I am not a doctor or a scientist, but I keep going back to this food addiction thing. I do not believe one can be a food addict, but I think the same principles apply with overeating and addiction. I have thought about it and this is the conclusion I have come up with.
It isn't the addiction that people have problems with it is the habit. When I quit smoking, the physical addiction/withdrawals were over much quicker then my desire to have a cigarette. There were times during the day that it was harder then others and the cigarette right after a meal was the best. I really missed those cigarettes, and I think sometimes I kept eating because of it.
I did not give up one addiction for another I gave up one habit for another. I think ( I have never been, but it seems logical) that AA and other support groups for addictions focus on the habit, because for many of these people once the drug is out of the system the addiction is gone. And that is what overeating is - a bad habit.
Anyone who has beaten an addiction knows how hard it is to break the habit, and that is why falling off the wagon is "not okay". For addicts it might be that one drink/drug/drag will make you addicted again - I really don't know- but it is the habit - so easy to fall back into, because it feels good, that is the danger - in my opinion.
I don't know if having one cigarette would have made me addicted again, but I didn't trust myself to have that one cigarette to find out. Mainly because I didn't think I would stop at just one (I mean really if I have one cigarette why not two?)
So for now I keep my calories between 1200-1400, no exception, not because I am afraid not losing weight, but because it would be so easy to have a half dozen donuts today, and tomorrow...
It isn't the addiction that people have problems with it is the habit. When I quit smoking, the physical addiction/withdrawals were over much quicker then my desire to have a cigarette. There were times during the day that it was harder then others and the cigarette right after a meal was the best. I really missed those cigarettes, and I think sometimes I kept eating because of it.
I did not give up one addiction for another I gave up one habit for another. I think ( I have never been, but it seems logical) that AA and other support groups for addictions focus on the habit, because for many of these people once the drug is out of the system the addiction is gone. And that is what overeating is - a bad habit.
Anyone who has beaten an addiction knows how hard it is to break the habit, and that is why falling off the wagon is "not okay". For addicts it might be that one drink/drug/drag will make you addicted again - I really don't know- but it is the habit - so easy to fall back into, because it feels good, that is the danger - in my opinion.
I don't know if having one cigarette would have made me addicted again, but I didn't trust myself to have that one cigarette to find out. Mainly because I didn't think I would stop at just one (I mean really if I have one cigarette why not two?)
So for now I keep my calories between 1200-1400, no exception, not because I am afraid not losing weight, but because it would be so easy to have a half dozen donuts today, and tomorrow...
TLL believes you can be a "food addict" as does TLL's sister, the Baroness of Breakfasts.
ReplyDeleteSince we're both recovering nicotine addicts (you hit the 20 year mark this fall), we've licked one addiction & you're handling your recovery well.
While you're a great role model, it's tough to do the amount of exercise, etc. that you do as well as watch your restraint (need stronger word here) on food.
By the way, if you ate 6 donuts now, it would be a close race to see if you "went into sugar shock" or "puked first" - neither a very good option
Thanks for the blog!
DON'T start smoking!! I still haven't been able to keep off them for any long period of time!! You are doing great! I'm very proud of you!!!
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