I am more than aware that I am addicted to food.  Everyone has their addictions, food just so happens to be mine.  When people have addictions they are not able to be around what they are addicted to.  So with that being said, I can not avoid food and I am having serious problems with this.  I go from the extreme of eating everything, even when I am not hungry, I still feel the need to eat, to the extreme of just living on three slim fast shakes a day, which I take with alli. This happens from day to day. One day I can be one way and the next day go the other way with it. I cannot not find a happy medium, either I eat non stop or I don't eat at all.  When I eat I still take the alli pills with it so that I don't gain all the weight back. When I don't eat I have a great week losing weight and which makes me not want to eat even more.  I have two young children and I am a single parent so I buy the food for the family but I have to buy snacks to pack the kids lunches and to have around the house for them, but I end up eating most of them.  Please, any advise would be wonderful, considering that I have spoke to my doctor and he is not the least bit conserned about my weight or health at this point even though I am 5'6" and 234 lbs.    

I'm very disappointed (though not surprised) to hear about the lack of concern from your doctor.  The correlation between overweight and risk of other diseases is strong, and he could help your overall health by providing some guidance here.

You're right about addiction, and you're ahead of many other people in that you're able to identify AND acknowledge your problem.  Addictions need special help.  My best suggestion is to try and get some counseling from a psychologist who specializes in this area.

I realize your income may be limited, and that you're a single mom of two children.  Even a sesson or two might give you enough to work on the issues that are contributing to this.  Both alli and SF are expensive additions to your expenditures.  For now, that money might be better spent on a therapist.

There are free (I believe) groups like Overeaters Anomymous that would be helpful to you.  Right now your number one priority should be to get some help on the basic addiction problem, and then look at weight loss.

I admire your courage and openess about this!  Please let me know if you need anything else.

Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian

 I want to thank you for your advice. I wasn't aware of overeaters anom, or think about counseling. I will surely give it a try.  I have no support system for this so any help I can get on here is greatly appreciated.  I do not want to give up alli, it does help me control and be more aware of what I eat when I take it. When I don't take it I am even worse. 

I can't thank you enough for helping me realize that it really is an issue. When I try to tell my doctor or family members that I have this problem they all, encluding my doctor, tells me that food is not addictive, well I know from first hand it is. I tell my family so that they can help me and support me and they just ignore the situation and want me to have large meals and eat out with them, you know, things that I really should not have. What makes it worse is that it is places that has buffets so that really sets me up to fail. I really thought that I had a different kind of problem since even my doctor says food isn't addictive.

ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU!

You are so welcome!  I'm glad it was helpful and I'm happy to hear you'll pursue some help in that area.  Eating disorders are not my specialty so I'm sure there are lots of other resources out there for you.  You could even Google "Eating Disorders" or "eating disorder support" etc. and see what you come up with.  I'd be glad to try and help you evaluate it in terms of reliability, etc.

It distresses me to hear the lack of sympathy from your doc.  There are two theories (perhaps more) about food addictions: one is that some foods change brain chemisty so that people have more food cravings; the other is the addiction comes from a particular feeling that one gets during eating.  This is especially relevant with the so-called "comfort foods": mashed potatoes, ice cream...items that elicit childhood memories.  Most health care professionals are aware of this.

Anxiety causes some people to drink, others to take drugs, others to gamble...and others to eat.  There are just so many things that contribute to addiction, and the good news is there IS a solution.  That's why I recommend help other than just straight nutrition.

Let me tell you that it is NOT unusual for friends or family to undermine your good efforts to lose weight!  This is classic behavior that I've often seen it throughout the years.  Sometimes is "safer" for friends and family to keep you just the way your are!  Quite amazing isn't it?!?  Sometimes, those people might have a weight issue and haven't been successful so they don't want YOU to be successful.  Get the picture?

If you feel that alli keeps you focused (that IS a big goal of the program!) then stick with it.  I wanted to help maximize your resources, and I'm glad you clarified.

Please continue coming back to the message boards.  This is a wonderful free resource for you.  Read other posts, start new ones of your own, continue this one...whenever you need to hit the refrigerator come hit the keyboard instead! :o)

We're all here for you!

Pat

 I wanted to take a moment to say thank you, thank you , thank you!  After I had discussed with you my situation I did what I normally did I started seeking food for comfort and gained back a little over 10 lbs in just a week! I did some calling in my area for any counseling that was available and found someone that I feel comfortable with and scheduled an appointment. After only one visit, which lasted 4 hours, I felt different. I can't explain it, I just felt different. So with new ideas racing in my head about how I can over come my disease I came home and cleaned out my kitchen of any unhealthy and easy access food.  I quickly found out that if food takes time and creates a mess that needs cleaned up I am less likely to reach for the food when I don't really need it. I mean, who really wants to get a lot of dishes out to fix something that they don't need and have to clean up the mess at midnight. Those small steps really helped me. I now don't have the problem of over eating! Sure I have a snack once a week that I don't have to have but I do not over do it.

I am not saying that I am over my problems, yet I am taking steps to make it there one at a time. I am working out issues that I thought I could never work out, which is also helping me with my trigger moments, the ones that make me want to eat.  That appointment was just so helpful. I know it was only one visit but it was for 4 hours and very helpful.

So, thank you for your advise. You made such a difference on my life and how I am dealing with things now that I do have help.  Needless to say I am already seeing the difference with my weight loss. Instead of losing 20 then going back up 15 pounds I have now lost 30 pounds and not gained a pound back. 

Thank you

Stephanie

P.S. I knew Alli said that they offer online support but I would have never dreamed that it would help me the way you have.

You are AMAZING!  This is the most wonderful post and I thank you very, very much for the follow up.  Not everyone can hear OR accept that there's more to weight loss than counting calories and food choices.  You not only heard it but you acted on it.  Congratulations.  I'm thrilled to hear about your success.

Your perspective is wonderful: no one can erase a lifetime of behavior in a day, week or month.  Yes, there will be some slips along the way.  Just give yourself permission when it happens and move on...The slips will be fewer and farther apart.

What a milestone for you!  Come back to boards whenever, even if just to say hello.  Remember, we're all here for you.

Keep up the good work!

Pat