Food for Thought: October 7th

Old Anxieties

The causes of our past anxieties may no longer be operative. Compulsive eating behavior, however, brings back these anxieties in full force. Our weight may be normal, but we are never safe from the danger of personality disintegration brought on by a return, however slight, to compulsive overeating habits.

If we are to maintain our sanity and our sobriety, we must continue to abstain completely from all patterns of thinking and behavior associated with overeating. We have become new people. Daily we grow stronger and freer from old fears and anxieties. The new behavior, which gives us this new freedom, is abstinence. Without abstinence, we will again be overwhelmed and incapacitated by irrational fear and anxiety.

To be alive is to experience a certain amount of anxiety. We will never be completely rid of all fear. As long as we are abstaining, however, and relying on our Higher Power instead of ourselves, we will be given the confidence and serenity we need.

I turn over to You my anxieties.

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

*************************************************

For me, abstinence isn't about a number on the scale, but a state of mind. At goal for nearly 5 years now, my Food Plan prevails and I don't eat 'extras' based on what my weight is. I'm never safe from the danger of personality disintegration brought on by a return, however slight, to compulsive overeating habits.

If I am to maintain my sanity & sobriety, I must continue to abstain completely from all patterns of thinking & behavior associated with overeating. I avoid sugar completely, 100%.  Every day that I avoid sugar I strengthen my commitment to ME and to keeping myself in recovery status. If I relapse into old habits, I am filled with anxiety & fear which takes over my life.

The purpose of my Food Plan is to keep me sane & balanced. 

For today, I will adhere to my Food Plan of abstinence & leave the rest of my life to God