Diary of a Food-Fighterperfectionism
Step 1, Part 1: “…we were powerless…”
By virtue of the fact that you are “doing” Step 1, I think it is first important to give credit where credit is due: Congratulations! You have obviously made three very important decisions: to be open-minded about the 12-Step process, to at least try this new approach, and to change from a mindset of perfectionism …
This Is NOT A Moral Issue!
Contained within this category of ‘things-I-wish-I-had-been-told-when-I-first-came-into-program’ are items which WERE told to me, whether directly or indirectly, but that I didn’t “hear” until years later. Such is the case with this idea of morality. For whatever reason, my entire life was spent cowering beneath the shadow of the belief that I was a “bad” person because I could …
Be Prepared!
One of the best things you can do for yourself as you begin your new abstinent life is to make sure that your cupboards and your fridge are stocked with plenty of abstinent food. Following your food plan involves a lot more than just resisting you binge foods. It also requires that you be pro-active …
Stop “Measuring” Yourself!
One of the toughest things for food addicts to give-up is our impulse to measure ourselves, whether by getting on a scale, using a measuring tape, counting calories, monitoring our time at the gym, graphing our progress, projecting how long it will take us to lose a certain amount of weight, or marking the number …
Sponsors Are NOT Your Higher Power
One of the most difficult lessons for those new to 12 Step programs to learn is the fact that, sooner or later, their sponsors will let them down. Why? Two reasons: newcomers tend to put their sponsors on pedestals, and sponsors are only human. But rather than seeing this as a limitation, try to look at it as …
The Difference Between “Abstinence ” & “Sobriety”
For recovering alcoholics, “sobriety” is that period of time when they have not had a single drop of alcohol. “Abstinence” for food addicts is similar, yet much more difficult to define. Theoretically, it is that period of time when they have eaten only the items and the amounts that are allowed on their food plans. …
Don’t Count Days!
I know I am not supposed to be telling anyone what to do but… Although counting days and getting medallions is a wonderful way to celebrate days of sobriety in AA, in my experience, it is not such a good idea in OA. My first time around in program, getting that one-year medallion meant everything to me. …
