Food was my dopamine 😭 Now what?

Hong Kong Yanpep International
P

ProteinGal82

Well-known member
Has anyone else felt super on edge since losing their food-based coping mechanisms? Looking for ideas from others who formerly self-medicated with snacks/meals and are now taking a GLP-1 medication and therefore can't binge like they used to.
 
I create online wishlists, then reward myself sometimes. Maybe saving some dresses in my target size, or some fancy shampoo. Affordable treats like a new lipstick. It doesn't cost much, but it releases the happy brain chemicals even if I just curate the lists.
 
I'm trying all kinds of new hobbies, searching for that high. Like biking, walking in the park, even bowling, any kind of activity, because my goal is to drop the extra pounds.
 
I love this question. I am friggin bored, have no appetite, trying not to blow all my money, and really don’t want to leave my house. The garden is done, the house is clean. Now what am I supposed to do? Exercise? LOL. Normally I would be raiding the pantry looking for a sugary snack, but that is totally unappealing.

True, or true?
 
You have to switch out one addiction for another. I used to smoke for two decades. Nicotine suppressed my appetite, numbed pain (it can alleviate minor discomfort), boosted my mood, so I used medication to quit. It did something similar to what GLP-1 meds do, but regarding smoking, the lack of pleasurable effects from it removed the pros, so all I got was a yucky taste in my mouth. All addictions require a replacement, or you'll relapse. That's why some former addicts get into fitness. It gives them endorphins and the dopamine bump.

Before my spinal issues got bad, I replaced my addiction with outdoor sports. Then my neck pain got worse, making movement hard, and even sitting painful, so I got bored, started stress eating (which I did when I smoked) and now I'm on GLP-1 meds...now I replaced it with writing my novel, and doing other creative things.
 
Nothing! Complete anhedonia here. And I work out three times a day, every day, but I don’t get endorphins from it.
 
I was just talking about this with my partner yesterday. Food is just fuel now, not pleasure.

But, I’m a former powerlifter who got hurt and turned to food for comfort. Now that I’m back to a reasonable weight, I’ve rediscovered my love of weightlifting and the DOMS that comes with it. This isn’t for everyone, but try it and see if you get hooked on the process and the subsequent muscle growth.
 
I'm glad to hear others are feeling a mental health boost too. It's like my brain is less inflamed. Less fuzzy. Less... anxious. My mom even says I'm more like my old self. I'm still amazed that one little medication can change so many lives.
 
Shape-Boss said:
You have to switch out one addiction for another.
Click to expand...

That rings true. I've seen people replace food with exercise, creative projects, or even just intense hobbies. It's like we need that dopamine hit, and if it's not coming from food, it has to come from somewhere else.
 
I'm getting so many comments on my weight loss now. In the beginning, it felt good, but now it feels like people are judging me. Anyone else experiencing that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top