I'M ADDICTED TO FOOD!! AM I ALONE??

[fat2nrml]

HELLO EVERYONE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE FUNDS UP [AGAIN, TRIED LAST YEAR TOO] TO HAVE LAPBAND SURGERY DONE IN MARCH BY DR. ORTIZ. I HAVE FELT KIND OF ALONE IN MY LIFE LONG FIGHT WITH MY WEIGHT. ANYONE I'VE SPOKE TO DOESN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND [OR DOESN'T WANT TO ADMITT TO UNDERSTANDING] MY ADDICTION TO FOOD. FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY "DRUG OF CHOICE". I NEVER DID DRUGS GROWING UP, I DID DRINK AS A TEENAGER AND YOUNGER ADULT, BUT FOOD HAS BEEN THERE AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. I CAN REMEMBER AS A KID BEING AT THE DINNER TABLE [THERE WERE 2 KIDS, 2 ADULTS] AND HAVING FOOD PUT ON MY PLATE AND TAKING INVENTORY OF WHAT WAS LEFT AND CLAIMING IT!! I HADN'T EVEN STARTED EATING WHAT WAS ON MY PLATE!! AM I ALONE?? THAT'S MY FIRST MEMORY OF BEING OBSESSED WITH FOOD. I HAVE DIETED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER... LOST, GAINED, LOST, GAINED, BUT IT ALWAYS CAME BACK. MY OBSESSION IS ALWAYS THERE. WHY? WHAT CAUSES THIS? I NEVER WAS STARVED, I NEVER WENT WITHOUT. I CAN BE SO FULL THAT I'M ALMOST SICK [i FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET TO THAT POINT WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING SICK OVER THE YEARS] BUT I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE FRIDGE OR THE CUPBOARDS. AS SOON AS MY STOMACHE FEELS A LITTLE BETTER, I'LL STUFF SOMETHING ELSE IN. I'VE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER "CUT BACK AND EXERCISE" AND I'VE DONE THAT DOZENS OF TIMES BUT THE ADDICTION'S STILL THERE AND EVENTUALLY WINS. I HAVE NEVER MET A DOCTOR THAT SAYS "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH", NEVER!! DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW WHAT I MEAN?? ANYONE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES? I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU'D SHARE, I'D LOVE TO FINALLY KNOW THAT I'M NOT A "FOOD FREAK". THANK YOU ALL!!!

[FurEllie]

Sweetheart, you are amongst fellow addicts here

That's what's so hard for people who AREN'T addicted to food to understand. When you're addicted to booze or drugs, you can completely remove those things from your life while you fight your addiction. But you CAN'T REMOVE FOOD! I eat because I am addicted. Not because I'm hungry. I LOVE food. I don't cook but I love to read cookbooks. Food websites are my porn. I love to read restaurant reviews and look at pictures. I have NO control over this addiction which is why the band was so perfect for me.

I heard someone on the Today show refer to WLS as "cheating" the other day - totally ticked me off. That's like telling a drug addict that checking into rehab is cheating.

[fat2nrml]

HELLO FURELLIE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUICK REPLY, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT!! WHEN WERE YOU BANDED? DID YOU GO TO DR. O? I TRUELY BELEIVE THAT THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO WORK FOR ME BECAUSE I'M SO OBSESSED WITH FOOD. I SAID MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, BEFORE I HEARD OF LAPBAND [i'LL BE 44] THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF IS IF I'M RESTRICTED SOMEHOW. HEARING ABOUT LAPBAND WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE!! BEING STUCK IN AN OBESE BODY IS HELL. I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING AND THEN I REALIZE HOW LIMITED I AM. I'M NOW AT THE HEAVIEST THAT I'VE EVER BEEN, EVEN WHEN I WAS PREGNANT!! SHAVING MY LEGS IS SUCH A CHORE, I CAN'T GET PAST MY GUT TO REACH!

IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE ELSE KNOW'S WHAT I'M SAYING. MOST PEOPLE I TALK TO DENY HAVING A PROBLEM. THEY SAY THEY DON'T EAT THAT MUCH AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE FAT. I'M HERE TO TELL EVERYONE THAT I EAT EVERYTHING I POSSIBLY CAN, WHENEVER AND WHEREEVER I CAN! I'M OBESE BECAUSE I EAT ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN 4 ADULTS [ AND PROBABLY A KID OR TWO!] I JUST WISH SOMEONE COULD FIGURE OUT WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE THIS WHEN OTHERS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT FOOD. A FRIEND I WORK WITH [sHE'S SKINNY] SAYS THAT SHE "FORGETS" TO EAT! HOW CAN YOU FORGET TO EAT?!!

READING AT COOK BOOKS AND LOOKING AT PIX OF FOOD WOULDN'T DO IT FOR ME, I GOTTA BE ABLE TO SHOVEL IT IN! LOL! THANKS AGAIN AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'D BE INTERESTED IN HEARING YOUR "LAPBAND STORY". [ANYONE'S STORY!] DARLENE

[buggynut]

I too think of food all the time. I often think that the problem is not with what I'm eating or putting in my mouth but what is running through my head. If that could be stopped I think I would eat so much. I joined weight watchers Nov. 13 and have lost 20 #s so far. I am haveing lapband on MOnday Jan. 7. I am really looking forward to it. I did not have to do the preopt diet because I chose to losen the weight another way. I plan on sticking with WW after banding because it has been working and I need someone to report to to keep me honest. I recently had rotator cuff surgery and you can remove the glue with goo-off and then clean skin with alcahol after. It works very well. Just use goo-off very sparingly.

buggynut

[fat2nrml]

I too think of food all the time. I often think that the problem is not with what I'm eating or putting in my mouth but what is running through my head. If that could be stopped I think I would eat so much. I joined weight watchers Nov. 13 and have lost 20 #s so far. I am haveing lapband on MOnday Jan. 7. I am really looking forward to it. I did not have to do the preopt diet because I chose to losen the weight another way. I plan on sticking with WW after banding because it has been working and I need someone to report to to keep me honest. I recently had rotator cuff surgery and you can remove the glue with goo-off and then clean skin with alcahol after. It works very well. Just use goo-off very sparingly.

buggynut

THANK YOU BUGGYNUT!! I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THINKING. MY MIND'S ALWAYS ON FOOD SO IF I COULD SHUT THAT DOWN, I'D PROBABLY BE ALRIGHT. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SURGERY ON MONDAY... SURE WISH I WAS GOING TOO!!ALSO, GOOD LUCK WITH WEIGHT WATCHERS, I TRIED THAT AND DIDN'T LIKE IT. I DID REALLY WELL ON LA WEIGHT LOSS A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT GAINED IT ALL BACK +. THANKS AGAIN, DARLENE =D>

[victoria73]

HELLO EVERYONE, I HAVEN'T BEEN ON FOR A LONG TIME. I'M CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET THE FUNDS UP [AGAIN, TRIED LAST YEAR TOO] TO HAVE LAPBAND SURGERY DONE IN MARCH BY DR. ORTIZ. I HAVE FELT KIND OF ALONE IN MY LIFE LONG FIGHT WITH MY WEIGHT. ANYONE I'VE SPOKE TO DOESN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND [OR DOESN'T WANT TO ADMITT TO UNDERSTANDING] MY ADDICTION TO FOOD. FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY "DRUG OF CHOICE". I NEVER DID DRUGS GROWING UP, I DID DRINK AS A TEENAGER AND YOUNGER ADULT, BUT FOOD HAS BEEN THERE AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER. I CAN REMEMBER AS A KID BEING AT THE DINNER TABLE [THERE WERE 2 KIDS, 2 ADULTS] AND HAVING FOOD PUT ON MY PLATE AND TAKING INVENTORY OF WHAT WAS LEFT AND CLAIMING IT!! I HADN'T EVEN STARTED EATING WHAT WAS ON MY PLATE!! AM I ALONE?? THAT'S MY FIRST MEMORY OF BEING OBSESSED WITH FOOD. I HAVE DIETED DOZENS OF TIMES OVER... LOST, GAINED, LOST, GAINED, BUT IT ALWAYS CAME BACK. MY OBSESSION IS ALWAYS THERE. WHY? WHAT CAUSES THIS? I NEVER WAS STARVED, I NEVER WENT WITHOUT. I CAN BE SO FULL THAT I'M ALMOST SICK [i FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET TO THAT POINT WITHOUT ACTUALLY GETTING SICK OVER THE YEARS] BUT I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE FRIDGE OR THE CUPBOARDS. AS SOON AS MY STOMACHE FEELS A LITTLE BETTER, I'LL STUFF SOMETHING ELSE IN. I'VE BEEN TOLD OVER AND OVER "CUT BACK AND EXERCISE" AND I'VE DONE THAT DOZENS OF TIMES BUT THE ADDICTION'S STILL THERE AND EVENTUALLY WINS. I HAVE NEVER MET A DOCTOR THAT SAYS "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH", NEVER!! DOES ANYONE OUT THERE KNOW WHAT I MEAN?? ANYONE HAD THE SAME OR SIMILAR EXPERIENCES? I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU'D SHARE, I'D LOVE TO FINALLY KNOW THAT I'M NOT A "FOOD FREAK". THANK YOU ALL!!!

