SHiFT – Recovery by Acorn

You never know when or how they’ll show up. It may be right at the beginning, in the middle or at the end. That’s what makes them so special. I’m talking about unexpected gifts.

I was reminded these past few weeks about how unexpected gifts can come from places that I normally wouldn’t think of. As we were waiting for our new cookbook, abstinence, to come back from the printer’s, I began to think about all of the gifts that came out of this project.

Not only was I able to re-connect with many of our alumni who very generously contributed recipes, but I was also reminded on an even deeper level of the commitment it takes to get and stay in recovery from food dependency.

Of course, having led many and with us beginning another Acorn Intensive this week, I regularly see the miraculous transformations of those who learn about and begin to follow a food plan free of addictive substances.

Working on the cookbook was different in some ways. Reviewing the recipes and remembering how absolutely devastated some of our alumni were when they came into our Acorn Intensive program, showed me exactly how much determination, commitment and perseverance those who are food dependent have.

Those who are not yet in recovery use determination and perseverance to continue bingeing while those in recovery use those very same character traits to find creative ways to keep their abstinent meals tasty in order to maintain long-term recovery.

Remember, it’s okay to enjoy your abstinent food!  Sometimes, enjoying your food can make the difference between continuing on in recovery or relapsing.

Once again, I want to thank everyone who helped to make our cookbook a reality. I am grateful for each and every one of you. And, I am just as grateful for the unexpected gifts that came out of this project.

If you’d like to purchase a cookbook, please click here.  A portion of the proceeds will go to our SHiFT Scholarship Fund to help those who cannot afford treatment for food dependency.

One bite won’t hurt you. 

You have to eat cake on your birthday. 

I worked so hard to cook this meal for you.

We’ve all been through it and it’s not fun. Sometimes people get upset and it’s never easy but saying no to food that you don’t eat is absolutely necessary. Remember, your recovery is about you and not about pleasing other people.

While it may seem so easy to simply go along with the crowd, or sometimes your mother or grandmother who talk about spending so much time preparing your favorite food, there’s so much more to this decision than just the time it took for someone to cook.

To begin, think about the time and effort it took for you to get into recovery. Is giving that up really worth the few minutes of pleasure someone else will get from seeing you eat the food they prepared?

Now, add to this the idea that it’s not your job, nor do you have the power, to make anyone else truly happy or, on the flip side, unhappy, and you can see that trying to please someone else by eating addictive foods is dangerous, even life-threatening to your recovery.

Long after the temporary or shallow pleasure others may have is over, you will be left with the long-lasting and possibly deadly consequences of having binged. And, trust me, though you many not binge immediately after eating addictive foods, eventually that will happen. It’s not a reflection of your strength. It’s simply a fact of food dependency. Eating a food that triggers a physiological response in our bodies, causes us to want more and more of that food.

So, even though it’s not fun at the moment, saying no to food you don’t eat anymore will make the difference between food freedom and food obsession.  As always, the choice is yours.

Why am I so tired?

Why do I have such a bad headache? 

Why does my body ache? 

Why am I so irritable?

These are some of the questions those who enter our programs ask. Usually, these questions come up after following our food plan.

The answer to all of these questions is one simple yet sometimes confusing word: DETOX.

Is detox real?

While most of us are familiar with the idea of detoxing from alcohol and drugs, detoxing from food substances isn’t as well known and some don’t believe it’s actually real.

As with alcohol and drug detox, there are certain side effects that come with putting down a substance that your body is physically dependent on.  With food, these substances are usually sugar, flour, wheat and fat.

Though detox from food substances is different for everyone, there are some common side effects that we observe regularly.  The most common is feeling tired which is followed by having head and body aches. Irritability, anger, depression, and sadness are also experienced by some who are in withdrawal.

In general, withdrawal side effects can last up to three weeks but usually lessen by the end of the first week as long as those substances are not put back into your body.  Read that last part again:  as long as those substances are not put back into your body.

If someone who is food dependent puts these substances back into their body, they will be starting the withdrawal “clock” all over again and prolonging their withdrawal side effects.  In other words, they are making the side effects last even longer than if they had kept those substances out of their bodies.

To answer the question in this post:  YES, DETOX IS REAL!  Though it may be misunderstood and oftentimes overlooked by those beginning a food dependency program, detox is very real.  And the good news is that it will pass and everyone who continues to follow their plan has told us that they feel better than they ever thought possible!

There’s still time! We have a little over a week left in Active August. If you haven’t already done so, you can still get active this month. Not sure what to do?

Here are a few suggestions: Take a swim in the lake or a walk around the block. Grab the dog and hike in the woods. Climb up and down the stairs a few times. Always wanted to try rollerblading or skydiving? Active August is the time!

Or, how about a walk through the center of your town? Not only will you be active but you’ll also get to know the people in your community. Or, if that doesn’t work for you, what about kayaking, tubing, or rowing down a river or in a lake?

Have you ever thought about horseback riding or playing volleyball on the beach? Active August is the time!

Those who are in recovery from food dependency have the opportunity to be active in ways that were not possible before. While weight loss is one benefit of recovery and there are many more, maintaining a healthy body size opens the door to activities that were only previously imagined.

Don’t wait another minute. Get up now and get active! Hurry before the month is over! And check out our Facebook page to see how our SHiFT Team is getting active this month.