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Frequently Asked
Questions
What
is the FAA food plan?
The FAA food plan is a
well-balanced guide to sound nutrition, and includes all major food
groups. Although it is not
a diet, those who are overweight may expect to lose weight on the plan.
Those who are underweight may expect to gain.
By following the suggested food plan, we learn to make healthy
choices. We achieve freedom
from cravings when we eliminate foods that are known to cause cravings
in most food addicts. We
find that it is easiest to understand the food plan using the full text
from "A Guide to Abstinence," which can be obtained from the
FAA World Service Office using the order form at our Literature
page.
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What
is the difference between FAA and other 12 Step programs that deal with
food?
In FAA we have learned that food addiction is a biochemical disease
similar to alcoholism or drug addiction.
It is a part of our genetic makeup.
Although many food addicts have compulsive behaviors surrounding
food that need to be dealt with, FAAs initial focus is on treating
our physical addiction by abstaining from the addictive substances.
Compulsion is the behavioral component of food addiction and is
addressed as we continue working our program of recovery.
FAA has a
suggested food plan that is intended to eliminate the addictive
substances. Many who follow
the FAA food plan have craving-free abstinence.
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Do
doctors support the FAA food plan?
We suggest that you consult with your physician before starting the FAA
food plan. Show him or her
your copy of A Guide to Abstinence.
Since the FAA food plan is a well-balanced guide to sound
nutrition and includes all major food groups, many doctors and health
professionals agree that it is a healthy guide for eating.
The food plan as it is written is only a suggestion and has
helped many, many people.
Won't
I feel deprived?
In FAA we focus first on what we can have, instead of what we
can't have. Then we are able focus on how wonderful it feels to be free
from cravings, bingeing, and shame. When we follow the FAA food plan as
written, we do not feel deprived because by eliminating the addictive
substances, the biochemical aspect of the disease is addressed and the
physical urge to eat more is removed. We deal with our other feelings
with the help of our sponsors and by working the 12
Steps of the program.
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How can I eat
out?
We learn to order food that is sugar, flour, and wheat free.
In this day and age, it is quite easy to get everything we need.
We order our food in a very specific, clear and polite
manner...i.e. "I would like my salad without croutons and no
marinade on my steak or vegetables please."
Wait people are usually more than happy to accommodate a person's
needs.
What about
traveling?
When a food addict is convinced that abstinence is the answer to
recovering from food addiction, she/he will be able to go anywhere and
remain abstinent. Traveling
abstinently does take extra planning to ensure that we have the foods we
need when we need them. Discussing
travel plans with a sponsor and with other recovering food addicts can
provide us with an excellent source of ideas for solutions to the
challenges of traveling abstinently.
Many of our members have traveled extensively in the U.S. and
abroad and have remained abstinent.
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What do I do if there are no meetings in
my area?
If you have e-mail, you can join the FAA On-Line Loop. The loop is a
place where food addicts can share on FAA Steps and topics of interests
and questions/comments about the experience, strength and hope of FAA
membership. The only requirement for joining is that you have the desire
to stop eating addictive foods. For more on the loop, please click
here.
We also have FAA meetings on-line. For more information, please visit our
FAA
on-line page. We also have the following phone meetings available
each week:
JUST
DIAL THE NUMBER AND YOU ARE IN THE MEETING!
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(6-25-2008) Call
712-451-6000
Phone Meetings
Pin7393#
Committee Meetings Pin 3871#
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Sunday -
8 AM EST (5 AM PST)
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Sunday - 6 PM EST
(3 PM PST) Newcomer Mtg
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Sunday
- 10:30 PM EST (7:30
PM PST)
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Monday -
5:45 AM EST (2:45 AM PST)
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Monday - 10 AM
EST (7 AM PST)
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Monday -
7 PM EST (4 PM PST) Literature Mtg
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Monday
- 9 PM EST (6 PM PST) Step Mtg
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Tuesday -
5:45 AM EST (2:45 AM PST)
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Tuesday -
3 PM EST (12 Noon PST)
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Tuesday -
8 PM EST (5 PM PST) Step Mtg
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Tuesday
- 10 PM EST (7 PM PST)
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Wednesday - 5:45 AM EST
(2:45 AM PST)
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Wednesday -
7 AM EST (4 AM PST) Literature Mtg
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Wednesday - 11
AM EST (8 AM
PST)
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Wednesday -
6:30 PM EST (3:30 PM PST) Lit. Mtg
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Wednesday -
8 PM EST (5 PM PST) Tools Mtg
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Wednesday - 10 PM
EST (7 PM
PST) Speaker Mtg
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Thursday - 5:45 AM EST (2:45 AM PST)
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Thursday - 3 PM EST (12 Noon PST)
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Thursday - 9 PM EST (6 PM PST)
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Friday
- 5:45 AM EST (2:45 AM PST)
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Friday - 11 AM EST (8 AM PST)
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Friday - 8 PM EST (5 PM PST)
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Saturday - 8 AM EST (5 AM PST) Step Mtg
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Saturday - 10 AM EST (7 AM PST)
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Saturday - 8 PM EST (5 PM PST)
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(6-25-2008) Call
712-451-6000
Phone Meetings Pin 7393#
Committee Meetings Pin 3871#
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See: Phone
meeting page
The World Service Office can assist you in starting a meeting. We have a
meeting starter kit to help you through the process. The kit can be
ordered using our Literature Order Form, which is accessible via our Literature
page.
