In the process of developing an action plan, I found it necessary to develop a concept priority list. By pairing and positioning the most important above the lesser, we can rank any two items. By repeatedly setting in each new item, we can rank dissimilar items into one list. Lets give it a try.
Beliefs
Abstinence
Knowledge
Metered meals
Daily exercise / schedule
Hunger
Cravings
Feelings
Satiation at meals
But this process is always changing, but this is what it looks like today.
The foregoing is the "formal" list, how the plan goes. On bad days it becomes informal, craving, hunger, and temptation move to the top, above abstinence. I use formal and informal, as organizational charts us formal and informal, to represent the paper plan and the actual behavior where personalities are a major factor in information flow, idea generation, and production motivation.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Maladaptive Eating Behaviors
Participants with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) displayed addictive personality scores comparable to individuals addicted to substances (M=17.5, SD=5.3). Addictive personality was associated with Overeating (r=.45, p<.001), Cravings (r=.31, p=.005), Affective Disturbances (r=.62, p<.001) and Social Isolation (r=.53, p<.001).
So I display all four. What does this mean? Am I just a lost case, to severe to treat?
These folk do not offer any solution, just more studying.
When is someone going to offer total psychological makeover? AA, OA, make a start at this. Buddhism makes a non god start. When we combine these two approaches, what would we get?
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
brain not functioning vs stupid mistake
We need vitamins and minerals for the brain to function well. We can still make stupid mistakes. I step in front of a compulsive/addict "in her pot". I do regret that. I am truly sorry for the misery I cause her. I also regret trying to suggest she was out to lunch. Oh well, shit happens. Lesson for me: avoid train wrecks running on their own tracks, let them wreck and stay out of the way.
Reflecting on this, I often learn more from those who I do not agree with than those I agree with.
We need very little carbohydrate, adequate protein, and some essential fats. The remainder can come from either fat or carbohydrates. Dense carbohydrates come with cravings, insulin resistant, appetite stimulation, and quick hunger. When we do not get enough various minerals and vitamins, we get ragged many ways, our mind get off also. I expect in time, we will find most "diseases of civilization" have nutrition displacement as some of the core issue. Also expect that some of us have underlying physiological and social problems. Oh well, we all must play the hand we were dealt, in the time frame permitted. It is the first time through life for us all.
Reflecting on this, I often learn more from those who I do not agree with than those I agree with.
We need very little carbohydrate, adequate protein, and some essential fats. The remainder can come from either fat or carbohydrates. Dense carbohydrates come with cravings, insulin resistant, appetite stimulation, and quick hunger. When we do not get enough various minerals and vitamins, we get ragged many ways, our mind get off also. I expect in time, we will find most "diseases of civilization" have nutrition displacement as some of the core issue. Also expect that some of us have underlying physiological and social problems. Oh well, we all must play the hand we were dealt, in the time frame permitted. It is the first time through life for us all.
Good diet is a learned, both information and behavior. Social behavior, in fact all behaviors, information and the like is learned. We learn different things at different speeds. Some of us never or only late in life learn some things. Oh, well, that life as a human. What we actually learn from presented material, or situation can vary widely, and may not be the intended lesson.
Chocolate
Chocolate is an evil poison eatable product that for some of us should not be considered a food. It is addicting, and as such should not be even considered eatable for those who have addictions. Equivalent to cocaine, alcohol, sugar, wheat. It is our moral responsibility to stamp or consumption. People who deal in this and other poisons are just amoral, evil creatures. I did, at one time like the stuff, but as a ex-chocolate eater, my feelings have changed openly. Anyone with eating issues, food addiction, or the like should just ban it.
It may taste good on your lips, but goes directly to the hips. Well, in my case, to the gut. It is also an appetite stimulus.
The first step in recovery is put a plug in the jug. Stop eating addicting foods. Stop addicting behaviors. Then recover can begin.
The first step in recovery is put a plug in the jug. Stop eating addicting foods. Stop addicting behaviors. Then recover can begin.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
How Do We Deal With Compulsive Overfeeders?
This is the season of feasts, that should be followed by fasts, but who does that.
One big question is how do you deal with compulsive over feeders, food pushers, yetties?
Here are a group of possibilities, and thoughts on the subject.
Not thanks. I know it will taste wonderful, but it will mess with my blood sugar.
No thanks. It gets in my mouth.
No thanks, It is poisonous to me. Wonderful tasting poison, but poison.
No thanks, Today I choose not to consume fructose, sugar, grain or omega 6 oils.
Eating with a group of practicing food addicts or compulsive overeaters is dangerous for our welfare. Some days the best thing is just to not go around the practicing overeaters (perhaps family of origin). Remember, many people are into competitive cooking.
We addicts want more, we do not need more. We need to provide only our needs, not our wants. Addiction is biochemical while overeating is behavioral addiction. Either way, once we get separate from our substance or behavior of choice, we should not go back there.
