Anyone heard of Food Addicts Anonymous?

[Dabbadooey]

It's similar to OA, but has eating restrictions.

[MaryMary]

I have heard of it. Where OA does not endorse any food plans, FAA does endorse a food plan. I looked into it but can't remember why I chose not to become a member. I know it had something to do with the food plan. I researched CEW-HOW (Compulsive Eaters Anonymous) and GreySheeters Anonymous (GSA). I chose GSA because it is a 12 step program for carb sensitive individuals. They are all programs for folks with the addiction of food and/or compulsive undereating or overeating. The only requirement for membership in any of them is a desire to stop eating compulsively. I would imagine you can find out more information by typing in their website addresses.

www.oa.org
www.faa.org
www.greysheet.org
www.ceahow.org

[nessyrae]

I am interested in joining some type of addiction meeting, however I only really know of OA. I was thinking about starting with them. Food Addicts isn't in my area, neither is greysheeters I believe. Has anyone had luck with OA?

[MaryMary]

nessyrae, OA is a great place to start. Greysheeters Anonymous is available 7 days a week 6 to 7 times a day via phone conferencing bridge meetings. There are folks from all over the world that call into these meetings. Distance is no longer a concern since all you need is a long distance carrier or a calling card. If you are interested and would like to listen in, send me a PM.

[nessyrae]

Thanks MaryMary for the info! I may sometime in the near future like to listen in. I am glad there are options for those over the phone. I am thinking of trying an OA meeting tomorrow if I get up enough courage. I will PM if I decide to try a Greysheeter's meeting.

How do you like Greysheeter's? I don't know much about it right now. Just curious.

Thanks!

[MaryMary]

I like Greysheeters a lot. The food plan is clear cut. I get plenty to eat 3 times a day, which I weigh & measure. I have lost an additional 94 lbs since I started with GSA in the last 17 months while I lost the first 105 lbs with Atkins in the first 3 years.

I am also working on the emotional and spiritual stuff that goes along with compulsive eating through the practical application of the 12 steps of AA. I am learning that food addiction is not a moral issue and can be managed one day at a time.

[AriAnne]

Mary, you lost 100 pounds on Atkins, so why did you switch to a
different food plan? I can understand the need for the 12 step support,
but why a different food plan? thanks!

[Siobhan_M]

[QUOTE=MaryMary] FAA does endorse a food plan.

Hi, everyone. My name is Siobhan and I am new to this forum. Since I've been active in FAA, I thought I'd post on this one.

FAA has a suggested food plan, but it is not a requirement for membership. FAA defines abstinence as complete abstinence from sugar, wheat, and flour, with a much broader definition of "sugar" that just white sugar (there's a pamphlet called "The 99 Names of Sugar"). It's pretty easy to avoid sugar, wheat (to which I'm allergic) and flours on Atkins.

FAA is a good fellowship, and their website has info for online and phone meetings.

That's my two cents!

Siobhan

[Rrecovery]

Here's a website Food Addicts Anonymous It's far more than a food plan, it's a new way of life

[Rrecovery]

whoops make that Food Addicts Anonymous

[Rrecovery]

I see that this site doesn't permit links..try www plus foodaddictsanonymous plus org

[Rrecovery]

Actually those are links after all. Sorry to gum up this thread my intentions were good.

[MaryMary]

AriAnne,
I just notices that you posted a message back in 2005 but I never replied.
I changed from Atkins to GSA because I was eating the delicious Atkins food compulsively. I needed more structure, wanting to lose the rest of the weight and found it in Greysheeters Anonymous. I looked at Food Addicts Anonymous, OA, CEA-HOW and thought for me GSA was a better fit. The 12 steps are the same in each program. I needed to keep it simple, and greysheet was simple. Are you still out there AriAnne?

[AriAnne]

Hi Mary!! I just noticed your reply! ha! thanks for the information,
I totally relate to over eating the "delicious food on Atkins". If I was on
a plan where I could eat tree bark whenever I wanted to, I'd be gnawing
on a tree all the time! ha!

When I was in (a) Grey Sheet group in the 70's when it was in it's early stages,
the group I was in made it a very moral issue and it was very shame
based. I read that the shame base was used in AA with men because
men are a harder nut to crack than women so they used different
tactics on men to get through to them, the same tactics don't
necessarily work as well on women in general because women are
more sensitive and can be emotionally harmed using the same type
of tactics as AA used on men.

This is the major reason I am not in a 12 step group, because of my
past experiences with them in the shame based theme. Maybe it has
changed, I don't know, but I am too fragile to be around people who
promote that concept. I am glad you found a group you are comfortable
with and that works for you.

My experience has left an impression of such that I steer clear of these
groups based on AA.

[Rrecovery]

I have found that the shame is something coming from me and it wa so easy to blame others for it. My experiences with 12 step fellowships is the exact opposite: supportive and caring. I back that up with 24 years of sobriety and 20 months of abstinence from food addiction

[Dabbadooey]

Since 12 step programs consider compulsive overeating to be a disease, why is any shame involved at all?

[LoraJR72]

Hi, all.

Looks like I'll be attending an FAA meeting on Wednesdays.

Wish me luck!

