Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Experience with transfer addiction



Recommended Posts

Prior to surgery I was not addicted to any drugs or alcohol. However, I would comfortably assume I was “addicted” to food. Now that I’m not eating anywhere close to as much as I used to, I fear I am seeking to fill that void with an odd replacement…professional sports. I am an avid baseball fan and my team has a really good chance at making the playoffs this year. When they win, I’m in a great mood, nothing could be better. However, when they lose, I go into a tailspin and get very depressed, instantly having little to no interest in doing anything or finding joy in anything.

I am speaking with a psychiatrist in a week, so hopefully that will help begin the coping process.

Has anyone else had a personal experience with transfer addiction, and if so, how did you/are you dealing with it?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On the right track seeing a psychiatrist. Looks like you need another distractions outside of baseball. I am a huge sports fan as well and I know the feeling when your team lets you down. Since my surgery I am really into bicycle riding which helps with my anxiety and gets my head in the right space, not to mention makes me trimmer and in better shape all around.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 9/13/2022 at 11:12 PM, Muffinman1119 said:

Prior to surgery I was not addicted to any drugs or alcohol. However, I would comfortably assume I was “addicted” to food. Now that I’m not eating anywhere close to as much as I used to, I fear I am seeking to fill that void with an odd replacement…professional sports. I am an avid baseball fan and my team has a really good chance at making the playoffs this year. When they win, I’m in a great mood, nothing could be better. However, when they lose, I go into a tailspin and get very depressed, instantly having little to no interest in doing anything or finding joy in anything.

I am speaking with a psychiatrist in a week, so hopefully that will help begin the coping process.

Has anyone else had a personal experience with transfer addiction, and if so, how did you/are you dealing with it?

Have you considered channeling the energy into a sport for yourself? I have definitely been more into my hobbies than I used to be. And I think now I am going to start training Jiu Jitsu.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have had a few dalliances with what could be "transfer addiction" both good and bad...I definitely have overindulged in cannabis a few times since my surgery to a point where my fiance was asking me if i was "self medicating", and I also feel like I am somewhat dependent on riding my motorcycle as a dopamine fix...which isn't bad, it works out my shoulders/hips/core and gets me some sunshine.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i think awareness is the key. If you check in with yourself regularly and are honest about your patterns and internal pain, you can keep from going down a bad rabbit hole.

food was my transfer addiction. My family has a strong genetic disposition for alcoholism, so i was always paranoid and over cautious when it came to alcohol. Instead I was blind to how i was binging on food instead of alcohol. Making that connection along with some other circumstances has helped me be in “remission” with binging. There are still urges, but I can be in control. I am aware now and regularly look at my life if anything is going down an unwanted path.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I also have family members with alcohol dependence, so I keep a very close eye on my alcohol intake. That being said, I have had to keep an eye on other offshoots like shopping. It will try to sneak up on you, I swear! No great advice other than it’s great that you are aware and being proactive.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great thread. People talk about transfer addiction to alcohol and drugs (and maybe sex), but rarely other things. Many people have "addictions/obsessions" that never had surgery and don't realize their hyper-focus on those things. So it's great that you're willing to take another look at your situation to discern if it has become an unhealthy focus in your life.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I didn't experience transfer addiction. I think I will always be a food addict. Hoping to be a "recovered" food addict for the remainder of my life. I am always aware, at any given moment, I could go back to it if I don't stay focused. Unfortunately, food has always been my thing. I have memories of eating my favorite things or the first time I tried a certain food. Even now, I still buy way too much food even though I don't eat it. I have been working to stop doing that as much. My refrigerator, freezer, pantry, foods bins are stuffed. For years now, I have been eating a cup of food at a time but why or why do I keep buying so much food? lol I still think of food most of the time. It's so hardwired...

But addiction is addiction. My heart goes go to anyone who has addiction problems. I can totally relate to anyone who is addicted to anything, whether it is food, drugs, alcohol.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Tomo said:

I still buy way too much food even though I don't eat it. I have been working to stop doing that as much. My refrigerator, freezer, pantry, foods bins are stuffed.

I'm a food hoarder as well.

IMO I need it to create an "abundance mindset" which prevents a feeling of deprivation for me and I doubt that will ever change. The decades of (mental) restriction in the past haven't stopped taking their toll and I've accepted that.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm a food hoarder as well.
IMO I need it to create an "abundance mindset" which prevents a feeling of deprivation for me and I doubt that will ever change. The decades of (mental) restriction in the past haven't stopped taking their toll and I've accepted that.
I am the same way. I hoard food and don't eat it now that im post op because I felt like I couldn't have it around in the past/grew up with caretakers locking food away from me and hiding it on a daily basis. Definitely a result of that for me. It feels good to open my pantry and see everything and get to pick and not feel like I have to hide or its the only chance I'll get to eat something. I would like to stop food hoarding because things go to waste.

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, fourmonthspreop said:

I couldn't have it around in the past/grew up with caretakers locking food away from me and hiding it on a daily basis. Definitely a result of that for me. It feels good to open my pantry and see everything and get to pick and not feel like I have to hide or its the only chance I'll get to eat something.

So much this.

I know many people are afraid to keep "the evil foods in the house" because they trigger binges/overeating for them. However, others need the opposite: knowing that they can have it anytime they want it to prevent binges/overeating.

Quote

I would like to stop food hoarding because things go to waste. 

In the beginning a lot has gone to waste, indeed. With time I refined the technique so to say. Now I have a freezer brimming with food and many shelf-stable items. When it comes to highly perishable items that don't freeze well I still sometimes have to throw out something but usually the permission to get it when I want/can get it is enough (thinking e. g. about that vegan croissant I can only get when I'm home on weekends and they need to be eaten the same day or they're no longer tasting good).

From time to time I bring an open package to work before it goes bad (or one that's reached the BB date) and people are happy about the goody.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×