Someone wrote in with the following: “Have you ever seen people succeed after returning to Bright Line Eating for the umpteenth time? I wonder if my intermittent enforcement has done me in. Is Bright Line Eating a broken system for me? Do many resumers turn into success stories, or do 99 percent of your success stories come from first-timers?”

It's a great question. Our head of customer support sent it around to all our coaches to get input. The responses were astounding. 

First of all, when I read the question I thought: that’s my story. I’ve broken and Rezoomed countless times. I can’t tell you how many times—more than 100, for sure. And yet, I stand here now, five years off sugar and flour, and two years of the most immaculate Bright Lines you could imagine.

So yes, it’s absolutely possible.

Actually, I think it’s the rule more than the exception. That’s what the coaches said, too. They see it all the time. It’s indeed insane to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. At the same time, if you think about how many times the average smoker tries to quit before it sticks—you’re looking at a couple dozen times. 

One coach said that people finally succeed when they start doing two things differently. First, the bottom drops out in a different way so they are willing to surrender on a deeper level. And second, because they want success more wholeheartedly, more desperately, they engage with the community, the Boot Camp, the courses, and the support in a different, deeper way. And boom. Success. We see that all the time.

But here’s another question: Is Bright Line Eating your path, or is there something else you should be trying? Here are a few possible alternatives:

• Do you need an in-patient program? Should you be doing something like SHiFT—Recovery by Acorn? You’d have their intensive support for 12 weeks. Maybe you need that.
• Do you need a 12-step program? That is to say, spiritual help, with a sponsor you can talk to every day? Some people prefer a secular approach like BLE, but you may do better with the spiritual element. There are pros and cons to having a sponsor. If you have a sponsor in FA (FoodAddicts.org), you give up autonomy, and autonomy is important. But it also helps you walk a narrower path. Some people need that level of accountability and support. 
• Do you need some kind of trauma therapy? Or parts work? Should you go to Everett Considine’s website to sign up for a package of deep-dive sessions, to find out what part of you is keeping you from being successful?

Those are three potential steps you could take either alongside Bright Line Eating or instead of Bright Line Eating to try to get results.

Yes, we see people being successful after spinning their wheels for years and years. You’re only ready when you’re ready. Sometimes it just takes a while before you’re ready to JFTFP – just follow the fabulous plan. But you’re more likely to reach that moment if you’re here, using the support, than if you’re just out there not taking steps, not available to receive guidance and inspiration from people who are living Bright.

It's important that you’re asking this question. As they say in 12-step programs, don’t give up five minutes before the miracle happens.