Must go and live life today..

Including getting blood tests to show everything is good and in track

But I wanted to put this out there..

This is me. I'm doing well, but this is me

I have OCD and it may make things a little more challenging at times..

Thank you for indulging me

Compulsive overeating, also sometimes called food addiction, is characterized by the compulsive eating of food. Professionals address this with either a behavior therapy model or a food-addiction model.[1]

An individual suffering from compulsive overeating engages in frequent episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binge eating, during which she or he may feel frenzied or out of control, often consuming food past the point of being comfortably full. Bingeing in this way is generally followed by feelings of guilt and depression. Unlike individuals with bulimia, compulsive overeaters do not attempt to compensate for their bingeing with purging behaviors such as fasting, laxative use, or vomiting. Compulsive overeaters will typically eat when they are not hungry. Their obsession is demonstrated in that they spend excessive amounts of time and thought devoted to food, and secretly plan or fantasize about eating alone. Compulsive overeating usually leads to weight gain and obesity, but is not the only cause of obesity. While compulsive overeaters tend to be overweight or obese, persons of normal or average weight can also be affected.

In addition to binge eating, compulsive overeaters can also engage in grazing behavior, during which they return to pick at food throughout the day. These things result in a large overall number of calories consumed even if the quantities eaten at any one time may be small. When a compulsive eater overeats primarily through bingeing, he or she can be said to have binge eating disorder.

Signs and symptoms

Binge eating, or eating uncontrollably even when not physically hungry

Eating much more rapidly than normal

Eating alone due to shame and embarrassment

Feelings of guilt due to overeating

Preoccupation with body weight

Depression or mood swings

Awareness that eating patterns are abnormal

Rapid weight gain or sudden onset of obesity

Significantly decreased mobility due to weight gain

History of weight fluctuations

Withdrawal from activities because of embarrassment about weight

History of many different unsuccessful diets

Eating little in public, but maintaining a high body weight

Very low self-esteem and feeling need to eat greater and greater amounts.

Addiction

During binges, compulsive overeaters may consume from 5,000 to 15,000 food calories daily, resulting in a temporary release from psychological stress through an addictive high not unlike that experienced through drug abuse. In bulimics, this high may be intensified by the act of purging. Researchers have speculated there is an abnormality of endorphin metabolism in the brain of binge eaters that triggers the addictive process. This is in line with other theories of addiction that attribute it not to avoidance of withdrawal symptoms, but to a primary problem in the reward centers of the brain. For the compulsive overeater, the ingestion of trigger foods causes release of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. This could be another sign of neurobiological factors contributing to the addictive process. Abstinence from addictive food and food eating processes causes withdrawal symptoms in those with eating disorders. There may be higher levels of depression and anxiety due to the decreased levels of serotonin in the individual.[2]

There are complexities with the biology of compulsive eating that separate it from a pure substance abuse analogy. Food is a complex mixture of chemicals that can affect the body in multiple ways, which is magnified by stomach-brain communication. In some ways, it may be much more difficult for compulsive overeaters to recover than drug addicts. There is an anecdotal saying among Overeaters Anonymous members that "when you are addicted to drugs you put the tiger in the cage to recover; when you are addicted to food you put the tiger in the cage, but take it out three times a day for a walk."[2]

The physical explanation of compulsive overeating may be attributed to an overeaters' increased tendency to secrete insulin at the sight and smell of food, though medical evidence supporting this is controversial.[3] Research has found a link between the sugar and fat content of foods and bingeing behaviors.[4]

Sounds like a neat kid.

He is, but sometimes the kids around him aren't.

From the minute he was diagnosed, he has been a open book about it.. When he was little (5)

He would tell kids I have tics.. Not the kind that bite but... Then he would go into the whole history of Tourette's. And the kids would say ok and life and play would go on.

Now he's 11 and in junior high. It's not always as easy. He has two Major strikes he is gifted smart and he makes funny movements..

Oh three strikes! He has a momma that always wants to kick a kids azz if he messes with my kid:p

Ya, the kids can be mean. With my son either he is oblivious to their teasing or they just don't tease him. He's funny though, he said he wishes he had the kind of Tourette's where you blurt out obscenities because then he could get away with cussing. Lol. And What About Bob is one of his favorite movies!

Ya, the kids can be mean. With my son either he is oblivious to their teasing or they just don't tease him. He's funny though, he said he wishes he had the kind of Tourette's where you blurt out obscenities because then he could get away with cussing. Lol. And What About Bob is one of his favorite movies!

Lol,

I'm glad my son doesn't have that kind because he would of learned some choice words from me very early on

I eat... out of boredom... If I'm 'engaged' in something, I eat less. Evenings.... bad.. very bad....

