COR RETREAT NEWS
Jean's Story of Recovery
Many of my earliest memories have to do with body image and food. I was ill a lot as a small child and I remember my mother fretting about how frail I was. It seems like overnight, when my tonsils came out in second grade, I went from frail to overweight. Then the concern changed to my expanding size. My entire life, I have been obsessed with my weight, and my food—how to hide it, how to get it, how to restrict it, trying to be “good”. I was certain that being fat was responsible for everything that was wrong in my life. Even when I was at a healthy weight, I still saw fat when I looked in the mirror. There was no connection between my body and what my mind perceived.
In 1991, I began attending meetings for recovery from food addiction, and had some limited success. Yet, the preoccupation with food and cravings always returned and I found myself mired in the spiral of shame and self-loathing once again. About two years ago, a friend started losing weight and her being glowed with health. I knew she struggled with food just like I did and I also knew she was navigating some difficult personal challenges without excess food. I was very curious about what was going on. I asked her what she was doing. She told me about COR Retreat and how she found what she needed to begin recovering there.
I had been praying for a solution to my food obsession for years and I began asking for discernment regarding the next right step. “Was I to attend COR?” I prayed about this for a couple months, and became more and more convinced that I needed to attend. I got to the point where I said, “I want what my friend has. I will do whatever I am told.”
On April 13, 2016, I walked into COR and came face-to-face with my own powerlessness over food in a way as never before. I had known about 12-Step recovery for years and was unable to fully surrender. COR Retreat helped me do that. Standing in front of the buffet on Wednesday evening, I turned over my life-long resistance to weighing and measuring portions—and I was set free.
The format of the retreat gave me a framework to take what I knew about the 12 Steps and make them real in my heart. I began using the program and tools to find my way through life without excess food. The miracle happened for me; the desire for excess food has been lifted. I am an addict and my body isn’t cured. Instead, I am blessed with a daily reprieve and I am grateful to surrender today.
Even more amazing is the fellowship and friendships that have come into my life as a gift of attending COR. I am brought to tears of gratitude to have my COR family. I was so isolated and lonely before I got here.
In the six months since I attended my COR Retreat, I have been relieved of 45 pounds. Food no longer calls to me from the kitchen while I am trying to live my life. When there is food at work, I don’t desire it or think about it. As I continue daily to do the work I started at COR, I find satisfaction with my life and my relationships keep improving.
Every morning as I start my day, I pray to be kept on this path and ask for the willingness to continue this incredible journey that started at COR.
Attention COR Alumni
It is recommended that people in food recovery attend a retreat once a year whether they need it or not. This will renew their commitment to the program and get back to “squeaky” clean eating.
If you are in need of a refresher retreat you don’t need to wait until the next EnCOR. The price has been reduced for guests returning to COR. Register now to get back on track before the holidays.
There are still a few beds available for the December 7th COR Retreat.
Contact Michelle at 612-669-6110 for more information.
From the Program Director
Join COR Retreat with our Mission
Let’s put a stop to food addiction! People need to know recovery is available!
Share in our vision of offering a proven solution to those countless people who are dying from food abuse.
Join us in this mission. Any amount helps towards stopping this fatal malady, one person at a time!
A Minister’s testimony:
“Who knew after a lifetime of in ministry, that the COR Retreat would be one of the deepest most spiritual, life-changing weeks of my life? The setting, the warm welcome, the delicious (and clean) food, the courage and witness of my wonderful co-retreaters, the material, and - most especially - the compassionate, honest, caring dedicated leadership of Michelle and Kari, have all combined to help me let go, let God, surrender my will, and begin a new life.
I am filled with gratitude for the vision and faithful witness of COR, and I will forever give thanks that my resurrection happened here.”
Dirk D
COR 17
“Small acts, when multiplied by millions, can transform the world.” Howard Zinn
Donate now at www.cormn.org or send a check by mail. There’s still time to get a tax deduction for this year.
You hold the power to save a life.
With Love and service,
Michelle Goldberger
