Committment to Abstinence from Addictive Foods

I plan on making a daily committment from Addictive Foods.  I've already started on my abstinence as of 1:00am this morning.  I was awake and it was already 02-15-10.  I know that eating mistakes, or slips, are part of recovery.  I know that if I do slip, I should just note it, try to recall what led to the slip, and recommit to abstinence.  I also know that I cannot allow myself to have any addicting food as a treat.  I was disturbed by some language in Beck's regarding this and I contacted a behavioral therapist who uses Beck's in individual andd group counseling.  She said that it is fine to plan treats but they can never be with addicting food.

 Hi - I have a long history in OA years ago.  How do you define your abstinence.  I go back and forth, but have been having problems lately -- found out that protein bars are definitely a binge food.  And have been doing a fair amount of stress eating.  

I've seen your posts before and appreciate your honesty.  

I had to think for a while before answering you.  Last year, when I was following Beck's, I was absttinate from sugar, refined white flour, ice cream and junk food.  I do eat bananas and most other fruit.  However, since I broke that strict abstinence last June, I realize that I really do not have much of a problem with most white flour.  I have whole grain breads and pasta as often as possible.  If I eat a dinner roll, I do not feel like eating everything that isn't nailed down.  I simply don't even like white bread or plain white cake.

On the other hand, I'm not in a hurry to find out what I can eat.  If I find that I'm having problem with a particular food, I make an effort to avoid having it.  Different people have different tollerances even to supposedly addicting substances.  I know some people who can't have anything with even a trace of white flour; I'm not one of those people.

So, to answer your question, I'd say that abstinence for me is stayingy away from refined sugar and junk food including ice cream.  I used to be concerned about Lite yogurt with fruit.  It usually has about 11g sugar in 6-8 oz.  However, most of that is from the whey and fruit.  If I eat one I don't feel like having another one.  I've tried having SF/FF pudding instead, but they just don't satisfy me and I end up having multiple portions--usually 2 small cups of prepared pudding or the whole package of dry pudding with zero fat milk ( remember when they couldn't call it milk unless it had all of the fat?).

I'm not lowering my standards.  Rather, I'm just being honest and realistic.  Bob

 Thanks for your thoughtful reply.  I'm still exploring what sets me off.  Some things don't trigger me, but I just like them so much that I don't want to stop at a healthy portion (i.e. I could eat my weight in popcorn - even air popped w/no salt).  Oh that it were as simple as not taking a drink.