[victoria73]

Hi well very interesting story. I at times feel like a food addict over the last 10yrs, i was always a slim girl until i started haveing anxiety.

Im sure i found comfort in food its like a valium i feel calm when i eat. well im booked in for my operation this month on the 22nd im still thinking should i go, but im to afraid im actually very scared of the whole procedure. Im afraid of "what if something goes wrong like what if the band slips and i die or food gets stuck and im home alone with the kids whos gonna save me and drive me to the hospital, as it happend to my friend the food got stuck badly and she was rushed to hospital to get it out.

Also how am i gonna survive the liquid diet for 2 days in hospital i will feel sick with no real food lol lol. Is it normal to have all these racinal thoughts.

I guess we all are food addict in our own way, its just some people dont admit to it as much as you and i

You see if i dont eat when im hungry i feel nervous like an anxiety feeling i cant think straight, its like a major sugar drop, anyways i hope someone can understand me.

hope to hear from u people

love victoria.

[2thebeach]

Hi well very interesting story. I at times feel like a food addict over the last 10yrs, i was always a slim girl until i started haveing anxiety.

Im sure i found comfort in food its like a valium i feel calm when i eat. well im booked in for my operation this month on the 22nd im still thinking should i go, but im to afraid im actually very scared of the whole procedure. Im afraid of "what if something goes wrong like what if the band slips and i die or food gets stuck and im home alone with the kids whos gonna save me and drive me to the hospital, as it happend to my friend the food got stuck badly and she was rushed to hospital to get it out.

Also how am i gonna survive the liquid diet for 2 days in hospital i will feel sick with no real food lol lol. Is it normal to have all these racinal thoughts.

I guess we all are food addict in our own way, its just some people dont admit to it as much as you and i

You see if i dont eat when im hungry i feel nervous like an anxiety feeling i cant think straight, its like a major sugar drop, anyways i hope someone can understand me.

hope to hear from u people

love victoria.

im so happy for you on getting your surgery soon. im happy because i know how good you will feel! the day after my surgery i went shopping for 5 hours in a row! and i felt great ! ( btw im 42 years old- banded by dr ortiz 8/17/07 - i ve had 3 fills so far and i think im at my sweet spot ) i have not been sick due to the band a single day! the liquid diet period that follows the surgery is very important and takes willpower but it is all worth it! i cherish my band every minute of every day! and now

i still have food on my mind but its for all the right reasons- since i have only had my band for a little while i still marvel and how quickly i get full and i make sure that what little i do eat is good for me - i also was very worried about how i would be able to function after the surgery due to feeling VERY bad if i dont eat - blood sugar thing? but i did not experience that at ALL

after surgery- in fact i was taking 6 different pills a day due to blood pressure and heart problems and now i only take 1 little pill every day- i am losing about one pound a week now. ( now that have had a few fills) my whole surgery experience was so amazing that my mother ( 61 yrs old ) had it done by dr ortiz in Oct. ( we went shopping the day after her surgery and we shopped for 6 hours!) she is doing great also! i am glad you are reading this forum because everyone on here is a 'real' person just like you. the more you read the more comfortable im sure you will be. in fact reading this forum is the reason i chose dr ortiz and the OCC !

this forum is still a great source of information and encouragement to me- so thank you!!!!!!! to everyone that contributes to it

sorry for such a long post - i am so excited for you! please dont worry - you're gonna do great!

