And I wanted permanent. I don't think someone is stupid to make a decision that might be reversible, but for me, if I wanted reversible I'd go back to one of my many weight loss programs.

This is my take on the subject only. I don't say it as a judgment of anyone else's decision. And I don't want to hang out on the interwebs with people who call me stupid or crazy.

I'm tired of looking at naked dancing videos on YouTube. I'd rather make my own. Laura get over here and hold the camera.