My compulsive behaviors are nocturnal!

I think I told you this. I will purposely stay up late to do these things (compulsively eat)

I eat... out of boredom... If I'm 'engaged' in something, I eat less. Evenings.... bad.. very bad....

My compulsive behaviors are nocturnal!

I think I told you this. I will purposely stay up late to do these things (compulsively eat)

Of course we do! Why, the most essential, compulsive TV viewing is scheduled for 03-stupid-o'clock in the morning, just for this purpose, isn't it?!

I have never been so intellectually stimulated than the mornings when I'm watching 'Don't tell the Bride', whilst stuffing my face with whatever is delectably easy to eat and laden with fatty/salty goodness... <burp>

Of course we do! Why, the most essential, compulsive TV viewing is scheduled for 03-stupid-o'clock in the morning, just for this purpose, isn't it?! I have never been so intellectually stimulated than the mornings when I'm watching 'Don't tell the Bride', whilst stuffing my face with whatever is delectably easy to eat and laden with fatty/salty goodness... <burp>

Two days ago I thought I'd outsmart my nocturnal little demon.. I went to bed at 8:30 HAHA! You hungry sneak eating bastard take that!!

Slept like a baby until 1:30am it woke me up saying "you can't sleep" "you can go downstairs and just drink tea" "I promise tea, that's all I want"

Ha! "You lying sack of poop!" I said to it!!

So I bored myself to tears (and sleep) trying to remember the name of that film starring Demi Moore the one where she was a ghost, you know the one with the pottery wheel scene...

It worked! sweet sleep!

Until 4:30 it said "eat food at this magical hour does not count for yesterday or today's total!"

It's a sneaky nocturnal bastard...

It's slow and it sneaks up on you.

Being "aware" and not letting your guard down is a big piece of advice I have for those of you who are still in the "easy to resist" category.

I found this thread so interesting. I have been in OCD overdrive researching for my upcoming VSG.

I thought I only had my post-op meds left to research ie ulcer prevention, gallbladder, constipation/diarrhea (wtf either or, not both please). Now I need to deal with the mental aspect.

Laura- Thanks for starting the thread. I've printed your OCD/Food Addiction excerpt to be page one in my binder.

M2G - I put your comment on the cover as a constant reminder it won't always be easy.

Thanks girls. W

I've been busy with holiday stuff, but I'm here with everyone who is further out. It's very hard to resist as the years go by and I can eat more. It's a week after Thanksgiving, I am over my bounce range by two pounds and I just stuffed a gingerbread cookie in my mouth.

For me, I have to weigh every day, and even that has not prevented holiday creep. I have to set myself first and remember as someone ( maybe lipstick lady) said, self soothing does not gave to be self sabotage. I do not deserve to overeat just because I've been busy and it's the holidays. I deserve to be at my preferred weight and healthy, happy, and strong. I'll have more to say later when my life settles down a bit.

And on a final note, as with others, night is the worst. Like Butter, I sometimes go to bed early. The only hard rule I have 100% stuck to is no eating after I fall asleep until I get up the next morning. Pre-op, I was quite the middle of the night snacker.

Lynda

So let me ask this: from the perspective of a nighttime eater, how can the people around you support you? I'm married to a one, and I don't pretend to understand everything that drives the behavior. But what can your spouse, or friends, do to help?

I recognize a lot of the "don't do this" answers. Just wondering if there are strategies that can be employed by anyone else in your orbit.

So let me ask this: from the perspective of a nighttime eater, how can the people around you support you? I'm married to a one, and I don't pretend to understand everything that drives the behavior. But what can your spouse, or friends, do to help? I recognize a lot of the "don't do this" answers. Just wondering if there are strategies that can be employed by anyone else in your orbit.

I'm not sure what the others will say but for me?

It is something only I can change. My spouse while he is great at listening to my problems and supporting me with unconditional love. He cannot help change my behaviors I must do that

I've been busy with holiday stuff, but I'm here with everyone who is further out. It's very hard to resist as the years go by and I can eat more. It's a week after Thanksgiving, I am over my bounce range by two pounds and I just stuffed a gingerbread cookie in my mouth.

For me, I have to weigh every day, and even that has not prevented holiday creep. I have to set myself first and remember as someone ( maybe lipstick lady) said, self soothing does not gave to be self sabotage. I do not deserve to overeat just because I've been busy and it's the holidays. I deserve to be at my preferred weight and healthy, happy, and strong. I'll have more to say later when my life settles down a bit.

And on a final note, as with others, night is the worst. Like Butter, I sometimes go to bed early. The only hard rule I have 100% stuck to is no eating after I fall asleep until I get up the next morning. Pre-op, I was quite the middle of the night snacker.

