KFC Kickin For Christ

Join Date 11/2005

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What Are You Addicted To?

We are all addicted to something

It's really easy to look at an obese person and see right away a person with no discipline and no self control. How about a drunk who staggers though town after hitting the bars every weekend? But how many of us are walking around with secret addictions that are not so easily seen? We know what they are. While we point the fingers at those whose addictions are plain to see, we make excuses for ourselves thinking we're ok because nobody knows or needs to know what we struggle with.

It may not be a physical addiction. It may be an emotional or spiritual one. Is being a habitual liar or nagger an addiction? How about a habitual screamer or complainer? Do we make excuses for them like one makes for their alcohol comsumption?

Think about this. We are all addicted to something. It may not be food, but we all struggle with something that has a hold on us. I've seen woman especially be addicted to spending money. When they feel blue they go out shopping, and I've actually seen dark moods vanish instantly after a purchase was made. It's like a drug literally taking their blues away.

Sometimes those addictions can even be deemed healthy for us. Like running. Because I'm a coach and runner and the mother of three runners I've seen running addictions close up and personal. It can and does get ridiculous sometimes and can also, if not properly controlled, be dangerous.

I remember a pregnant friend of mine ran all nine months of her pregnancy including a race on the day she gave birth. After delivery of only a few hours she snuck out of the hospital for a run. The nurses were furious. She could have bled to death out there. Now that's an addiction.

I remember my husband when we first married and his love for running. He was running about 100 miles per week. His running streak was endless it seemed even to the point he had to run after the delivery of our first son. Granted he only did about 2-3 miles but he went out dogged tired nevertheless. He dared not take a day off. Addicted.

Granted, I do believe some addictions are not as bad as others. Drug and alcohol addictions, for instance, don't compare to exercise or other healthstyle addictions. The risk factors are much greater for some addictions than others. I see much more potential for harm in taking drugs than I do running or eating homemade edible weeds grown in the window for instance.

So before we do any finger poiinting we must point to ourselves, and we must ask.......what are you addicted to?

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I'm addicted to telling Christians how screwed up Genesis is...like how could God have created grass before he created the sun? It's in Genesis and yet it violates all natural law.

I'm addicted to reading posts by fundie idiots like you who need superstition to be comfortable in life.

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How can you compare shopping with alcohol.???????
Its not half as harmful as overeating or drinking.

If anyone at all has any harmless addictions there's so no problem.,moreover why do we need to rationalise everything to such an extent.

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I am addicted to being lazy.

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I'm addicted to breathing.

Seriously though, I think one important part of an addiction is that it has a serious negative impact on a person's life. There is also one you didn't mention. I have seen people addicted to religion. So much so that they have lost their job, family, etc...

One can take anything too far.

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One can take anything too far.

Amen. But I still wish that I was "addicted to love" . . .

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KFC Kickin For Christ

Join Date 11/2005

+93

I'm addicted to telling Christians how screwed up Genesis is...like how could God have created grass before he created the sun? It's in Genesis and yet it violates all natural law.

well you're a ray of sunshine now aren't you? This statement you made just goes to show you just don't understand scripture or God or the way He works. The first thing God did was create light now didn't he? It wasn't the sun or moon but it was some sort of temporary supernatural light. We also read at the very end in Revelatin that there will be no need for the sun or the moon in the new heavens and earth. My guess? It's going to be like that light that started it all. Christ is called the "light of the world." Next to Him the Sun pales in comparison. You're thinking from earth's perspective, not eternity's. It's plain to see that you have the SUN in your eyes, NOT the SON.

I'm addicted to reading posts by fundie idiots like you who need superstition to be comfortable in life.

now what have I ever said to you to deserve such a response? I'm an idiot? Why? Because I believe in God and there's more to life than what we see here? What if I'm right? Then what?

I have seen people addicted to religion. So much so that they have lost their job, family, etc...

well outside of Religion, I don't think any one of us follow God wholeheartedly. God want's our whole heart not a divided one. If I'm reading you correctly I would agree that we can be so "heavenly minded we're no earthly good." But we need to remember that we also can be so earthly minded we're no heavenly good also. It's a balance of living for God in a world that is not.

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It's really easy to look at an obese person and see right away a person with no discipline and no self control.

I used to think this but no more. Since being diagnosed with a non functioning thyroid I've read a truck load of literature on it.

You know how sit coms will often show an morbidly obese person who eventually says something like, "What? It's my thyroid!" And everyone is like, oh yeah uh huh.

