While I am specifically battling obesity and food addiction, I'm putting this in the general Addictions forum because because I'd like to hear the experiences of those recovering from other types of addictions. I'm referring to peer pressure designed to keep you active in your addiction, and/or to discourage your recovery. To some extent I have suffered this kind of peer pressure with cigarettes and alcohol (both of which I have successfully quit) but with the food addiction, it's been plum RIDICULOUS. To avoid triggering anybody, I won't mention numbers or name specific substances.

I've been doing really well since January, and have lost enough weight that people have begun to notice. I don't bring it up. They do. They compliment me, ask how much weight I've lost, and want to know how I'm doing it. All I do is answer their questions.

So this one lady wants to consider herself my friend, but we're only acquaintances. I'd never say this to her, but to be honest, I really don't like her very much. Yesterday she enthusiastically complimented me, which I appreciate, and asked me about my weight loss. When I answered, she responded, "That's great! We'll have to celebrate! Let's go out for some (extremely high calorie dessert)!"

I know it was a joke. I just think it was a lousy joke. And inappropriate too. It made me wonder if she would have said to an alcoholic who is now sober, "That's great! Let's celebrate and go out for (whatever name of a drink)!"

Underneath this "joke" is the attitude, "I don't want you to do better than me. I want you to be the one I can feel superior to, and look down on. Besides, I've been working hard trying to convince myself and everybody else that this thing can't be overcome. If you get better, then it takes away my excuses."

So, you who are recovering from addictions besides food, do you find that people want to throw that substance in your face and play temptation games with you? Whether or not it's under the guise of "joking"?