[MaryMary]

Shame in my life comes from the shoulda's, woulda's and coulda's, I hear in my head and from others. These are words we have heard all our lives. If only you did this, you could have been this... If only you'd lose weight, you would be so beautiful...I should be thin, I have been dieting all my life. I told myself phony messages all my life. In my opinion only, the 12 step program is teaching me how to reprogram my brain not to believe the lies. As a result, my self-esteem has grown and I believe I can choose healthy actions today, with the help of a power greater than myself.

Being human, there are days when I am restless, irritable and discontent. But today I recognize it for what it is and can take the next right action.

Enjoy the journey...

[LoraJR72]

Hi, Mary

I thought I was going to a Greysheet meeting and it was an AA/NA meeting.

It wasn't too bad. I may go again but for right now F.A.I.R.A. is what I really need.

[MaryMary]

What is F.A.I.R.A?

If you are interested in listening into a Greysheet Phone Bridge meeting, let me know and I will give you the phone #?

[LoraJR72]

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous

[Star123]

Hi Ladies,

I have a question about FAA, is there any fees required for registration/or signing up for the membership? Just curious.

[LoraJR72]

No FEES! All you need to do is commit to the plan.

3 Measured Meals a day only. No calorie counting. Healthy food.

I've been to a couple of meetings and already have a sponsor who I call at 6am every day and we go over the menu I had planned out the night before. She is very strict but good!

[Star123]

Lora, that's great, I might just give it a try. But have to see where the meetings are in BC, Canada. Thanks!

[LoraJR72]

These are the listings they have in Canada.

I found another one in your area.

[Rrecovery]

In Food Addicts Anonymous the newcomer is allowed to share--doesn' have to wait 90 days to do so.Also a metabolic is part of the suggested food plan. In other words a late night snack which makes perfect sense to ward off cravings that might come from waiting 12 hours from dinner to breakfast to eat again
Food Addicts Anonymous

[nessyrae]

For any of you who have attended FAA meetings, have you found it to be helpful for you? I noticed there is now a meeting in my city, which there wasn't the last time I checked. I thought about checking it out, but I am too nervous.

[Rrecovery]

On the FAA website are a list of telephone meetings. Helpful for people who are self-conscious how thet look.

Food Addicts Anonymous

[sarbear]

Hello! I am new to the Board. I wanted to let you all know of Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous. It has not been mentioned before on this Post.

It was formed in 1999 in Boston by two women who were Graysheet / 90-Day OA (where you had to wait 90 days of abstinence to share at a meeting).

I actually joined this 12-Step Program myself in San Francisco in 1999. I left since I wanted to run away from my addictive eating problems and I just want the food. I am back now. They are really growing and they are not 'shame-based'. It is a loving Program that really, really works. People have 10, 15 and 25 years of abstinence (the ones who were doing GS transferred over).

Here is the website:

Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous: Home

From their website:

To me, the joy of FA living means…

· Being free from food obsession
· Knowing that my meal was enough – not too much and not too little
· Being sure my clothes from last winter will fit this winter
· Not being afraid to put on a bathing suit every summer and show up at the pool
· Being able to show up for my family every evening instead of hiding in the kitchen “cleaning up” the leftovers
· Being able to help others in FA because I am beginning to come out of my self-centeredness
· Feeling good about how I look for the first time in my life
· Feeling good about my actions and behaviors, being able to show up for life

Are you a food addict?
To answer this question, ask yourself the following questions and answer them as honestly as you can.

1 Have you ever wanted to stop eating and found you just couldn't?
2 Do you think about food or your weight constantly?
3 Do you find yourself attempting one diet or food plan after another, with no lasting success?
4 Do you binge and then "get rid of the binge" through vomiting, exercise, laxatives, or other forms of purging?
5 Do you eat differently in private than you do in front of other people?
6 Has a doctor or family member ever approached you with concern about your eating habits or weight?
7 Do you eat large quantities of food at one time (binge)?
8 Is your weight problem due to your "nibbling" all day long?
9 Do you eat to escape from your feelings?
10 Do you eat when you're not hungry?
11 Have you ever discarded food, only to retrieve and eat it later?
12 Do you eat in secret?
13 Do you fast or severely restrict your food intake?
14 Have you ever stolen other people's food?
15 Have you ever hidden food to make sure you have "enough?"
16 Do you feel driven to exercise excessively to control your weight?
17 Do you obsessively calculate the calories you've burned against the calories you've eaten?
18 Do you frequently feel guilty or ashamed about what you've eaten?
19 Are you waiting for your life to begin "when you lose the weight?"
20 Do you feel hopeless about your relationship with food?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you may be a food addict. You are not alone. FA offers hope through a real solution to food addiction.

Copyright © 2000-2003 Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous

[MaryMary]

thanks for sharing your experience, strength and hope.

To clarify, most of those that did Greysheet are now part of Greysheeters Anonymous. I looked into FA before connecting with GSA and there were some things in the food plan that I was not able to integrate.

We are blessed today with a variety of 12 step programs that deal with compulsive eating and food addiction - same disease - different symptons - whether you are anorexic, bulimic or compulsive overeater. Once we do the research and find the food plan that best serves us, working the steps in all the same. Bottom line, find a food plan, follow it no matter what, give it to HP and you sponsor and feel the freedom from the mental obsession around food. Walk in the Spirit!