Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous http://www.anorexicsandbulimicsanonymousaba.com What is ABA? Anorexics and Bulimics Anonymous (ABA) is a Fellowship of individuals whose primary purpose is to find and maintain ―sobriety‖ in our eating practices, and to help others gain sobriety. Dues or Fees? There are no dues or fees for ABA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Food Plan? No. How do people recover? Working with treatment teams, coming to meetings and working the program. ABA uses the Twelve-Step Program adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous to address the mental, emotional, and spiritual components of the disorders of anorexia and bulimia. By following the Twelve Steps we have come to a deep level of freedom from our deadly obsessions with body weight and shape and with food, obsessions that once dominated our minds and dictated the course of our lives. We learn in ABA that our eating disorders are a form of addiction, that the key to recovery is to find ―sobriety‖ in our eating and exercise patterns, and that none of us can do that alone. In ABA we find the guidance and compassionate support of other anorexics and bulimics who have gone before us in recovery, and we receive the courage to surrender our unhealthy behavior patterns. Each of us comes to connect with a Higher Power of our own understanding, who heals our minds as we stay sober physically. Many people who identify compulsive overeating as the primary component of their eating disorder have been able to relate to our program and have found recovery through it. They are welcome to participate in our Fellowship. Sponsors? Yes. Suggested Meeting Formats? Yes Face to Face, Online and/or Phone Meetings? Face to Face meetings and phone meetings. 12 step? Yes Message Board? No. ChatRoom? No.
EATING DISORDERS ANONYMOUS www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org What is EDA? Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA) is a fellowship of individuals (founded in February 2000 by members of AA in Phoenix) who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from their eating disorders. People can and do fully recover from having an eating disorder. In EDA, we help one another identify and claim milestones of recovery. Dues or Fees? The only requirement for membership is a desire to recover from an eating disorder. There are no dues or fees for EDA membership. We are self-supporting through our own contributions. Food Plan? There are no food plans in EDA. EDA endorses sound nutrition and discourages any form of rigidity around food. Food is nourishment for mind, soul and body. Balance – not abstinence -- is our goal. We encourage our members to work with qualified professionals, such as registered dieticians and therapists trained in treating eating disorders. How do people recover? We believe an eating disorder is a mechanism for coping with stress. We binge, purge and/or starve to feel better about our shame, anger, fear, loneliness, tiredness and ordinary human needs. As we learn to address stress through other mechanisms, the symptoms of the eating disorder tend to fade away. It is a process, not an event. In EDA, we share our experience, strength and hope with each other to help one another come to terms with and change how we deal with life. Recovery means living life on life's terms, facing pains and fears without obsessing on food, weight and body image. In our eating disorders, we sometimes felt like helpless victims. Recovery means gaining or regaining the power to see our options, to make careful choices in our lives. Recovery means rebuilding trust with ourselves, a gradual process that requires much motivation and support. There are bound to be setbacks and moments of fear and frustration. Support – professional, group and family – helps us get through such trials safely, when we are honest about them. Support groups such as EDA provide inspiration and opportunity for turning the most deeply painful and humbling experiences to useful purpose. As we learn and practice careful self-honesty, selfcare, and self-expression, we gain authenticity, perspective, peace and empowerment. Sponsors? Yes, EDA encourages sponsors or buddies. Suggested Meeting Formats? Yes. Face to Face, Online and/or Phone Meetings? Face to Face, Online and Phone meetings. 12 step? Yes Message Board? Yes. http://eda.yuku.com/ *Must be approved before initial post for privacy. Chat Room? Yes. Online meetings and open for chat http://eatingdisordersanonymous.org/online.html
FOOD ADDICTS ANONYMOUS www.foodaddictsanonymous.org What is FAA? Food Addicts Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who are willing to recover from the disease of food addiction. Sharing our experience, strength, and hope with others allows us to recover from this disease, ONE DAY AT A TIME. Dues or Fees? Food Addicts Anonymous is self-supporting through our own contributions. Food Plan? The FAA program is based on the belief that food addiction is a bio-chemical disease. By following a food plan devoid of all addictive substances, we can recover. These substances include sugar, flour, and wheat in all their forms. They also include fats and any other high-carbohydrate, refined, processed foods that cause us problems individually. Our primary purpose is to stay abstinent and to help other food addicts achieve abstinence. We invite you to join us on the road to recovery and suggest you attend six meetings before you decide you don't need our help. You need to know that withdrawal is a necessary part of recovery. We can get better if we continue to follow our food plan, work the tools of the program, and ask for help! How do people recover? 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 needs 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. In addition, unlike some other programs, FAA is not a shame-based program. There are no rules, only suggestions. There are no weigh-ins. We realize we are food addicts and this is a cunning, baffling and powerful disease. We strive for progress, not perfection. Sponsors? We do not identify sponsors at FAA Meetings. 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 sponsorsomeone with whom you can identify and who has attained abstinence and an understanding of the food plan. Suggested Meeting Formats? Yes Face to Face, Online and/or Phone Meetings? F2F, Online and Phone meetings. 12 step? Yes. * We do not use any Twelve Step literature from other programs as a basis for our meetings. We want Food Addicts Anonymous to address the disease of food addiction only; lest denial enter our meetings and we all perish. Food Addicts Anonymous must maintain unity so that all feel at home, no matter where they attend an FAA meeting. Message Board? Yes. http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/forum Chat Room? Yes. http://greenfaa.nfshost.com/online-meetings