Lynda

I have found myself overeating in an obsessive way......I struggle with this during the time that I am in an emotional upheaval and feeling like I have no control of anything. I am going through a major life change right now with DD impulsively getting married on 12/9 and her wanting to move to a different state in January with her BF and his mother.....I know this relationship will most likely flounder within a few months. Hopefully not, but the signs are there. So I am eating even when it gets hard to swallow and then I get nauseous.. An hour or so later I start eating some peanuts and realized this an threw the in the trash....later went to dinner (1/5 hours later) ordered some eggs and bacon. I am so thankful they tasted horrible and I discarded them. This is not easy. I haven't had this experience since being sleeved and am afraid I can't stop it....

So let me ask this: from the perspective of a nighttime eater, how can the people around you support you? I'm married to a one, and I don't pretend to understand everything that drives the behavior. But what can your spouse, or friends, do to help?

I recognize a lot of the "don't do this" answers. Just wondering if there are strategies that can be employed by anyone else in your orbit.

I try to get out of the kitchen after 7:00pm and I don't really have anything in the house. I do have Quest Protein bars that do get me, but I'm determined to cancel the automatic order I have because they are simply crack to me......it doesn't always work, but most of the time it's all good....at night, I'm too lazy to get up so I just stay in bed until morning......

Laura ven is correct, only you can change your behaviors, if he tries you will be extremely angry at him.....

As I was typing I got an advertisement across my screen for some game on facebook... WTH! can anyone stop this Alex or is it my computer?

I just cannot have some things. One simple carb and I am in the throes of 'head-hunger-famishment' for days. So no gingerbread man for me.

And as for the night, I am a twisted sick puppy, I'll admit it. I go to bed by 8 in the evening and get up well before 4:00AM. And am not hungry in the morning. So, dinner at six, and no food or drink after.

Boring? Yep, maybe, but I do not do well with spontaneous (food) ideas. I so rarely find myself longinf for some brocolli.

Hi, Ms. Skinniness. I'm not the binger, he is…but even after 16 years we are still navigating this.

We have tried: no trigger food in the house. He fills the void with any kind of food. But if I keep things to a minimum he also gets upset at that. (I do the shopping.) So, everyone eats yogurt, but often I will go to bed with 10 yogurts in the fridge and wake up to none. Peanut butter: I now buy the individual serving packages from costco and hide them so the kids can make lunch. Cookies and cakes are just not in the house, most of the time, because they're huge triggers.

We've put a marine lock on the fridge. He started popping the adhesive pads off with a knife and then super-gluing them back into place, until I noticed superglue on the floor. Broke one of my good knives, too. At that time, I said, "Man, wouldn't it be less trouble to get in the car and go to the store?" He said, "You don't understand." I agreed…ps none of this was hostile.

I lock food into my car, put it in my closet, under the bed. He will search my office top to bottom if I hide it in there but won't disturb me in the bedroom if I go to bed first. I'm not sure he knows about that. I hate being complicit in this way, but there are some things that he cannot get into (either tough to replace, or meant for someone else, etc) and so this is what we do.

I guess this is just the question of, "Is there anything else I can do that I'm not thinking of?" If the answer is no, stay out of it…so be it.

It sounds like he has to be the one to decide he wants to stop. This is a compulsion for him. You are doing the best you can.

My husband will eat and eat and eat if there's food left over at times and qwhen I tried to portion his food, he gets really angry. So I have resorted to not cooking that much. Just enough for him and me. I did get in trouble when my son and his girl friend was here and I had to stretch the grass fed steak to serve 4 adults instead of 2. He had a hissy fit and at that point I decided that he has to work on his own issue with eating. Hard choice but it is well worth it. Today, he is eating less on his own but I really don't cook much anymore bc I don't eat that much......It sounds like your DH has a much deeper compulsion but does have some boundaries when it comes to the bedroom. Good luck and remember, you can only take care of you and set a good example for him and the kids......

I have learned that there is "code" for this too. He loves to complain that there is nothing in the house to eat. I can patiently go through and point out everything (chicken, cold cuts, leftovers, etc) but what he really means is: something easy, portable, and "yummy." Problem is that if i have too much of that, it disappears.

Anyway, thank you all for your input. Seriously, if anyone else has ideas to help I will be a sponge. The kids' wheels turn when they see this played out; I explain to them that it's not behavior they should be striving for. But at 11 and 14 they are somewhat complicit too.

I haven't dealt with food cravings to that extreme, but one thing that helps me is to have non food items I enjoy around. Maybe a basket of sugar free drink mix packets in the snack cupboard, crossword puzzle and a cute pen by the TV Chair, great smelling lotion and Chapstick on the nightstand. And a few notes tucked around that simply say " I love you"

Lynda