We do not owe duty to our abusers. Anyone who pushes food onto an obese person is an abuser, whether they think so or not. Abuse is doing something that is not good for someone else, regardless of whether they want it or not. Religion or tradition does not make it right. It is still abuse. So providing to much bad food, carbohydrate high food to a child is abuse.
Any comments, ideas?
One big question is how do you deal with compulsive over feeders, food pushers, yetties?
Here are a group of possibilities, and thoughts on the subject.
Not thanks. I know it will taste wonderful, but it will mess with my blood sugar.
No thanks. It gets in my mouth.
No thanks, It is poisonous to me. Wonderful tasting poison, but poison.
No thanks, Today I choose not to consume fructose, sugar, grain or omega 6 oils.
Eating with a group of practicing food addicts or compulsive overeaters is dangerous for our welfare. Some days the best thing is just to not go around the practicing overeaters (perhaps family of origin). Remember, many people are into competitive cooking.
We addicts want more, we do not need more. We need to provide only our needs, not our wants. Addiction is biochemical while overeating is behavioral addiction. Either way, once we get separate from our substance or behavior of choice, we should not go back there.
We do not owe duty to our abusers. Anyone who pushes food onto an obese person is an abuser, whether they think so or not. Abuse is doing something that is not good for someone else, regardless of whether they want it or not. Religion or tradition does not make it right. It is still abuse. So providing to much bad food, carbohydrate high food to a child is abuse.
Any comments, ideas?
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Cravings are biochemical
Some cravings are biochemical. Dopamine, serotonin, opioid, insulin resistance, internal starvation are all biochemical processes. It is not a oral or moral issue, but a chemical one.
The first step is to get separated from the food of issues. Sugar, wheat, grains, nuts, cheese, coffee, msg, artificial sweetners, whatever the food is, whether the food is the issue or the vector. Replace with fresh meat, fish or vegetables. Suffer through withdrawal. Eat more animal fat if necessary. First, get through the withdrawal.
OA says, in the Invitation to You that the cause is not important. To me the cause is important. The cause is a biochemical reaction to specific foods that we eat. We can eat these again, if we are willing to go through withdrawal again, or die addicted. That is the choice.
What do you think on this subject?
The first step is to get separated from the food of issues. Sugar, wheat, grains, nuts, cheese, coffee, msg, artificial sweetners, whatever the food is, whether the food is the issue or the vector. Replace with fresh meat, fish or vegetables. Suffer through withdrawal. Eat more animal fat if necessary. First, get through the withdrawal.
OA says, in the Invitation to You that the cause is not important. To me the cause is important. The cause is a biochemical reaction to specific foods that we eat. We can eat these again, if we are willing to go through withdrawal again, or die addicted. That is the choice.
What do you think on this subject?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Review Of the Organizations
For those of us who deal with food addiction on a daily basis, there are a number of organization that offer assistance.
I personally do not believe that any of them have the complete formula for me.
Here is a sampling of the organizations and what I believe:
ACORN is a for profit group which do a good job of getting people started down the path, but 5 days is a start only. They state along the way
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
I went to bunch of there meetings, and though they are a bunch of control freaks that allow other control freaks to control them, but it does seem to work for those who will submit to such rigger.
These folks are one of the early off shoots of OA, who insist that there members follow a specific Grey Sheet diet.
There are a bunch of others listed on the Acorn site for anyone interested.
I personally do not believe that any of them have the complete formula for me.
Here is a sampling of the organizations and what I believe:
Overeaters Anonymous offers a program of recovery from compulsive eating using the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA. Worldwide meetings and other tools provide a fellowship of experience, strength and hope where members respect one another’s anonymity. OA charges no dues or fees; it is self-supporting through member contributions.OA is trying to be inclusive, but compulsive behaviors are not my primary problem, chemical addiction is. They are the first, and most widespread organization, and have the most open stance on this problem. Even though the compulsion is a minor part of my problem, I still attend, because they are here.
OA is not just about weight loss, weight gain or maintenance, or obesity or diets. It addresses physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. It is not a religious organization and does not promote any particular diet.
OA members differ in many ways, but we are united by our common disease and the solution we have found in the OA program. We practiceunity with diversity, and we welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. Welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. Welcome home.
These guys have improved the message by defining it as a biochemical issue, but have not defined the biochemical processes involved. They have a specific food program, No sugar, flour, wheat, which is a good start, but short for me. But what about those of us that have dairy, cheese, nut, and omega 6 issues? Some of us have biochemical hyperinsulinemia issues, some dopamine receptors issues, some serotonin, some opoiade issues. Some have only physical food knowledge issues, others emotional/ social issues, some of us have all these issues.
"Food Addicts Anonymous is an organization that believes that Food Addiction is a biochemical disorder that occurs at a cellular level and therefore cannot be cured by willpower or by therapy alone. We feel that food addiction is not a moral or character issue. This Twelve Step program believes that food addiction can be managed by abstaining from (eliminating) addictive foods, following a program of sound nutrition (a food plan), and working the Twelve Steps of the program. After we have gone through a process of withdrawal from addictive foods many of us have experienced miraculous life-style changes."
