I have an addiction. Unlike a lot of other people with addictions, my addiction is socially acceptable. It doesn’t cause me to miss work or smack around my wife. I’ve never had to borrow money to make it to my next paycheck. As a matter of fact, if you count this website, my addiction has actually made me money (heroin addicts turn green with envy).
Plain and simple, I’m addicted to eating.
I eat too much. I eat the wrong things. I eat to reward myself when I do something good. I eat to console myself when something bad happens. I rationalize it by telling myself that I deserve it (which is bullshit). I eat when I’m bored. Sometimes I’ll even eat when I know I’m already full. I know I shouldn’t be eating, but I do it anyway. I often ask myself, “Why am I eating?”, yet I never answer. I get up and think what I get to have for breakfast. While I’m eating breakfast I think about lunch and at lunch I’m thinking about what I get to have for dinner. My brain is never satisfied, no matter how much I eat.
It’s a serious problem for me, and it has been my entire life. I decided two weeks ago that I was going to to change it. If I don’t, it won’t be long until Richard Simmons is in my driveway with a Sawzall and a Ryder truck.
I plan on sharing my experience with you as I go, because all along this site has been about my life with food, why change it now? It’s going to be hard for me to share seeing as that 90% of the readership is either works with me or is related to me, but I’m going to do it anyway as even embarrassment is a good motivator.
Hi, I’m Mark, I weigh 336 pounds, and I’m a fatty.
They say the first step to any great change is admitting you have problem, on to step 2, doing something about it.
Tagged with: Diets • eating addiction • food addiction
Some other posts you might enjoy:
March 5th, 2010 at 10:03 am
I have a lot of respect for you to talk about something that many people would never have the courage to discuss. Good luck with your plan.
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March 5th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Mark,
Kudos to you for tackling issues openly and honestly. Best of luck! …might even be interesting to see how reviews of “healthy” food pop up along your journey!
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March 5th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Hi, Mark.
My only confusion is when you say “my addiction is socially acceptable.”
I cannot imagine a place in the United States where being overweight (or even a full-out fatty!) is socially acceptable.
Good luck.
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March 5th, 2010 at 10:19 am
@Emily
I actually do think that being overweight is socially acceptable in the US, it certainly doesn’t have anywhere near the stigma attached to it that drug or alcohol addiction has.
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March 5th, 2010 at 11:23 am
That’s great, a food review site from a guy on a diet.
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March 5th, 2010 at 11:38 am
This entry could have been written by me, it’s so accurate. The only difference is I’m on the other side of the story. 2 years ago I weighed 265 pounds. I’ve lost over 100. Now that I’m “healthier” I am obsessed with food. I love food. I eat for all of the same reasons you listed above. I often keep eating when I am stuffed. I am, like you, addicted to food.
I’m looking forward to following your story. It’s nice knowing I’m not alone. Good luck!
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March 5th, 2010 at 11:47 am
Hi, Mark.
I’m Pete and weigh 312lbs, down from 328 earlier this year. I’m not shy about my desire to lose weight and my inability for my brain to process that I can’t eat what I used to. It sucks and I hate it but, I hate that I might be dead before I get married in October of 2011 because of my weight. I hate that I may not be around for my kids because I chose to eat two pounds of fries instead of a salad at almost every meal imaginable.
Maybe we need an Eating Cleveland Biggest Loser, eh? Oh, wait. MenoRikey wins.
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March 5th, 2010 at 11:55 am
I’m new to the site (and among the 10% who does not actually know you), and agree with mark g. davis.
Have you read Ed Levine’s blog on Serious Eats (Ed Levine’s Serious Diet?). He’s been blogging his diet for more than 2 years– I just started reading it recently, and as far as I can tell it’s focused on eating good tasty food in moderation + exercise. Anyway, goes to show that you can have a very successful food blog from “a guy on a diet.”
http://www.seriouseats.com/tags/Ed%20Levine%27s%20Serious%20Diet
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March 5th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Good luck Mark! I don’t struggle with my weight, but my wife does, and most of our recipes come out of Cooking Light. I’m looking forward to getting your take on lighter foods.
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March 5th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
The most embarrassing post I’ve ever written: http://www.eatingcleveland.com/2010/03/05/hi-im-mark-and-im-a-fatty/
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March 5th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Hi Mark–
I’m a new reader and I’m obsessed with food, too…but I’m also fascinated with stick-figure chefs and svelte French people who butter everything and eat eclairs. I wholeheartedly admit I would like to be one or both of the aforementioned. I won’t bore you with tactics and techniques because I am sure you are about to get barraged with them…but eating well and rocking the body beautiful IS possible. The evidence is out there!
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March 5th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Hi Mark – I am new to your site, but am also a Cleveland food blogger (monicaonthego.com). I am a food fanatic, but also an excercise fanatic and a recovering binge eater….I applaud your post and look forward to watching your journey. I am obsessed with all things fitness related and would love to help you along your journey if you need it, please don’t hesitate to email me. I am always looking for new walking, jogging, biking buddies and people to find the greatest healthiest foods and my fav. passtime is helping people lose weight! Lol. My Brother in law is down from 400+ to 200 and he ran his first half marathon with me last fall. Best of luck!
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March 5th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Hi, I’m Dave and I’m 261lbs.
I started “watching what I eat” (again) last week so I’m with you 100%
Are you doing any special plan or just counting calories?
I look forward to picking up some tips from you in the coming months.
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March 5th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Mark,
good for you and good luck. I have done ww for
1.5 yrs now and have lost 165 lbs! It can be done!
Julie (@jules23)
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March 6th, 2010 at 11:06 am
[...] my first post about my decision to lose weight was yesterday, today is actually the 12th day of the process. In [...]
March 7th, 2010 at 10:38 am
Best of luck Mark! I’m not a relative either, but I do know what the weight battle is like. I’m still fighting it. The best advice I can give you (whether you want it or not) is DON’T GO ON A FREAKY FAD DIET! I’ve been on all of them and am still fat. What works for me is lots of fish and very little red meat. Lots of fresh veggies and fruit. And don’t deny yourself the occasional treat.
I hope this goes really well for you!
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