Overeaters Anonymous

[StrawberryGal]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

I found this at the beginning....

Welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive overeater.

1. Do you eat when you're not hungry?
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason?
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating?
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food?
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone?
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time?
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone?
8. Is your weight affecting the way you live your life?
9. Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal?
10. Do you resent others telling you to "use a little willpower" to stop overeating?
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet "on your own" whenever you wish?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime?
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble?
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition?
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy?

Have you answered yes to three or more of these questions? If so, it is probable that you have or are well on your way to having a compulsive overeating problem. We have found that the way to arrest this progressive disease is to practice the Twelve-Step recovery program of Overeaters Anonymous.

Wow, that's awesome ways to find out which ones are your problems.

What's website is this? I would like to share this with my friends who want to lose weight.

[StrawberryGal]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

I've opened a thread in my private forum... anyone who wants information of wants to meet... or has some other interest is welcome to join...

Becky's Corkboard...

I wish you a "Good Luck" and all the best.

I sure hope you can meet your goals and having supports from others who want to help you and themselves if they are trying to lose weight too.

[residentofcre]

Originally Posted by StrawberryGal

Ah, I understand about work thing. Yeah, the fat hanging out is gross.

People on the "Biggest Loser" are actually looking alot better than they first started out. They looks thinner and healthier. I'm very proud of them working very hard to lose weight.

I know losing weight and keeping them off is very hard. I'm not overweight, but I have watched and still am watching alot of friends are struggling to lose weight. All I could do is keep encouraging them to keep trying and just being their friends when they need a shoulder to cry or vent about thier frustration.

One of my friends lost 70 pounds within a year, and I am so happy for her. She is truly happy now.

We tell your friend they don't have to worry about getting that 70 pounds back... cause I found them and they are really happy... I'm trying to dump them... 14 have left... working on the rest

Originally Posted by StrawberryGal

Wow, that's awesome ways to find out which ones are your problems.

What's website is this? I would like to share this with my friends who want to lose weight.

Overeaters Anonymous Unity Intergroup Website

I'm sure they would love to have you spread the word... being an anonymous organization has some drawbacks...

[Big Fatty (Premo)]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

I found this at the beginning....

Welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. This series of questions may help you determine if you are a compulsive overeater.

1. Do you eat when you're not hungry? Yes. Should be noted that I am ALWAYS hungry.
2. Do you go on eating binges for no apparent reason? Yes Yes Yes
3. Do you have feelings of guilt and remorse after overeating? Never. I only feel this way if I undereat or miss a meal.
4. Do you give too much time and thought to food? If thinking about food during a poop is too much then count this as a YES.
5. Do you look forward with pleasure and anticipation to the time when you can eat alone? OMG! This is heaven. More food for me.
6. Do you plan these secret binges ahead of time? Every time I eat it is a "binge" so NO. It is no secret.
7. Do you eat sensibly before others and make up for it alone? I am proud to eat the way I do in front of anyone.
8. Is your weight affecting the way you live your life? Yes. I try to be less active so I do not lose weight. That would be detrimental to my goals.
9. Have you tried to diet for a week (or longer), only to fall short of your goal? DIET!! Oh dear God. Please don't use that word in front of me.
10. Do you resent others telling you to "use a little willpower" to stop overeating? I threaten to sit on them or eat them. They shut up.
11. Despite evidence to the contrary, have you continued to assert that you can diet "on your own" whenever you wish? What for?
12. Do you crave to eat at a definite time, day or night, other than mealtime? Oh yeah baby. All the time.
13. Do you eat to escape from worries or trouble? Yes. I worry about losing weight.
14. Have you ever been treated for obesity or a food-related condition? Not yet.
15. Does your eating behavior make you or others unhappy? I am making people who want to lose weight unhappy right now.

Have you answered yes to three or more of these questions? If so, it is probable that you have or are well on your way to having a compulsive overeating problem. We have found that the way to arrest this progressive disease is to practice the Twelve-Step recovery program of Overeaters Anonymous.

I couldn't help myself. Had to contribute to this thread. I am sorry.

[residentofcre]

Glad you did....

It's no secret that some of us don't have control over our eating.

I'm convinced that there is some allergy or defect that causes me to always be hungry...

For whatever reason... I'm not in control... I can't just eat one... of anything unless it's a whole pie or a whole whatever... then I feel guilty... then I hate myself.. then I diet... then I loose a little weight.... then I do it again... I am not in control... I know I do this... but there is a smell or a feeling or something that I haven't been able to identify that just takes over... I crave... just like I use to crave cigarettes... just like some crave booze....

I've turned this over to God. I know for a fact that there is hope...

So... guess I'm anything but anonymous... but I'm in a private forum... so let's keep my comments in here please...

Anyone else?

[RadioPatrol]

Depression, other issues you substitute eating for ......... ( not a dig, just a thought)

[luvscats]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

Glad you did....

It's no secret that some of us don't have control over our eating.

I'm convinced that there is some allergy or defect that causes me to always be hungry...

For whatever reason... I'm not in control... I can't just eat one... of anything unless it's a whole pie or a whole whatever... then I feel guilty... then I hate myself.. then I diet... then I loose a little weight.... then I do it again... I am not in control... I know I do this... but there is a smell or a feeling or something that I haven't been able to identify that just takes over... I crave... just like I use to crave cigarettes... just like some crave booze....

