Food for Thought~daily Meditations 12-31

[Pony]

Today's Thought
SUNDAY , DECEMBER 31, 2006
You are reading from the book Food for Thought.


No Exceptions

Abstinence is the most important thing in my life without exception. Since I am a compulsive overeater, any exception would mean that I might lose control. If I do not control my disease, it controls me. Therefore, there are no exceptions to the rule that abstinence is the most important thing in my life.

In order to follow this rule, I need to depend on a Power greater than myself. Alone, I am not strong enough to maintain abstinence at all times and in all places, but through the grace of God and the support of the OA fellowship, I can do it.

With abstinence, the rest of my life falls into place. I have an incurable illness, but one which can be controlled day by day through following the OA program, working the Twelve Steps, and staying in contact with my Higher Power. There are good days and bad days. but there is always abstinence. I am grateful to be an abstaining, recovering, compulsive overeater.

May I remember each day there are no exceptions to abstinence.



©1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

[historyteach]

Pony;
I don't understand this particular post.
We cannot abstain from eating.
That's the biggest difference between complusive eaters and compulsive drinkers. Drinkers can abstain; eaters cannot. We have to eat to live and eating triggers the compulsion to overeat.
Not trying to be difficult here. I honestly don't understand what the writter is trying to say. :andy:

Shalom!

[Pony]

Teach, the abstinence they talk about is trigger foods and taking that one bite passed the planned amount. That is what I have interpreted it to mean.

No we cannot go without nurishment to the body, but the choice of foods and the amount we intake is the issue. For instance, some can go without eating sweets, doesn't bother them...they have no problem doing without, but give them pasta or fried foods and they go crazy and overeat to the point of making themselves sick. As is with substance abuse, some never touch a pill or smoke pot, but give them a beer and they're gone. You see.

I have no problem with prescription med's....don't touch any other rec. type drugs, but I have been known to keep pace with the best of drinkers, downing one right after another. Now that I am no longer drinking, I have exchanged my addictive behaviors over to food even more than before....where I am using food to celebrate or numb whatever emotion I am in for that moment, eating whatever is there. So for me, I need to stay away from food for that moment, only eating "if" I am hungry, not just because I need something to do with my hands and mouth. Does this make sense?

[historyteach]

Yes, it does indeed.
Thanks!

Shalom!

[Neagrm]

Thanks for the clarification. For a moment it almost seemed to me, like the reading was a rigid control issue and a setup for disaster.

I'm really struggling and just realize this forum is on the site along with alcoholism and substance abuse.

What makes it so hard is, you have to eat. You are always dealing with food especially when preparing food for others and obtaining it for them. There is always a reminder; always a trigger close by and in your face wherever you go. Temptation constantly knocks on my door.

I must work with my mind and my HP. I'm doing a very bad job of it. I'm very familiar with Al Anon principles and am trying to apply it to my own addiction with sweets amid exacerbating hormonal issues, even as Al Anon helps me deal with other things in wonderful ways. I am a failure when it comes to my own addiction.

[Pony]

Welcome to joining this forum......we all struggle with our addicitions. Dealing with ourselves is never easy. Much easier to put our focus on other things than to turn it inward.

hang out and read and post. Today maybe a slow day, but others will be along. You might want to go ahead and start your own thread so others will respond.

glad you found us.