Why overeating?

[Guest guest]

Last night I saw Dr. Kessler, who used to be head of the FDA talking about

a book he wrote on overeating and what the research shows. His says that when

you add fat and sugar to a basic food and add to that, social situations which

make it more appealing to eat, you have a recipe for overeating. He compared it

to former smokers who might not be attracted to a cigarette, but you add to it

the feel of the pack in your hand, unwrapping the plastic, smelling and seeing

the smoke, you have real temptation. I know when I eat sugar, which I did a lot

of last weekend I end up with the shakes and this need for MORE. What I want to

know is WHY would I want to sacrifice the feeling of lightness, ease and comfort

in my clothes for a few minutes of pleasure in my mouth? It simply isn't

logical. I feel like this could be a breakthrough for me if I could understand

the motivation.

Jenn

[Guest guest]

You know, Jenn, on Thursday, I reserved a copy of Kessler's new

book, The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American

Appetite at my local library. I had just saw him on The Colbert Report

plugging his book and it sparked my interest immediately. It's sounds

like the same thing had said when she described some foods as

" techno-color-tasty " . This would explain why I can't keep certain junk

foods in my house, especially the foods with the sugar/fat/salt combo.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I am beginning to view my " problem "

as an addiction to sugar/fat/salt. That would explain why I have trouble

eating just one slice of pizza from Pizza Hut or Papa 's, or why I

can't have just one Peppridge Farm Macademia Nut Cookie. I would

probably not have an " addiction " to food if these foods didn't exist.

These foods exist because food manufacturers want to make a profit. It's

no surprise that some people, like me, have become addicted to them.

I still eat " junk " in moderation, but I haven't kept any of my trigger

foods in my house for a year (except for Halloween; that was a bad

eating day!). I allow myself to eat it about once/week, and I have to go

out and get it and only buy one serving. This is what works for me, but

it's like I'm a crack addict and I'm keeping crack in my kitchen if I

buy it at the grocery store.

I am not a member of Overeater's Anonymous or anything, and I'm not sure

how well I'd mesh with their views, because I'm afraid they'd tell me

that I need to go " cold turkey " and completely give up sugar. However, I

do see myself as a recovering addict. This would explain why I have

" fallen off the wagon " so many times (Like Kirsty Alley on Oprah this

week, or Oprah herself), even though I knew exactly what I SHOULD do to

lose or maintain my weight. I allowed the " junk " to slowly slip back

into my life (by buying it and stockpiling my cabinets with it), and I

started " using " again.

Bev

[Guest guest]

Just FYI - OA does not have any single eating plan or anything you have to eat

or give up. That would be between you and your sponsor (and your higher power).

Tradition 3 - The only requirement for OA membership is a desire to stop eating

compulsively.

You're doing great if you have a wagon to fall off of!

Kim

<snip>

> I am not a member of Overeater's Anonymous or anything, and I'm not sure

> how well I'd mesh with their views, because I'm afraid they'd tell me

> that I need to go " cold turkey " and completely give up sugar. However, I

> do see myself as a recovering addict. This would explain why I have

> " fallen off the wagon " so many times (Like Kirsty Alley on Oprah this

> week, or Oprah herself), even though I knew exactly what I SHOULD do to

> lose or maintain my weight. I allowed the " junk " to slowly slip back

> into my life (by buying it and stockpiling my cabinets with it), and I

> started " using " again.

>

> Bev