Well, there is truth in that statement. If someone's thyroid is slow, it screws up their metabolism. The body lacks the hormones it needs to process food effectively and so much of it, even foods not generally stored by the body as fat, is stored as fat. So even someone on a strict 700-1000 calorie diet with vigorous exercise can still gain weight. If they gain or not hinges on other factors tied in with the thyroid like sleeping.

And losing weight is almost impossible unless they are getting artificially all five hormones synthetically/naturally...at the perfect levels every single day of their life...which is impossible for two reasons. 1.Only two of the five hormones are even produced by pharmaceutical companies. 2. Depending on stress, sleep, etc...the amount of each hormone needed changes every single day.

So, I don't look at the morbidly obese and think, food addiction right away anymore. Sometimes it really is other things. I could very well end up one of those people down the road and I am not addicted to food. And I wouldn't appreciate someone making the assumption about me.

Just something to think about sista!

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So, I don't look at the morbidly obese and think, food addiction right away anymore. Sometimes it really is other things

That's true enough. hypothyroidism is one thing that can cause obesity, but when you see that 400lbs person scarfing down a whole box of doughnuts that pretty well narrows it down doesn't it?

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If someone's thyroid is slow, it screws up their metabolism. The body lacks the hormones it needs to process food effectively

I know several women like that, and indeed, they try. But they eat like mice! and yet, it still sabotages them. I dont look at fat people as lacking will power any longer. I wonder what their thyroid count is.

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How can you compare shopping with alcohol.???????
Its not half as harmful as overeating or drinking.

This question followed by an uninformed statement is pathetic.

IF you were informed you'd know that many people DO have a shopping addiction. It's my understanding that a person doing this is trying to fill a need, a void, much the same as a person that is a compulsive overeaterer.

Overeaters are usually people that have suffered childhood abuse, sexual abuse, rape, or other traumatic events that leads to depression, which in turn they try to numb themselves with a substance or behavior such as shopping.

Compulsive shopping can lead to loss of family, friends, create finacial havoc, and leaves the person even further into guilt, depression, shame, and it starts the whole cycle over again.

In my opinion there are no harmless addictions. They're all bound to creat a problem somewhere along the line for someone, if only the one addicted.

Get some information before you leap into this subject!

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Sorry KFC for hijacking? meant to be more ahhhhh calm about responding and hi-jacked the thread I think. Not sure if that's what I did.

I have an addictive personality? a ahhh ok I'm easily addicted to any substance, have used alcohol when very young ( 20-23) and quit, then smoking, and quit, shopping, am battling that one still, and always food.

I have a dear friend who is Christian, a strong church member, preaches God's word and also he battles food.
One of the last times I saw him he had lost the 40 pounds by just eating if hungry and used his belief in God to help him.

It's a very long and hard road when addicted to something for whatever reason.
Amen.

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Overeaters are usually people that have suffered childhood abuse, sexual abuse, rape, or other traumatic events that leads to depression, which in turn they try to numb themselves with a substance or behavior such as shopping.

I guess I'm just not a very empathetic person (maybe I'm an asshole), but I just don't buy it in most cases. I think in most cases (not all) these are just excuses for poor behavior or a weak person. Pop psychology at it's worst; finding excuses for people's poor behavior.

Adults have a choice. We can all choose what we will or won't do. I'm not talking about the person with a real medical problem such a thyroid issues, but just someone who chooses to eat enough for 5 people every day or the person who chooses to spend all of their money on shoes instead of paying the rent. Personal accountability.

Yes, there are some small percentage of people with real mental illnesses that can cause this sort of behavior and I would never criticize them, but I think it's more rare than modern pop psychology would like us to think. Some people simply have no willpower or are simply irresponsible and the psychologists would like us to believe they are ill (makes for good business for them) instead of lazy, weak, or gluttons. Calling it an "illness" is just a way to relieve the person of any responsibility for their behavior.

But at the same time, if a person makes the choice to do these things it's none of my business. Just stating my opinion.

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but when you see that 400lbs person scarfing down a whole box of doughnuts that pretty well narrows it down doesn't it?

HAHAHA.

Well maybe it was just that once!

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I don't think we're all addicted to "something".

Enjoying something and doing it or partaking of it frequently because we enjoy it does NOT an addiction make.

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Enjoying something and doing it or partaking of it frequently because we enjoy it does NOT an addiction make.

It is an addiction if it makes some doctor's next Mercedes payment.

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Marlboros. The full flavored ones that come in the red and white pack. It's been years since I've had one but I am still addicted.

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