I think food addiction is a real thing.

[Tobin S.]

It's hard enough to quit a drug when you can completely abstain. The problem with food addiction is that you can't completely abstain from food. You still have to put the "drug" into your body, just lower doses of it. It's a very hard thing to do, especially when your addiction is bad enough that you are very overweight.

I've been losing weight and I've restricted my calories to do it. I also walk for exercise. I was about 130 pounds overweight. I've lost 42 so far in a relatively short amount of time without straying from my plan. It's been tough today. I think today is the first day I've really struggled with it. Something told me to get up and go for a walk and I did it. The exercise knocked my cravings down and now I feel better. That's something I need to remember, and you should too if you are in the same struggle that I'm in.

I've got a 6 pack of beer in the fridge from before I started losing weight. I told myself that I was going to abstain from alcohol when I started this because it is a major reason why I got so big. But, man, was that beer calling my name today. I think I better get rid of it. Same thing for the bowl of Halloween candy I have sitting on the table. I told myself I was going to give up as much refined sugar as I could, but that candy was talking to me loud and clear today. One little piece won't hurt, right? Well I know what that leads to. Pretty soon there wouldn't be any candy left for the kids.

I quit smoking over three years ago. I know what it feels like to deal with an addiction to a drug. This food addiction feels just about the same way as far as the cravings go. But you know what? The withdrawal symptoms from healthily dealing with a food addiction are nothing but improved health. So I'm going to eat my fruits and veggies and keep doing laps around the neighborhood, because most of the time now I feel so much better.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hear ya, my dear Tobin!

You sure can't stop eating; the struggle is what and how much, and WHEN to eat!

You've inspired me and now I'm watching my diet carefully. I need to start exercising; really, I should never have quit.

I weighed myself this morning, and I'm down to 156, which is another pound off from the last time I checked in. It's tough but I think this is my last real chance to do this. As you age, your metabolism slows waaaaaaaaay down and that makes weight loss much more difficult.

Keep on keepin' on! The holidays are coming and that means extra vigilance will be needed.

[Tobin S.]

2. Thanks, Peggy.

[magical thyme]

3. spend a few days stuffing yourself to the gills with high fiber veggies...

Kale, in particular, I find very filling. Carrots, too. Followed by the smaller portions of healthy food you're currently plan to be eating.

Initially it doesn't stop the cravings. But they fill your gut so much there isn't room for much more, so just tiny bits of your craved junk for desert. Then your body adapts to a high proportion of veggies and when you slack off on them, you start craving the veggies and stuff again.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. The problem with kale and carrots is

they are awful. They do not taste good. Kale, especially, tastes like cardboard soaked in kerosene. If there existed some low-calorie, high-fiber food that was relatively edible that would be awesome, but unfortunately the stuff that tastes good is the stuff that makes you fat. The first rule of dieting is this: If it tastes good, spit it out.

[Tobin S.]

7. I eat a lot of stuff that tastes good now.

I don't eat anything I don't like. I've just cut out the stuff that is bad for me: booze, refined sugar, red meat, pop. And I've cut the calories down.

[onehandle]

4. When I cut fatty foods out of my diet years ago, I replaced the sensation with spiciness.

Spices not only accelerate your digestion, helping you lose weight, but recently a study showed that they can help you live longer.

Eat Less, Eat Better, Exercise More.

Keep it up!

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Yeah anything you have trouble giving up and have cravings for can be called an addiction.

A trick for sugar cravings: couple small pieces of dried pineapple or dates works real well for me.
I don't like them enough to go nutz on them, but late at night when the munchies hit, 2-3 small pieces chewed slowly really helps.

Mr. Dixie brought home bags of Halloween candy, the good stuff like peanut butter cups and Kit Kat bars and Butterfingers, but they are so sickening sweet to me, plus the chocolate is of such poor quality, I don't have a problem ignoring them, thank god.

