February 11, 2009 Support Group Meeting (Notes)

Speaker: Leslee Miller, LCSW

• Food addiction is not something that is overcome – it is “managed”
• Learn to be “conscious” when eating
• Realize that we all have a “Dark Side”, which has the potential to sabotage
• Get a journal specific to this weight loss journey
  o Record successes
  o Record lessons learned
  o Record things that I do to sabotage my own success
• Become Friends with your “Dark Side”
  o Write down all the things you think to yourself
  o Stay open to learning about yourself ALWAYS
  o Don’t ever let yourself get very far away from accountability
  - Support group meetings
  - Weighing regularly (days when you don’t want to do this are
  the days you probably should the most)
  - Food journaling
  o No black and white thinking
  o No self-loathing
  o Relapse is to be expected
  o Be BRUTALLY honest with yourself
  o Why NOT me?
  o Changing our thinking patterns
  o Watch for transfer addictions
  o Group support
  o Stay out of denial
• “It’s OK to fall off the wagon – Just don’t fall under it!”
• Be willing to commit to doing whatever it takes to make a change
• Pay the price to be healthy and fit
• Everyone will relapse on occasion – we’re only human. Just get back on track ASAP.
• Try Yoga classes – good for the mind/body connection