A plan of eating

This week, I am starting a series on the tools of recovery.

In my opinion, the first and most important "tool" for a food addict (like me) is a plan of eating.

For me, I did my time, so to speak, and tried to do my food plan my way....eating what I thought was a healthy plan, and it would have been healthy for a normal eater, but for a food addict, it just didn't work.

I have to be honest. It was hard for me to wrap my head around needing to give up certain foods. I gave myself credit for being well-versed in nutrition and had time and money invested in researching different diets and weight-loss programs.

However, nothing worked long-term UNTIL I was willing to look at the specific foods that people in OA were telling me were drugs to me (as a food addict). I simply didn't get it and I wanted to be different from these "fanatics". Even though I identified with their craziness, I SO WANTED TO BE DIFFERENT! I heard them, but I somehow acted as if I had some special powers to do what I wanted to do.

I was not totally blind. I could see that sugar was in "junk" food, (ie: sweets and treats), and I was okay not having those foods, but a little sugar in this and that...How could that hurt? or so I convinced myself... And whole wheat bread, how could that be "bad"?

Well, in time, dear friends, I was tired of fighting. I was tired of failing. I was just tired.

So, I listened to people who were successfully following their food plans, and I said, "Maybe you're right." I got a sponsor and eliminated sugar and flour...and in time, I gave up wheat, all artificial sweeteners and caffeine, too.

Today, I follow a committed weighed and measured food plan (without my drugs--sugar, flour, wheat, artificial sweeteners and caffeine). I eat three meals and a snack before bed. I love what I do. My life is no longer about wanting more food, but about the 12 steps of recovery and living life to the fullest.

Check out Step Easy Food Plan on my web site: www.fulloffaith.com for more information or if you want to see what I do each day, go to foodaddictsfulloffaith@yahoogroups.com. I commit my food plan each day to the loop.