This morning, I'm following the example of a friend in program. I told a friend recently that it helps me to have something to do after meals- an immediate plan-preferably one that involves the tools of the program. It reminded to to actually use that advice, so today I'm writing after my breakfast.
A is for Abstinence. I'm committing to staying abstinent and to not multi-tasking or distracting myself while I'm eating.
E is for exercise. I'm training with a coach at 11.
...ok. i don't actually know what I,O, and U stand for, but I'll just write some stuff ;-)
God, please help me live a meaningful life today. Help me seek your constant guidance, and follow the direction you give me through my heart and the universe. Help me stay conscious and present. Please remove the obsession with self and desire to numb out. Help me be there for others and focus on how I can be of service to the world. OK. that sounds like a good day. Gotta go to a meeting. Later!
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At my recovery house, they told me to put a picture of myself as a little girl on my mirror, and every time I wanted to say something mean to myself, imagine saying it to the little girl in the picture. Can you really say such hurtful things to a little girl? It's just as damaging when you say it to you.
I Believe I Can Fly
At my recovery house, they told me to put a picture of myself as a little girl on my mirror, and every time I wanted to say something mean to myself, imagine saying it to the little girl in the picture. Can you really say such hurtful things to a little girl? It's just as damaging when you say it to you.
About Me
- aLIVE!
- I am a grateful recovering compulsive overeater, bulimic, exercise addict, and control freak. I've also gone through phases of anorexia, and assume I'd be an alcoholic if I ever started drinking. All or Nothing. I'm pretty much addicted to anything I do.
Abstinence
I think it's really important to note the difference between Abstinence and Food Plan. Abstinence is the bottom line behaviors you stay away from in order to stay present and alive in recovery. A food plan is a set of guide lines that help you maintain abstinence. Because I have maintained almost perfect adherence to my food plan, I am certain that I have come no where near breaking my abstinence, but I feel that it is important to know where that line is. This is my first attempt to draw the bottom line.
No Bingeing-I define a binge as an effort to disconnect myself from the world by eating self-destructively. (yeah-like that's not totally abstract!) For now, I define it as defying both my food plan and my body's signs of fullness at the same time. There may be times when in order to take care of my body and basic physical needs, I may have to deviate slightly from my food plan, and that's OK. There may be other times when I stay within the guidelines of my food plan, but mindlessly eat beyond my fullness. This also is not a true binge. If I were however, to finish the portion that I have set out for myself as a meal, AND recognize that I am full, and then proceed to eat additional portions to the point of extreme discomfort and pain, this cannot be described as anything but a binge, and would constitute breaking my abstinence.
No Purging
simple: take no actions to "get rid of" food which I have consumed. That includes inducing vomiting by any means, taking any form of laxative pills, tablets, supplements, teas, or even compulsive exercising to burn off specific calories.
No Restricting
there are a lot of subtle little ways to restrict, but my bottom line is that I never intentionally deprive myself of something that my body actually requires in order to function properly.
My Food Plan
- Eat a meal or snack every 2-5 hours
- Set out entire meal/snack on a plate with defined quantity before beginning to eat, so that there is a clear end to the meal.
- balance each meal/snack with Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrates
- No Candy, Dessert, Recreational Sugar, added/refined sugar, or artificial sweetners, deep fried, greasy, fatty foods, protein bars, or frozen yogurt
- Say Mealtime prayer: for the awareness to know when I'm full, and the willingness to stop at that point
Blog Archive
Helpful Books
- Eating In the Light of the Moon
- Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous
- Life Without Ed
- Overeaters Anonymous
- Intuitive Eating
1 comment:
I think I heard once that the AEIOU is an easy way to do a 10th step:
A - was I abstinent
E - exercise
I - Have I looked after me
O - Do I owe an amends
U - now that I don't remember, but it has something to do with the 10th step
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