Re: Sugar/Flour Addict and IE

[Guest guest]

Carolyn, I'm so glad you said this. I too am a sugar/flour addict. The guys at work bring their kids excess halloween candy to me and I put it in a bowl on the table just outside my office, but the rest of the big bag gets kept in a drawer in a filing cabinet until the bowl needs to be refilled. For a couple days I did fine. Then suddenly one day I had several of the mini candy bars. I mean like 12. The next day I swore, none for me...I have cea and one of my triggers is chocolate. My face was already breaking out from all of the candy around Halloween. I did ok until mid afternoon and I scooped up a big handful of the little candy bars again. When I went to throw away the last wrapper I noticed how big the pile of wrappers was in my otherwise empty trash can. I counted 15 wrappers that I could see! Then I put some paper in the trash to cover up the wrappers because I didn't want out housekeepers to see all that I ate in one day. That is an eating disorder. The only part of IE I really get and get well, is to eat anything I really want. Eat slowly? Eat only when hungry? Eat til you're full. I haven't figured out any of that. I can tell you I am so ashamed of myself for the gorging on sugars and it just happens over and over. I quit smoking 5 years ago with almost no trouble after 32 years. Why can't I get past this addiction too?

Best!SunnyIn Beaverton, OR

Hi there,

I have been one of those individuals who has begun the IE program, only to get so caught up with bingeing (on flour sugar products) that there has been no way of being successful in finding hunger. At this present time I find it incredulous that I have gained another 10 lbs.

The only time I have known peace around food has been when, for possibily a year, I was abstinent from sugar and flour. If I am addicted to these two substances and am trying to find peace while keeping them in my life I cannot imagine how IE is going to work. I am sinking fast here and wonder if I should once again resume to cutting out flour and sugar while eating the IE way?

Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Sunny, I could have written your post myself!

I desperately want to be able to eat the IE way, yet I wonder if I keep

sabatoging myself from getting any form of success by keeping sugar and flour in

my life? Believe me, and I know you know what I mean ... if anyone wants to be

able to keep ALL foods, in a sane manner, in my life it would be me.

Eliminating any particular food is opposite to IE principles. I wonder if in

this case however, if we must treat sugar/flour like those who would have a

peanut allergy? It may not be a physical health risk, but, it really is an

emotional life/death issue.

Yet, I do know that it is not uncommon for an individual to pack on the lbs

before they finally 'get' the IE concepts. Perhaps this is simply where I am

at. I want to be through this stage, but, I have resisted it and hence I have

yet to release all the distruction of erroneous thinking around food and until I

do I will not be able to stop bingeing? It would be nice to think that correct

thinking would begin to happen 'sooner' rather than later.

Anyway, not that misery loves company, but, rather it is nice to knwo that

someone completely understands.

Thanks for writing in. Hopefully someone can make some sense of what I have

written above and be able to guide us down the road to life!

Carolyn

>

> Carolyn, I'm so glad you said this. I too am a sugar/flour addict. The

> guys at work bring their kids excess halloween candy to me and I put it in a

> bowl on the table just outside my office, but the rest of the big bag gets

> kept in a drawer in a filing cabinet until the bowl needs to be refilled.

> For a couple days I did fine. Then suddenly one day I had several of the

> mini candy bars. I mean like 12. The next day I swore, none for me...I

> have cea and one of my triggers is chocolate. My face was already

> breaking out from all of the candy around Halloween. I did ok until mid

> afternoon and I scooped up a big handful of the little candy bars again.

When I

> went to throw away the last wrapper I noticed how big the pile of wrappers

> was in my otherwise empty trash can. I counted 15 wrappers that I could see!

> Then I put some paper in the trash to cover up the wrappers because I

> didn't want out housekeepers to see all that I ate in one day. That is an

> eating disorder. The only part of IE I really get and get well, is to eat

> anything I really want. Eat slowly? Eat only when hungry? Eat til you're

> full. I haven't figured out any of that. I can tell you I am so ashamed of

> myself for the gorging on sugars and it just happens over and over. I quit

> smoking 5 years ago with almost no trouble after 32 years. Why can't I get

> past this addiction too?

>

> Best!

>

> Sunny

>

> In Beaverton, OR

>

>

> In a message dated 11/13/2010 5:26:15 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

> crdoonan@... writes:

>

>

>

> Hi there,

> I have been one of those individuals who has begun the IE program, only to

> get so caught up with bingeing (on flour sugar products) that there has

> been no way of being successful in finding hunger. At this present time I

> find it incredulous that I have gained another 10 lbs.

> The only time I have known peace around food has been when, for possibily

> a year, I was abstinent from sugar and flour. If I am addicted to these

> two substances and am trying to find peace while keeping them in my life I

> cannot imagine how IE is going to work. I am sinking fast here and wonder if

> I should once again resume to cutting out flour and sugar while eating the

> IE way?

