16 – And This Is Why…

Why All This Talk About God/HP/god?

When I first came to this program, I was overwhelmed by how often people talked about God, a Higher Power, or some kind of spiritual connection. I didn’t know what I believed—or if I believed anything at all. But over time, I realized that this spiritual element wasn’t just background noise; it was central to the process of recovery. In this post, I want to share why I believe that understanding the two-fold illness and embracing the spiritual path are essential to making the Twelve Steps work.

The Two-Fold Illness and the Need for Belief

Here’s why: I believe the Twelve Steps don’t work for someone who doesn’t accept the definition of the two-fold illness. Without that belief, there’s no real impetus to follow through with the rest of the steps.

The chapter “How It Works” opens with the statement:

“Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path…”

If I were a typical person when it comes to food, I could simply set my mind to changing a behavior or adjusting my weight, and I’d get it done. It might be tough, but I’d manage.

But I haven’t been able to do that consistently. I don’t qualify as typical.

I reached the end of my best options. I didn’t want to try another diet program because, deep down, I knew it wouldn’t work. I was done with all the other choices. I didn’t want to keep trying—and frankly, I couldn’t afford to.

The passage continues:

“Those who do not recover are people who cannot or will not completely give themselves to this simple program, usually men and women who are constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves.”

If I don’t believe I have a two-fold addiction, I won’t throw myself into this solution. I might enjoy the meetings and think the people are kind. I might even get a sponsor and dabble in the steps. But I won’t dig deep enough to reach the root of my problem.

Simple But Not Easy

“Step 1 – Powerless” and “Step 2 – Solution” are simple concepts.
Steps 3 through 12? Not easy.

“How It Works” continues with phrases like:

• “go to any lengths”
• “let go absolutely”
• “half measures availed us nothing”

Then it presents the Twelve Steps as the program of recovery.

You might hear people say, “There are no musts in the program.”
I disagree.

Pages 58 and 59 alone make it clear that if I want to recover:

• I must thoroughly follow this path
• I must give myself completely to this program
• I must be honest with myself
• I must go to any lengths
• I must let go absolutely
• I must not rely on half measures
• And finally, I must do all Twelve Steps—because all twelve together make up the program of recovery

My Turning Point

I stood at the turning point in April 1999. I accepted then—and still believe today—that I am a food addict, as defined in the chapter “The Doctor’s Opinion.” The solution to my problem of food abuse lies in the Twelve Steps and a deeper connection with my Higher Power.

It’s important to note: this program is based on self-diagnosis. I cannot tell someone they are a compulsive eater. In fact, in the chapter “Working With Others” (page 92), it says that the person I’m trying to help must convince me that they are compulsive with food. I don’t convince them.

A Disciplined Life

The rest of the steps require me to live a disciplined life. I’ll need to face uncomfortable truths about myself and respond to life differently than I did before. I’m entering a period where I must be tough with myself—and I need to remember that I’m not a horrible person while I’m in the middle of it.

I hope to walk beside you as you trudge the road of happy destiny.