#6 100 Day Goal - Abstainance from Obvious Sweets - Want to Join? Please Do!

[roxiestone]

I'm learning methods other than disordered eating to self-soothe. I'm trying to spend some quiet time each day to stay present and focused.

Welcome Bruce24. Congratulations on your sobriety. You will find lots of support here on this thread. Amazing, honest, supportive and strong group of people.

Peace.

[smiling jack]

Welcome Bruce...I'm here because I can't leave obvious sweets alone by myself. I would have multiple candy bars a couple times a week at work, eat a box of cookies by myself within an hour, etc... My health is better now...it isn't easy and I am not entirely successful...but I keep coming back...and I have more self-esteem when I pay closer attention to all areas of my recovery.

I hope you find what you need...and that you post as often as you can. I need experience, strength and hope of others to help me with my recovery. Take care

[ananda]

As of August 11th (Monday):

ROXIE -14
LILY -34
JACK -2
ODAAT - working on 1
ANANDA -working on 1
BRUCE - working on 1

On hiatus:

BARB DWYER
GOLDIE
MIKE
NINA
PONY

[cali]

Howdy all! Welcome Bruce! It's good to see everyone!
I am ready to be put back on the list please!
I woke up this morning, and have remained OS free so I guess I am working on Day *1

it isn't easy and I am not entirely successful...but I keep coming back...

Jack-that says it all. I have had to do some really painful work on "me" but I am much better...my sponsor hasn't fired me so that's a good sign

Thanks everyone for posting--I got so much strength from everyone even when I just couldn't post myself. Just for today..

[bruce24]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

So far so good... on day 1. Got work this afternoon then hitting the gym so shouldn't be a problem for today! My problem is like i've seen already posted is when you deny a sweet and then someone looks offended or keeps offering it to you then I always cave into that. I know thats bad and I just gotta stick to it.

I'll keep an update as much as I can of this roller coaster ride. I've already gone almost 40 days without relapsing on my drug addiction why not do it with OS as well, right?

Is everyone here also a recovering addict of some sort besides OS as well?

[cali]

HI again Bruce-
Yes, I am in recovery for alcoholism. My sobrieyty date is 11/19/06.

I had almost 5+months off of sugar but blew it two weeks ago.
Without realizing it, I just blew it again tonight....I WISH I had remembered the saying

"it's easier to say no to the first sweet than it is to the second"

before I even realized it, I had taken a bite.........Yup-I have to start over...
This is going to be really tough.....I HATE this beginning stage.....
I have to remember that eating sugar really is like drinking for me...just a different package.
Any way welcome again to this thread-it's a great one

[smiling jack]

It's great to read you're back, Cali. Bruce, I got AA sober 10-3-1992, and haven't had a drink since...but I was mostly a dry drunk during my first decade...and I worked the AA steps a couple of years ago...and continue to work the steps...make lots of meetings now...and keep in touch regularly with people who have sobriety I value.

I've justified my OS behavior...as a kid...while my family drank at a relatives...my aunt always made sure I had a steady supply of sugar cookies. I learned that certain foods could take the pain of isolation away.

As Roxie writes...Eating isn't going to help what's eating me...good luck everyone.

[bruce24]

ARGHH!!! Well keep as working on day 1 please...I caved on the first day... Work is usually a safe haven for me from sweets but tonight I caved into some homemade fudge a co-worker brought in...the only "good news" is I have only one piece which is far less than what I would of normally had given the opportunity of lots being available. I did mention that I was trying to watch my sweets but still gave into the fact I had expressed that I really liked fudge in the past and she knew that and felt obligated in a small way because I think she brought it in for me. It was really delicious if that counts for anything to...*sigh*

So...back to square one but I will take the positives out of this and get a string of days going now!!! PROMISE! I do have more will power than this it was just a really awkward spot to be in and I wasn't mentally ready to say no to something like that. I WILL SAY NO THANK YOU FROM NOW ON!

cali- thats really amazing 5 months congrats on going that long and I'm sure you are mentally tough enough to do it again and even longer. Also congrats on being sober for a few years now I hope I can get to that point and keep away from drugs. My addiction was a heavy marijuana user for 5 years which ruined most of my life and lost many relationships with good people.

jack- congrats as well on the years and years of sobriety thats really awesome. As for the eating food to ease the pain of isolation I know exactly what you are talking about as my parents were split up at a young age and never really felt connected to either of them as they didnt have the time for me and really found my only comfort to be eating junk food...for me my biggest problem is pop/soda and chocolate...who doesn't like those?

