: Hello. I need help. I read your book,
: "The Sugar Addict's Total
: Recovery" several years ago
: and found myself on every page. I
: have attempted to start the
: program a few times and make it
: through steps one and two and then
: return to old ways. My daughter
: was placed in treatment a few
: weeks ago for drug and alcohol
: addiction. She is making great
: strides using the 12 steps. I feel
: like I should be able to do the
: same with sugar. I am addicted to
: regular pop and I am so ashamed of
: myself. I want to lose weight and
: live a healthier happier life but
: I don't know how. I am able to
: follow step one without much
: problem, and I have ordered the
: journal, but, I can't give up pop.
: For breakfast I have greek yogurt,
: fruit and whole wheat toast with
: peanut butter, or I have cottage
: cheese and fruit. I have tried
: shakes, but, I don't like them.
: What should I do about pop? Every
: day I pray I will make a fresh
: start, but, then, I go back to my
: old habits and feel even worse.
: Can this work for me?

Hi Kim:

I was highly addicted to diet coke and worried about that for a long time because I didn't want to have it with meals and I didn't want to give it up.

When I was on step 3 I got a lot of advice for how to move the diet coke to meals and then to taper it. What helped me the most was how hot that summer was and that we had to work in an unair-conditioned, very dusty environment. I craved cold water and it was all I wanted to drink!

I have been in recovery from alcohol for the last 8 and 1/2 years and it was absolutely necessary for me to stop drinking alcohol all at once or I couldn't and wouldn't get better. With sugar it was different. I needed to do the RR steps to heal my body emotionally and physically before I was able to give up sugars. It just wouldn't have worked without the healing of the steps.

How is breakfast going for you?

Dori