[busyrnandmom]

Originally Posted by mom2twinboys

Yeah, can't say it's working so well for me, either. As my dh would confirm, I don't like to be told what to do -- not even, apparently, by myself.

Tonight we're going to a Valentine dinner at the church (a youth fundraiser that our kiddos get to help serve -- they're serving us for once!). I'm sure it will involve chocolate cake somewhere along the way.

I've been way overindulging the last few days and blaming it on fighting off a cold.

Last night our dog had an apparent stroke, and the on call vet recommended Benadryl to calm her down. We didn't have any, so I went out to buy some -- and a dozen Krispy Kremes while I was at it. I probably had 3 last night and 1 this morning -- but, hey, I was stressed out about the dog, you know? I can rationalize all day long.

(the dog seems fine today --maybe some balance issues -- has been checked out by her doc. She's 13 and otherwise healthy)

Hey - sounds like me!!! I lost my 1/2 cocker spaniel, 1/2 gold. retriever at the age of 15 and 1/2 years 2 years ago and believe it or not, he became a paraplegic rapid onset, and when the vet called with the horrible (to me) news, I was at the nsg uniform shop and had to leave. Me, the whole box of Krispy Kremes would be gone and licked before I got home. By the way, this dog got into my purse while I was pumping gas and ate 30 pills of Phentermine (sp?) and a tube of BRIGHT red lipstick. He looked like a bad Norma Rae or something. And it was embarrassing calling the o/c vet at MN and explaining No. 1, what kind of pills he took, and the brand of lipstick. He thought there might be some type of interaction???? Hope your baby does ok. Anne, RNC

[Tweety]

When I got sober 11 years ago, I switched to a food addiction, which isn't manifested all the time, but in binges. Slowly over the last 11 years I've gained about 30 pounds. So eating a forbiddin food isn't my problem, it's when I eat a whole bag of chips covered with full fat cheese followed by, a bad meal and a pint of ice cream. This was my last binge. I hope to count my "recovery" from that binge. We'll see.

[flightnurse2b]

as a former bulimic who would eat anything during a binge (if i was out of food, elmer's glue was just fine), something that really helped me when i started to get the feeling that an uncontrollable binge fest was coming on was to stick my head in cold water. i would either jump in the pool or get in a freezing cold shower...even with my clothes on. the icy cold water would completely help me take my mind off eating and purging, until i could regroup myself into something more productive. i know it sounds kinda silly and extreme, but i've had really good results with it.

[mom2twinboys]

Sometimes it takes something a little extreme (though NOT something dangerous).

Anyone else notice a seasonal relationship to overeating? February is about the most depressing month of the year anyway, but more than that. Of course, I've always thought hibernating through winter sounded appealing.

Any tips on how to get active? I can't seem to make time for trips to the gym, and have a foot injury that's making workouts difficult, too. I guess I could go up and down the stairs in my house! (ugh)

[I love my cat!]

Originally Posted by Blackcat99

People can be so very cruel. I hope your aunt will decide to go back to the pool someday. I am so glad no one ever said anything so cruel to me because going to the pool helped me to lose my 125 pounds.

Yes, people can be cruel.
I'M GOING TO TELL MY AUNT ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT LOSS! Good for you!!!!!
She is going in for a total knee in a month, so swimming is the only exercise she can do, plus, she just loves swimming.

[talka1]

Blackcat99,
I have been reading the book that you recommended, " Food Addiction, The Body Knows", I am really feeling HOPE! I am wondering, if this is okay to ask, did you use the food program suggested in the book? I know that I am really sensitive to carbs and am wondering if that would be too many for me....

[Blackcat99]

Yes. I always follow exactly what the book says to do period. I tried so many years to do things "my way." I was always rebellious in the past thinking I know what's best for me. I'll lose my weight my way. Well, I did things "my way" for so many years. Yes, doing things "my way" never worked. I was 240 pounds and totally out of control. Finally, I decided I was going to do exactly what the book said even if it killed me. It didn't kill me. It gave me back my life.It saved my life. I believe 100% of that book. It is my bible. If a food I like is not listed in that book I don't eat it. No exceptions. On March 29th I will have 2 years of abstinence from food addiction. Thank you GOD.

