How Do you Become Abstinent?

[Abinsten08]

I wish I'd known about food addiction ten years ago it would have saved me a lot of time and money. Plus the fact that when I hear the others share at meetings i identify so much with many of the things they say, even things that are not directly related to food issues. Becoming abstinent from sugar flour and wheat has freed me fromthe terrible chains of addictive eating. Some people say everything in moderationbut experiencehas taught me again and again that I simply CANNOT eat foods containing s/f/w in moderation. I may be ableto resist for a little while but sooner or later that binge is coming down the track and I can only try to take refuge in abstinent food then and wait for the storm to pass! I get terrible feelings of restlessness when I'm not abstinent, I actually feel disturbed. Thank God for FAA and long may they continue.

[Bubbles57]

Hello,
I am Bubbles57. This is an amazing program and so glad that FAA exist.
Funny thing, just 3 weeks ago I was surfing the internet for a diet to help me to lose weight. I tried just about everything and I stumbled on the no flour, no sugar diet. I made all the sense in the world to me because I was the sugar and flour that caused me to become over weight in the first place. It was back in the middle 80's after I gave birth to my still born son that I carried for 9 months. I got very depressed and turned to flour and sugar and all kinds of starchy foods for comfort. I never had a problem with my weight until then and now here in 2011, I am still overweight.
I started the no flour no sugar diet and the first week and a half, I felt miserable, irritable, tired, and at times very nervous, I just did not feel like myself. But my mind was made up to continue because just like drugs and alcohol, I was coming down from it.
Today I feel more energized. No more problems with constipation, I am losing inches but it does not show on the scale as of yet. I talked with my Aunt in Louisiana and told her that I eliminated sugars and flour from my diet and she was extremely happy about it and offered to send me some material to read in the mail. A few days later, I got the material and it was a lot of information from FAA- I've spent a lot of time reading the info. and figured out that my problem was an addiction.
After reading the material, I got on my computer and visited the website which is just as exciting as the material.
This is a real blessing, this is now my beginning to be set free from that white stuff that had me bond for over 25 years. Oh my God I wish I known about flour, sugar and wheat abstinence and FAA- But it's better late than never.
It's wonderful to know the truth about the stuff we all thought was harmless was slowly killing us and leading us to an early grave. Oh my gosh, I used to eat 4 king sized snickers candy bars a day and 1 day in particular had 5.
Early this year, I used to go around the corner to the donut shop and eat 4 a day. It got so bad that my husband had my neighbor to spy on me to let him know if I left the house to get donuts.
Soon as my husband leave for work, I would leave about 10minutes later around the corner and stuff the donuts in my purse so that my neighbor would not see the white bag but will purchase a news paper to make my neighbor think that's why I left the house in the first place.
There are many women and men on my job that are having the same problem--stuffing themselves with donuts, muffins, soda's etc. I've shared with some of my co-workers what I'm doing because a lot of them can see my weight loss.
Thank you so much FAA for the truth. After reading the pamphlet about the various names of sugar, I come to the conclusion that it's better to just eat all natural stuff instead of packaged and can foods and I reckon I better find my kitchen and just start cooking instead of eating out because you never know what's in the food that you eat in some of these restaurants.
Bubbles57

[here42da]

Thanks again for sharing,
I had chill bumps just reading your sharing. It was amazing how your Aunt sent you some literature, and I also identified with the situation of the still born as well I have a relative that carried her only girl several months after getting the knowledge that the baby was no longer alive. I still get teary when I read or think about some things. FAA is a miracle come true in my life. A relative informed me about this program. I am happy to say that at that time, I finally was ready to give it a try. Finally a solution. I hope you were able to participate in some of the marathon meetings yesterday. If not I am sure there will be another marathon next month, and there are many meetings each day at various times, as well as online meetings, and of course some face to face meetings too. The meetings are a great way to get contact information, and give yours as well. I try to remember that this isn't a diet. When we go on a diet, we are giving ourselves permission to at some time go off it. I like to think of this as a changed life style or healthier way of eating, that I will do for the rest of my life. That is if I want to remain healthy. Already I have seen so much improvement in my health. No longer a diabetic, no more acid reflux, or heartburn, weight is down, and more energy etc.
Then there are the emothional changes, which the steps have helped me to understand my feelings, deal with my lifetime situations, and to know why I do some of the things that I do. I am happy to be continually working the 12 steps. Yes it was an eye opener to find out about this biochemical disease, and how it effects us. I am glad to be here and among others who are like me. Keep on sharing,
Here42da

[stsweet]

