Cooked Vegetables

[godsrosebud01]

Hi everyone,

I am new ( well it has been years sense I have been on the food plan) I started this way of life many years ago and when I was still very fresh and detoxing my grandma died and off the plan I went. I know that it is the only eating plan that works for me when it comes to weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

I was looking at the plan, I am now at a weight of 345lbs. Do i still eat the recommended portions for women?? I know many years ago when I started it they moved up my portion size so that I did not loose weight to quickly but for the life of me I can not find the food plan my sponsor at the time put me on. I have moved sense then and do not have her contact information.

Can someone help me please?

Thank you,
Jessica :D

[step3]

Dear Jessica,
Welcome back to FAA! I recently heard a speaker on an FAA World Convention CD that had been 400 pounds when she came to FAA. She wanted to increase the amount of food she'd have, but in her case, her sponsor asked her to get onto the suggested FAA food plan for 30 days and give it a try, see how it went. She did very well and by the end of the 30 days was completely OK with following the plan as it's written.

The best thing for you to do is to check with your sponsor about this question. If you don't have a sponsor yet, you might be interested in following the guidance of the woman who spoke at the convention.

Maybe someone else has experience/strength/hope to offer on this?

Good luck, Jessica!

step3

[Moonbeam]

Some women do need more food (those who are very tall or very active or obese) and some follow the men's suggested food plan and there are other food plans out there for food addicts and you can probably find them by googling food addiction...FAA does support those who are following other food plans that are free of sugar, flour and wheat...we don't believe that one size fits all. And talking this over with a sponsor or some other trusted food addict can be so helpful. Wishing you all the best on your journey in recovery from this disease of food addiction.

[adega]

I have a question. I am very new. I am having a terrible time eating all the cooked vegetables. Sometimes I actually gag and my throat closes up and I can't finish them. I'm actually dreading meal times because of this problem. I want so much for this program to work for me because I know I am a food addict. What do I do now?

[step3]

I have a question. I am very new. I am having a terrible time eating all the cooked vegetables. Sometimes I actually gag and my throat closes up and I can't finish them. I'm actually dreading meal times because of this problem. I want so much for this program to work for me because I know I am a food addict. What do I do now?

Another idea, besides the ones mentioned, would be to have a cup of tomato juice or V8... one cup counts as one cooked vegetable. I also am wondering if you had an aversion to vegetables before you came to FAA, or if this is something new since you got on the food plan?

Please be very, very gentle with yourself, adega, and don't panic.... you will be able to eat well, and you will be able to recover from food addiction. When you do try to have the cooked veggies, take it one bite at a time. Take a cleansing breath to release any tension, and then give yourself the gift of one bite of healthy food. Try doing this one bite at a time and see if it might help.

Let us know how you're doing with this. You may not be the only newcomer who has faced this and your sharing might help others who come to Online Support for help.

Best wishes,
step3

[alicemdavid]

Adega,

I am wondering how you are doing with the vegetables? I too want this program to work for you!

I am wondering how you cook your vegetables? Do you steam them? Is is a certian type of vegetable causing you to gag? There are so many types of vegetables on our food plan, have you tried roasting them or grilling them. I think they are really yummy this way, you might want to try a medley of three or more types at a time to measure 1 cup. Do you like v-8 juice or red beets these are cooked vegetables? You could also cook them and chill them and add them in a salad along with your protein, Hope all is working out for you!

[harriss7]

I just found your site. I want to be free from food obsession, but I am driven to eat everything in the next 2-3 days that I can't eat on the abstinance plan since I have to abstain from those foods forever "one day at a time." I used to be bound to alcohol and felt the same way each time I wanted to quit drinking...like I gotta do it as much as I can until such and such date since I won't be able to again. You'd think then I could just easily transition to the food deal...nope. Frankly I think my alcohol drinking was just a mask to the food which started first (sugar, flour, etc) as a child then progressed to "grown up" sugar. I have been sober from alcohol for a while, but the food thing has gotten so bad. How does you "let go" of the "one more time" pizza, cookies, m&m's, ice cream....et al? Problem is that each time I set a date to "quit" I eat a ton of that junk and don't change permanently thus adding on more weight and continuing the obsession. Please help.

[Jackie]

Welcome to FAA, Newbie!

I think we all had those last suppers of this that and the other thing. And it never worked out for me. I found that I can't afford to think about changing the way I eat in terms of the rest of my life. I really need to just take this one meal at a time and just one day at a time. I never could have done this without the help of my wonderful sponsor. She was so patient in giving me tips to help me get started and helped me to avoid the pitfalls and potholes. Most people find that the cravings stop the first week when abstaining from the sugar, flour and wheat. I never have had any regrets about the foods I didn't eat and no longer feel like I'm missing out on anything. If anything, I feel like I'm in on a big secret of this wonderful food plan that helps my body to heal. And my food looks so colorful and wonderful on the plate and my friends have commented on how nice my food looks. I wish that we could post some photos of our wonderful abstinent meals. I think that one of the big hurdles for me was learning to trust the solution (the FAA food plan and program of recovery) and to trust what others shared with me about what worked for them. Keep coming back, this isn't easy; but it's doable.

[oragold]

Hello Hariss,

This is a common phenomena that happens to a lot of us who are addicts. The body wants to keep having the drug. Perhaps sometimes the emotions do to, because of whatever feelings are being numbed by the substance.

Here are some ideas that helped me get through that difficult period:
1) I felt that my addiction and addictive behaviors were blocking me from everything good in my life. And I really wanted those good things that were blocked. So I told myself--when I have lived my life and accomplished everything that I want to, then I can go back to the chocolate and the ice cream if I feel like it (like when I'm 90 years old or something).
2) I never told myself "I can't have this every again". I realize that it is completely my choice whether to live drugged or not. I don't view this as a moral issue. I just prefer to live clear headed and clear hearted right now. (NOTE: I prefer it A LOT)
3) If I saw some food that I wished for, perhaps a different kind of pastry or candy combination that I had "never" tried; when I looked at it honestly, I know that it is just some other conglomeration of sugar, wheat, flour and fat. I had many binges over a 40 year span and basically I know, from the bottom of my heart, that I have tried it ALL. So I kind of bring back the memory, kind of vaguely, not in an obsessive way, to recall that I really had done that already, just enough to reassure myself that I don't need it again right now.

As the other poster said, I did these things 1 day at a time. And the day that you wrote your question was my 14 month "anniversary" of sticking to this plan, so it is working.

Best of luck and success,

Ora, food addict CO

[ntuttle]

So Ora, I am new too (again - for about the 5th time - keep going into denial) - you say you have stuck to the plan for 14 months - holy - may I ask how much weight you have had to lose and how much you have lost? I know I'm way too focused on the weight but it's what's bringing me here. Thanks, Nicole, Sarnia, ON, Canada