Food for Thought: February 4th

Don't Relax!

It requires extra effort to maintain abstinence during a particularly difficult time when we are especially tempted. Entertaining guests, visiting family, coping with a crisis - there are some times when it seems to take every ounce of strength we have to stay abstinent.

When the crisis has passed, we breathe a sigh of relief and are grateful that life is back to normal. This, for many of us, is the danger point. Having made it through the difficult situation, we may feel that we are now safe and can let down our guard. We may even feel that we deserve a reward for having said no to temptation.

Let's remember that the best reward is continued abstinence. There is no time when we are safe from compulsive overeating. We are always one bite away from a binge. We may never relax vigilance over our thoughts and actions.

When we are weary, let's remember that the strength we need comes not from ourselves but from our Higher Power. Let's recharge our batteries with prayer, meditation, and contact with other OA members.

Sustain me, Lord, when I am tempted to give up.

From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters by Elisabeth L. ©1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation.

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I find these words to be 100% spot on! AFTER a crisis has passed is when I struggle to maintain abstinence.

AFTER I attend a party or go out to a restaurant where I have stuck to my food plan religiously. I breathe a sigh of relief at that point, and then the danger sets in!

Most times I have broken abstinence is after I've successfully navigated a difficult situation. I let my guard down and WHAM! The disease of compulsive overeating sneaks in the back door & bites me hard.

May I remember to never let down my guard and to remain vigilant with my abstinence.  May I never start thinking I've GOT this, God forbid, or I WILL return to my old ways in a heartbeat.

For today, I remain humble in the knowledge that COE is cunning, baffling and powerful. For today, I leave my life in God's hands and stick to my food plan for sanity.