ACORN is a for profit group which do a good job of getting people started down the path, but 5 days is a start only. They state along the way
I personally think that we need to learn enough about nutrition, food addiction, digestive processes, physics of food digestion, to become out own food coach, if for no other reason to separate the diet industry bullshit from the reality. We also likely to need vitamins and minerals. Iodine, magnesium, calcium, Vitamin C, D, were short in my diet.
Make sure your food plan provides overall nutritional balance by consulting with a doctor, dietitian or eating disorders specialist about nutritional balance.
We are an international fellowship of men and women who have experienced difficulties in life as a result of the way we eat. We joined FA either because we could not control our eating or because we were obsessed with food. We find that we need the fellowship of others who share this problem and this program of recovery to stop abusing food and live a fulfilling life. Through shared experience and mutual support, we help each other to recover from the disease of food addiction.
I went to bunch of there meetings, and though they are a bunch of control freaks that allow other control freaks to control them, but it does seem to work for those who will submit to such rigger.
GreySheeters Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from compulsive overeating. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for GSA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. GSA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization, or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay abstinent and help other compulsive overeaters to achieve abstinence.
These folks are one of the early off shoots of OA, who insist that there members follow a specific Grey Sheet diet.
There are a bunch of others listed on the Acorn site for anyone interested.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Food Addiction anyone?
Here is a paper on food addiction http://ctheflow.tumblr.com/post/12242459382/that-tasty-taste-the-rise-of-obesity-in-america-why
Monday, November 21, 2011
ReEntry Culture Shock
Monday AM. I was on a retreat this this weekend, and am suffering reentry shock. Retreats are a great way to have time and stimulation to reflect on my life, and to reset my thinking (reboot) to go forward.
I am at one of those major turning points in my life, going from full time self employed to semi-retirement, or retirement with a bit of work, whatever happens. All have a series of these turning points our lives, end of schooling, career training, working, upgrading, working, employer changes, self employment, marriage, children, and many other major changes. We have little choice other than to go along with these changes. This is the first time that I have not faced a deadline to make those changes. I have the luxury of time to sit back and reflect before making the next move, what ever that is.
The decision of what that is, is the issue. Indecision is not good for this compulsive person, a CO. I could write a book, but my writing is not great, and although, for many years, my major output has been writing bloody reports, I do not enjoy more that a few minutes, perhaps an hour of it per day. I totally agree it is a good way to get to the root of the problem, but enjoy? Well that's me.
What would that book be on? Memoirs - boring, Stories - some truth but stretched, Engineering - Soils, boring and no one would read it, overeating, and recovery or just a blog. At least with a blog, my costs are low. Short bursts of time works. But what is only a hour or so per day? The story will unfold.
This weekend was a time of reflection on some of the past relationships with various people. It is apparent that I am likely a type B personality, who would like to be type A, that switches back and forth. As a type B, with farmer father who was type A, who expected everyone to be as driven into making that farm produce as he was, it was not a easy life. My mother used procrastination and her stubborn nature, - perseverance? to get her way. Looking back on it all, she was abusive toward me, likely due to frustration with a person who was more stubborn than her, me. But I survived, and left.
I never had a real conversation with my mother, until the last one. By that time much of her memory was gone. She was always very personable to others, but belittled me every time we every spoke. I accept that she was trying to mold me, but I did not need to hang around and be abused. She did mold me, but not the way she wanted. Others never saw that side of her. Oh well. We still need to have her name adder to our parental headstone. All the resentment is gone.
What we try to teach others without telling them, may not be what they learn.
Enough reflection for today. Any comments?
I am at one of those major turning points in my life, going from full time self employed to semi-retirement, or retirement with a bit of work, whatever happens. All have a series of these turning points our lives, end of schooling, career training, working, upgrading, working, employer changes, self employment, marriage, children, and many other major changes. We have little choice other than to go along with these changes. This is the first time that I have not faced a deadline to make those changes. I have the luxury of time to sit back and reflect before making the next move, what ever that is.
The decision of what that is, is the issue. Indecision is not good for this compulsive person, a CO. I could write a book, but my writing is not great, and although, for many years, my major output has been writing bloody reports, I do not enjoy more that a few minutes, perhaps an hour of it per day. I totally agree it is a good way to get to the root of the problem, but enjoy? Well that's me.
What would that book be on? Memoirs - boring, Stories - some truth but stretched, Engineering - Soils, boring and no one would read it, overeating, and recovery or just a blog. At least with a blog, my costs are low. Short bursts of time works. But what is only a hour or so per day? The story will unfold.
This weekend was a time of reflection on some of the past relationships with various people. It is apparent that I am likely a type B personality, who would like to be type A, that switches back and forth. As a type B, with farmer father who was type A, who expected everyone to be as driven into making that farm produce as he was, it was not a easy life. My mother used procrastination and her stubborn nature, - perseverance? to get her way. Looking back on it all, she was abusive toward me, likely due to frustration with a person who was more stubborn than her, me. But I survived, and left.
