I can’t do that!
There’s no way I’d ever give up eating sugar!
I absolutely will not weigh and measure my food!
We hear these things regularly and my answer to all of that comes from a Twelve Step slogan – If nothing changes, nothing changes!
It’s really quite simple. If a food addict wants recovery then things have to change. It is absolutely impossible to get into recovery without making lifestyle changes. Of course, everyone wants some sort of “magic” pill or potion that will change their lives.
To be clear, the only way a food addict can get into recovery is to make lifestyle and behavioral changes. Period. No bargaining. No negotiation. Changes must be made if recovery is to happen. There is no other way.
Some of these changes must be major such as following a nonaddictive food plan while others may be smaller like staying in the perimeter of the grocery store when shopping. Whatever size they are, each change is a step towards food addiction recovery and living a life free from obsession with food.
The good news is that when things change, things change and there is an opportunity for a new beginning and a new life. A new life that is built one change at a time.
We have seen thousands of food addicts come into our programs hopeless who turned each change they made into exciting lives filled with freedom from obsessing about food.
If nothing changes, nothing changes but if everything changes, everything changes!