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"NO MATTER WHAT" ATTITUDE

3/15/2022

5 Comments

 
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I want to share what I learned from losing my abstinence recently. I had gone on a two week vacation and was doing well. We had a kitchen where we were staying so I bought the healthy foods I needed. I chopped and planned my meals. I had my scale so I could weigh my portions. I had taken all I needed to attend meetings, read literature, journal and work with my sponsor and sponsees while gone. All was well. 

Then we went on a riverboat dinner cruise. My mistake was that I didn’t inquire ahead of time what the meal was going to be. When we got there I had a choice between a food that contained sugar and a food that contained corn flour. I already knew from experience that sugar and flour will lead to food cravings but my "forgetter" forgot and told me "maybe this time you can have corn flour," so I ate it. Later in the meal there was a sugary dessert that I easily did not eat, so I told myself "see, you’re fine" and I was fine that evening.

The next day I was fine, but in the evening I found myself eating a corn flour item.

The day after that, I had the great idea to drink a sugary drink and eat whatever I wanted all day. I took a day off from my food plan!

The following morning I ate two sugary and floury items for breakfast and knew it had to STOP.

I said a prayer, made some calls, did some writing, read some literature, listened to a podcast, went to a meeting and basically dove back into program and straightened myself out. The rest of that day I was abstinent and I’ve been abstinent since.

I learned some important things from that experience. Even though I did a lot of things to stay abstinent on my trip, I failed to plan for dinner on the riverboat. I also had not yet adopted the attitude that my trigger foods are not allowed under any circumstance. With a NO MATTER WHAT attitude, I wouldn’t have eaten the corn flour, and with a little planning, I could have brought my food with me.

Thank goodness I didn’t do what the old me used to do…give up because I messed up. Instead, I’m learning what the experience had to teach me, dusting myself off and jumping right back into the middle of program. By the way, nothing I ate made me feel even close to how great abstinence feels. Plus it gave me heartburn which I hadn’t experienced in years! I’ve released 70 pounds, and I don’t want to ever go back to how it felt to carry that extra weight around. OA shows me how to stay abstinent, happy joyous and free and for that I am grateful. 


Lynne F. - ​Sequim, Washington
Guest Blogger


PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE LAST NAMES IN BLOG POST COMMENTS
5 Comments
Chrysalis
3/20/2022 10:16:55 pm

So inspiring. I appreciate being reminded that being abstinent is the best gift we can give ourselves. Thank you. ❤️

Reply
Lesley K
3/21/2022 04:35:49 pm

Thank you so much Lynne! I have some trips coming up and this is a good reminder that failing to plan is planning to fail!

Reply
Scott B
3/22/2022 03:59:56 pm

What a great story. I have a planned cruise and will need all the help I can get. BTW, I am from that area and lots of family live in Sequim.

Reply
Beverly
3/22/2022 04:05:44 pm

I so love your words "I didn’t do what the old me used to do…give up because I messed up." I used to turn mistakes into disasters, just because I felt so bad about making a mistake! I've learned in OA that I am human, and that's ok. Thanks very much for your share, Lynne.

Reply
Linda L.
3/24/2022 12:55:03 pm

I so appreciate your share Lynne. The timing couldn't have been better. I will jump back into my program today. One bite leads into days of misery unless I pull myself back into program. I can do this just for today.

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