Once you pop, you just can't stop....

[Letsdothis]

Two days back on the healthy eating and already feeling much better. 😊

I realise that it's not just the healthy food I'm putting into my body, but for me it's also about the feeling that I am in control of my eating and not vice-versa..

I accepted a long time ago that I am a food addict, or more precisely a JUNK food addict, for me, it will always get a grip on me if I even take a taste.

I fooled myself that I could have a 'treat' day, once a week, where I could binge on as much junk food as I wanted, and that the following day could return to the light., Nope, I was foolish to think it was that simple.

Like any other addiction, once you get a taste of the object of your addiction, it sucks you into the viscous cycle once again.

So, finally, after many, many years of battle with my self, I need to accept that one Pringle will never be enough......

So don't buy the blinking Pringles in the first place!! 😇

[MW50]

I can so relate to this ...

[Hidden]

I can relate to it as well. Chocolate in the house always had a use by date the same as the date I brought it I used to think! So now I don't buy it. Xx

[Letsdothis in reply to Hidden]

I find that's the only thing that works for me...best not to have it to hand at all.

[Caz28]

Yes, the food industry certainly did a good job of making unhealthy foods addictive! I try and stick to fresh food prepared by me. My main weaknesses are bread and pastry. I have drastically cut down on bread and only have wholemeal plain or seeded, I keep a loaf in the freezer and just have an occasional slice. I allow myself puff pastry once a month and usually make a chicken and leek pie or a pretend pizza!

You might find this post interesting -

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[Letsdothis in reply to Caz28]

Thanks Caz.

Bread is my Achilles heel also, especially toast, the smell is too irresistible.....

[IndigoBlue61]

It's a difficult balance isn't it? We need to enjoy our food, and have treats, but how often is the issue 😕 By being aware of calories (also how hard I need to exercise to burn off the calories) I have decided some things just aren't worth it, but some of my favourites things are 😊

I also agree totally about the feeling of being in control, of how good it feels to be healthy and energised inside and out 😊

So pleased you are feeling positive 😊 Have a good weekend 😊

[Letsdothis in reply to IndigoBlue61]

Balance, excellent choice of word Anna.

Everything in moderation as they say.

Exercise is a little tricky for me as I have severe osteoarthritis, in feet and knees, but I do go to the hydrogym and walk my dogs...some shape...every day. 😊

[IndigoBlue61 in reply to Letsdothis]

I am the same 😕 Ankles knees hips and more recently I think in my wrist and shoulder 😕 I had motorbike accident when I was 18, left side badly damaged, right side arthritic as a result. But I'm tons better for losing weight 😊 I walk a little, also swim and recently got exercise bike 😊 All on hold as I'm getting over a hysterectomy! Doh 😕

But we will get there 😊 Life in us old gals yet 😊😊😊

[Chefmel]

I also would consider myself a "food addict". But the main problem with food addiction is that unlike any other form of drug or addiction (e.g. alcohol, painkillers, illegal drugs, gambling etc.) you cant just AVOID food. I did that whole 1 day thing too. And to be honest even if you are an angel 6 days of the week and a devil on the 7th, you will put it all back on the binge day. Especially if you eat like I eat.

But then again, I do have an eating disorder, so these addictive patterns are perhaps more prevalent in me than the average person who wants to lose weight. Problem is I am also a chef as well. ANOTHER problem is in my new job I constantly have to be tasting "bad for you foods", because I'm a new product developer now, and our company makes gluten free "family friendly" products like pizza, chicken kievs, chicken nuggets, etc.

So throughout the day not only am I preparing temptation, like I used to do when I was a restaurant chef, but I actually have to analyse and constantly try these foods. And i'm finding it difficult to maintain my weight like I did before. When I was a restaurant chef I was working 60 hours a week and constantly on my feet, so I could eat whatever I wanted. Now that I do like a 50 hour week, and half of this is office based, I've put on like a little over a stone in the last 4 months, and am struggling to lose it. Sorry about rant, just feel where you are coming from. Hello, my name is Mel, and i'm a food-aholic. I've been sober for 0 seconds now.

[Letsdothis in reply to Chefmel]

Oh my goodness Mel, you are indeed facing a challenging journey.

Says a lot about your strength of character to see you here and how determined you are to take control of it. Well done. 😊

[albinohedgehog]

Heya. I'm totally like this I sometimes get really strong urges in evenings to go buy a basket full of junk food and eat it all! Sometimes I do although my binges are smaller now for some reason. I think I'm listening to my body more maybe.

I realised like you that some foods I just need to stay away from- the ones that are really addictive and low in nutrients, like iced donuts (and def Pringles!) they seem to make the urges worse not better! The more I binge the more I want to binge. I think that's how alcohol and drug addiction works aswell. If you stop completely the urges dwindle over time, apparently. I wouldn't know lol.

That said I've decided I will have one indulgent meal a week like steak with peppercorn sauce, and veggies and some oven chips, as even though it's high in fat it's still proper nutritious food and there's only so much meat and potato and veggies you can eat in one sitting.

Also I keep 80% dark choc in as I seem to be ok with that and can have a bit when I really need chocolate. Milk chocolate with caramel I would stuff my face with tho. 😉

I'm back on healthy normal eating today after a couple of weeks of not being very disciplined. Need to do a plan. 😊

Thanks for you post it's nice to know there are others who have this addiction, or whatever it is.

Hedgehog.

Xx

[Letsdothis in reply to albinohedgehog]

Great choice of treats hedgehog, as you say, that's far healthier than nipping into a Gregg's and end up buying half the shop!!

Or buying a packet of chocolate hobnobs and eating the whole lot in one sitting! (Biscuits are my sweetie downfall)

It is hard for many of us who have the same addiction to food, and as another member said to me, it's not like it's something you can completely abstain from like other addictions. One doesn't need alcohol or cigarettes to live after all....but food.

Anyway, as we all know, it's about self-control and the right choices...sounds so easy put like that don't it?, If only...

Well done for getting back on track, have a great, healthy day. 😊