Is this for me?!?

[reelmandy]

Hey there everyone...

Im new here and looking for guidance. While Im not sure I would consider myself a food addict (at least as defined by FAA), I defeinately know that I LOVE food, eat too much at times and at times can use it for a comfort when it should not be.
I've always been the "big girl" but really gained a lot of weight in college when I could eat endlessly from the buffett, drinking, etc.

Since then I found another very close friend who joined another "points" related weight loss system and it really helped me learn about portions, keep a food diary, and eventually (and very slowly and healthfully) lost 80 pounds and felt amazing. However, Ive had a hard year and slowly gained back about 30 pounds. Again, many times in the past I went a little up and down, but never lost that much and REALLY felt like I had changed my lifestyle.

Heres the Rub: while I felt in control, happy and balanced while on that other plan (which, like FAA, only works if you work it!), I wonder if s/f/w abstinence are for me. The main reason being that I work extensively in the beer/restaurant industry (love it), love craft beer, love food and defiantly need to eat many different types of food as part of my work. Being completely abstinence would simply not work with the meetings I have, etc-because they are ABOUT food at a specific restaurant, beer tasting, etc.
So...I guess my question is if I should stick to my "balanced" diet and accountability that I had before (again, I was eating low sugar, mostly fruits/veg/etc and felt amazing) however, it seems when I let myself go is when I get addicted again. However, when Im back on plan (any plan really) I do great with the right support and food log accountability.

Bottom line is that---for my personality, lifestyle, job, friends, etc, abstinence doesn't seem to work, or be something that I could WANT enough to stick to. Does that make sense?
HOWEVER--I do feel compulsive with sugar and fatty foods and certain foods, but doesn't everyone?

WHere do you all draw the line between food "love" and food addiction?!?

[alicemdavid]

http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/are-you-food-addict

http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/faa-you


Hello and Welcome to Food Addicts Anonymous above are two links that will help you decide if you are a food addict, I was told to attend at least 6 meetings before deciding if FAA was for me, listen with an open mind & keep coming back, Stick around till the end of the meeting and collect phone numbers, email address ect...and ask questions make phone calls send email from those who share things you may be experience or can relate to make phone calls or send emails get to know other loving food addicts in recovery. Below is another link to the meeting page very helpful...keep coming back glad you are here!

http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/meetings-events

[alicemdavid]

What does one have to change to find the sanity of recovery?

The answer is: EVERYTHING. "Everything" begins with the one little step of admitting our powerlessness and surrendering ourself-destructive ways, one day at a time.