I never had a real conversation with my mother, until the last one. By that time much of her memory was gone. She was always very personable to others, but belittled me every time we every spoke. I accept that she was trying to mold me, but I did not need to hang around and be abused. She did mold me, but not the way she wanted. Others never saw that side of her. Oh well. We still need to have her name adder to our parental headstone. All the resentment is gone.
What we try to teach others without telling them, may not be what they learn.
Enough reflection for today. Any comments?
Sunday, November 13, 2011
World service is at it again
The abstinence definition has been amended by OA as follows:
"Abstinence in Overeaters Anonymous is the action of refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors while working towards or maintaining a healthy body weight. Spiritual, emotional and physical recovery is the result of living the Overeaters Anonymous Twelve-Step program."
"Abstinence in Overeaters Anonymous is the action of refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors while working towards or maintaining a healthy body weight. Spiritual, emotional and physical recovery is the result of living the Overeaters Anonymous Twelve-Step program."
but what is their definition of Compulsive?
Starting Food Program, Step 0
I was asked how to start a food program. This is my opinion only, I am just an opinion. It does not matter.
We are powerless over food, it will do what it will do. Many of us are/were addicted (or addiction like behavior) to specific food. Sugar, wheat, breads, bagals, cereals, corn, other starches, junk food, usually containing omega 6 oils, dairy products, cheese, nuts, chocolate, alcohol, and others. First we must identify, give up totally these foods. Make a list, get them out of your house. You need to get separated from your drug of choice. There is a non OA book on this subject if you like: http://www.theendofovereatingbook.com/.
There is an OA pamphlet, The Dignity of Choice, that outlines numerous choices for a starting food programs. It has a reasonable outline for a low carb plan. These are simple measure systems without any knowledge or logic required. How complex do you want to get? It also must work in your life.
I needed to know which was right and why, and being obsessive, study the shit out of it.
I personally started with Kay Sheppard. http://www.kaysheppard.com/foodplan.htm and migrated from there to the Maffetone Two week test, (a copy at http://philosophyofweightmanagement.blogspot.com/p/facts-and-beliefs.html) then through various forms of low carb, to where I am today. I personally think that low carb, real unprocessed food, in some form is the way to go. Maffetone is helpful for figuring out how much carbohydrate we need. Personally I require about 50 to 100 gm/day. On my personal food site, all those links deal with various food issues.
Along the way I learned a bit about the human body, our needs, food science, and the science and mathematics behind it. That is useful for separating out the fiction that is so common in the "diet industry". There is a lot of fiction, and political directed recommendations, misdirection, which are contributing to the obesity epidermic.
Our needs are different and our likes are different. Start with something you can do, and go from there. A food log is necessary, to record what you eat, how much and when, your hunger status, and for what. You may need somewhere to figure out calories and carbs at.
The first steps (remove the poisons) should be to get all the sugars, sugar substitutions, ground grains, specially wheat, and an other troubling food out of your diet. All added Omega 6 oils should go. All transfats, partly hydrogenated oils, oxygenated fats, (deep fryer foods), branched chained amino acids, (soy protein, corn fed beef), and fructose rich fruits (grapes, raisins, dates, figs).
Here are some other sights with similar concepts. The details vary.
http://www.archevore.com/get-started/
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/?s=So+What’s+the+Healthiest+Way+to+Eat+“Safe+Starches
We are powerless over food, it will do what it will do. Many of us are/were addicted (or addiction like behavior) to specific food. Sugar, wheat, breads, bagals, cereals, corn, other starches, junk food, usually containing omega 6 oils, dairy products, cheese, nuts, chocolate, alcohol, and others. First we must identify, give up totally these foods. Make a list, get them out of your house. You need to get separated from your drug of choice. There is a non OA book on this subject if you like: http://www.theendofovereatingbook.com/.
There is an OA pamphlet, The Dignity of Choice, that outlines numerous choices for a starting food programs. It has a reasonable outline for a low carb plan. These are simple measure systems without any knowledge or logic required. How complex do you want to get? It also must work in your life.
I needed to know which was right and why, and being obsessive, study the shit out of it.
I personally started with Kay Sheppard. http://www.kaysheppard.com/foodplan.htm and migrated from there to the Maffetone Two week test, (a copy at http://philosophyofweightmanagement.blogspot.com/p/facts-and-beliefs.html) then through various forms of low carb, to where I am today. I personally think that low carb, real unprocessed food, in some form is the way to go. Maffetone is helpful for figuring out how much carbohydrate we need. Personally I require about 50 to 100 gm/day. On my personal food site, all those links deal with various food issues.
Along the way I learned a bit about the human body, our needs, food science, and the science and mathematics behind it. That is useful for separating out the fiction that is so common in the "diet industry". There is a lot of fiction, and political directed recommendations, misdirection, which are contributing to the obesity epidermic.
Our needs are different and our likes are different. Start with something you can do, and go from there. A food log is necessary, to record what you eat, how much and when, your hunger status, and for what. You may need somewhere to figure out calories and carbs at.
