He enjoyed the early stages of being drunk but wouldn't stop at that nice buzz and would carry on until things got out of control.

He started drinking again because he realised that he didn't have control of the issue he was merely avoiding it.

A diet can feel the same way.  You're ok when you're on it, you don't eat the pizza's, kebab's, multi-packs of crisps and chocolates.

But as soon as you come to the end of the diet, all hell breaks loose and you gouge yourself until you feel sick.  You then think, it's ok that was a one off, I'll get back on it tomorrow.  That you can control the gouge monster and only have one bar of chocolate per day.

It doesn't work, you're soon back on the diet or back at the club. 

We use restriction in our food plans initially because of an effect we want to happen.  We then encourage reintroduction in a controlled manner, again because we want to see what happens and advise on the outcome.

However, if things don't go to plan, we deal with it.  We don't get moody, we don't judge.

I have no right to judge, I struggle myself but I feel I've turned a corner.  Two social worker trips and still no star bars :)

We had off piste food at the weekend and it didn't send me in to my usual downward spiral.  I feel like I'm in control rather than just using an avoidant strategy.

Some of our members who struggle are feeling the same at the moment.  Maybe it's  the warmer weather and thoughts are on the beach.

I don't think so; I think it's the fact that we have stopped putting as much pressure about being 100% on and we are leading more by a realistic example.

If you are following a diet and have a bad day, have the bad day don't turn it into a bad week, month or even year.

Ideally have the item, enjoy, feel no guilt and get back on track with the next meal.

Easier said than done but small steps eventually get you a long way.

Darren 'still no star bars' Checkley 

P.S. Today's Daily Lent Challenge - 10 Up Dog, Down Dogs, 10 Squats x 5