Big Payout
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ears have passed since I visited Atlantic City, but the memory of that day is still vivid in my mind. I had taken a bus tour for a day trip when the city first opened casinos along its infamous boardwalk. Having never been to a casino before, I was full of wonder and anticipation. I remember the rush of excitement as I inserted a single coin into the slot machine, pulled the lever, and watched as the winning symbols fell into place in the little window. Wow! The machine sounded beep-beep-beep as my small payout jangled into the metal tray below. A fun moment for sure. But what stayed with me the most were the words that the gambler next to me said as I collected my modest winnings. “You should have put in five coins! The bigger the bet, the bigger the payout!” Sound familiar? It does to me. It’s similar to what I’ve learned in my recovery from food addiction. The more I put into FA, the more I get out of it. 14
I struggled with food addiction for years, feeling hopeless and trapped, trying everything I could to break free from its grip. Nothing worked until I discovered FA. At last, I had a glimmer of hope through a structured approach that focused on building a community of support and following a proven step-bystep regimen designed to stop addictive eating. At first, I was skeptical. I’d tried so many other programs and they had all failed. However, something about LOU C., NY FA felt different. Maybe it was the people who were so warm and welcoming, who seemed genuinely invested in helping me recover. Or maybe it was the structure of the program, which provided a clear roadmap to wellness. Whatever it was, I knew I needed to give it a try. So, I began. I attended meetings, got a sponsor, and started working the program. It wasn’t easy, but I found that the more I invested in my recovery, the easier it became. I saw progress January/February 2024