[aidbo]

8. Here's a nice sugar buzzkill video for you!

[Tobin S.]

9. That's a good video.

I've tried to cut out as much sugar as I can, but still consume a little. It's in bread and that's hard to get around. I've also been eating a little peanut butter and it's in there, too. But I have found a brand of peanut butter here locally that just has peanuts and salt in it. I think I'm going to give that a go.

But other than that, I've cut it all out. It's a hard thing to do. Once you start reading labels you'll be surprised at how many processed foods have sugar in them. And not just a little. Often times it's one of the most prevalent ingredients in processed foods.

[aidbo]

10. Cold turkey is tough. It's gratifying and ok to reward ones self for a good job.

It's when I start pre-rewarding myself and over-rewarding myself that I have trouble.

[zanana1]

11. Try not to limit your choices too much...

That's the problem I have when I diet. The last time, I lost 50 pounds eating salad, then the holidays came around and I went nuts. The diet died on Thanksgiving. May it rest in peace.

[Tobin S.]

12. There are certain things for me that just had to go.

Alcohol was one and so was red meat. But I do eat a variety of foods. I just increased the fruits and veggies and cut the calories, mainly.

[olddots]

13. soft drinks are harder to quit than hard drinks

We are such weaklings , switching to water drives me crazy.....we know soda is garbage but its so addictive .

[Tobin S.]

15. That's been one of the hardest things for me.

I was a Diet Coke addict and it's only been in the past couple of weeks that I've been able to abstain completely. I had to sort of taper down over the course of a month before I was finally able to give it the boot.

But, yeah, I know what you mean. I probably drank about four liters a day of the stuff at one time. But it's possible to get away from it. Now I only drink water and I feel much better.

[PoliticAverse]

17. Have you tried flavored seltzer? A friend found that it was the carbonation that he liked

more than the other parts of soft drinks and seltzer helped him stop consuming them.

[PoliticAverse]

14. Indeed, and cheese is the food equivalent of crack...

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-cheese-addictive-drugs-20151022-story.html

[Tobin S.]

16. I love cheese, too.

That's one thing I haven't given up, but I don't eat a whole lot of it.

[Ron Obvious]

18. Remember the 80/20 rule...

I learnt about this in my diabetes classes. Sadly, it does not mean - as I'd hoped - pig out for 80 days and then spent 20 minutes reflecting, but rather to do the right thing for 80% of the time and then don't be too hard on yourself if you fall off the wagon 20% of the time.

The idea is not to give up when you do (inevitably) stray from the path, but to make sure to do the right thing for most of the time.

You've already proven you can do that.

Good luck, Tobin!

[hopemountain]

19. i had a horrendous addiction to chocolate

about 25 years ago. i went off chocolate - cold turkey. 4 weeks into it, i would describe myself as homicidal - grumpy was not even close - it was more like rage at the slightest irritation. then i got past it and did not have any chocolate for 2 or 3 years. then i had some m&m's. blech. gross. later, i went to a wedding and they served a gourmand's 4 tier "real" chocolate cake with layers of different types of chocolate. it was orgasmic. i decided then i would occasionally enjoy chocolate - but it had to be the BEST and that decision took care of the addiction. now, i rarely have chocolate - but when i do, i indulge in only the best. high quality chocolate satisfies with only a bit or a taste.

quitting smoking was not easy for me, either. the craving never really goes away. it rears it's head when stress & the need for a break from the rest of the world are pressing - however, regular meditation has helped me keep the cravings at a minimum.

keep on keeping on, tobin. filling our lives with exercise, creativity and some good stress management tools - like healthy food choices and a good nights sleep - do help.

this book offers an insightful approach: Witness to The Fire: Creativity and the Veil of Addiction - by Linda Shierse Leonard

replace the addictions and/or triggers for the behavior with something else that serves your passions or angst.

[LuckyLib]

20. Alcohol is one that folks don't realize piles on the weight.

As one friend of mine said "Beer is liquid cake."