The World Service office can also provide you with pen-pal information.
Please contact
.
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Don't I have to be abstinent to start a
meeting?
There is no requirement of abstinence to start a meeting. Of
course, it would be better to have that foundation, but if there is no
meeting in your area, you need to start one and get abstinent. If
abstinence had been a requirement we could never have started.
If I binge and purge, can FAA help me?
Food addiction has many faces. Some food addicts are obese, some
are not overweight, some binge and purge, some are anorexic. Our common
problem is food addiction. All food addicts can obtain help from Food Addicts Anonymous.
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating addictive
foods.
What do you do for a
sandwich?
We don't have sandwiches. Our food plan is well balanced with many
grains, proteins and carbohydrates. We do not need to eat them in the
form of a sandwich.
Do I have to
buy special foods?
No, you may shop at your regular supermarket and produce stand. To get a
wider variety of grains, you may want to visit a health food store.
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Where can I get
literature?
You can download our Literature Order Form at our Literature
page. Just follow the instructions on the form.
When and how did FAA
start?
Food Addicts Anonymous was founded in December of 1987, in West
Palm Beach, Florida. Our founder is a wonderful woman named Judith C. We
are very grateful to Judith for starting our "Familyship." FAA
was started so that we could have a place in which to discuss foods that
bother us and to address our disease as an addiction, not just as an
emotional or compulsive overeating problem.
What are some ways to
cope with
preparing non-abstinent meals for children/family and still keep our own
abstinence?
Initially, it might seem like your meals are completely
different from what you would feed your family.
However, as you become more familiar with the food plan you will
realize that many meals can be altered just a little so that the entire
family can basically eat the same meal.
For example, a meal that includes spaghetti may be served to the
family with the food addict substituting brown rice for the pasta.
Another example: tacos can be served with the food addict simply
putting beans, meat, lettuce, tomato and onions in a stack on a plate
while the rest of the family uses the taco shells.
It is possible to create abstinent meals that the entire family
will enjoy.
We learn to
cope with issues such as remaining abstinent while feeding our families
by discussing and sharing ideas with a sponsor and with other recovering
food addicts. To get in
touch with abstinent food addicts all over the world, try joining the
FAA On-Line Loop. For more on the loop, please click
here.
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Where can I find some abstinent recipes?
At first we suggest that you keep it simple. Just prepare
separate protein, grain, vegetable, fruit, and/or dairy portions. While
we are detoxing, it is best to stick with foods that are simple to
prepare. Don't worry about
recipes until you are well past detox.
Again your sponsor will help with this.
She/he will suggest different ways to prepare your food and
different spices that you can use.
Also, FAA has a cookbook that many find helpful in giving ideas
on how to prepare abstinent foods (see the Literature Order Form at our Literature
page).
Breakfast is too much food for me.
Do I have to eat all of the food?
Yes. Remember that the food
plan is a well-balanced guide to sound nutrition and healthy eating.
The length of time between meals is also an important part of the
balance of the plan. The
amounts of food and the meal times are no accident. We metabolize our
food in direct relation to the balance that is designed into this food
plan. Your body will become
accustomed to eating this amount of food and will also adjust to the
times you eat. Remember
that you are not on a diet. You
are on a food plan that will nourish your brain, bloodstream, muscles
and skeletal system. Your body needs all of the nutrients provided by the food
plan. Again, talk it over
with your sponsor. Try to
trust that you are doing the best thing for your body, mind, and spirit.
Where can I find a
sponsor?
A sponsor is someone with whom you can identify who has attained
abstinence and an understanding of the FAA food plan. Sponsors can be
found at face-to-face meetings in your area, or on-line sponsors can be
found on the FAA Loop (for more on the Loop, please click
here) or at an on-line meeting.
(For more information on on-line meetings, please visit our FAA
on-line page.) We suggest that each individual sincerely
interested in abstinence and recovery take the responsibility of talking
to other members of the group to secure a sponsor.
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