blackthrux Member

That doesn't sound nuts to me at all, that sounds exactly like some of the same things that I've thought. Whenever I was successful at something in the past, I would punish myself by celebrating and going to the food. Allowing myself to be "good enough", or to be successful, is something that I've never been good at. I…

Hi GRS, I'm having a stress day at work also, in that layoffs appear to be looming for me and another person.. As with everything in this program, know you're not alone and there are others standing with you. I'll be available later this evening, if you need to reach out to someone, feel free to PM.

This feels like a good message for me today. My "default" approach to helping someone is to try to solve their problems for them. I can recognize that this approach is not usually the most helpful, but it is never-the-less that habit that I've developed over the a lifetime. I am working to change this approach so that I…

My goal is to be able to run 2 miles in 13:50 or less. Kind of a weird time goal, but that would be slightly faster than I was able to run 2 miles while in the military, and I SO want to beat that target.

Hi GRS, I'm here. I've been busy, but trying to check in when I can. Thanks for reaching out to all of us to see how we're doing!

It's amazing to me how the For Today readings so often hit upon something that I need to hear on a given day. I've also been struggling with the program, but more in not attending meetings and not in having it front of mind throughout the day. I think I'll listen to some podcasts today, to help remind myself that I'm not…

I am currently using a Zip. The only problem I've had with it is that I've had the actual tracker slip out of the clip, and almost lost it this past weekend because of that. There's a chart available on the Fitbit website to compare the Zip / One / Flex trackers and choose based on what is important to you. If I lose the…

I also use a Fitbit, but more for getting benefits at my employer for being active as I go through my day, as opposed to developing a target step count to use as a daily goal. I don't have any special training or knowledge, so take this FWIW, but the employer wants people to target a minimum of 7K steps daily, as that's…

I'm grateful for OA, and for having the flexibility to be able to pursue new opportunities.

As I read this message this morning, it struck me that you don't need to be a sponsor to help others find what works for them. I was having supper with my neighbor last night, talking about a lot of the things that are happening for each of us, and found myself in the middle of "carrying our message to other addicts." If…

Thank you for coming here and sharing your story. It can be hard to put your thoughts into words, that takes a lot of courage. There are a couple of things that you mention that really strike a chord with me. I felt very much the same way with the scale for a long time. The daily number would act as judge and jury in…

Thanks for passing this along, I'll head over to check it out sometime. I just started using a Fitbit "Zip" a few weeks ago. My workplace health and wellness program syncs data from a Fitbit and applies a credit toward health insurance premiums. I've also heard good things about Fitbit, so when the originally issued…

That's great to know about the meetings. I'll be staying in Scottsdale, and will look up info for the meetings so I know when/where before getting there! It's great to hear about places that work for other OA'ers, helps make staying on track just a little bit less of a challenge!

I've not heard of El Pollo Loco before, they must not be in Minnesota. Are they located in Texas and/or Arizona by chance? I'll be traveling there next week, and that sounds like it might be a really good option.

Hi kateos1980, welcome to the forum here! As a fairly new OA'er myself, I remember thinking that I had finally found "my people" when I found OA. If you believe that you are a compulsive over eater or are binge eating, I encourage you to find any local meetings and start attending. When I found the meeting that works for…

Hey GrokRockStar, I hope that you are finding it easier now that you've put your struggles "out there" for the universe to acknowledge. If you need to reach out to a fellow OA'er more directly, feel free to send a message. I may not have "answers" for you, but I'd be happy to listen and support you through the day. Hugs

Needing to go out to buy new clothes because the old don't fit...that right there is the best birthday present I've heard of in a long time! Happy (belated) birthday!

Just getting back to the boards after some time away on vacation. “For today: I stop in the middle of an old answer, and old habit, an old way of thinking and ask myself: “Is this really the best way, or is there a better on?” I find myself doing this A LOT! So much so, that it is really becoming a habit for me, and I…

In addition to what GrokRockStar wrote above, I think it's also important to proactively share our successes with other COE that we associate with. You never know when sharing a success is going to be just the right thing at just the right time to inspire someone to remain abstinent.

That's fantastic, GRS! Huge win!

My top three: 1. My family and friends. Even though they may not fully understand what I am working through, they are trying to be supportive and not sabotage my efforts by pulling me back into my "old" ways. 2. My employer, for allowing me flexibility in my workday as I make my way through some personal learning. 3. My…

For me, this is much the same as the saying "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line". This reinforces that the quickest way to that life of sanity is to follow the path that has been laid in front of us. What I've found so far is that maintaining abstinence forces me to acknowledge, accept, and set…

Brandy, that is GREAT to hear, thanks for sharing your successes!

I thought about this a fair amount today before it finally hit home for me: in a world full of instant gratification, I'm having a hard time allowing for that growth to come on its own timetable, and not on mine. It might have taken me decades to get to where I am now, but I want to change and get to where I'm going in…

That was a good watch, thanks for sharing!

Great goals for today, Brandy! You might find it helpful on days like this to reach out to another OA'er just to share the struggles. Maybe that is someone in your local meetings, or maybe that is just coming back to this thread and writing more throughout the day. Do what works for you, and know that we are all standing…

Hi Jess, and welcome! I am still pretty new to OA myself, having just found the group about 2 months ago. Like you, there was much that resonated with me when I found OA, and it really just felt like I had finally found my home. Stick with it, and you'll find that you are not going through this alone. You can do this, one…

Hi maradot, welcome back and good luck! When luck doesn't feel like enough, come back for some additional support, or just to share your story.

For me, grief is just one of the many emotions that I can learn from, if only I choose to not smother the emotion in food. Overall, I've been pretty good with that, but I have had days where it has been more difficult, and I have had days where I have run away into the food. So, for today, I am grateful to OA and the…

This statement resonates with me. Before finding OA, I tried to be a kind and loving person, and thought that I was. As a part of having my awakening and finding OA, I realized just how often and how badly I was missing the mark, especially with those closest to me. I did not love myself, which is where I see my capacity…