Food Obsession

**G'MaDebbie** · 03-22-2008, 11:39 PM

I started doing the Atkins diet back in January and I have lost almost 30 lbs. I have recently realized that I have an obsession with food. It isnt that I need to eat the food anymore (since January), but the fact that I feel the "need" to always be buying food. I can spend hundreds of dollars a month that we dont really have on food that we dont need.
We have only 1 child at home now and she is only here during the week, which means she isnt here much, cause she is in school all day, so basically she is here for dinner only mon-fri.
I am trying very hard lately to watch all the money I spend and when looking over my checking account I see that the local grocery stores are getting alot of our money.
I actually broke down and cried tonight because I am fighting myself from going to the store! There is nothing we "need", I just have to go to the store to buy FOOD....why? we have a lot of food in the cupboards, fridge and freezer, but when I look in there, it doesnt seem to be "enough" to me.
This must be some childhood thing that hasnt surfaced until now lol
I dont know, I am really having a hard time with this. I am so glad it is late so I can go to bed and not think about it anymore, and tomorrow I will be too busy to think about it.
Does this make any sense to anyone?

**Momof3girls** · 03-23-2008, 12:12 AM

Did you have a tough childhood, without plenty of food? :hugs
I also think that with the scary type of economy we have now and rising prices; it is normal to want to stockpile.

**missyali** · 03-23-2008, 08:29 AM

I am in the same boat. We did have times where there was not a lot of food at home as a kids. However, we have plenty of food at my house (probably with the exception of veggies, fresh fruit and milk) we could go a month or more without shopping. I have curbed this habit a bit by only taking cash to the store; it has helped. I'll keep an eye out for good responses from these brilliant gals, as I could use some advice, too.

**pip** · 03-23-2008, 09:59 AM

You sound a little bit like me, except I haven't lost weight. I'm not sure why I need to hoard food in the cupboards, either. I'm sure I had plenty to eat when I was growing up although I was always hungry. Does that make sense? Anyway, I've just discovered that my dd has an eating disorder and I've been thinking hard about my feelings about food, behaviors, etc. Trying to understand if I have issues myself. Still haven't figured it out.

**M55FF** · 03-23-2008, 10:02 AM

Could be too your obsession isn't with food but your mouth... what Frued called oral fixation.

Try some sugar free gum when you want to eat in between meals or sip water.

**PrairieRose** · 03-23-2008, 10:05 AM

I'm thinking that you've swapped one addictive behaviour for another. (I'm always working on my addictive overeating behaviour too so I can empathize with you) In my case I've swapped shopping for clothes where you've swapped shopping for food. I think we can change this behaviour too....maybe we can take up reading instead.....

**M55FF** · 03-23-2008, 10:18 AM

addicts do tend to switch addictions...
from drinking to sex... to eating.. to gambling... back to drinking...

thats a good point about switching addictions...

over eating is a bad one... since it tends to make a person fat and then they feel bad.
Vicious cycle.

**shoiji** · 03-23-2008, 01:11 PM

Makes sense to me. I still am trying to find an even balance with the whole grocery shopping. First I was all about the stocking of the pantry. Then realized I was only one person and you were supposed to use the stuff in the pantry also. Then since I was not buying anywhere except the grocery store and CVS I realized that the grocery store was a way for me to shop. Or an excuse for me. Just try and look at it as a learning experience. This is what you are learning about yourself. Even though right now it is frustrating. Take it easy. Hope today goes better for you.

**Missourimom** · 03-23-2008, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by M55FF

addicts do tend to switch addictions..

.

Very true. When I was a teenager, I developed an addiction and when I stopped using that particular addiction, I replaced it with coffee. I've been guzzling coffee for almost 20 years now. I drink it like some people drink water.

**G'MaDebbie** · 03-24-2008, 10:55 PM

I think this is the biggest challenge I have forced myself to do, other than losing weight (which is going great!). I haven't been to the grocery store at all, but am still fighting myself on it. We do need a few things, but we wont go hungry without them, so I am staying away from the store until I absolutely have to go, which will probably be within the next couple of days. I have promised myself that I will make a list,stick to it, gather my coupons and be much more organized than I have ever been. Wish me luck!

**M55FF** · 03-24-2008, 10:58 PM

if you do something UNHEALTHY they call it an addiction
if the thing you do is healthy, they call it a habit.

funny huh?

**Holly** · 03-26-2008, 07:49 AM

I remember growing up I thought we didn't have food either. ( I have learned since growing up that there was plenty of food it just needed to be cooked )
We didn't have the junk food to grab and go like nowadays
( my DS says there's nothing in our house now but we could live quite well for over a week it's just not stuff to fix quick )
Not saying that's how it was in anyone else's childhood, but an observation of our own life