The first steps (remove the poisons) should be to get all the sugars, sugar substitutions, ground grains, specially wheat, and an other troubling food out of your diet. All added Omega 6 oils should go. All transfats, partly hydrogenated oils, oxygenated fats, (deep fryer foods), branched chained amino acids, (soy protein, corn fed beef), and fructose rich fruits (grapes, raisins, dates, figs).
Here are some other sights with similar concepts. The details vary.
http://www.archevore.com/get-started/
http://perfecthealthdiet.com/?s=So+What’s+the+Healthiest+Way+to+Eat+“Safe+Starches
Overwhelmed?. Relax. You have the remainder of your life to perfect the plan. Perseverance and one day at a time thinking may help. I personally planed to eat about three times a day for the remainder of my life anway. What, how much and when are just details that do not need to be decided until just before. All we can do is continue doing what we are doing now until we have time to study the problem and make a decision. Make small changes as you can fit them into your life. Try, real, unprocessed food to start with.
Any comments or concerns, please respond in the comments section.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Non OA Literature
David Kessler, is his book The End of Overeating, makes the observation the 50% of obese, 30% of overweight and 15% of thin people share 3 characteristics, in a condition which he calls conditioned hypereating. These characteristics are loss of control of appetite (eat until it is gone) in face of highly palatable foods, lack of satiation during eating (no full indicator), and preoccupation with thinking about food, eating, getting, and the like (looking for more). Sound familiar?
He offers little as a solution, other than to follow an eating plan rigidly. I do not know about you, but if I could do that, I would not have the problem.
He has a bunch of statements in his presentation that I do not agree with that represent common beliefs of the public which others have debunked.
A video summarizing his book can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/weightmaven#p/a/B87C02F016ECE119/0/A7M_mqXzpr8
Take what you like and ignore the rest. Any or comments or questions?
He offers little as a solution, other than to follow an eating plan rigidly. I do not know about you, but if I could do that, I would not have the problem.
He has a bunch of statements in his presentation that I do not agree with that represent common beliefs of the public which others have debunked.
A video summarizing his book can be found at http://www.youtube.com/user/weightmaven#p/a/B87C02F016ECE119/0/A7M_mqXzpr8
Take what you like and ignore the rest. Any or comments or questions?
Random Topic
From a comment on a site that I stumbled across:
"I often believe heavy karmic loads are what make nice people. That being said, I don't believe in karma anymore. I think that bad things happen to people because bad things happen. We can learn and grow from them or not, but "God", in whatever form we conceptualize it is indifferent to or unaware of the consequences. "
I realized how much I have changed. At one time I felt that way. Now I realize that each have very different views, and it does not mater. Today, my view is:
Karma is a concept that was more true before communications were so easy and uniform; much has been brought about by travel, newspapers, and modern communication methods. Karma is the idea that in a stable community, our actions and personality affect how other treat us. Now we can change communities. We do not hang around people we do not like, and hang with people we relate to and like. Simple. But in modern society we are not stable, live in one "community", work in a different one, shop in a third. We through transportation and communications have lost "community" to some extent. Some live without much community at all via the internet. Some of us have no community to speak of. Karma occurs in "community", hence karma does not have a impact on our lives.
Random accidents we have no control. But becoming targets is another matter. Some of the time, we attract the attention of the predator. Some of the time, we do something that attracts them, and they notice, and some of the time, something happens. Violate traffic laws, and we get tickets. Flaunt wealth and get robbed. Nice cars get stolen. Leave a car unlocked with the keys, and it will be gone. Eat carbohydrates, we get fat. Dress like a hooker and stuff happens. It takes all three, the action, the predator, and noticing. And then, some of the time the predator just does random strikes.
To me, god is a concept, an idea, a belief system, a value system, a meme system. It has no knowledge, no return communications. All we can do is learn, avoid, embrace, or other method of surviving, or adjust to the new reality, what ever that may be.
That's it for now. Cross talk is allowed here.
"I often believe heavy karmic loads are what make nice people. That being said, I don't believe in karma anymore. I think that bad things happen to people because bad things happen. We can learn and grow from them or not, but "God", in whatever form we conceptualize it is indifferent to or unaware of the consequences. "
I realized how much I have changed. At one time I felt that way. Now I realize that each have very different views, and it does not mater. Today, my view is:
Karma is a concept that was more true before communications were so easy and uniform; much has been brought about by travel, newspapers, and modern communication methods. Karma is the idea that in a stable community, our actions and personality affect how other treat us. Now we can change communities. We do not hang around people we do not like, and hang with people we relate to and like. Simple. But in modern society we are not stable, live in one "community", work in a different one, shop in a third. We through transportation and communications have lost "community" to some extent. Some live without much community at all via the internet. Some of us have no community to speak of. Karma occurs in "community", hence karma does not have a impact on our lives.
