Food Addiction Support Group
An individual suffering from a food addiction disorder frequently experiences episodes of uncontrolled eating, or binging, during which they may feel frenzied or out of control. They will eat much more quickly than is normal, and continue to eat even past the point of being uncomfortably full. Binging in this way is generally followed by a period of intense guilt feelings...
I'm sure there have been many discussion in the group before about the issue of treat vs no treats, but here's my thoughts on it:
I've tired both ways, and failed both ways, and it leaves me wondering what the answer is.
This is what I think the answer is (at least, for me): the goal is to eat like a normal person. And what to normal people do? They make mistakes, they over-indulge, and then they get back on track.
I know that with Over-Eaters Anonymous, you're supposed to toally avoid flour and sugar (I think). And maybe that works for some people, so if that works for you, yay! I'm happy for you!
But, to be honest, I don't think it's the way to go, for me. And I don't really understand how it could work permanently for anyone, because I think it misses the whole point of eating like a normal, non-food addicted person.
I just can't help but wonder if depervation doesn't always lead to a binge.
So, I'm trying moderation; I'm trying to eat like a normal person. I have not had a binge in 10 days. I have had things I don't consider ideal, and things that are probably not going to help me with my weight loss - today, I had too many chocolates, and there have been other days like that in the past 10 days.
But, you know what? I still lost over 3 pounds the first week. And the urge to binge seems to really be dissipating, because I don't feel deprived.
I choose to trust myself, I assume that I am capable of deciding when I want to stop eating. Once you give yourself that trust, you won't mis-use it, I think. In fact, I think part of the problem of very restrictive diets is that it's basically telling yourself that you don't trust yourself.
I decide to trust myself. What I eat is my choice, and I can stop whenever I wish. Now that I am responsible for my choices, now that I have that privilidge, I don't want to mis-use it. And I don't.
Perfect does not work. That's my other discovery. That's how I get into these over-eating situations: I expect to eat perfectly, and, when I don't, I think to myself - well, you've messed up, it doesn't matter what you eat now.
Perfect does not work. The way to end the cycle of perfect is to not expect perfect. What I plan on is doing my best. That's about my only rule. Yes, I had too many chocolates today. But you know what? Half of them are sitting right here, in a bowl, and I'm not going to eat them. Because I decided not to, because i choose to trust myself.
Not only does this seem to be working, in terms of not binging, but it feels good and right to trust myself. in fact, it's a relief to trust myself. Life is hard enough. I don't need to make it harder by refusing to trust myself, and by looking outside myself for restrictive diets and complicated rules, instead of simply trusting.
PS - Sorry this post is so long. Also, I realize there may be people out there who disagree with me, who find that no sugar or whatever works for them. And, to you, I say: I mean no disrespect to you at all, and if it's working for you, I'm nothing but happy for you, 'cause I know how hard this is. But my opinion is still that trusting yourself is the way to go.
I've tired both ways, and failed both ways, and it leaves me wondering what the answer is.
This is what I think the answer is (at least, for me): the goal is to eat like a normal person. And what to normal people do? They make mistakes, they over-indulge, and then they get back on track.
I know that with Over-Eaters Anonymous, you're supposed to toally avoid flour and sugar (I think). And maybe that works for some people, so if that works for you, yay! I'm happy for you!
But, to be honest, I don't think it's the way to go, for me. And I don't really understand how it could work permanently for anyone, because I think it misses the whole point of eating like a normal, non-food addicted person.
I just can't help but wonder if depervation doesn't always lead to a binge.
So, I'm trying moderation; I'm trying to eat like a normal person. I have not had a binge in 10 days. I have had things I don't consider ideal, and things that are probably not going to help me with my weight loss - today, I had too many chocolates, and there have been other days like that in the past 10 days.
But, you know what? I still lost over 3 pounds the first week. And the urge to binge seems to really be dissipating, because I don't feel deprived.
I choose to trust myself, I assume that I am capable of deciding when I want to stop eating. Once you give yourself that trust, you won't mis-use it, I think. In fact, I think part of the problem of very restrictive diets is that it's basically telling yourself that you don't trust yourself.
I decide to trust myself. What I eat is my choice, and I can stop whenever I wish. Now that I am responsible for my choices, now that I have that privilidge, I don't want to mis-use it. And I don't.
Perfect does not work. That's my other discovery. That's how I get into these over-eating situations: I expect to eat perfectly, and, when I don't, I think to myself - well, you've messed up, it doesn't matter what you eat now.
Perfect does not work. The way to end the cycle of perfect is to not expect perfect. What I plan on is doing my best. That's about my only rule. Yes, I had too many chocolates today. But you know what? Half of them are sitting right here, in a bowl, and I'm not going to eat them. Because I decided not to, because i choose to trust myself.
Not only does this seem to be working, in terms of not binging, but it feels good and right to trust myself. in fact, it's a relief to trust myself. Life is hard enough. I don't need to make it harder by refusing to trust myself, and by looking outside myself for restrictive diets and complicated rules, instead of simply trusting.
PS - Sorry this post is so long. Also, I realize there may be people out there who disagree with me, who find that no sugar or whatever works for them. And, to you, I say: I mean no disrespect to you at all, and if it's working for you, I'm nothing but happy for you, 'cause I know how hard this is. But my opinion is still that trusting yourself is the way to go.
This is so amazing well said, too!
I totally agree about giving food power. Why give it that power? That doesn't work.
And, the way you explained how the binge cycle works is SO TRUE. I used to always be that way....I felt justified in eating everything in site, because I told myself I could start eating perfectly the next day. That always justified it for me. But when you take perfect eating out of the equation, then (for me), well, it's just a lot harder to justify.
Restricting foods is what gives them power. They suddenly become tempting. I think, phycologically, we always want the thing that's forbidden to us. That is why forbidding things doesn't work.