I've turned this over to God. I know for a fact that there is hope...

So... guess I'm anything but anonymous... but I'm in a private forum... so let's keep my comments in here please...

Anyone else?

You are describing me to a tee! I don't understand it. Never been able to fix it or stop it. Thanks for putting this thread up.

[HouseCat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

Glad you did....

It's no secret that some of us don't have control over our eating.

I'm convinced that there is some allergy or defect that causes me to always be hungry...

For whatever reason... I'm not in control... I can't just eat one... of anything unless it's a whole pie or a whole whatever... then I feel guilty... then I hate myself.. then I diet... then I loose a little weight.... then I do it again... I am not in control... I know I do this... but there is a smell or a feeling or something that I haven't been able to identify that just takes over... I crave... just like I use to crave cigarettes... just like some crave booze....

I've turned this over to God. I know for a fact that there is hope...

So... guess I'm anything but anonymous... but I'm in a private forum... so let's keep my comments in here please...

Anyone else?

I too, suffer from this. It makes me extremely angry that I crave food constantly. Food addiction is a real disease. I've read books about it...but I don't have the resources to get treatment for it. I'm not extremely heavy, but I have the same problem with the yo-yo dieting. I'm constantly thinking about food because it calms me down...it relieves stress...and too, I just love cooking. I usually eat because I'm bored...or a lack of oral fixation, but I'm finding that its also habitual, so I chew a LOT of gum. So much gum, that my jaw hurts!

I've been doing a lot of reserach on the causes of craving/addiction to food. If you look up Serotonin and 5-HTP on wikipedia, both are very interesting reads in regards to what causes us to eat when we're not physically hungry. I'm not going to go into detail, but long story short...Serotonin controls appetite, mood, anger, etc.... if there is a deficiency, guess what we lose control of? So, what causes the deficiency? Serotonin production is stimulated by this gunk called 5-HTP. It acts like an accelerator of sorts. 5-HTP is available in the supplement aisle of any drug store. I've been taking it for a couple weeks, and I've noticed I've been calmer and less moodier. My husband sure appreciates it. I am yet to feel any less cravings though. This is just ONE theory too.

Check out how all those chemicals work in your brain though...Its very interesting!

There's a lot more to the whole equation, I'm sure, but it makes a lot more sense than listening to some idiot say we just don't have willpower!

[residentofcre]

Wow... thank you all for continuing the conversation...

I just got back home and plan on going to bed... I think I have the flu but I definitely have something... my appetite is off...

It's no secret that manufacturers of certain types of foods and drinks are not above using chemicals that make us want more of their product.... Just look at the amount of sugar and sodium in most of the foods...

I want to learn to live without the roller coaster and the other stuff that goes with it. I like myself but it's been a long time since I could talk to myself in the mirror.... every time I see a camera I run and hide...

Don't get me wrong... I like me... I know that I am a nice person... I'm a Christian, bound for Heaven, I'm smart, I work hard for my community, I'm a good wife and I'm also a mother [that's probably a key to my issues]... I've left a man because he was abusive and never looked back... that takes courage... I've been homeless... and now I have a home and two vehicles... and I'm not broke... I am sure I can conquer this too... but not on my own... I need help...

I have always found that I am never in a boat alone... there is always someone else going through the same issues I have... or something really like it...

In this case there are thousands [at least] that have gone before me and they can teach me how to do this... So...

Do we want to do this?

[HouseCat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by residentofcre

Wow... thank you all for continuing the conversation...

I just got back home and plan on going to bed... I think I have the flu but I definitely have something... my appetite is off...

It's no secret that manufacturers of certain types of foods and drinks are not above using chemicals that make us want more of their product.... Just look at the amount of sugar and sodium in most of the foods...

I want to learn to live without the roller coaster and the other stuff that goes with it. I like myself but it's been a long time since I could talk to myself in the mirror.... every time I see a camera I run and hide...

Don't get me wrong... I like me... I know that I am a nice person... I'm a Christian, bound for Heaven, I'm smart, I work hard for my community, I'm a good wife and I'm also a mother [that's probably a key to my issues]... I've left a man because he was abusive and never looked back... that takes courage... I've been homeless... and now I have a home and two vehicles... and I'm not broke... I am sure I can conquer this too... but not on my own... I need help...

I have always found that I am never in a boat alone... there is always someone else going through the same issues I have... or something really like it...

In this case there are thousands [at least] that have gone before me and they can teach me how to do this... So...

Do we want to do this?

Girl! I have left a husband who was abusive too! I'm glad I finally broke that jerk-magnet aura and found a great guy!

While, we can't really put all the blame our environment, it sure does attribute to much of our issues with food and overeating. I've read that creating a stress-free environment/situations helps, but most of the battle starts in our head, I think. Dealing with stress and triggers is a battle I am currently fighting too. Its a daily trial of wits and grits!

Do you ever find yourself thinking about food for no reason? Do you ask yourself, "Why am I craving something right now? I'm not hungry... I don't need anything to eat! I'm actually kind of bloated, but I feel a need to eat!" I just caught myself doing that...I drank some water, and feel a little bit better, but what do you all do in this situation? Do you even notice? Have any tips? Advice?