[JilliePooh]

im so happy for you on getting your surgery soon. im happy because i know how good you will feel! the day after my surgery i went shopping for 5 hours in a row! and i felt great ! ( btw im 42 years old- banded by dr ortiz 8/17/07 - i ve had 3 fills so far and i think im at my sweet spot ) i have not been sick due to the band a single day! the liquid diet period that follows the surgery is very important and takes willpower but it is all worth it! i cherish my band every minute of every day! and now

i still have food on my mind but its for all the right reasons- since i have only had my band for a little while i still marvel and how quickly i get full and i make sure that what little i do eat is good for me - i also was very worried about how i would be able to function after the surgery due to feeling VERY bad if i dont eat - blood sugar thing? but i did not experience that at ALL

after surgery- in fact i was taking 6 different pills a day due to blood pressure and heart problems and now i only take 1 little pill every day- i am losing about one pound a week now. ( now that have had a few fills) my whole surgery experience was so amazing that my mother ( 61 yrs old ) had it done by dr ortiz in Oct. ( we went shopping the day after her surgery and we shopped for 6 hours!) she is doing great also! i am glad you are reading this forum because everyone on here is a 'real' person just like you. the more you read the more comfortable im sure you will be. in fact reading this forum is the reason i chose dr ortiz and the OCC !

this forum is still a great source of information and encouragement to me- so thank you!!!!!!! to everyone that contributes to it

sorry for such a long post - i am so excited for you! please dont worry - you're gonna do great!

Thanks for you words of support! I am going Feb. 18 and have had all the same worries as the others here. It really helps me read all of this! I will be on a "girl's weekend" prior to leaving for my surgery--I fly out of Austin 1 hour after I return from my girl's trip so I am worried about the "liquids" only before I go! I will really have to work on this! Any suggestions????

[fat2nrml]

HELLO, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO ANSWERED MY PLEA.... I SEE NOW THAT MORE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M GOING THRU THAN I REALIZED!! I HAVE SOME ABSOLUTELY GREAT NEWS!!!! I'M GOING TO BE BANDED BY DR. O ON MARCH 25th!!! I'M SO HAPPY BUT NERVOUS AT THE SAME TIME!! ANYONE ELSE WHO'S SCHEDULED FOR THIS DATE, PLEASE DROP ME A LINE! I WILL BE GOING BY MYSELF, FLYING OUT OF PA. THANKS!! DARLENE =D>

[JGirl]

Man, it feels good in some warped way to know that I'm not alone. I am getting banded on Feb 6 and can't wait...I can eat till I am almost sick, and just can't wait to be able to eat again. Only other addicts understand, and if i hear one more thin girl tell me to just not eat so much I will pull her hair out! Chin up, I am right there with you!

Janet

[PININA]

Heck yeah you're not alone!!!!! I remember as a little kid people telling my mom that she should take food away from me so I wouldn't eat! That was the WORST thing anyone could do to me. I don't have kids, but if I had an obese teenager right now, I'd march her down TODAY to have this done. I'm planning to have it done in mid to late February. I'm confident in my decision, even though my insurance probably won't pay for it. I'm not obese enough. (Imagine that!)

[fat2nrml]

HELLO JANET AND PININA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR MESSAGES.... IT IS SO NICE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE!! I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENS TO SOME PEOPLE AND NOT OTHERS. I WATCHED OPRAH A FEW YEARS AGO AND I REMEMBER HER SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO DIG DEEP AND FIND THE HIDDEN REASON THAT WE OVER EAT. [i GUESS SHE MEANT THAT SHE WAS RAPED AS A YOUNG GIRL AND THAT'S WHY SHE OVER EATS.... WHICH I CAN UNDERSTAND] BUT I DIDN'T HAVE AN AWFUL CHILDHOOD, IT WASN'T ALL THAT GREAT, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED THAT I THINK WOULD PUSH ME TO EAT THE WAY I DO. NO ONE SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE ME OVER EAT. WHY CAN'T I GET ENOUGH FOOD? I KNOW I'M NOT HUNGRY, SO WHAT PUSHES ME? I GUESS IF ANYONE ON THIS SITE KNEW THE ANSWER, THEY WOULDN'T BE ON THIS SITE, HUH? THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING, AND ANY TIME YOU WANT TO CHAT, DROP ME A LINE! DARLENE