I’ve been graced with thirty-six years in program and twenty-nine in abstinence. Actually, it’s more accurate to say that I’ve been blessed with 10,585 one-days-at-a-time of abstinence. The Alcoholic’s Anonymous Big Book on page 85 says” It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.”  Substitute food for alcohol and compulsive eating for alcoholism, and it gets my attention to do whatever is necessary to stay in fit spiritual condition.
I have a rigorous plan each day to maintain this fit condition. The items have changed over the years, but my commitment has been to “going to any lengths” to do the discipline. 
Two of my daily reminders of fit spiritual condition are:

• The most spiritual thing I do all day is to weigh and measure my food. (This is how I do my food plan but could work with any abstinent food plan.)
• My abstinence is the most important thing in my life without exception.

These don’t sound “spiritual” as do prayer and meditation. But they are the gutsiest beliefs I go by to demonstrate that yes, I believe there is a better solution than compulsive eating, and I will have no doubts about my commitment.
I’ll end with gratitude for the Twelve Step way of life, and yes, after 36 years in program, much of my life is beyond my wildest dreams.

​Carrie A. 

I heard it called 'God', as a toddler of three
and during my childhood, it was inside of me
I sat in the church pew, I prayed to the sky
I sought out some 'big guy', but I didn't know why

upwards and skyward, they said good children go
but should you be bad, you will go down below
so what did it mean then, to be good or be bad?
I soon came to realize, it was thoughts that I had

I fought those thoughts often, inside my own head 
but could never control, those things that I did 
rot full with trouble, I stumbled through years
ever with something, to drown out my fears

was always a crutch, that I used as a power 
I drank or I gambled, or I ate by the hour
nothing external, could help set me free 
nor was it willpower, it was inside of me

a gentle voice whispered, It won't kill the pain 
but off in the darkness, the food called my name 
I ate and I ate, and I pushed that pain down 
but one day I heard it, that comforting sound 

It offered to guide me, to free me from strife 
and with no strings attached, It rebuilt my life 
but what should I call you? I questioned that voice 
I'm of your understanding, so my name is your choice

I have been called father, and some call me God
others say H.P. one even said Claude
of my own understanding? I glanced at the sky
if I get to choose, I'll call you 'big guy'

so I trusted that power, that was greater than me
I had tried it alone, but had never been free
the first step, he said, you need to surrender 
and in the next two steps, a faith you must render 

step four and step five, are a moral house cleaning
where voicing your harms, is a chance at redeeming
in step 6 you become willing, to turn things around
to accept you are powerless a new start you've found

by step 7 you find, you're less likely to stumble
a new person inside, as you learn to become humble
at times you've harmed others, or family and friends
in steps 8 and step 9 you can make amends

in step ten you review, the day that has passed
making amends, leaving things in the past
then it urged me to listen a message was there 
to find the solution you reach out in prayer

step 12 is of bringing, that message to others
those who still suffer, your sisters and brothers
to keep what you have, that peace and that calm
you have to serve others, and pass it along

so I live in recovery, one day at a time
that life of the past, I have left it behind
I live for the moment now, hour by hour
that 'big guy' walks with me, as my higher power

Diane D

I opened my email this morning and one of the first emails had the subject line, "start your new years resolution early," and went on to talk about the importance of self care and taking positive steps towards better health.  Of course, one of the positive steps the email recommended was that I sign up for this particular weigh and pay company's plan that would miraculously solve my weight problem.  I thought about that subject line "New Years Resolution."   How many New Years, Mondays, mornings did I resolve to start a diet and stay on it?  I am not sure I can count that high.  I absolutely admit that I am powerless over food.  For me, that means that I simply cannot take even one bite of these foods.  It also means I cannot afford any attempts to control my food on my own, or any other human, will power.  Making a resolution is appealing because it is an attempt to take back control over my food.  I am grateful that HP whispered this fact to me and I didn't trip too far down that fairy lane of make believe.   The only solution that has worked for has been following the 12 steps of Overeaters Anonymous.   The first step is admitting that I am powerless over food.  Rather than making resolutions, I ask God for the willingness to do His will today and for the willingness to follow an abstinent plan of eating for this day.  That is what works.  I am so grateful for this program and for those of you who walk this path with me. 


Lisa S. - Region One