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.

No problem with educating us re sleeve just try not to educate us on our "bad" choice re the band. Ask questions? Be curious? Please don't post studies dismissing the band as a failed WLS. We have studies and history/experiences to support otherwise. Ive never had sleeve surgery so I wont pass judgement on your choices.

Pardon, but I did not quote studies or attempt to educate anyone on their bad choices. The topic was about decreasing lap bands in certain areas. I've had that specific discussion with my bariatric surgeon and thought, obviously incorrectly, that some might like to hear his perspective. I bashed no one. I've used the line 'cant we all just get along' on the band, RNY, and sleeve forums and I truly believe it. We are all here for the same purpose, our health. We have much we can learn from each others experiences, both good and bad.

There is no dividing line that forbids me from entering either the band or sleeve forums. My failed band journey and what I've learned from it is as valid of a perspective as that from someone who has been banded and lost 300 pounds successfully. It is my perspective and it is valid whether you agree with it or not. You will not find me bashing the band or starting inflammatory arguments. You will find me providing my opinion when it feel it may provide some insight or knowledge. Like it or not, agree with it or not, I don't really give a rats ass at this point.

No problem with educating us re sleeve just try not to educate us on our "bad" choice re the band. Ask questions? Be curious? Please don't post studies dismissing the band as a failed WLS. We have studies and history/experiences to support otherwise. Ive never had sleeve surgery so I wont pass judgement on your choices.

Pardon, but I did not quote studies or attempt to educate anyone on their bad choices. The topic was about decreasing lap bands in certain areas. I've had that specific discussion with my bariatric surgeon and thought, obviously incorrectly, that some might like to hear his perspective. I bashed no one. I've used the line 'cant we all just get along' on the band, RNY, and sleeve forums and I truly believe it. We are all here for the same purpose, our health. We have much we can learn from each others experiences, both good and bad.

There is no dividing line that forbids me from entering either the band or sleeve forums. My failed band journey and what I've learned from it is as valid of a perspective as that from someone who has been banded and lost 300 pounds successfully. It is my perspective and it is valid whether you agree with it or not. You will not find me bashing the band or starting inflammatory arguments. You will find me providing my opinion when it feel it may provide some insight or knowledge. Like it or not, agree with it or not, I don't really give a rats ass at this point.

No problem with educating us re sleeve just try not to educate us on our "bad" choice re the band. Ask questions? Be curious? Please don't post studies dismissing the band as a failed WLS. We have studies and history/experiences to support otherwise. Ive never had sleeve surgery so I wont pass judgement on your choices.

Here is just one lovely comment from a bander that I read today..

These assumptions are running rampant over there and do not cite actual studies but seem to be believed by all there without question.

For the record I do not hate any of you for your choice.. It was your choice but I do hate the sleeve bashing with misinformation that seems to be everywhere.

Congrats on your weight loss with the Sleeve, but to say that the Sleeve WILL NOT eventually stretch out, is misleading people on a surgery that they can't reverse once it's done. Regardless of which bougie size you have it WILL stretch out eventually.

Oh and one more thing wilst the band people are here, reading this. I am saddened by people blaming the person of the failed, slipped, eroded or whatever band, it isnt patient failure in most cases. Just like sleeve complications are most of the time not the patients fault either

Oh and one more thing wilst the band people are here, reading this. I am saddened by people blaming the person of the failed, slipped, eroded or whatever band, it isnt patient failure in most cases. Just like sleeve complications are most of the time not the patients fault either

. My son gave me a GI bug and I threw up for days on end, had to have an emergency unfill because I could tolerate fluids. My band never worked correctly again although I stuck it out for 2 more years. In hind sight (and my surgeon agrees) it likely slipped just a tiny bit with that episode.

Here is just one lovely comment from a bander that I read today..

These assumptions are running rampant over there and do not cite actual studies but seem to be believed by all there without question.

For the record I do not hate any of you for your choice.. It was your choice but I do hate the sleeve bashing with misinformation that seems to be everywhere.

Who is going to your forum and slamming the sleeve? If this was done on the band forum maybe you could educate the banders with a little of your knowledge since none of us have ever been banded? Seems like a lot of hate coming from the other forums directed at the band forum?

Oh and one more thing wilst the band people are here, reading this. I am saddened by people blaming the person of the failed, slipped, eroded or whatever band, it isnt patient failure in most cases. Just like sleeve complications are most of the time not the patients fault either

::sigh:: I think I love you.

. My son gave me a GI bug and I threw up for days on end, had to have an emergency unfill because I could tolerate fluids. My band never worked correctly again although I stuck it out for 2 more years. In hind sight (and my surgeon agrees) it likely slipped just a tiny bit with that episode.

Yes, there are some issues with having the band. Not all people have slips after a hurling session but it does happen. We speak about the issues all the time on the forum so it's really not necessary for other forums to comment on them. Of course you all have the right to post your comments but when you do, you sound sanctimonious about your decision to not be banded.

I have gone into your forum once and was taunted with "your sleeve will stretch"...

Funny the woman that told me that? Her original post I didn't entirely disagree with I thought it had merit and could be a good discussion because doctors philosophies are ever changing as they learn more about all methods of WLS.

And an attack with taunting my eventual failure is what I got...

Oh is anyone else having problems with the app freezing up tonight when you try to post??

Yes, there are some issues with having the band. Not all people have slips after a hurling session but it does happen. We speak about the issues all the time on the forum so it's really not necessary for other forums to comment on them. Of course you all have the right to post your comments but when you do, you sound sanctimonious about your decision to not be banded.

Pot...kettle...black

G'night lovelies!!! It's been a fun filled day.

2MuchFun: You think some of the sleeved people sound sanctimonious (personally, I think tone is hard to read!), but you came back on that thread with this:

"Don't wander around other forums taking cheap shots to make yourself feel better that you believe you made the right choice for you."

But, if you are asking WHY people made certain choices, then someone posting an academic article that was written on the subject is hardly trying to educate you, other than to perhaps explain why individuals made their decisions.

Because the studies and articles were obviously self selected to put the band in a dim light. And I really don't want to waste time dissecting the studies/articles as only one was semi legit. There are other studies available with many more subjects and are more recent that place the band in a much more favorable light. Still, even if the band were only 50% successful, it would still be a better choice than my 100% failure at dieting. I'll take 50% success over 100% failure any day.

I struggle to understand why other WLS forums find it necessary to post on the band site with disparaging remarks? It's supposed to be a support group and continuously pointing out failures and propping up their own surgery isn't support. It seems that other forum members believe we're brainwashed morons who have been coerced into believing the band is a panacea. I assure you, this is not the case(most of the time). There are some lousy surgeons out there and I doubt they only perform banding surgeries.

Yeah, I'm outta here too. Too much anger to deal with.

I understand why Alex said he combined the sites, but think there is going to be an ongoing battle between some of the procedures as which one is better. I as hoping that we could all coexist but sadly think we must wait for that day to come to pass. I can and will only speak from the standpoint of a sleever and will stay out of the LapBand and Bypass forums. Although some people have been quite nice and complimentary, there are some others looking to troll and start a fight not a meaningful and insightful dialogue. Life is too unpredictable to "sweat the small stuff", and take it from me, I know. One minute I was at work in a meeting, the next I am being wheeled out of my office and in a hospital ER with a 106 degree fever fighting for my life.

Please understand that I say this as in my opinion and not as a shot at any particular poster.

"It seems that other forum members believe we're brainwashed morons"

Who? Not me. Not most people I talk to.

And you are the one who seems angry. I'm just puzzled, frankly.