> Carolyn

>

[Guest guest]

Interesting discussion.  I am in my third week of eating gluten free to see if it helps with inflammation.  I have chronic plantar facitis in my right foot and that is caused by inflammation.  Over the past 2 weeks, I have felt terrific and so has my foot!  So I think that there may be something to this!  Because I am choosing to eat this way for my health, it totally feels like it is fitting in with IE.  I guess because it is my choice whether I want to feel great or not so great.

 

Sunny, I could have written your post myself!

I desperately want to be able to eat the IE way, yet I wonder if I keep sabatoging myself from getting any form of success by keeping sugar and flour in my life? Believe me, and I know you know what I mean ... if anyone wants to be able to keep ALL foods, in a sane manner, in my life it would be me.

Eliminating any particular food is opposite to IE principles. I wonder if in this case however, if we must treat sugar/flour like those who would have a peanut allergy? It may not be a physical health risk, but, it really is an emotional life/death issue.

Yet, I do know that it is not uncommon for an individual to pack on the lbs before they finally 'get' the IE concepts. Perhaps this is simply where I am at. I want to be through this stage, but, I have resisted it and hence I have yet to release all the distruction of erroneous thinking around food and until I do I will not be able to stop bingeing? It would be nice to think that correct thinking would begin to happen 'sooner' rather than later.

Anyway, not that misery loves company, but, rather it is nice to knwo that someone completely understands.

Thanks for writing in. Hopefully someone can make some sense of what I have written above and be able to guide us down the road to life!

Carolyn

>

> Carolyn, I'm so glad you said this. I too am a sugar/flour addict. The

> guys at work bring their kids excess halloween candy to me and I put it in a

> bowl on the table just outside my office, but the rest of the big bag gets

> kept in a drawer in a filing cabinet until the bowl needs to be refilled.

> For a couple days I did fine. Then suddenly one day I had several of the

> mini candy bars. I mean like 12. The next day I swore, none for me...I

> have cea and one of my triggers is chocolate. My face was already

> breaking out from all of the candy around Halloween. I did ok until mid

> afternoon and I scooped up a big handful of the little candy bars again. When I

> went to throw away the last wrapper I noticed how big the pile of wrappers

> was in my otherwise empty trash can. I counted 15 wrappers that I could see!

> Then I put some paper in the trash to cover up the wrappers because I

> didn't want out housekeepers to see all that I ate in one day. That is an

> eating disorder. The only part of IE I really get and get well, is to eat

> anything I really want. Eat slowly? Eat only when hungry? Eat til you're

> full. I haven't figured out any of that. I can tell you I am so ashamed of

> myself for the gorging on sugars and it just happens over and over. I quit

> smoking 5 years ago with almost no trouble after 32 years. Why can't I get

> past this addiction too?

>

> Best!

>

> Sunny

>

> In Beaverton, OR

>

>

> In a message dated 11/13/2010 5:26:15 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,

> crdoonan@... writes:

>

>

>

> Hi there,

> I have been one of those individuals who has begun the IE program, only to

> get so caught up with bingeing (on flour sugar products) that there has

> been no way of being successful in finding hunger. At this present time I

> find it incredulous that I have gained another 10 lbs.

> The only time I have known peace around food has been when, for possibily

> a year, I was abstinent from sugar and flour. If I am addicted to these

> two substances and am trying to find peace while keeping them in my life I

> cannot imagine how IE is going to work. I am sinking fast here and wonder if

> I should once again resume to cutting out flour and sugar while eating the

> IE way?

> Carolyn

>

[Guest guest]

Just in case, I'm going to repeat my suggestion: don't fight " the demon, " just sit with it and be FULLY present while you feed it! Sit and eat that food that you crave... just commit to being mindful and present and NOT doing anything else while you do it. i think you will be surprised how much it helps... you stop eating sooner AND you are less likely to want all this stuff in the future. 

 

It's almost like I can't get enough of whatever the sweet is. It could come from telling myself I shouldn't eat or want it but the shame and guilt don't figure in until the binge is completely finished. I don't know how else to describe what happens other than I'm driven to eat these things and often there's no thought behind it other than the overwhelming need to feed the demon.

Sunny

Sent from my iTouch

> Do you think, though, that the fact that you eat sweets so fast and mindlessly is a sign that you feel guilty for eating them? I eat more than my share of crappy foods, and for the most part, even when I'm eating stuff that's " forbidden " , the only time I eat really fast and mindlessly is either when I'm feeling particularly starved or deprived or when I'm eating something that I feel like I shouldn't and I don't want anyone to see me.

>

> When it's about eating what I don't think I should have, it doesn't have to be about any particular emotion that is triggering me to eat, it's about the emotion that the eating itself creates. Because I feel that eating whatever the forbidden food is, is something that I *shouldn't* want to do and the mere fact that I want it and have given into that desire, even if everything else in life is going swimmingly, is what makes me feel bad.

