Food for Thought: March 28th

Avoiding Trouble

Staying out of the kitchen as much as possible is a good way for the compulsive overeater to avoid trouble. If fast food restaurants are a problem, then visit them as infrequently as you can, or keep away from them altogether.

With planning, we can arrange for the food we need without placing ourselves in situations of great temptation. If the family is having something not on our program, we can substitute a simple meal for ourselves which fits our food plan. Sometimes we may need to get out of the house entirely while a particular food is being served.

Whenever possible, we stay away from temptation. We strengthen our resolve and refresh our spirits by frequently making phone calls to other OA members, attending meetings, and reading the literature. As we progress in our program, we are bothered less and less by the foods which we have chosen to avoid. Our new way of eating and living is so much more satisfying than our old habits that we have no desire to jeopardize it.

Lead us away from temptation.

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

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When we commit to Abstinence, we agree to go to any lengths to keep our abstinence intact. If that means staying out of the kitchen, we stay out of the kitchen. If that means taking a different route home from work to avoid the drive-thru that calls our name, then we take a different route home.  When my family eats pizza, I sometimes have to leave the house and go for a walk.  The smell of pizza is one thing that makes my mouth water and tempts me to break my abstinence 'just this once.'  And, as we all know, it's that FIRST compulsive bite that sets us off on a path to destruction.

For today, I will not take that first compulsive bite.

For today, I will stick to my Food Plan.

For today, I will do whatever it TAKES to stay abstinent and out of the food.

For today, I will avoid temptation.

For today, I refuse to be bothered by foods which I have chosen to abstain from eating.

For today, I appreciate my satisfying new way of life.  If I feel 'tempted' to chuck my program, I will visit the clear plastic zippered bag in my dresser, which contains a cigarette, a vodka shooter, and a candy bar, along with The Serenity Prayer typed up on paper. If I choose to break my abstinence with any ONE of those items, I may as well use them ALL.

For today, I choose not to.