Random accidents we have no control. But becoming targets is another matter. Some of the time, we attract the attention of the predator. Some of the time, we do something that attracts them, and they notice, and some of the time, something happens. Violate traffic laws, and we get tickets. Flaunt wealth and get robbed. Nice cars get stolen. Leave a car unlocked with the keys, and it will be gone. Eat carbohydrates, we get fat. Dress like a hooker and stuff happens. It takes all three, the action, the predator, and noticing. And then, some of the time the predator just does random strikes.
To me, god is a concept, an idea, a belief system, a value system, a meme system. It has no knowledge, no return communications. All we can do is learn, avoid, embrace, or other method of surviving, or adjust to the new reality, what ever that may be.
That's it for now. Cross talk is allowed here.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Primary Purpose
Back a few years ago, an old OA member suggested that we try to live the traditions. So what is my primary purpose in life now? OA says it is to abstain from overeating and to carry the message by example. That is definitely part of it but is that all there is? I need something to keep me busy, and not cost to much, or generate a bit of revenue possibly.
At this time in my life, I have gone to semi-retirement, and am fairly busy in the summers, but winter, not so much. I do not enjoy writing enough to write a book, but I likely have the knowledge to write one, but it be a boring publication, as I am not a exciting person and worked in a small technical area, with little public interest, even though my subject area has tremendous economic impact, when things go wrong.
Most author want to write, with there subject matter being second. I am all about the subject, not writing. The interest must, therefore, must come first. I, therefore need to select an new primary purpose.
Any ideas, comments? Please share your strength, hope and experience.
At this time in my life, I have gone to semi-retirement, and am fairly busy in the summers, but winter, not so much. I do not enjoy writing enough to write a book, but I likely have the knowledge to write one, but it be a boring publication, as I am not a exciting person and worked in a small technical area, with little public interest, even though my subject area has tremendous economic impact, when things go wrong.
Most author want to write, with there subject matter being second. I am all about the subject, not writing. The interest must, therefore, must come first. I, therefore need to select an new primary purpose.
Any ideas, comments? Please share your strength, hope and experience.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Step 2
Step 2 was and is a massive change in attitude for me. OK. Came to believe.
I was raised in the church, but I looked around and saw the congregation was not living by the teachings. OK, so now what. I mouthed the words, without belief, grew up, moved away, and ignored the whole situation until I got to this program.
There is one line in the big book, 3ed, pg.12, "Why don't you choose your own conception of God?" That made sense. God is a concept. That is all. Any concept will work. That tied in with what I knew to be true, it is all in out heads. Our belief and value system puts limits on our actions. Carnegie called it our noble motives. But that still left me guestioning.
I studied religion, and read The Variety of Religious Experiences by William James, with a dictionary in hand. It is a tough read. I have read simpler textbooks of tough subjects that were much easier to read. James is a pompous, sadistic professor, out to make his students struggle. I read Huston Smith, and all the old AA books.
I studied a bit about Buddhism. Part of that was logical, part the fellow must have been on acid or smoking the Mary Jane or something.
In the end, Buddhism can be reduces to 1. there is much suffering in the world, 2. what we feel is in us, the correction can come by changing our reaction to the world, it is due to our delusions, (Ideas of what the world should be), our attachments, and our aversions, 3. there is a solution, and 4 that solution is by living life by examining our past life and our intentions, future life in eight areas. Having the right View, Intention, Speech, Actions, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration. A long summary can be found at http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/ When I looked at this and the twelve steps, the AA steps fit inside of this belief system. It is all about cleaning up the wreckage of the past, cleaning up relationships, and living an clean and tidy life. Some relationships are simple abandoned, others grown. We live life by a new set of rules. We have a purpose and meaning in our lives.
After we have decided what we believe, we can move on...We can move on once we become willing to look at our life... We can decide to look, that is all that is required to carry on.
We have, as adults, a good understanding of what is right and what is not. Life to this point has been our first effort, our first time through, we cannot be expected to be right all the time. Somethings we were right on, some less so, but with reflection we will see what did not work. The program provides a place to generate new ideas, and see what has worked for others. Now we can test it for ourselves.
Please share in as comments below your strength, hope and experience in respect to step 2.
I was raised in the church, but I looked around and saw the congregation was not living by the teachings. OK, so now what. I mouthed the words, without belief, grew up, moved away, and ignored the whole situation until I got to this program.
There is one line in the big book, 3ed, pg.12, "Why don't you choose your own conception of God?" That made sense. God is a concept. That is all. Any concept will work. That tied in with what I knew to be true, it is all in out heads. Our belief and value system puts limits on our actions. Carnegie called it our noble motives. But that still left me guestioning.
I studied religion, and read The Variety of Religious Experiences by William James, with a dictionary in hand. It is a tough read. I have read simpler textbooks of tough subjects that were much easier to read. James is a pompous, sadistic professor, out to make his students struggle. I read Huston Smith, and all the old AA books.
I studied a bit about Buddhism. Part of that was logical, part the fellow must have been on acid or smoking the Mary Jane or something.
