Food Addiction Support Group

I hear you.When I first went to an Overeaters Anon. meeting I realized they gave up all flour/sugar. I thought NO WAY could I do that. I use to eat normally and ate sugar and flour so I can totally get back to track. I am here right? Well, that was a few months ago. I have continued to binge on trigger foods. Each time I say, "I;ll just have one piece of candy" Yet, as soon as I have this trigger food I go nuts and ruin my day. I am really ready to to abstain from sugar. My binging has not gotten any better and I am def. not in control of my hunger. I think we need to detox our bodies. As I have had good/bad days, I realize I crazv and get a 'high' when I have sugar/candy. Therefore, each day I think about it and once I have it, I feel so relieved. THIS IS AN ADDICTION. Who would think a few skittles and piece of chocolate would possess so much power? Sugar is like a drug to my body and I really think we have to quit cold turkey. Each day is a battle when you actually do not have this food, you realize how much more clearly you can think and act. Trust me, the fight it worth it.

Sunny, thanks so much for your reply! I feel the same way! I crave the feeling the I get from the sugar - the energy and the high. I think I'm scared to go without it. I try to go without it and fail every time. How are you going to detox? I've done diets where I eliminate white flours and sugar like South Beach but I never last longer than a week. Does OA give tips on abstaining?

Hi Sunny and Keeblert. I can totally relate to this. I am a food addict. I have been heavy and I have been really small. I have searched for answers left and right. I also have an eating disorder. Today is day 21 of abstaning. I realized about a year ago that I was addicted to food. I found the strength to go online to the Overeaters Annon. website. After a lot of reading, I realized this was another shot at recovery for me (I have tried to recover a million times...).

I panicked (sp?) when I realized that giving up flour and sugar would be necessary for recovery. I went through withdrawal the first few days. It was awful. But I realize my addiction is no different that alcoholism. If I want to recover, I have to abstain from addictive substances just like an alcoholic can't touch alcohol. What is hard is that you can live a successful like without alcohol and drugs. You can't without food.
There is a big connection between gluten and food addiction. Look it up. It's worth it.
Again, day 21. I feel great, but it is HARD. Everyday is HARD. Meal to meal.
You can do it. We can do it.
Keep in touch

I'm on day 3 of no bread/refined sugars.

I'm an addict as well. Actually feels good to say that, to have some reasoning for crazy eating habits.

I decided about a week ago to start this. I noticed that when I was binging I was at a different level of consciousness. It was like I was eating, doing the physical act, but emotionally I was somewhere else, almost like on a sub conscious level I was blocking myself from being part of the moment, or witnessing it. As I was also a closet eater, so essentially not even I was acknowledging or aware of what was going on. I decided to allow binges, to eat non stop if I wanted, BUT,during this last week I made myself stay acutely aware of what was going on. I was totally aware of what I was doing, because I allowed myself to be in that moment. I found that during these periods I stopped hating myself, and began hating or questioning why I was eating. I gave myself an end date to this madness and ate every trigger food I could think of. I felt like total crap, physically, but not emotionally. I think thats the key, allowing ourselves the time to binge while being emotionally attached switches the feeling of self loathing and hate and allows the chance to see how horrible the food is making us feel.
So Monday I started. It is now Wednesday and I have been 100% I"ve even subjected myself to trigger foods with no sneaking or snacking! I'm eating lots of high protein foods and simple carbs ie: veggies and other foods which have a low glycemic index.
I'm 36 and have been living as a food junkie since I was 15. Right now I feel in control. I think the above plan I did as well as admitting to my weakness or addiction, and joining this group has helped.
I think recovery will never end, and know now that it's going to be a daily meal by meal battle to beat this thing, but I and everyone can do it.

Yossarian and Edymac,
Thank you so much for your brave and thoughtful replies. I think I need to make more conscious food choices, as well as be more conscious of my eating as you've suggest, Yossarian. I will definitely try your tips. It helps know there is some support out there and others are going through it. Thanks for your advice.

I just wanted to join in. Awesome reply, Sunny and others! I believe that for the true addict there is no such thing as just one bite or moderation. You have to abstain from trigger foods if you want to stay healthy.