Just Checking In

KAREN!!! So happy to see your happy face! I think about you all the time and am so glad to know you're doing so well, remembering your struggles and your pain and sadness as you came to grips with your alcohol addiction. I am struggling with a candy addiction that I've never had before in my life - every day I tell myself this is the day I will not touch the stuff; and every day I fail. It's unlike anything I've ever dealt with. Today is a new day and I swear I am going by the AA mantra, "I can do anything for just one day." Or, "One Day at a Time." I am strong in every other regard - I eat healthily for my meal choices; I continue to work out relatively regularly; but I have this horrible, horrible addiction to candy - not my own, but other people's candy, in their offices where I work. It makes me feel just terrible, like I'm slime. So, I look at you and see what you've done for yourself and if you don't mind, I will try to model your strength - just for today! Thanks for stopping by - I really needed you to do that! Hugs, Maureen

Ah..shucks!!!  Thanks for the Kudos!  I, too, need continuing support to stay strong. 

I find myself always looking for other things to cross addict to and candy has certainly been at the top of that list!  For me, abstaining from all sugar is the only thing that works.  Only then does the craving go away.  It takes a couple of days before it gets out of my system but if I can just do the "one day at a time" until the cravng goes away, I'm good.  I don't even want it.  Knowing that even one bite will send me on a binge and a mental meltdown of guilt is enough to help me walk away.  Think of it as a poison to your body; it sound like it really is for you, Maureen.  Like alcohol is for me.  I just had to be willing to go to ANY lengths to overcome the addiction.  And with that willingness comes acceptance.  Humility.  And then success!  Remember that complacency will come back to bite you; always be diligent and on your guard for the chatter that tells you you can have just one piece.  Because YOU can't.  Acceptance...so hard but oh, so rewarding.

I didn't mean to preach; just want to support ya!

Hugs,
Karen

No apologies necessary and I don't see this as preaching, more as reaching out - thank you! This is what we're all here to do for one another. Willing to go to any lengths ... but what are those lengths? For me, I've been thinking I have to quit my job just to get away from the crap that's all around here all the time but then I think that's rediculous because there's candy EVERYwhere - but why is it that I can go into any store and not have to buy it? Oh, I'll buy a small bag of M&M's and be done with it once in a while; but it's a totally different feeling then what goes on for me here - here, it's raging feelings of being out of control and secret and in a dark place and just all out of whack with it. I think you're right though - I have to get the sugar - the poison - out of my system, my body. It makes me feel awful. Thanks Karen! Maureen

We all appreciate your posting and support. It is really treasured. I agree one hundred and ten percent with you in regards to quitting ALL sugar. (candy and that stuff) because for an addictive personality... (and i dont care what anyone says sugar is a severe addiction!) it can consume us. I KNOW it consumes me and thats why I gained and am busting out of my clothes right now. You just gave me a little incentive. I have to quit it cold turkey and like you said in a couple of days I will not crave it. Its SO HARD! Thanks for being there! ((Hugs!))