The past several days I have had problems with my stomach. Because of my past surgery, I cannot always identify the pain. I am not sure if I am getting the flu or if my stomach is irritate as a result of something I ate. I am beginning to believe it is the result of some really bad eating habits. As a result, I have been a lot more careful about what I have eaten. I have also lost 4 pounds this week, so I guess I am doing something right. I think God is help me do what I obviously cannot do for myself.

I am still struggling with exercise. I think about it all day long and the next thing you know it is 11PM and I have successfully managed to avoid 20 minutes of exercise. I something I will have to look at for the upcoming week. I have had more time to myself today than normal and it felt good. And we all know it is about today.

I am trying to slow down and take things one thing at a time. I find myself wanting everything right now and as a result that overwhelmed feeling is slowly creeping back. I believe that one thing I need try to work on is acceptance. I have found in the past that the sooner I let go of a troublesome issue and accept it, just that much sooner, I am able to find a solution to the problem and can then move on. I recently purchased a book called called “The Sugar Solution” wtitten by the authors of Prevention Magazine. I am not sure when I will find time to read it, but I have it. I guess I need to get to work. The sooner I can get that “to do” list under control, the sooner that nagging feeling of wanting to eat compulsively will begin to disappear.

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

I am beginning to accept things the way they are. I now spend less time trying to fight things an ask why. I have heard more than person say that one of things that was a turning point in their recovery was acceptance. I managed to stay away from every piece of the more that 10 pounds of candy that is kept at my workplace. That is so much candy you might think I work for a candy store, but in reality I work for a large engineering firm. However, I did have piece of the monthly birthday cake.

Today is a new day and I get another chance to do what I know is right. I need to do some step writing and exercise. Lack of exercise has been a recent problem in my life and I have a membership to a beautiful, high energy health club. Spending more time their would be a step in the right direction. I have really good about today and I wish I could have this feeling everyday, but right now, I will settle for having it more days.

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

This is one of those days where I seem to be stuck. I seem to have so much to do that I do not know where to start. What usually works is breaking the large and overwhelming amount of tasks down into smaller more manageable groups of tasks. Right now, the amount of tasks I have seems insurmountable. I am trying to watch the Ohio State game, so I guess once it is over I will have to get started. If I do small tasks during the commercials, I can probably see my way clear after the game has ended. I have had a reasonable day with food. It has not been perfect, but it has not been disastrous either. I need to find 20 minutes to exercise and I am sure I would feel more in control of things.

Tags: overwhelmed, healthy eating, healthy living, life on life’s terms, Twelve Step program

I attended my favorite OA meeting the other evening and we listened and discussed a lead that was given at the recent OA World Convention. The speaker had some very valuable things to say. They are things that I believe will help me work a better program. She remarked that her time in program has been marked with both periods of abstinence and periods of relapse, but the whole time she kept attending meetings. That I can do. I struggle with the thinking that if I can’t do it perfectly, why do it at all. If I go at things with the attitude that maybe I can do it better today than I did it yesterday, I think I will see some progress. Small changes all add up and will soon equal a big change.

I am very optimistic about today. It is one of these days where I can see the next ten moves I am going to make and that I will get a lot accomplished. I feel less confused than normal and have feeling of peace and clarity.

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

Today is Sunday and this is when I start thinking about the upcoming week. I have some work to do to get caught up at my job. I have come to the conclusion that it might be easier to stay caught up when I am at home and almost work casually at work to keep from getting stressed. As long as it all gets done in a timely and efficient manner, I am not sure it matters where I when I do it. I am looking for the path with the least amount of stress. Stress seems to have a lot to do with why I eat. I wish I could work from home all the time. Their are less temptations and fewer interruptions.

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

For many, weight loss surgery can be the beginning of a new life. If a person has struggled with their weight for many years, lap band surgery may be a good option for them. This type of surgery is the least invasive of all types of gastric bypass surgery. It is a good idea to meet with a psychologist or a counselor to look at the reasons that may exist for an individual’s obesity. Getting past obesity is not easy and weight loss surgery can be a way out.

I have found comfort by seeing the number of people that are like me. I still am not happy about the way I eat, but I feel there is hope and I see evidence of that everyday as I attend online meetings. You can attend meetings every 3 hours, all day long and some meetings in between. I wrote for quite a while last night on my first step, but the fact that I have been off work has afforded me extra time. I guess I should say, I am supposed to be off. I have actually been working at home so that I do not get farther behind. You are always behind where I work. It is a fact of life. But feel like I am at a good place.

They say that is all you have to do is put your recovery first and the rest will follow. I wish I could put more faith in that thought. I feel it takes “me” to make everything go. I guess that is my controlling nature. I have been off work for the past 3 days, yet I cannot seem to stay away from my email. The thought of having to sort through it all in order to get caught up, overwhelms me. I wish I could let go of these things. I believe I would have an easier time getting to the root of why I eat if I could let go of some of the things around me. I need to figure out what I want in my future career wise. I don’t think I want to be where I am now. I feel as I sort through the unknowns in my life, I will begin to be less compulsive about my eating.

I just attended my first online OA meeting. I found it interesting and I believe these meetings may give me the extra strength I need to make my way through this process. You can get anything at an online meeting as you can a meeting that you would attend in person. The topic, this evening was the 10th step. It seems you can find meetings almost any time of the day or night. You can even get a sponsor online, if you so desire. With this option, I look forward to attending a meeting daily.