Personal Reflection: My 30 Year Journey to Health and Finally Winning My Battle with Food Addiction

June 2025 marks the 4th year since I made the best decision of my life for my physical and mental health.

Those who’ve known me a long time know that I’ve struggled with my weight all my life. For those that don’t know, I have been overweight since my teenage years. I have been on a roller coaster of fad and mainstream diets that have worked temporarily but the weight always came back and usually with more than what I had lost. This has not been good for my health. My high school weight was 190lbs and my highest weight at age 44 was 250lbs. I had clothes in my closet from size 10 to 20 because I never knew what size I would be from year to year. The lowest weight I ever got down to on my own was 155lbs and that only lasted 6 months. I’ve tried every diet, every complementary medicine, every medication on the market (and ones that have been removed due to safety issues) and most of them worked, some better than others but they never lasted. Why? Cause I have a food addiction.

Definition of addiction: the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. It is considered a chronic medical disease that involves complex interactions between brain circuits, genetics, environment, and personal experiences. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a treatable disorder where individuals engage in compulsive behaviors or substance use, often continuing despite negative effects. The National Institute on Drug Abuse describes it as a brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and use, leading to functional changes in reward, stress, and self-control systems.

Food addiction refers to a compulsive relationship with food, where individuals experience cravings, loss of control, and continued eating despite negative consequences. While food addiction is not officially classified as a substance use disorder in the DSM-5, research suggests that highly palatable foods—especially those high in sugar, fat, and salt—can activate the brain's reward system in ways similar to addictive substances.

Some signs of food addiction include:

- Intense cravings for specific foods

- Eating beyond physical hunger or satiety

- Feeling guilt or shame after eating

- Difficulty controlling food intake despite negative health effects

There is ongoing debate about whether food addiction is a distinct condition or a behavioral pattern linked to eating disorders like binge eating disorder. With food addiction, I feel completely out of control and have struggled with making good decisions vs bad decisions every day of my life.

At the beginning of 2020, I was fed up with feeling and looking like the marshmallow man! I couldn’t take feeling fluffy and dragged down by my weight. I knew I had tried everything, and the only thing left to try was surgical options. Unfortunately, my insurance at the time did not cover ANY weight loss treatment. The cost of gastric surgery in the USA is 20-30k depending on where you live. I had researched going to Mexico in 2016. So, I started researching it again. In April 2021, I had made up my mind and surgery date was set for June 21, 2021.

Mexico Bariatric Center was the best thing that ever happened to me regarding my weight and overall health! I have ZERO regrets. I would do it again in a heartbeat and hate I waited so long to do it. I went to Tijuana by myself for 4 days and it was the BEST experience. I chose the gastric sleeve over gastric bypass because I didn’t have any issues with acid reflux, and I only had 100lbs to lose. I felt bypass would make me lose more than I wanted. My starting weight was 250lbs, day of surgery weight was 238lbs and current weight is 166lbs.

The sleeve is only a tool. I did not “take the easy way out” as some people would say because I have fought this battle 30 years and always LOST. Now I’m winning!  This tool helps me make better, healthier decisions. My stomach pouch can only hold up to 6oz at a time so I eat small healthy meals, snacks and drink protein shakes throughout the day. I still have to make the decision to eat healthy vs unhealthy but this tool is a constant reminder to make better choices.

The food addiction is still there. That will never miraculously go away or be cured but I am in better control now. I can still fall off the wagon. I do feel therapy/counseling is important but I was unable to find a therapist specifically for eating disorders the year I had my surgery. A couple years later I did find a therapist that specialized in food addiction and that was very helpful for me. Mindfulness therapy integrates mindfulness practices with therapeutic techniques to help individuals become more aware of the present moment, fostering emotional regulation and reducing stress.

GLP-1 medications began gaining popularity around the time I was considering surgery in 2020. Initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes, their effectiveness in promoting weight loss quickly propelled them into the spotlight. Had more research and information been available at the time, I likely would have explored this option first. Now, with several years of studies behind them, we have a deeper understanding of their benefits—not just for weight management but also for other conditions, including alcohol use reduction. Given their proven efficacy, I strongly recommend considering these medications before turning to surgical interventions. Medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have demonstrated substantial weight reduction alongside glucose regulation. By 2024, GLP-1s had become a cultural phenomenon, widely discussed in the media and in high demand. Analysts predict the market could reach $150 billion by 2030, reflecting their growing role in obesity treatment.

Four years later, I can confidently say that choosing to take control of my health was the best decision I've ever made. This journey has been more than just weight loss—it's been a transformation of mindset, habits, and self-worth. While my

battle with food addiction isn't over, I now have tools that empower me rather than defeat me. Whether it's the surgical path, mindfulness therapy, or the rise of GLP-1 medications, the key takeaway is that solutions exist—and they work.

If you're struggling, know that you’re not alone. Your journey may look different from mine, but finding what works for you is the most important part. It’s never too late to reclaim your health, your happiness, and your future.

Before and After