Today I want to address Honesty. For me it was important to get real about what behaviors were keeping me from living a fuller life. I give these questions to all my new sponsees in 12 step program. Time to share more openly.
At some point I'll answer some of these questions myself so you can get a glimpse of my journey.
Step One: Newcomers
We admitted that we were powerless over food, that our lives had become unmanageable. The spiritual principle that is intrinsic in step one is honesty.
Suggested assignment:
1.) Read Step One in the OA 12/12 (or the AA 12/12 is that's what you have on hand-replace the words alcohol with food and sobriety with abstinence). Take a few notes and relate the reading to your own food and life related challenges.
2.) Start reading the Big Book and in your mind replace the words alcohol with food, alcoholic with compulsive overeater or food addict, and sobriety with abstinence.
3.) Start listening to Joe and Charlie’s Big Book study (mp3 downloads at
4.) Read the pamphlet: Dignity of Choice. Define your abstinence (not food plan). Available online at www.oa.org or at meetings.
5.) Read the pamphlet: Tools of recovery and start using as many tools as are appropriate.
6.) Devise and send your food plan to your sponsor. Discuss accountability. (eg. Writing down food, Commit food ahead, report food at end of day, weigh/measure, what food items you abstain from-None of these are requirements –just examples of how you will be accountable. Other methods may apply).
7.) Part one: We admitted we were powerless over food.
a.) Describe your abnormal relationship with food. (Behaviors with food you want to change and obsessive thinking about food. Eg: binge, purge, restrict, over exercise, compulsive food shopping, obsess)
b.) What body image issues or obsessions do I have?
c.) What methods have I used in the past to control my eating?
d.) What are my trigger foods? Red light foods, yellow light foods/circumstance. (Example of yellow light food or circumstance: “I can eat a turkey sandwich safely, but don’t give me a loaf of bread and butter.”)
8.) Part two: that our lives had become unmanageable.
a.) What in my life is currently unmanageable or out of balance?
b.) How has my use of food affected my relationships? With family? Friends? Work?
c.) How has my use of food blocked me from living a fuller life?
9.) What frightens me about becoming abstinent? (Putting down the food).
10.) Envision and describe the benefits of leading an abstinent life.
Suggested format for daily check in with sponsor or accountability partner:
1.) Food accountability
2.) What’s up today that could threaten my abstinence?
a.) Life challenges: relationships, resentments, stressful situations, etc
b.) Food challenges: (potluck, travel, forgot to shop for abstinent food, etc)
3.) What am I doing today to support my abstinence and recovery?
(eg: meetings, literature, meditation, exercise, batch cook etc) What program tools am I using to deal with the stressors in #2?
4.) List at least three gratitudes.
