At
a certain point in the drinking overeating of every alcoholic compulsive overeater, he
passes into a state where the most powerful desire to stop drinking eating compulsively is of
absolutely no avail. This tragic situation has already arrived in practically
every case long before it is suspected.
The fact is that most alcoholics compulsive overeaters, for reasons yet obscure,
have lost the power of choice in drink eating compulsively. Our so called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our
consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation
of even a week or a month ago. We are without defense against the first drink compulsive bite.
The almost certain
consequences that follow taking even a first bite of that glass of beer binge food do not crowd into the mind to deter us.
If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily supplanted with the old
threadbare idea that this time we shall
handle ourselves like other people. There is a complete failure of the kind of defense that keeps one
from putting his hand on a hot stove.
The alcoholic compulsive overeater may say to himself in the
most casual way, "It won't burn me this time, so here's how!" Or
perhaps he doesn't think at all. How often have some of us begun to drink eat in this nonchalant way, and after the third or
fourth, pounded on the bar kitchen table or fast food counter and said to ourselves, "For God's
sake, how did I ever get started again?" Only to have that thought
supplanted by "Well, I'll stop with the sixth drink bite." Or "What's the use anyhow?"
When this sort of
thinking is fully established in an individual with alcoholic compulsive overeating tendencies, he has probably
placed himself beyond human aid, and unless locked up, may die or go
permanently insane. - from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous page 24.
Say what????
Yes, this is the way
it was for me some 20+ years ago. But God freed me from that obsession.
Now I have the same problem with food. And I know the answer to my
problem. I'm just not willing to do it - at least not a continual
day-to-day basis. I have a few good days or weeks then I kill it with a
huge, usually fried, meal with a huge dessert! And once I eat that
dessert all my mind is thinking of is - MORE SUGAR PLEASE!!!
At my weigh-in tomorrow morning I hope
to be BACK to what I was two weeks ago. A good weekend of eating
compulsively and it takes me TWO WEEKS to get back to where I was. Does
that surprise me? Nope! I do it all the time. I let my guard down
and just like it says above - I am unable, at
certain times, to bring into my consciousness with sufficient force
the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago.
I am without defense against the first compulsive bite!
I do not remember the night I laid
awake all night with a stomach ache from all the fried foods I ate. I do
not remember the ways I am swollen from all the salt. I seem to forget how horrible I feel after
eating fast foods on a regular basis. But AFTER I have eaten it and the guilt and pain sets it - then and only then - do I remember - oh yeah! I might should not have done that! But - too late.
I know my solution is in God just as it was when I first started AA meetings. I learned about God in AA and about unconditional love and forgiveness. I am fond of saying that "the AA meetings led me straight to the cross!" Praise Jesus!
Because He loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for He acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him." (Psalm 91:14-15)
I know my Jesus loves me and he doesn't desire to see me suffer. The suffering I bring all on myself. I MUST call on him more, as I did when I first got clean and sober! Jesus must be my first thought as I fight this battle with my compulsive self.
Only He can save me. That much I do know!
MAKE it a great day my friends!
Betty