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS http://www.oa.org/ What is OA? Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. Dues or Fees? There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. Food Plan? The concept of abstinence is the basis of OA’s program of recovery. By admitting inability to control compulsive eating in the past and abandoning the idea that all one needs is ―a little willpower,‖ it becomes possible to abstain from overeating—one day at a time. While a diet can help us lose weight, it often intensifies the compulsion to overeat. The solution offered by OA does not include diet tips. We don’t furnish diets, counseling services, hospitalization or treatment; nor does OA participate in or conduct research and training in the field of eating disorders. For weight loss, any medically approved eating plan is acceptable. OA members interested in learning about nutrition or who seek professional advice are encouraged to consult qualified professionals. We may freely use such help, with the assurance that OA supports each of us in our efforts to recover. There are no specific requirements for a plan of eating; OA does not endorse or recommend any specific plan of eating, nor does it exclude the personal use of one. For specific dietary or nutritional guidance, OA suggests consulting a qualified health care professional, such as a physician or dietician. Each of us develops a personal plan of eating based on an honest appraisal of his or her own past experience; we also have come to identify our current individual needs, as well as those things which we should avoid. Although individual plans of eating are as varied as our members, most OA members agree that some plan — no matter how flexible or structured — is necessary. How do people recover? We in OA believe we have a threefold illness—physical, emotional and spiritual. Tens of thousands have found that OA’s Twelve-Step program effects recovery on all three levels. The Twelve Steps embody a set of principles which, when followed, promote inner change. Sponsors help us understand and apply these principles. As old attitudes are discarded, we often find there is no longer a need for excess food. Those of us who choose to recover one day at a time practice the Twelve Steps. In so doing, we achieve a new way of life and lasting freedom from our food obsession. Sponsors? Yes, OA has sponsors. Suggested Meeting Formats Varies. There are different ones to choose from. Face to Face, Online and/or Phone Meetings? Face to Face, online and Phone meetings. 12 step? Yes Message Board? No. Chat Room? Available for online meetings. Various meetings held online. To find an online meeting go to: http://www.oa.org/meetings/find-a-meeting-online.php
HOW (Honesty, Open Mindedness & Willingness) OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS http://www.oa.org/ What is HOW? Some OA members and groups choose to work their programs through OA-HOW. It is considered a subgroup of OA by many, known for its adherence to food plans and its disciplined sponsor/sponsoree approach. Whereas the OA program offers only suggestions and allows for individual flexibility, the OA-HOW method usually provides a set structure to follow. Both programs practice the Twelve Steps for personal recovery, but the philosophy regarding abstinence is different. Dues or Fees? There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. Food Plan? Some OA members and groups choose to work their programs through a HOW format meeting, known for its adherence to professionally (via doctor, nutritionist, dietitian) defined food plans and its disciplined sponsor/sponsoree approach. Whereas the OA program offers only suggestions and allows for individual flexibility defining abstinence, the HOW format provides a set structure to follow. How do people recover? We in OA believe we have a threefold illness—physical, emotional and spiritual. Tens of thousands have found that OA’s Twelve-Step program effects recovery on all three levels. The Twelve Steps embody a set of principles which, when followed, promote inner change. Sponsors help us understand and apply these principles. As old attitudes are discarded, we often find there is no longer a need for excess food. Those of us who choose to recover one day at a time practice the Twelve Steps. In so doing, we achieve a new way of life and lasting freedom from our food obsession. Sponsors? Yes, OA has sponsors. Suggested Meeting Formats? HOW format. Face to Face, Online and/or Phone Meetings? Face to Face, online and Phone meetings. 12 step? Yes Message Board? No. Chat Room? Available for online meetings. Various meetings held online. To find an online meeting go to: http://www.oa.org/meetings/find-a-meeting-online.php
THE JOY PROJECT http://www.joyproject.org/ What is The Joy Project? The Joy Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit, grassroots organization based on the philosophy of using real-world, workable solutions to end the epidemic of eating disorders. We work towards reducing the rate and severity of eating disorders by supporting and conducting research, education, and support programs. Anyone affected by an eating disorder or body image issues is welcome. Friends and family members are welcome as well. Dues or Fees? No Food Plan? Sample meal plans on website. How do people recover? Our Message Boards, located at www.joyprojectonline.com give people in recovery the ability to chat with other people in recovery to support each other, give and receive feedback, share helpful information, and challenge each other to continue to fight their eating disorder. Features include: Option to create a personal online diary, daily challenge projects, weekly "Challenge Food Challenge" contests, interactive polls, and permanent threads with useful info and links to more information. We host weekly support groups for members of the community who are struggling to recover from an eating disorder. Friends and family members are also welcome to attend. We follow the curriculum of ANAD, and we also get referrals from ANAD. Sponsors? No. Suggested Meeting Formats We follow the curriculum of ANAD. Face to Face, Online and/or Phone Meetings? Face to Face meeting (in Minnesota) 12 step? No. Message Board? Yes, at www.joyprojectonline.com Chat Room? No.