>

> Just a thought....

>

> Josie

>

>

>>

>> HI Josie,

>>

>> Thanks for your thoughts. It's certainly something to consider. I eat

>> the candy/cake/pie so fast and mindlessly that I honestly don't feel I have

>> emotion with the act at all. And believe me, I've spent many years trying to

>> find the trigger, the emotion, etc. It's after the fact that I feel like

>> I let myself down again, or feel ashamed, embarrassed or what have you.

>> That's where emotion plays a part but it isn't emotional eating, it's

>> emotional after eating.

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurie,

I know what you mean - I just feel physically better when not eating a bunch of flour or sugar. My stomach always feels better, plus I don't feel tired. So many people have this problem, don't they? Yesterday I just stayed away from the bread, didn't eat anymore cakc (ha!) and this morning I feel SO much better.

Subject: Re: Sugar/Flour Addict and IETo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Sunday, November 14, 2010, 9:39 PM

I am so grateful this topic has emerged. Thank you for all the postings!I have struggled for many years with an added lack of control with white flour and white sugar products, that definitely encompasses the kickback of forbidden foods, but also appears to involve a physiological reaction. I notice an even stronger reaction with fresh baked goods in particular, whereas the products with preservatives tend to be easier to resist. Now the easy response would be to say, "oh, of course, because they simply taste better", but that is only part of the reaction. I have researched this issue extensively, and of course come across many "diet recommendations" of the sugar addiction, Atkins, etc. variety. The one that resonated with me, though....and please take the "diet" piece out of considering what I am going to say...is the Blood Type Diet. If you put aside the "diet part of it" and simply take what is best from it...i.e. nutritional

recommendations based on blood type, I believe it has something to offer. I have found that the EXACT food recommended to avoid for my blood type matches my EXACT experiences of either illness or "out of control" eating (subjective sense of food addiction, resulting from psychological numbing with food or diet kickback). While I do not subscribe to the "diet mentality" associated with this whole premise, as much as I can, I am TRYING to keep these nutritional recommendations in mind as a part of eating what is good for my body, not what I might want psychologically. I am not always "successful", and I don't even want to use the word "successful", but when I am eating these recommended foods because they are good for my body, NOT because foods are forbidden, I do tend to feel better....I am still sorting through the psychological want associated with the white flour/white sugar products and not relegating them to a judgment of forbidden....and I

am still trying IE, I know it is the way of peace for me....but it is hard...on a side note, I keep cycling back through the "one last time" try for a diet mentality, which is difficult to discard completely as I feel uncomfortable and ashamed of the weight I am.I do appreciate you all so much. I do not post often, but I read regularly and relish the virtual support.Thank you for sharing and for listening.> >> > > > What was going on for you when you were reaching into your desk for those > > hidden candy bars? What were you feeling - bored, anxious,.....? How did > > you feel when you covered over the empty wrappers with paper? Why did you > > feel this way? > > > > ~~~> > I have actually given a lot of thought into your questions (above). I > > know the experts believe we are eating out of some feelings, like boredom, > > sadness etc. What was I really feeling? Honestly, I was at work doing my job > > that I love, when I was

suddenly hit with an urge to eat the candy. I > > told myself I didn't really want that...I had promised myself not to do that, > > my face is already a mess from previous encounters with the candy and yet > > those overwhelming thoughts of the candy continued. Even as I was reaching > > into the drawer for them, I kept telling myself not to do it. Even as I > > was pulling off the wrappers and chewing the candy. I wasn't bored, > > stressed, hurt, sad, lonely none of it. I was an addict going for my drug and > > ruining my life yet another inch. How did I feel when I covered it with paper? > > I was ashamed of my weakness, yet again, Why did I feel this > > way...because I am a fat person with a garbage can full of candy wrappers. A garbage > > can that is emptied every day so obviously it happened in one day. I felt > > like the housekeeper

must think there wasn't any wonder why I am so fat. It > > all becomes self loathing in some respect that I can't seem to conquer this > > addiction. I can finally admit that it is an addiction though. I had > > given up all white flour and sugars for about 21 days before Halloween. Since > > then though, it's been a real struggle with some days so bad and others > > just enough off to insure a continuing of the issue.> > > > I've considered addiction therapy but honestly since it's not drug or > > alcohol, it's not considered much. My last doctor kept tell me to try harder! > > I couldn't believe the ignorance of that advice. I actually eat very > > healthy foods when I'm not overtaken by the sugar. I have been fighting this for > > 30 years since I was 25. I've never won for more than a few months.> > > > Sunny> >

> > Sunny> > > > Best!> > > > Sunny> > > > In Beaverton, OR > > > > > > In a message dated 11/14/2010 9:45:17 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, > > imhere4u1232000@ writes:> >>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the book recommendations, Josie. I wrote down some new

titles. I have a little stack in my room on my bookshelf, and will

slowly tackle the different books.

