SOME THOUGHTS TO CHEW ON "Recovery begins with surrender." -- Basic Text of the Narcotics Anonymous fellowship "Humility is the willingness to be equal." "The only place where 'success' comes before 'work' is in the dictionary." -- Vince Lombardi "Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism." -- David Burns "Sure, I'm powerless over my addiction, but not (powerless) over my elbows." -- Don M. "I'm also not powerless over what I choose to focus on, let alone all sorts of factors that impact the quality of my recovery journey." -- Dave P., Founder, One Bite Fellowship "I will not surrender responsibility for my life and my actions." -- John Powell "We recognize our spiritual growth when we are able to reach out and help others." "We don't see the world as it is. We see the world as we are." "We're as sick as our worst secrets." "Face your stuff or you'll surely stuff your face." "Our character defects only have power as long as they stay hidden." "If we want to be free of our defects of character, we must uncover them."

 

The ONE BITE Recovery Concept

Our website domain name and indeed the very name of our fellowship refers to the observation that even the biggest food binge begins with Just One Bite (too many). When we refuse to succumb to the temptation to ingest "just one bite" too many, we wont overeat. If you can make a commitment -- one day at a time (or even five minutes at a time if that is the best you can do) -- and stick with your commitment to NOT eat "just one bite too many", then you are able to experience sobriety from your addiction, as much as an alcoholic or other addict is able to experience sobriety from their drug(s) of choice.

We have found it helpful to think of our recovery journey as being made up of many interlocking pieces -- like you would find in a jigsaw puzzle or mosaic. The individual pieces of our recovery, when put together, provide us with the support we need to recover, one day at a time.

Using the metaphor of a jigsaw puzzle, we have found that a successful "recovery puzzle" includes at least four pieces:

- A nutritionally-sane food plan.
- A moderate exercise plan.
- A support network.
- A recovery-friendly life philosophy.

One Bite Fellowship does not insist that our members follow any one particular food plan -- but we do insist that you have a food plan to follow. Without a food plan how can you even begin to know if you are eating sanely?  After all, it was your "best thinking" that got you in the shape you are in today!

One Bite Fellowship respects the right of our members to find a safe exercise program that works for them. The majority of scientific research pertaining to weight loss shows that a combination of healthy eating and moderate exercise leads to long-term success.

First we find and begin following a nutritious food plan. Then we find and follow a safe plan of physical exercise.

One Bite Fellowship encourages our members to seek the help of health care professionals with regard to finding a food plan and exercise plan that meets their unique needs. We addicts can not be trusted to make these decisions, anymore than a pyromaniac could be trusted to work as a fire fighter! When it comes to food and exercise we are "strangely insane" -- in the same way that alcoholics are "strangely insane" when it comes to alcohol.

Many of our members work the 12 Steps (as adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous) as their "recovery-friendly life philosophy", yet we respect each member's right to find a philosophy that works for them.

Whichever food plan, exercise plan or life philosophy you choose to follow, One Bite Fellowship is here to support you in your recovery effort!

Recovery Talk

Diets Alone Never Fixed This Kind of Stuff

Since I believe "a drug is a drug is a drug", I am open to learning about recovery from alcoholics and every other sort of addict. Our drug of choice may be different, but the disease and recovery processes are remarkably similar. So in the process of beginning once again to work a 4th Step inventory, I recently sought some guidance from a website that focuses on helping alcoholics find and maintain sobriety.

This other website reminded me that virtually ALL addicts experience the same set of obstacles to experiencing long-lasting recovery:

• Guilt

• Resentment

• Fear

• Inadequacy (sometimes referred to as "Shame") and

• Loneliness.

It helps me to also think of these "obstacles" as "triggers" that activate (or re-activate) our patterns of food addiction and exercise avoidance. For instance, the inner-voice of inadequacy and shame has told me several times that "If you can't do it (e.g., follow a food plan or exercise plan)PERFECTLY, you might as well NOT do it at all!" Can you relate to having these thoughts?

Have you ever lost some (or a lot) of weight just to re-gain it all back (and maybe even ultimately gain more than you originally lost)? The reason is that diets alone don't begin to touch (let alone heal) these five obstacles.

Some diet pills might "cause gas with oily discharge" but they don't resolve the underlying emotional pain that feeds our insatiable desire to overeat compulsively.

Weight loss surgery will certainly make you thinner, but it wont make you any saner with your relationship with food until you begin to heal the underlying "triggers" (see the list above) for your addiction. Nothing like going from being "fat and misreable" to being "thin and miserable"!

So what will ultimately heal/resolve/defuse these five obstacles and allow us to achieve long-term recovery? The answer involves using the Tool of Writing to examine these five barriers to our recovery.

How do I know if I need to write about something? The website for alcoholics suggests that any and all memories that leave you feeling pain, guilt, fear, cause you to feel "dirty" or bring up feelings of resentment should be examined in writing.

One BIte Fellowship would be glad to help point you toward finding resources that will help you work the Tool of Writing.

Mims Twins Weight Loss Program So getting grossed-out helps loose weight, huh?

One Bite Fellowship's founder, Dave P., is offering his experience, strength and hope through his online journal known as Overactive Fork.

Dave first heard the phrase "overactive fork" from a male food addict who quipped, "I don't have an UNDERactive thyroid. Instead I have an OVERactive fork" (not to mention, spoon, knife, spork and hand(s).  Ain't that the truth for most of us!

Pages Already Linked (Or Coming Soon):
* Food Is NOT Our Problem
* Even During The Holidays: You Have A Right To Say "No"
* Respecting Ourselves & Fellow Food Addicts
* Retreats: Helping Break The Cycle Of Active Addiction
* Why Offer Support JUST For Men?
* What Those "Earth People" Don't Understand About Us
* The One Bite Fellowship Approach
* Cyber-Tokens: Celebrate Your Recovery
* The Winter HoliDaze: Stop The Insane Eating
* Why Weight Loss Gimmicks Don't Work
* Have You "Befriended" Your Addiction?
* Anti-Male Sexism In Eating Disorder Treatment
* Co-Dependent Behavior: A Barrier To Recovery
* Connecting For Support
* Tool Talk
* Food Talk
* Exercise Talk
* Recovery Talk
* Relationship Talk
* Before Your Send Us E-Mail...