I think it is time for me to take another look at the reasons that I should give up sugar. This seems to have helped me get 24 hours of abstinence when these reasons were fresh in my mind. This is something that it is important that I do and it almost seems like I am focusing too hard on this goal and it almost becomes an obsession, but I guess that is why they call it compulsive behavior. Here are my reasons.

1. It makes me feel bad (jittery and anxious)
2. I have trouble concentrating
3. It affects my mood (negatively)
4. It is empty calories with no nutritional value
5. It is keeping from reaching my goals and feeling productive in my life

You would think these reasons would be enough to give it up, but with a compulsive overeater it is not that cut and dried. So, I will concentrate on the next 24 hours and ask for the willingness to remain abstinent for the next 24 hours.

Tags: Just for Today, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

It seems for every one day I spend away from my normal routine, I get two days behind. When I become overwhelmed, I use it as an excuse to eat. I like to plan out my day and follow the plan, but it rarely plays out that way. I am often interrupted so often that I may be lucky to get through the first item that is on the plan. This causes me to feel overwhelmed and this feeling makes me less likely to accomplish things in other areas of my life, not to mention that eating I will most likely do.

When I tried to lose weight in the past, it seemed like I was capable of sticking to a plan long enough to get off twenty or thirty pounds. Ever since I have started attending OA meetings, I have felt more overwhelmed than ever. There does not seem to be enough time to accomplish the minimal amount of things I need to get done to move forward with my life.

Another food addict told me that if I put my program first, everything else will fall into place. I know she is right, but I am having a hard time following through. I listen to people tell their story and how things happened for them and wonder when it will happen to me. I would like to try online meetings and see how they work. They would be easier to fit into my schedule. The bad thing is I am online so much that I am afraid I would be multitasking during the meeting.

I will try to do 15-20 minutes of step writing hoping for God to show me a small amount of clarity. I think a small amount will help head me in the right direction.

Tags: Just for Today, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

I have just returned from a business trip and am trying to get back to my normal routine. I should be going to a meeting, but I think I will spend the evening relaxing and writing. I would like to exercise with my son, but it is 90 degrees outside right now. NOw that I have gotten the excuses out of the way, I just wish working the OA program came to me as easy as the NA program did. But if I had completely worked that program, I would probably deal better with my feelings now. I didn’t use drugs over my feelings, it was food I turned to. Following this program is one of the most difficult things I have done.

Tags: Just for Today, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

Today I attended the All Ohio Day of Sharing. This was a get together of OA members from all over the state. Several people shared their story, giving more insight into how and why this program works. They have lost a great deal of weight and have kept it off for several years living life one day at a time. The one lady was from my favorite meeting (I found out she actually started that meeting 17 years ago). She has been in the program for 30 years and works a great program. She always has a smile on her face and looks on every adverse situation as an opportunity. I really got a lot out of the All Ohio Day of Sharing.

Tags: All Ohio Day of Sharing, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

Recovering from overeating seems like the biggest undertaking of my life. It seems like something I will never figure out. I heard a lady speak about her life before, during and after getting to OA and she gave me hope. She talked about the compulsion to overeat fading away as she beganned to work the program. It all sounds wonderful. I have noticed that the people that truly work the program have this look of optimism on their face at all times. They just have the look of being at a better place in their life now, than ever before.

I am so hopeful that my time will be coming soon. I still struggle with managing my life so that I can find the necessary time needed to work this program. I am going to have to give up something to begin the steps. It will probably take me a month to answer the first question. It pertains to all the things you have done in your life to lose weight and for me that has been many.

Tags: Just for Today, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

I feeling I am wasting a lot of time by not getting my act together and getting this weight off. I have many times looked back on the past two years and just thought if I would spend 6-8 months applying myself, I could get this weight off and then it would just be a matter of maintaining from there. But those words are some much more easier said than done.

I believe the secret to all of this is working the steps, going to meetings and keeping my life simple. I think the “keeping it simple” part is the hardest. My life seems to be so cluttered with things that need done and I never seem to find to do things that I enjoy. I feel guilty about doing things that are fun. I feel like I should be putting the time towards getting ahead in one way or another. And I believe this feeling of being overwhelmed is keeping from accomplishing anything.

Tags: weight loss, dieting, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

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Entitlement and Procrastination are two of my biggest problems. If have a few good days in a row, days where I have been able to stick to a food plan, somehow I feel that entitles me to a reward and natural that reward is going to be one of may favorite foods. Unfortunately, I find myself enjoying to many “rewards.” The best reward would be to et rid of this last 50 pounds.

The procrastination involves eating things that are not on my food plan. My mind tells me that if I make one mistake that means I might as well blow the whole day and start fresh, but the program tells me I can start anytime. Just because I had 10 minutes of weakness and deviated from my plan does not mean the whole day has to be a loss.

Every minute is an opportunity to so the next right thing.

Tags: losing weight, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

I know this is a process, but accepting that the process of working the steps and changing my thinking could be a long one. Like all people with addictive personalities, I want that feeling of instant gratification. I want to see progress right away and it is hard for me to move forward when I can’t see a change quickly. I want to get past my compulsive thoughts about food and have it controlling my life. In order to accomplish that I guess I need to get organized with my food plan and start doing what the program states will work.

I fell quite overwhelmed with as much as I have to get done in 24 hours, but I will have to make the necessary adjustments to accommodate the things that are most important in my life. I just don’t seem to have time to think about making changes, but somehow, someway it will have to get done.

Tags: Just for Today, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

The question of the first step deals with my dieting history. This question itself will take a long time to answer and a lot of paper or in my case word documents. I was at a meeting tonight and inquired about the pace for working the steps and of course there is not one answer that fits all. I think I would like to shoot for 1 step per month, but I am not going to put any pressure on myself. This is all about becoming a better person and not using food to deal with life. I am little excited to get started, mostly because I am anxious to change some of these character defects.

Tags: Just for Today, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program