I was super tempted before I left for the grocery store, and had gotten a binge to the planning phase. I called my aunt who is also a 12-step type, and had a nice chat. It's such a blessing to have someone in the family who knows the personalities I'm dealing with, and has alot of great program experience. I'm so grateful for her. Oh, I sent her the link to this place and begged her to figure out how to join.

She understood that the conversatoins she and I have had the last couple of days about my parents and their mistakes is stirring things up.

I made it through the store with a max temptation level of 2 or maybe 3 out of 10. Not too bad. I planned to pray for my parents if I was super tempted at the store.

What situations are hard for you? How do you deal?

Dear Cacky doodle, Thank you for you post. I enjoyed learning that recovering people have plans and strategies not just hope that they dont relapse. Getting all the way into the grocery store and then using your tools is very inspiring to me. The hardest times for me is when I am tired, anxious , angry and even thirsty. Im trying to stick w a moderate eating plan which means I dont get too hungry . Im learning a lot about my self dealing w my teenage girls. My best resource is the Lord and He has brought me in His great mercy to accept myself which has been a real break as I am a very self critical person. I also try to see how ridiculous I can be ( something my girls help to point out) and this has lightened me up a lot. Many Thanks Susanna

Thanks Susanna. Yeah, I have to smile when I read your firsst sentence I had a very different view of 12 strp programs before I came to one looking for a diet, which they don't even have. There are eight tools, very helpful. Let's see how many I can remember: anonymity, writing, the phone, food plan, the steps, meetings, service, literature (had to look some up.) Here's a link: http://www.oa.org/tools_of_recovery.html

The tools work together to give us that hope For me it's not so much hope that I don't relapse as Hope, because I finally believe there is a permanent solution for this thing.

Oh, my. Cacky, I love your idea on dealing with your temptations. That you would pray for your parents. That you would focus on someone else besides yourself.
I feel as if you've sent me a beam of light, dear girl. When I'm tempted by food, all I'm focusing on is ME. It's as though I've shut out the rest of the world, and I'm darned if I'm going to let them back in until I've satisfied my craving.
I suddenly see how selfish that is! You know, I like to consider myself as being very caring towards the people I love. I've always told myself that I eat poorly because I don't care about myself.
But now I think maybe that's all wrong. I mean, I want to be healthy for myself, but more importantly, I want to be healthy for my children. I want to play soccer with them, and not have to say after five minutes, "I have to stop and rest now. That's enough for today." I've suddenly realized how selfish I am being. When I eat, it's all about me. No one can stop me. And I sneak food, and I cheat on diets. All day long, I'm thinking about what I'm going to eat next. Obviously, although I care about other people, I'm just putting myself and my greed first. That's such an ugly thought.
Okay, this is TOTALLY jumbled, but I've had a revelation, and as long as I "get it", that's all that matters, right?

Thank you so much, Cacky, and Susanna, thank you for your input!

Ellis that's cool!! I'm so glad I had something to give

I learned that through my husband's anxiety disorder: focusing on the thing you're trying to get away from doesn't work. that's why when I fly I no longer pray for my fear to go away or think about Psalm 23. Hello! The valley of the shadow of death is not where I need to be hanging out at a time like that. So I have topics in my mind ready to put my mind on when some irrational anxiety pops up. It's amazing how quickly it calms me down when praying not to die jacks me up

I'm so excited that it hit home for you (((hugs)))