How do I Begin?

[step3]

Dear Margaret,

You've come to the right place. Everything you are describing sounds to me like a food addict reaching bottom, and that's what generally has to happen before we become willing to be open to a new way of being and living.

Food addiction is a 3-fold illness: of the body, of the mind/emotions, and of the spirit. I found that I needed to abstain from sugar/flour/and wheat in all their forms, because I was addicted to those substances. I have the body of a food addict, it's biochemically different from the body of a non-food addict. When I put any form at all of sugar/flour/wheat into my body, it has an addictive response. I get physical cravings that are pretty much impossible to resist and there's a kind of "tissue hunger" feeling to the cravings....my whole body wants more food! What has amazed me is that when I follow the suggested FAA food plan, eating the foods that are recommended and in the recommended amounts, I no longer crave foods or obsess about them the way I used to. What a freedom!!!

I have sent you a Welcome Letter which gives you some more information on getting started in FAA. If you have any questions, you can come back to Online Support and we will try to help you. Also, there's an Open Chat for Newcomers on Friday nights at 9pm Eastern. This is an informal time for beginners or those coming back to FAA to come and interact with FAA members with time in recovery. Any questions you have, you can ask there, as well.

In addition, there are two wonderful beginner's meetings. One is online (Saturdays at 11am Eastern) and one is on the phone (Sundays at 6pm Eastern). After the Sunday meeting, at 7pm Eastern, there is a phone meeting with a panel of people with time in recovery attending and answering questions or concerns of anyone who has them. FAA has 2 online meetings each week and 33 phone meetings....lots of support. Information on meetings is here:

http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/meetings

I'm very happy that you have found FAA, Margaret. Keep coming, keep sharing! This program does work when we work it, so work it, you're worth it! xoxox

[scout]

This is my first time too and I just want to thank step3 and Jackie for their kindness and gentleness in their responses to other newbies like me. I really appreciate it. I find them so encouraging.

[step3]

Dear Scout,

Thank you so much for that! You have made my day, you truly have. Welcome to Food Addicts Anonymous... I've found a lot of love and gentleness here myself. It's just what this food addict needed, and as I learned in recovery, I have to pass it on in order to keep it.

Keep coming back, Scout~ we're all very glad you're here!! :P

Hugs,
step3

[Bella]

Yes. Thank you, Step3, for writing to new folks and getting us started. I am very apprehensive about my ability to do this. I am disappointed to find there are no face-to-face meetings in my area. Are the phone calls just as good? Also are there professional counselors/therapists who know the FAA way? How do you find them locally?

[oragold]

Hello Bella,
The FAA phone meetings are absolutely wonderful! I joined FAA in May 2010 and have only been to a face to face meeting one time, when travelling. Other than that, all of my contact has been by phone except that I was lucky enough to go to the FAA convention in October.

What I like about the phone meetings is that there are several each day and I can easily fit them into my schedule wherever I am. When I'm really busy, I can even do some light food preparation or housework while listening in. As a mom with three kids and a business that capability has been invaluable to me. The meetings are amazingly supportive and help me realize that I'm not alone and that there are people all over the world involved in this.

Can you tell that I can't rave enough about the phone meetings!

Note one more thing--the phone meetings became even more alive for me after the convention because now I have faces to go with the many people I hear and it makes it feel very comfortable to call to say hello and feel like I have a true network. So I recommend the convention and, I assume, the retreats highly if relying only on phone meetings.

Happily abstinent since May 2010,

Ora a recovering food addict from NJ

[step3]

Welcome to FAA, Bella!

I understand your apprehension; I think most of us got here not knowing really what to expect! There were no meetings in person here in my state when I began FAA, although I did start one myself after a while in abstinence and recovery. That has been great; seeing other food addicts in person, as the person who posted before me mentioned. But yes, the phone meetings are really very, very good~ in fact, they have been, and continue to be, a real life-line in my recovery. I love that there are over 30 phone meetings every week, including a great newcomer's meetings on Sunday nights at 6pm Eastern time. Right after that meeting, at 7pm ET, is a meeting with a panel of recovering FAA members who are there answering any and all questions that newcomers (or anyone else!) might have for them.

The nice thing about it all is that we never have to be alone again, and we don't have to do this alone, either! Finding a sponsor to help you would be one of the first things I'd recommend doing, after starting to come to meetings. I found a wonderful sponsor. She happens to live in another state, and we didn't meet in person for a little over a year, but I have since met her and wow! was that a great experience! As Ora said, there are also conventions and retreats where you will see all kinds of new and longer time members of FAA.

As for therapists or counselors with specific knowledge of FAA, I don't have that particular experience in order to share with you. But I do know that, in my understanding, and with what I'd want, I'd look for someone who has knowledge of the 12 Step way of life. That kind of therapist will be extremely helpful for you, and they are available, I know. But just as a caution: it's recommended in FAA not to get into any "heavy-duty" therapy (for instance, on family of origin issues) in the beginning, because the intense emotions evoked during those therapies can hinder your ability to attain and maintain abstinence.

I'm so glad you've found your way to FAA, Bella, and I wish you every success in your new recovery!

Hugs,
step3

[Bella]

Thank you thank you, Ora and Step3. I am encouraged just by having your very timely responses. So helpful. I am excited to have found you. Now, to off to conquer my trepidation and plan bfast. I can't do one day at a time yet, but I think I can do one meal at a time! I think I can, I think I can.

[TYGtoday]

Hi Bella,

How did you make out with planning your breakfast this morning? Are you going to be following the suggested FAA food plan? I do that, and it has been a really big help, because I don't have to do much thinking about what to avoid. When I follow the food plan, it's more about what I can have. I've really come to love the way we get to eat, Bella. The food is nourishing, filling, and delicious. What more could I ask for?! :D

Keep coming back, Bella. Glad to see you here in Online Support!

TYG (Thank You God) today

[victorian1887]

Hello to everyone. I am new to this. I am indeed tired of the obsession & overwhelming cravings! I have started a popular diet offering online support. I have lost some weight. I find myself with the unbelievable need to eat chocolate, sugar, breads. I am tired in body & mind. Please let me know how phone meetings go. There are some meetings in my state, but none close enough to attend.
Thanks for the site & the support.
Cindy, Ohio

[oragold]

Hi Cindy,

Welcome to FAA. Before coming to this program, I was desperate and determined to conquer my eating addiction. I tried diet after diet and when I couldn't stick to one I would just switch it up. I figured I was a person that just liked variety. And I lost about 30 lbs.

Until that strategy stopped working. I found myself unable to stick to anything anymore. As the weight came back I felt more and more pathetic, depressed and out of control.

When I found FAA, I wondered if it was my answer. And it turned out that it was. By eliminating the particular substances COMPLETELY from my diet, I found I no longer craved them. I finally could stay with a program for more than a few days (as of today it is 9 months). I was so tired and the first month of FAA I was even more tired as my body started detoxing from these toxic foods. But then my energy came back, my mind and emotions cleared and it has been a tremendous success in my life.

In my state also, there are no meetings so close to me. I have done my program exclusively on phone meetings, having only one in-person experience which was the world wide convention last October (I heartily recommend the convention or a retreat if you can attend). I love the phone meetings because they fit right into my schedule and there are numerous meetings available.

Best of luck and success in this program. Go to meetings, get phone numbers and hopefully get a sponsor as soon as you find someone you relate to.

Sincerely,

Ora from NJ