Chewing addiction and sugarfree gum

I work in a movie theater and sometimes it is a real struggle to avoid
eating the popcorn. I generally win the struggle, but I hate that it IS a
struggle. I really believe I have an oral fixation problem (shut up Roger)
especially when I am bored, which I frequently am at work. It's not a
matter of being hungry, I bring low-carb food with me, it's just a matter
of wanting to chew. I have been like this since I was a child, I used to
even chew my hair until my dad threatened to cut it all off in my sleep if
I didn't stop. I have taken up chewing sugarless gum and eating the crushed
ice at work at the same time. I like to smush the gum flat with my tongue,
wrap it around some ice, and then bite down. I did this all day at work
yesterday and Friday and I totally forgot about popcorn. I also ended up
eating less food in general and not feeling hungry. The gum does have 2g
of sugar alcohols, but they don't seem to affect me negatively at that
dose, and I use only 1 or 2 pieces a day. I have decided that my chewing
addiction is a tolerable problem as long as I use the gum.

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-Michelle Levin (Luna)
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick
http://www.mindspring.com/~designbyluna