Anyways...DAY 1 ... again... I will succeed this time I have full confidence I can cut out OS and if I slip up now and again I'll make sure to get right back at it... Make changes for the better right?

Bruce

[roxiestone]

I had no alcohol or drug addictions. My way of stepping away from reality came with food. Began in childhood and I've run the gamut of eating disorders which culminated in my gaining 120 pounds in 18 months about fifteen years ago. It was soon after that I got into therapies/ changed way of eating and began my recovery journey, a very little bit at a time. I hit the hundred pound weight loss mark about three years ago, continued and lost the 120 pounds, bounced up a bit recently and am trying to remove the excess now, while not reverting to bad patterns from the past. I'm 1/2 pound from regaining my 100 pound weight loss.

This forum helps me hold myself accountable, allows me to gather hope and strength from other people and allows me to share.

[smiling jack]

Thanks for sharing your stories, Rox and Bruce...I am reminded I am not a bad person trying to do good....I've been a sick person who is trying to get better.

I can be judgemental and take others' inventories....or I can believe that all...including me...are doing the best we can. Each time I do something positive for my recovery...I am doing something very very special. I need to give myself credit for each of those times when I have said, "No, thank you!" because I could have given up on myself.

I have a choice of what I eat today. I do not have to repeat the mistakes of the past, nor worry about the future. My self-esteem improves when I eat in line with what I believe is healthy for me. I cannot control my OS's....I am vulnerable to warm chocolate chip cookies...Nestles candy bar products...soda pop...desserts of almost any type...etc.

Thanks for being here for me. Take care all.

[ananda]

As of August 12th (Tuesday):

ROXIE -15
LILY -35
JACK -3
ODAAT - working on 1
ANANDA -1
BRUCE - working on 1
Cali - working on 1

On hiatus:

BARB DWYER
GOLDIE
MIKE
NINA
PONY

[ananda]

well...a little about me. I have had problems with over eating sweets since I was a child. There was an element of self protection involved in being heavy enough that people would leave me alone...although later I hated being heavy. don't understand all of that really.

sweets were my main source of calaries from 12 to 40. I was sober for some time in my 30s. When I began to drink again at 40, I very quickly lost any desire for sweets (got it through the alchohol I guess).

The desire to eat sweets was completely gone for many years. The very idea of eating a sweet food litterally made me throw up. After a number of years of drinking and no sweets, I was diagnosed with diabetis..and a number of years later with reaccuring acute pancreatitis. Sweets...not an issue.

Then last July (07) I went to treatment and got sober. After about 2 months sober I began to crave sweets. sugar became my main staple of my diet. This is really not a good thing as a diabetic. The blood sugar swings were huge.

So I found this thread a number of months ago...don't remember when exactly, and have been coming here daily since. I have not strung together the number of days that I would like, but there is definately a change in my relationship to OS.

I have a rather strange definition of OS...for me, Obious Sweets...and really is just cookies, pies, cakes, candy, icecream, the really obviously no neutritional reason to eat them sorta thing. Plus I usually want to continue eating these things, never comfortable with eating just one serving.

Today I asked my son for a small candy bar...then said wait...no...thts crazy!

So I find this thread gives me the opportunity to pause before the action.

Thanks everyone for sharing a little of your story with us

[Lily]

I am on day 3! Add me on! Monday I started back on and today I have more energy! I know it is cuz i am not weighted down w/ junk food. yay!
sheila

[bruce24]

Awesome stories ladies and gent! I'm feeling much better today I have forgotten about my mishap last night and am refocused on today and keeping myself eating small portions of anything but OS. I find my biggest time to fall is when I don't eat breakfast or skip any meal for that matter then I have about a 75% chance of eating crap that my body definetly doesn't need. To say I am in shape would only be able to be referring to the shape of a pear.

So I will not eat sweets today and I will make that same goal everyday and see where that takes me.

Slo-Pitch Softball tonight and its the playoffs so need to be on my game!

Have a goodnight all!

[Frog_2hop]

Oh, I'm just finding this thread and think it will really help me. Can I join??????

Here is my quick story - in my younger days I was the one that could eat ANYTHING and I love anything with sugar, especially sugar. I was always very thin. THEN.....I married the love of my life who soon broke is back and became addicted to his pain meds. Probably don't need to tell you how those 18 years of my life have been. Anyway, my stress increased and my love for sweets helped me survive! I took back my life from his addiction almost 3 years ago and feel I've healed quite well. The only nagging thing left is the extra 50-60 pounds I've packed on. There is such a complicated mesh of issues behind why it is still there, why I still 'rely' on sweets. I want to loose the weight of course to look and feel better as well as be more healthy, but the main reason I want to loose the weight is to conquer whatever those hidden issues I still carry around that I haven't figured out yet. I want to be free from the damage of loving and addict.

