Most of you know that I am a recovering alcoholic and that I owe my life to a 12 step recovery program. After many years doing the body for life lifestyle, I have come to appreciate parallels between the two programs. They are not the same, make no mistake about that. But here are the points that make both programs strong, successful, and life-changing.

1. Both programs assume that the participant has pretty much hit bottom, and feels powerless to change his basically unmanageable life. With the 12 step program the weakness and point of change has to do with addiction. In BFL, the weakness and point of change has to do with physical health and disordered eating habits.  Without such a realization and a sense of near helplessness at the beginning, there is usually only a shallow commitment at the outset, and shallow commitments wash away like the sands at the beach as the tide rises.

2. Both have a moment of “aha!” That is, there is a realization that “this is the way out for me.” In the 12 step program it is represented by a recognition of the insanity of the current situation, and an understanding that a Higher Power can solve this problem. With BFL, it’s much more subtle yet nearly the same. By the time someone decides to do BFL, there has been a lot of “insanity” in the classic definition of doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, hasn’t there? Who of us hasn’t looked upon an empty bag of chips, cookies or candy and wondered, “Did I just eat that whole damned thing–again?” 

3. MADE A DECISION….that’s the first real action step. The other two are worked in your head or by your past habits. Like Porter Freeman says, “You need to take that essential first step–you need to make that conscious decision to change. I made that decision of February 12 1997. …its the day this Freeman became a ’Free Man’!”

It’s like lighting the burners on a rocket ship when you make that decision. It’s memorable, indelible and powerful! Yes, you’ll be scared, or at least you ought to be! It’s probably been a while since you did anything quite that precipitous and you’ve just committed yourself to a whole lot of work, and even more enjoyment! In fact, you’ve just committed yourself to a brand new life.

4. Fast forward. The twelfth step is all about carrying the message to others, helping them to get what you got, and to keep it.  Body for Life, if it is done successfully, cannot help but leave you with the same fervor and gratitude out of which step 12 is worked. Let me give you an example: Sylvia Bortman, the lady from Texas who was last year’s lady over 50 winner, has been tirelessly helpful to women not only this year but long before. Not only on the guestbook but on other boards she has constantly answered questions, did inspiring blogs, and generally gave more time than anyone could ever imagine she had in a day! She hasn’t done this by luck, and has had no small amount of personal, family challenges while functioning as a great BFL ambassador. She didn’t do that just because she’s a nice lady, but because she’s a great champion who wants to keep body for life as the most successful personal transformation program in the world!

Well, I hope this has you thinking. I hope this has helped make you thankful for a program like Body for Life. I know it has done that for me. I often write stuff literally for myself, because remembering what I used to be like, what happened, and what I am like now is a sure cure for the blues, the doldrums, or a lackluster attitude.

Love you all! I can’t wait to see many of you in Columbus.