In the end, Buddhism can be reduces to 1. there is much suffering in the world, 2. what we feel is in us, the correction can come by changing our reaction to the world, it is due to our delusions, (Ideas of what the world should be), our attachments, and our aversions, 3. there is a solution, and 4 that solution is by living life by examining our past life and our intentions, future life in eight areas. Having the right View, Intention, Speech, Actions, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration. A long summary can be found at http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/ When I looked at this and the twelve steps, the AA steps fit inside of this belief system. It is all about cleaning up the wreckage of the past, cleaning up relationships, and living an clean and tidy life. Some relationships are simple abandoned, others grown. We live life by a new set of rules. We have a purpose and meaning in our lives.
After we have decided what we believe, we can move on...We can move on once we become willing to look at our life... We can decide to look, that is all that is required to carry on.
We have, as adults, a good understanding of what is right and what is not. Life to this point has been our first effort, our first time through, we cannot be expected to be right all the time. Somethings we were right on, some less so, but with reflection we will see what did not work. The program provides a place to generate new ideas, and see what has worked for others. Now we can test it for ourselves.
Please share in as comments below your strength, hope and experience in respect to step 2.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Step 1
Step one is a big undertaking. This is when we need to recognize that some foods are addicting or produce addiction like behavior. In my case, those food are sugar in all forms, grains, especially wheat, cheese, and nuts. Omega 6 oils are also an problem, so I include these in the food that I should not consume. My life was and is unmanageable when it came to food. All I need to do is eat any of these, and I am right back craving them, until once again, I get them out, steel my resolve, work some more of the program, and get back to life free of these addictive food. Yes, I do occasional eat them. I am not cured. The trick is to dust off the crumbs, and get to a meeting.
Wheat was the hardest of the lot to give up. First I gave up sugar, which was difficult, but I was truly addicted to wheat. When I gave up wheat, my hands started working again, and I lost weight rapidly. I have not eaten any wheat knowingly since giving it up. Sugar, I let a bit in, when it is down the list of ingredients, or I just have a taste. The other grains are not much of an issue; oats makes me itch; and I never ate much of others. Rice and corn are less of an issue, but rice raises my blood glucose rapidly, hence must be limited severely.
I now tend to eat meat and green vegetables mainly, with a few roots and the odd bit of fruit. Then there are the days when I fall off, and eat a bunch of fruit, excessive amounts of cured meat, cheese, nuts, fruit and the like. Get up, dust off the crumbs and go to the next available meeting, or now write a post.
All this proves that I have no control of myself with respect to food. I know that specific food are addicting, through the dopamine pathway, and specific foods cause insulin spikes, cravings and other things that drive me to the food. These details are not important to the only known treatment: abstinence. That is the zero step.
Would any one like too share your strength, hope and experience? Please do so in the comments.
Wheat was the hardest of the lot to give up. First I gave up sugar, which was difficult, but I was truly addicted to wheat. When I gave up wheat, my hands started working again, and I lost weight rapidly. I have not eaten any wheat knowingly since giving it up. Sugar, I let a bit in, when it is down the list of ingredients, or I just have a taste. The other grains are not much of an issue; oats makes me itch; and I never ate much of others. Rice and corn are less of an issue, but rice raises my blood glucose rapidly, hence must be limited severely.
I now tend to eat meat and green vegetables mainly, with a few roots and the odd bit of fruit. Then there are the days when I fall off, and eat a bunch of fruit, excessive amounts of cured meat, cheese, nuts, fruit and the like. Get up, dust off the crumbs and go to the next available meeting, or now write a post.
All this proves that I have no control of myself with respect to food. I know that specific food are addicting, through the dopamine pathway, and specific foods cause insulin spikes, cravings and other things that drive me to the food. These details are not important to the only known treatment: abstinence. That is the zero step.
Would any one like too share your strength, hope and experience? Please do so in the comments.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Diet-Soda
Someone was asking about diet soda. Here is part of the story. http://www.kriskris.com/is-diet-soda-bad-for-you
Monday, October 24, 2011
The purpose of this blog
I do not have any clear limits on the purpose of this blog. The main purpose is to provide for myself and for others, if they wish to join in, a contact, other than meetings, at a time and location that is never closed, and can bring me up to date. We are open to the world, but lets keep this mainly OA and OA related.
I see OA, in a broad scene, as a group of people who are out to improve our lives in a spiritual way, but not religious way. Physical and emotional improvements occur as a result.
I personally like the blog format, rather than something like the loop. For group participation, all you need is a Google profile, and I can set you up as a poster. Anyone can comment. I thought I would start it and see where it leads.
Several of us have talked about starting a Thursday Night meeting in south east portion of Edmonton NW. How is that for direction confusion. Millwood-Beaumont, East of Calgary Trail, South of 51 Avenue more of less. That is what was on my mind, when I started this blog.
I have my personal blog, which there is a link to on this page. There are links there to much food, nutrition, lifestyle information, but it need to be separate from the OA stuff.
This blog can go anyway that we like. I do not know if there is interest in this format or not. I just hung it, sent out that one email, and we will watch it develop. You can use the comments for any questions or discussion of anything you would like to see.