So, can I join???? What is the criteria?

[ananda]

As of August 12th (Tuesday):

ROXIE -16
LILY -3
JACK -4
ODAAT - working on 1
ANANDA -2
BRUCE -1
CALI - 1
FROG - working on 1

On hiatus:

BARB DWYER
GOLDIE
MIKE
NINA
PONY

[ananda]

glad you have joined us frog! I am going to work today. I am now in trouble because I have 3 major projects to be done by 5 and no way I can accomplish them...and all becuase I just couldn't care enough to get in yesterday (called in sick instead).

No os, but pretty negative stuff yesterday.

Sorry...no upbeat stuff today, not all days are good but the path is the same. go to work, do my job, no OS, feed the family, and meditate...then to bed. If I can do those things.....I will get to tomarrow and things will be different. I believe in the path.

[smiling jack]

Welcome Froggy - The primary purpose of this thread, I believe, is to abstain from obvious sweets on a daily basis...and share our experiences, strengths and hopes with each other that we recover from obsessing on obvious sweets. This particular thread has been around for a couple years, and I know it has helped me deal with this part of my very addictive personality.

That being said, last night's AA meeting has Halloween type candy bars that I always avoid. I caved in last night, so please return me to Day 1.

Froggy, I hope you find what you need here. Keep coming back...post as often as you can...share your story...and see what happens. Take care all.

[roxiestone]

Welcome Froggy.

Ananda, just do your best and get through the day. Sending good thoughts your way.

Bruce - hope you had your game on!

Jack - I always appreciate your honesty and willingness to be accountable.

Cali - welcome back - glad you are joining us again.

Lily - nice to see you back.

To the rest, please post and let us know how you are doing.

Peace.

[Frog_2hop]

Thanks for welcoming me everyone. So do I just check in and tell you each day if I'm still counting or if I need to start back at 1? Is OS the only criteria or is there more?
Ananda, good luck getting everything done at work today!

[bruce24]

First off welcome Frog!

As for posting, I am new at this as well but there is no criteria for how often you post. I read alot of this thread and it seems like most people update whenever they get a chance and you can use it as much as you want. If posting more helps then do it!

Got through day 1 this time...haha...and yes we won our game last night!!! I did have my game and played pretty well, thanks roxie! Have another tonight against a good team so hopefully we can pull off the upset.

Been feeling a little down lately cause my girlfriend of 5 years has been out of town working all summer and missing her so much and it's still another 2 weeks before I see her Just finding it hard coping with recovery and realizing the damage I had done to my friendships. A little lonely recovering but it sure makes me realize that I dont want to have to go through this again!

Ananda hope things get better and maybe you pulled of a miracle and if not wish you quick success in getting the work done. I know what your feeling I've been in a similar position before and it feels pretty overwhelming but you can't beat yourself down. You are where you are and nothing is gonna change it so just bear down and get-er-done!

Working on day 2....crossing my fingers finding it pretty hard to start here.

[ananda]

Thanks all....I did get done enough to not mess up things at work. And my boss wasn't actually upset or worried about it.

decent day in many respects, but I blew it on OS. Not exactly a shining example, but then again I come here so you can all help me by showing me it can be done and how to pick myself back up again and not continue the binge.

welcom to all the newer people, thank you to all of you. will check in in the morning and if I get anyone's time wrong...just let me know and I'll fix it the next time...still trying to get the hang of it

[ananda]

As of August 14th (Thursday):

ROXIE -17
LILY -4
JACK -1
ODAAT - working on 1
ANANDA - working on 1
BRUCE -2
CALI - 2
FROG -1

On hiatus:

BARB DWYER
GOLDIE
MIKE
NINA
PONY

[roxiestone]

Ananda, thank you for your service in keeping up with the list. Have a really wonderful day, okay?

Today is already starting out to be a tough day for me. Anxiety and anger have already settled in at this hour and right now I am just "sitting in" those feelings. I will try to work my way through them in a healthful manner.

They are just feelings; they are not commands and they do not require me to do something to try to stuff them away.

Peace to us all.

[smiling jack]

There is no protocol or ritual to this thread as far as I can see, Froggie...it's a place where I feel safe in talking about long-term use of food to sooth my feelings. As I feel better about myself...and I because of the ES&H I get here...I eat more healthily...it's easier to say "No, thank you" to OS offers...easier to have the determination to not cave in to cravings...

I have to start today fresh...I want to be OS sober today. Take care all.

PS. Thanks Ananda, also, for maintaining the list.