I read Overcoming Overeating and When Women Stop Hating Their

Bodies. Tried to fill my shelves with ice cream and cheeses and

foods that were " off limits " , and ended up with bad heartburn and

felt gross. So I realized that for me it wasn't a very good plan!!!

Sheryl Canter's Normal Eating for Normal Weight is good. All Geneen

Roth's books are wonderful. Sondra Ray has a new agey affirmation

type book called The Only Diet There is. I really loved the book

It's Not About Food...which was very balanced. And thanks to

whomever suggested nne on's Course in Weight Loss...I

purchased that recently and hope to work through all 21 lessons...it

certainly doesn't hurt!!!

Most IE people do seem to acknowledge that healthy food is more

healing and feels better in the long run. The past few weeks I've

been super-busy at work, not eating at home, and grabbing on the go.

My body feels more heavy (not in weight, in energy) after a diet of

fast food burritos, pizza, egg mcmuffins in the morning, more coffee,

etc. Instead of JUDGING myself, though, I'm just observing. I also

know that I successfully did not weigh myself from June to late

October, then got on the scales at a friend's house and saw that I

was down 15 lbs...freaked out, and that's been part of the problem.

Got cocky...then allowed that weight to haunt me because it was still

too high, and should it have been lower. Now I know how the scale

affects me. WOW...so plan to not weigh myself...and the year starts

in October. Unless I'm at the doctor's office and need to for a

procedure or something.

Thanks all!

[Guest guest]

I agree, Josie.

I read somewhere that when Europeans generally view cake (I forgot

which country, maybe the french?) they think " celebration! " and when

Americans see cake, they think " guilt " . Funny that.

> Do you think, though, that the fact that you eat sweets so fast and

> mindlessly is a sign that you feel guilty for eating them? I eat

> more than my share of crappy foods, and for the most part, even

> when I'm eating stuff that's " forbidden " , the only time I eat

> really fast and mindlessly is either when I'm feeling particularly

> starved or deprived or when I'm eating something that I feel like I

> shouldn't and I don't want anyone to see me.

>

> When it's about eating what I don't think I should have, it doesn't

> have to be about any particular emotion that is triggering me to

> eat, it's about the emotion that the eating itself creates. Because

> I feel that eating whatever the forbidden food is, is something

> that I *shouldn't* want to do and the mere fact that I want it and

> have given into that desire, even if everything else in life is

> going swimmingly, is what makes me feel bad.

>

> Just a thought....

>

> Josie

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm new, and I just introduced myself because I really wanted to respond to this topic!

I, too, have heard of sugar and flour addiction, and I was sure I was addicted. I had been on the south beach diet (briefly) and I felt immensely better without sugar and flour. I also tried (briefly) other programs that cut out those substances because I was "addicted" However, I was miserable on these programs because I was trying so hard to get control and I just couldn't grasp it. I also wasn't getting to eat the foods I love!

Then, I found intuitive eating. I finally have found peace. I still occasionally overeat sweets, but I no longer feel that intense physical craving. And I'm still eating sugar and flour- frequently! I believe that when I gave myself permission to have those foods without guilt, they lost their power.

I believe in thougts and emotions displaying themselves physically. I feel many of mine physically every day. So to me, it seems that the physical cravings you're having may be coming not from a physical reaction, but from a mental one.

Another way I've heard it put (it may have been on here awhile back) is that you're most likely addicted not to the substance, but to the process of eating it.

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts!

[Guest guest]

Welcome, Sara!

Josie )

>

> Hi, I'm new, and I just introduced myself because I really wanted to respond

to this topic!

>  

> I, too, have heard of sugar and flour addiction, and I was sure I was

addicted. I had been on the south beach diet (briefly) and I felt immensely

better without sugar and flour. I also tried (briefly) other programs that cut

out those substances because I was " addicted " However, I was miserable on these

programs because I was trying so hard to get control and I just couldn't grasp

it. I also wasn't getting to eat the foods  I love!

>  

> Then, I found intuitive eating. I finally have found peace. I still

occasionally overeat sweets, but I no longer feel that intense physical craving.

And I'm still eating sugar and flour- frequently! I believe that when I gave

myself permission to have those foods without guilt, they lost their power.

>  

> I believe in thougts and emotions displaying themselves physically. I feel

many of mine physically every day. So to me, it seems that the physical cravings

you're having may be coming not from a physical reaction, but from a mental one.

>  

> Another way I've heard it put (it may have been on here awhile back) is that

you're most likely addicted not to the substance, but to the process of eating

it.

>  

> Thanks for letting me share my thoughts!

>  

>  

>