Hello, my name is Sue. I'm new to FAA, having found it just today. I have a question. I have been thinking about going on the Atkins eating plan, which I'm sure most of you are familiar with. The reason is that I have very high cholesterol and am borderline diabetic and have read that eliminating all carbs from my diet can help get my numbers down fairly quickly. I know that FAA has it's own eating plan too and I've looked at it and it seems to be a pretty healthy diet. I'm considering going the Atkins route until my cholesterol levels and blood sugar get down to acceptable ranges, and then switching to the FAA plan. What do you all think of this idea? Good, bad, maybe? Thanks for any feed back!
Sue

[here42da]

Welcome to FAA, Sue, Thanks for your question and for introducing yourself to us. My personal opinion and it is mine, is to give this (our FAA food plan,) a try. I was amazed at how quickly all of my numbers turned around when I started this food plan. It sounds like you were led to this fellowship. So my recommendation is to make an effort to do our food plan for a trial of 30 days. I think you will be amazed at how quickly everything starts improving. My blood sugar A1C, went to that of a non-diabetic. My triglycerides number came way down, my total cholesterol number went down, the HDL went up, that is the good one (happy), and the LDL went down, (lousy) that is the way I remember the difference between the two. All sorts of health problems that I had before program vanished., from acid reflux, high blood pressure, heart burn, and so on. I am so thankful for the results. This all happened just because I followed exactly what I was shown on the FAA Food plan. It works if you work it, just as it is. The metabolic adjustment is a wonderful help also and I certainly think that we were gifted with the people that composed and labored with love in devising every aspect of it from what we eat to when and how much we eat. Also am always reminded that by following this plan and eliminating the flour, sugar, and wheat and any other of their substitutes, we are released from the cravings. I love the part of the 7th step prayer that says "As I continue to stay abstinent, help me to be released from the cravings for food that are not in my best interest. Help me learn that food is to nourish my body so my spirit can carry out your plans for me." Again my personal opinion is that if you try this you will be amazed how quickly you see changes, and if you are using the other method and eliminating too much of something it may jeopardize what you are attempting to accomplish. I hope this makes some sense...Well you did ask for feed back. Be careful what you ask for...
here42da

[Ramsgirl21]

Hello! I am at a point where I hate everything about myself. I just need help. I live with my mm and she constantly criticizes but never tries to understand. I have tried every diet known to man and as soon as I start doing good I sabotage myself. I have even started extreme exercise programs such as p90x and I sabotage that for myself as well. I don't know what to do anymore. I have a 5 year old daughter who depends on me and I am worried I won't be around for her. Please help me!

[here42da]

Hi Ramsgirl,
I am glad you found this forum.. I think sometimes it just helps to reach out and say "help me!" We are a fellowship of individuals with a common ailment, that of food addiction which has manifested itself in various forms. Until I came to FAA I was floundering around looking for answers but not finding any help... Much has changed since that time 3 years ago. There is a solution. I no longer eat sugar, flour, and wheat, or any of their substitutes. Because of that I no longer have cravings for foods or for more... I remember well a sponsor who kept telling me to love myself, that I was worth it, that my Higher Power loves me. For me that Higher Power is the God of my understanding. I also tried about everything, too much to mention here, but this FAA program is the first and will be the last thing I will ever have to do, as what a relief to know that I have recovery today. Instead of looking at a long time like the rest of your life, think about it as just for today, or just this next meal, then when that is accomplished another meal then a day, then a week and so on. Take baby steps. Make contact with others, by getting phone numbers at the end of the meetings. Go to many meetings, and share or ask questions at the end of the meeting. Or you can just announce yourself. But start to reach out. It is too easy to isolate when we need to help each other. I also was concerned that because I am a care giver and knew that I must be healthy in order to care for my daughter in the proper manner. I feel like my God had me ready to embark on this program when I had no where else to go and at the time that it was shared with me by another loving food addict. Keep coming back. It will work. Oh, by the way. One of my big issues was wanting to change others, especially my husband. I could find so many areas of his life that I thought were wrong, or that I wanted him to be or do another way. When in program during the woriking of the steps I began to make changes in myself, I was shocked to find that he was changing because I had changed. What a wonderful miracle of the program.
here42da

[Moonbeam]