[Firehawk734]

Good day all.

I would like to offer my story and hopefully maybe something will rub off. I am a 29 year old male who had been fat most all of my life. I started getting chubby at age 8 and it just got worse from there. I ended up getting to 342 lbs when i was 23 years old, and was absolutely depressed and miserable. I have the ability to put away tons of calories, about 10,000 in a day if I eat all the wrong stuff. Everything that tastes wonderful is high in calories (remember that) lol.

Anyways, one day I decided enough was enough and I learned to keep my binging to 1 day a week, and limit calories and eat very clean the other 6 days a week. Now, this works wonderful for me and I have now lost 108 lbs over the last 3 years (had a 40lb relapse as I tried to gain muscle, didn't work, ate way too much lol). I work out and do cardio every day and I'm now down to 234 lbs, feel absolutely wonderful.

My secret to dieting is I was able to structure my diet during the 6 days of the week to a high protein diet while watching the carbs and fat intake. I educated myself and counted calories daily. In fact, I still count them everyday, and have a daily tracker I made in Excel, showing the last 2 1/2 years by DAY of each and every calorie I ate. This is absolutely crucial. It's also important to monitor bodyweight week to week, try to weigh in once a week at the same time. If you take a 'cheat day' (you eat whatever you want and as much as you want), and then weigh yourself the next day, you'll be 10-20lbs heavier due to water weight, so just weigh in the first thing in the morning of your cheat day, and keep track of it.

This system works great, espcially for those who really struggle to break the binge habit. Honestly I still do binge, but it's on the cheat day only. This doesn't have much effect on fat loss from week to week as long as it is kept to 1 cheat day and no carry-over. You can't screw up during the week either. It will affect your results. 6 days solid, 1 cheat day. It's beautiful.

Just a suggestion. It has worked great for me. LIke I said, I have lost 108lbs now doing this. my Bodyfat % has gone from 46% down to 22%. I also do cardio 3 times a week and weightlift 3 times a week (1 day off). Diet and Exercise go hand in hand. I do not believe in many supplements. I use Whey Protein Powder to help get protein requirements in and that is it, no fancy supplements (I believe you can do it on your own without needing to put crap in your system).

I hope this helps someone on the forum, and best of luck!

[talka1]

I am so happy that you found your way out. I am inspired by your journey. I found several OA meetings in my area, and am going to go to a meeting this Saturday. My best efforts at dieting have failed miserably....I know that addressing the real issue-food addiction, not weight loss- will be what saves me, too. I'll bet that I have read close to one hundred diet related books, and not one has come even close to the insight of "Food Addiction, The Body Knows". Every single sentence speaks to some part of me that has been lost for a long time. Thank you- you have helped me take the first step in saving myself, too.

[EMTastic]

I have a issue with food too.

Well, am not overwieght. I'm 5'6" and about 147-150, a healthy weight.
But, when I'm stressed I tend to binge till I get really sick gastro-intestinally sometimes. I've never thrown up but i have felt nauseated and will be in severe pain and -extremely- bloated for hours. I might do this a couple times a month-a couple times a week KNOWING I will cause myself the pain! I think to myself "well, I've only gained like 25 pounds in the last 2-3 years so I'm not worried about it", but I should be because I make myself sick. I mean, I'm lucky to have a good metabolism but, for example, in one binge meal I might eat an entire family sized box of macaroni and cheese, an 8 oz chicken breast, a pint of ben and jerrys, 2 bananas, and a frozen personal pizza. Maybe more sometimes. I think my gal bladder has sludge in it too because every woman in my family gets their gal bladder removed, some of them only in their late 20s. I put myself on a diet for a while and completely relieved symptoms but then stressful things happened a month later and I relapsed.
I used to be on topamax for several years but was taken off it a couple years ago when this started. I wonder if going off of it triggered this/ being on the topamax was preventing the stress eating. But I can't take because it made me more depressed, and now my psychiatrist who I saw for years is retired anyway. As soon as my new insurance kicks in I'm going to find a new doc