Step 1 – Admitted we were powerless over food – that our lives had become unmanageable

Christina’s Version

Admitted we could not refrain from abusing food—food made our lives (or parts of it) unmanageable.

Personalize It

Once I start abusing food, I can’t stop. If I stop, I can’t keep myself from starting again.

Step 1 Truth I Hold Onto

I need to smash the illusion that I can ever control and enjoy food at the same time. Experience has shown me:

• When I’m enjoying food, I’m not in control.
• When I’m in control (dieting), I’m not enjoying it.

Step 1 Concepts

Two-Fold Illness

• Physical allergy – My body reacts to certain foods and eating behaviors, triggering cravings and making it hard to stop.
• Mental obsession – My mind keeps convincing me I don’t have a problem, despite countless failed attempts to control or change my eating.

Loss of Rationality

• I haven’t been thinking clearly when it comes to food. My decisions are driven by compulsion, not logic.

Hope for Recovery

• Recovery is possible if I’m willing to abstain completely from abusing food and commit fully to working the steps.

Final Reflection

Compulsive eating is an illness of isolation—but recovery is rooted in connection. I encourage you to find a meeting, listen to others’ stories, and discover that you’re not alone. When you hear our experiences, I hope you see recovery in action, feel a spark of hope, and begin to believe that healing is possible for you too.