I know what it is.....I FINALLY know what it is.....and I have to suck it up and say: chewing gum (its corn syrup) caused me to binge/vomit today.

The ONE THING that affects all addicted people is that their substance is an "avoid" for them PLUS CAUSES CONTINUED DAMAGE TO THE HIGHER FUNCTIONS OF THE BRAIN.

This is important -- very important; so much so that I hope Dr. D sees this thread.

We need to take a look at all "addiction" peoples' blood types plus nonnies and all their avoids and SEE HOW THE AVOID CAUSES IMPAIRED FUNCTION IN THE HIGHER REASONING AREA OF THE BRAIN.

This is the main difference between all blood types who do not have addictions, and blood types that DO!

I FINALLY figured this out after watching myself reach for more avoid food today (after being contaminated by my chewing gum)....and thinking inside "gee - this is just like the damage to an altzheimers' brain: something goes haywire on autopilot, while loss of reasoning/control of onesself is manifesting."

THIS IS IT. pathway to the brain is damaged/short-circuited

I'm here....I'm still an addict when avoids are introduced into my diet....and I will mention something about this in another thread: the other thread will be about "support for addict trying to avoid avoids". It will be about those so-called 12-step programs that do not always work for everyone. Thank you.

brain/gut axis

beneficials and conviction healed me

I was there and did that, so I know what worked for me

keep doing the right thing and above all, love yourself

Quoted Text

brain/gut axis

beneficials and conviction healed me

I was there and did that, so I know what worked for me

keep doing the right thing and above all, love yourself

Serraffa and Lola, I agree with your premise and heading ..  

AA programs don't work for all, yes indeed, 97% of all participants fail.. But with it millions who become aware of their 'problems' and learn to look at life in such a way that THEY can make a BIG difference.

Every time I eat ice cream, under AA rules, I relapsed, because basically I do not wish to eat it, yet I do it.  So in AA I would be a failure, if statistics where right I would be in the 97% category.

I however don't see myself as a failure.. I see myself as a winner, because I win against all the odds many times a day.  I win BY having learned what I can eat, how much and when.  I am a winner because I am learning every day what I can do to improve my health.. some does not show big results, but most or combined, it is making me healthier.  IT is the LEARNING that is my victory...  Yes I relapse, yes I am one of 97% (even as my addiction is not drinking alcohol or doing drugs,) I am a food addict.  As a food addict I am wired wrong, or as you say, brain damaged, yes my addiction is wired through my eyesight : I am a SEE food addict.  

I am a 97% person who is now 'worth' more than the day before I learned what foods are good for me.  Success comes in many forms, it comes even in the form of not being perfect -diet wise, adhering to 100% orthodoxy - but even Dr D does not ask for 100%. Lucky for me.

What The biggest fault or failure? Denial or blaming others?  Dishonesty or brutal honesty? That is in the BTD or AA learning....

I have dropped 50 pounds for real and another 100 I regained and lost over time, YET I am successful dropping weight and maintaining better health.  I am a 97% person failing my daily life BY making 'explanations' which is another word for EXCUSES.  YET I am one of 3% who succeed and make their own life healthier.

Statistics are movable goal posts..   That is all they are .. the real thing is how you do in your statistics.. and I in mine..

I would love to know what the stomach constriction feeling under the left rib has to do with added saliva, in the middle of the night or more specific at 2:30 in the morning?  What at other times 'feels' like I need to eat, even though I have never been hungry in my life.. why do I interpret certain things as hunger?  why not as a need to drink?  why does drinking water do NOTHING for my mentality?   The same with exercise.. Why does it work for some to make them feel great? while I just feel more pain or get chilled?

So many questions about brain wiring?  You are so right, some of us are wired differently, and some foods trigger us bad, bad, bad ...    

Goldie

I actually think a lot of brain dysfunction is caused by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); ie vegetable oils, grains, nuts, seeds, cold water fish & fish oils etc.  Even dark green vegetables contain PUFA.  PUFAs are *pro inflammatory* & cause many health problems.

Try SPRY gum, it's made with xylitol, not corn syrup, and it's good for your teeth.

Goldie, watch your blood sugar, you may want to eat something with a low GI (glycemic index) before bed.

nonnies keep their *addicting* genes ....