Sue,

I don't know much about the Atkins diet, but I have been following the FAA food plan for over 5 years and I was also borderline diabetic when my doctor told me to lose the weight or he would have to put me on some meds for the diabetes and after seeing relatives go down this path; I asked him if I could try following the FAA food plan (I had a copy of it in my purse) and he took one look at it and ok'ed it right away. I'm so glad that I did that. I've never looked back. I've lost over 100lbs and kept most of it off, by the Grace of God. It's been a partnership with my Higher Power who I choose to call God. My last A1c test was 5.6 and the one before that was 5.4 and that is considered "normal" and I've never had to take any meds for the diabetes and hoping this food plan will keep me in the "normal" range for many years to come. My cholesterol numbers have all come back down into the right ranges also, my blood pressure is much lower now and is back in the "normal" range for my age, and I had some blood work just recently and it came back a-ok...my doctor is quite impressed with this food plan as that is the only change I made....The FAA food plan is a well balanced food plan - not too far different from the diabetic food plan where carbs to be eaten are counted and must match the meds/insulin taken to bring the blood sugar back into the normal ranges. This FAA food plan balances the carbs with the protein and helps to stabilize the blood sugar. When this happens and sugar, flour and wheat are no longer being eaten, then the cravings stop. It's been such a joy to no longer experience those horrible cravings - my life was walking nightmare of searching endlessly for the next food fix. I feel like I've been given a second chance at life.

[faa4me]

Hello, my name is Sue. I'm new to FAA, having found it just today. I have a question. I have been thinking about going on the Atkins eating plan, which I'm sure most of you are familiar with. The reason is that I have very high cholesterol and am borderline diabetic and have read that eliminating all carbs from my diet can help get my numbers down fairly quickly. I know that FAA has it's own eating plan too and I've looked at it and it seems to be a pretty healthy diet. I'm considering going the Atkins route until my cholesterol levels and blood sugar get down to acceptable ranges, and then switching to the FAA plan. What do you all think of this idea? Good, bad, maybe? Thanks for any feed back!
Sue

Hi Sue,
The Atkins Diet isn't designed for food addicts. The FAA suggested food plan IS designed for us in particular. Carbohydrates are important because they give us energy (our brains and bodies), and the carbs on the FAA food plan are all very healthy, slow-acting ones. The sugary, floury things food addicts prefer while "out there, in the food" turn to glucose in the body very quickly, causing a quick spike in blood sugar levels (makes us feel real good, real fast), but then there's a corresponding drop in blood sugar levels which causes hunger, irritability, etc. The FAA food plan balances carbohydrates with protein which allows a slower and steadier metabolism. The diet is also rich in fiber, which the Atkins diet isn't. Fiber helps us feel full, and allows us to get from meal to meal without feeling hungry (once our bodies have adapted to the plan) until it's time for the next meal.

I'm a huge fan of the FAA food plan. I was on three strong diabetes medications for my diabetes, and now I take none at all, while having excellent blood sugar readings. I also was able to stop taking the two meds for high blood pressure and the one for high cholesterol. I too have lost 100 pounds and have maintained the loss over time (which I had never been able to do before!) There are all kinds of good reasons to follow the suggested FAA food plan, and I can't really think of reasons why I shouldn't.

Following the food plan and getting clean abstinence is the beginning of the journey of recovery from food addiction, I was happy to find. It works very well for me and for many, many others. Maybe it will work well for you too!

[faa4me]

Hello! I am at a point where I hate everything about myself. I just need help. I live with my mm and she constantly criticizes but never tries to understand. I have tried every diet known to man and as soon as I start doing good I sabotage myself. I have even started extreme exercise programs such as p90x and I sabotage that for myself as well. I don't know what to do anymore. I have a 5 year old daughter who depends on me and I am worried I won't be around for her. Please help me!

Dear Ramsgirl,
Welcome to FAA... it sounds like you could be in the right place! I too felt so much self-loathing, especially toward the end of my active addiction when I was bingeing and couldn't stop. I didn't even know that I felt that way until I had done some journaling and it came out. I was surprised and upset, because I had been doing fairly well (had lost a lot of weight on a diet that had no sugar) and had felt good about myself. But losing control the way I did and being so scared of gaining all my weight back (plus some... THAT always happened!), my self-esteem started to plummet. I started isolating because I didn't feel good enough to be around people anymore. I really did lose myself in this disease, Ramsgirl.

Thank God I found FAA! It was exactly what I needed, and I knew it from the very first meeting I ever attended. I was warmly welcomed, and people even called me to welcome me personally to the program. Truly, this is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

If you're a food addict like I am, this might be just what you're needing. I suggest going to some phone meetings as soon as you can, and go to a number of them in a row, rather than once in a while. See if this is where you belong, Ramsgirl. If it is, you can then make the next steps of ordering some FAA literature, getting onto the food plan, finding a sponsor to help you, making phone calls, etc. This isn't just about a diet, it's really about a whole new way of life that is probably like no other you've ever tried when it comes to your food issues. 12 Step recovery and and FAA abstinence is awesome, it really is. We're glad you're here... come along with us for the journey!