Raw Food Talk's Official OA Support Group

[Mangoagogo]

(Note: I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this. Move it if need be.)

Hello all! As we were discussing in this (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8641) thread, it's come to our attention that there's a lot of compulsive over-eaters out there, and we were thinking of forming an official Raw Food Talk Overater's Anonymous Support Group! In this group, you can...

*Talk about why you overeat
*Give others tips on how to prevent overeating
*Support others in their attempts to get away from overeating
*or, just vent about a bad day.

Some things we should discuss regarding the structuring of this group...

*Anybody here have experience with traditional OA programs? Should we structure ourselves around their principles?
*Would it be helpful to have "meetings", say on real-time online chat?
*How about "coins"? I heard in the OA programs, they hand out these "coins" to signify your progress against overeating (i.e., a 10-day coin for 10 days without overeating, a 30-day coin, etc.)...we could do the same thing for days without overeating and raw!

The members so far:

Mangoagogo
ReneeSC

[Rawkinlocs]

Hi,

Before you do something like this, you really need to clear it with Alissa by emailing or PM'ing her.

But you are more than welcome to start a branch off at Yahoo groups much like some of the members here did for the Rawkin' 90's 90-day challenge group did. Don't get me wrong, it's a GREAT idea, but you really should get permission from the list owner to start a support group within her support group just out of consideration.

Thanks!

[squidly]

overeating / binging is certainly a friend of mine so love the idea of a support group / thread.

[JMD]

I would have some interest but would have to see the set up for it. I am more of a structured person that weighs and measures food....for me it has worked for years and keeps the obession at bay. I guess for me I am looking for people to help me (and my inner self) figure out what to eat and the amounts as I struggle with not enough and too muchness. THIS would be a total BLESSING.

I have been in OA for many years and would love to help.

JMD

[sweetgoddess]

I think Rawkinlocs suggestion of starting a yahoo group for your support group is very appropriate. It would be a great way to form this and for you to be able to go indepth with the OA philosophy without any conflicts. They also have live chatrooms.

On this forum, we support Alissa's approach/philosophy to raw foods and we as moderators have to keep the board organized, easy to use and consistent. If you need any help setting something up, just ask! I would be happy to help. It is very easy to set up a yahoo group, and is very user friendly.

We love seeing everbody supporting each other. You guys are wonderful!

My best wishes to each of you.

~Carmel

[ReneeSC]

I personally know nothing of OA - I've never been there - since being an anorexic/bulemic twice. Over-eating, though, intestingly enough, became part of my life when my blood sugar did flips....than and the military-style of eating and running didn't help.

I was more looking for a place on -here- where we can discuss the things we've had trouble with - keeping it here would, for me, insure that Alissa's approach would be kept in sight and could be interjected into as we go along. I didn't want to have to fight with non-Cohens on a yahoo group.

It was for the very interest OF Alissa and those who are seeking to learn of how and why she teaches the way that she does, that I suggested it stay here; because SO many people come here just totally fraught with anxiety over something they're struggling with. All one would have to do is point them to the thread and we can tell the raw newbies.. "Chill, Babe.. just eat for right now"..and the ready to tweak, "M'kay.. what's going on in your life?"

My first inclination was Yahoo - as you can see from the thread - but, as I've just explained, it felt more SAFE here.

We wouldn't have to go through OA's principles if they blatently contradict Alissa's - NO.. But, having never learned of them in the first place, I thought the people here who'd actually learned of them could tell the rest of us clueless in Seattle people which principles coagulate and how it relates to a totally new paradigm in living.

Okay - did I just make a mess of that explanation?

[Rawkinlocs]

Nope, you didn't make a mess of the explanation Renee and I can totally understand and appreciate your thoughts of desiring it to be here and not wanting to open it up to the general public. I just think it best to ask Alissa for permission first before initiating this, that's all.

But a side note...if you DID want to have it in Yahoo...you do have the option of making the group by invitation only. Also, they have it where you can opt to require your approval before anyone joins...so, someone would sign up and you could have a short questionaire to "screen" your new members and no memberships would go through until you or the moderator/list owner granted them access.

These are merely suggestions if you decided to go with Yahoo or should permission not be granted to have the OA support group here.

[Moonchild]

My name is Karen and I live near Philadelphia. I just joined Raw Food Talk and have skimmed various threads and am interested to see that I am not the only one here troubled by disordered eating. I have attended OA at times in the past and love its spiritual approach but didn't find anyone in my local OA interested in raw. I don't want to eat the standard food plan that includes animal protein and cooked grains. Trying to eat raw the past 2 years hasn't helped my overeating problem. I haven't been able to create a raw food plan that I can commit to and follow. I binge on nuts, seeds, fruit, dehydrated crackers, coconut oil, raw cacao, hemp protein powder, even greens powders and vegetables. I am addicted to the act of eating and to volume eating, and I know it is a complex physical, emotional and spiritual problem. I also have a strong addiction to coffee and caffeine in general, which I know triggers bingeing for me and worsens my overall fatigue and depression once the caffeine rush wears off.

I feel that trying to stay raw actually exacerbates my food obsession because I can't get food any old place like most people can. I have to carefully plan how/when/where I can get my raw "stash" and worry if it will be enough. I have to carry food with me at all times or else I panic when I get hungry or think I'm hungry. I eat in isolation and hide how much I am eating from others.

I do believe that eating raw is the most vibrant and loving way to eat, but I can somehow twist it into something obsessive and damaging. I read about and have met at retreats so many people whose lives have been transformed by going raw and I feel like a failure. Anyway, I write all this to say I would like to participate here or elsewhere with others who are on the raw path but still struggle with overeating and with letting go of negative attitudes and self-destructive behaviours. Thanks.