Please add anything you think as far as what direction you think this blog should go, concerns, ideas, or whatever in the comments section.
I see OA, in a broad scene, as a group of people who are out to improve our lives in a spiritual way, but not religious way. Physical and emotional improvements occur as a result.
I personally like the blog format, rather than something like the loop. For group participation, all you need is a Google profile, and I can set you up as a poster. Anyone can comment. I thought I would start it and see where it leads.
Several of us have talked about starting a Thursday Night meeting in south east portion of Edmonton NW. How is that for direction confusion. Millwood-Beaumont, East of Calgary Trail, South of 51 Avenue more of less. That is what was on my mind, when I started this blog.
I have my personal blog, which there is a link to on this page. There are links there to much food, nutrition, lifestyle information, but it need to be separate from the OA stuff.
This blog can go anyway that we like. I do not know if there is interest in this format or not. I just hung it, sent out that one email, and we will watch it develop. You can use the comments for any questions or discussion of anything you would like to see.
Please add anything you think as far as what direction you think this blog should go, concerns, ideas, or whatever in the comments section.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Now we need content
Food addiction is a chemical process of ill fit between our environment and our desires. After we know what food set us off, and make the decision to abstain from those foods, we face the difficulty of abstaining. We are driven to food by physical cravings, emotional feelings, and spiritual beliefs and values.
The program provides a means of changing our spiritual beliefs and values, one step at a time, to aid in overcoming the insanity of desiring to eat more after a full meal. I now know that there is a human philosophical process that causes the desire, yet, knowing that there is and being able to resist the process are two different matters. The program gives me the strength to know that much of the weight control information is not appropriated to food addicts, and the release to follow this simple program.
My definition of abstinence and my belief system are twisted together. I have created a priority system, depending on what that day holds. The first is for every day, and each of the higher levels are for days when there are possible. For today, I will give up sugars, grains, lubricants, and manufactured eatable products and see how I feel about it tomorrow. This provides an base level of abstinence, which is doable all the time.
Just for today I will give up low fat dairy, most legumes, nuts, and cheese. This level of abstinence can be added where I am at home or away, and have good relationship with life, and those around me. This level forces glucose intake to be low enough to stabilize blood glucose, and the emotions become flat.
The third level, just for today, I will execise portion control over protein, friut, and starchy vegetables, and the fourth level, just for today, I will give up, friut, and starchy vegetables, bring about varying amount of weight loss. The fourth level is to be applied only every second day.
After the first level, the lifestyle becomes some form of low carbohydrate. I have explored many forms, LoBAG, LCHF, Atkins, Paleo, and others.
So how do you define your abstinence and your food program? Please note that if this blog is to be useful to anyone besides myself, your comments are required.
The program provides a means of changing our spiritual beliefs and values, one step at a time, to aid in overcoming the insanity of desiring to eat more after a full meal. I now know that there is a human philosophical process that causes the desire, yet, knowing that there is and being able to resist the process are two different matters. The program gives me the strength to know that much of the weight control information is not appropriated to food addicts, and the release to follow this simple program.
My definition of abstinence and my belief system are twisted together. I have created a priority system, depending on what that day holds. The first is for every day, and each of the higher levels are for days when there are possible. For today, I will give up sugars, grains, lubricants, and manufactured eatable products and see how I feel about it tomorrow. This provides an base level of abstinence, which is doable all the time.
Just for today I will give up low fat dairy, most legumes, nuts, and cheese. This level of abstinence can be added where I am at home or away, and have good relationship with life, and those around me. This level forces glucose intake to be low enough to stabilize blood glucose, and the emotions become flat.
The third level, just for today, I will execise portion control over protein, friut, and starchy vegetables, and the fourth level, just for today, I will give up, friut, and starchy vegetables, bring about varying amount of weight loss. The fourth level is to be applied only every second day.
After the first level, the lifestyle becomes some form of low carbohydrate. I have explored many forms, LoBAG, LCHF, Atkins, Paleo, and others.
So how do you define your abstinence and your food program? Please note that if this blog is to be useful to anyone besides myself, your comments are required.
Service
Service to other and ourselves is the basis of recovery. This blog is one form of service that I hope will fill a few evenings a week.
Faith, without works, is dead. The work is something for us obsessives to obese about. How has service helped you in your trudge to happy destiny?
Faith, without works, is dead. The work is something for us obsessives to obese about. How has service helped you in your trudge to happy destiny?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
oathursdaynightgroup
oathursdaynightgroup is the name I picked for this blog. It is intended to be an OA blog to help OA people along the 12 step OA path. Much of what is required is not easily addressed in meetings, hence, I felt there is a need for such a blog.
Anyone can respond in the comments. If I find the comments objectionable, I will simple delete them and ban the author. Please remember that this blog can be viewed by anyone. Anonymity is recommended, but anonymous post may not survive for long.
Anyone can respond in the comments. If I find the comments objectionable, I will simple delete them and ban the author. Please remember that this blog can be viewed by anyone. Anonymity is recommended, but anonymous post may not survive for long.
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