Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA)

With membership open to anyone of any age experiencing difficulty with food-related issues, including anorexia, bulimia and overeating, Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous offers stability and support to those in need. It is based upon 12-Steps. With frequent meetings, no dues, fees or weigh-ins, a warm and caring community is built where members find strength they need to end their harmful addiction to food and achieve and maintain a healthy weight. For more information, location and times of meetings in your area, inexpensive pamphlets for purchase and more, visit http://www.foodaddicts.org .

National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA)

Working to fight against discrimination against fat people, National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance offers literature, support and guidance to all its members. They publish a newsletter, write articles, run action campaigns, and host events and conferences, all with goal of empowering heavyset person to embrace and love themselves as they are. Within NAAFA are multiple support groups, including separate meetings for children, men, women, diabetics, and more. Annual dues are required. For additional information, resources, event dates, brochures, local chapters, Persons with Disabilities Law Center and more by clicking on http://www.naafa.org or contact them at: NAAFA, Inc., PO Box 188620, Sacramento, CA 95818. Call: (916) 558-6880.

Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

Similar to groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Overeaters Anonymous offers group support for anyone struggling with a variety of weight-related difficulties. It utilizes Twelve Steps to empower members to overcome their problems and begin changing their lives for better, with over 1500 chapters internationally.

Participants in OA experience a wide range of problems associated with food and their weight. An obsession with food, weight, and/or physical appearance is generally shared by all members in some form. Some are binge eaters, some are compulsive exercisers, and some are anorexics. Still others are diet pill addicts, bulimic, and/or so engulfed in yo-yo dieting that they are putting their life at risk. There is no membership roster, no participation requirement, and no associated cost. Small donations are often sought at meetings to help meet costs, however. You never have to share your name or any personal identifying information about yourself. For more information, visit http://www.overeatersanonymous.org .

Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS)

Taking Off Pounds Sensibly is a group similar to Overeaters Anonymous and other Anonymous groups, TOPS has over 10,000 chapters in United States alone. Through frequent support groups, private weigh-ins, and positive energy, its members are encouraged—and encourage one another—to lose weight safely and sensibly, and keep it off. The group sells a Nutrition and Fitness software application on a CD that runs on Windows for around $40. It helps track and analyze foods and exercises for up to two users. And it boasts a database of 18,000+ food items from USDA Database for Standard Reference, 9,000+ Brand Name foods and information featuring 3,200+ restaurant menu items, including many from most popular national chains. It also has ability to track up to 88 nutrient factors, including 37 vitamins and minerals. Annual membership dues are required, around $20 US, $25 Canada, plus 50-cents - $1 per week for chapter dues. Membership includes receiving a monthly print 40-page magazine filled with inspirational stories, healthy recipes and news from TOPS chapters around world mailed to your postal address. The group sites these statistics on their website: Current Obesity Statistics: (Source: Centers for Disease Control) •61% of adults in U.S. are considered overweight; 26% are considered obese. •The percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight has doubled in last 30 years. •Each year, 300,000 deaths are attributable to poor diet and inactivity. •Health care costs related to an unhealthy weight and sedentary lifestyle are more than $117 billion annually. For more information, success stories, online ecards to mail others for encouragement, message board, online members area, chat room and more visit http://www.tops.org .

If rice or pasta calls for a heaping tablespoon of butter, opt instead for a conservative teaspoon of soy margarine or olive oil. Ultimately your rice will taste same and you won’t have all those extra calories to contend with. Milk and cookies is a long-time favorite, but try for milk and crackers next time. Experiment with jellies and spreads instead of usual mayonnaise and butter for toppings.

Portion Control - It’s easy to lose track of how much you’ve eaten when you drink or eat straight from container. Stay on track by carefully measuring out serving sizes before you begin eating. When you do buy items like chips or pretzels, locate appropriate serving size on nutrition label. As soon as you arrive home, divide larger bag into individual servings in small plastic baggies. In this same spirit, when snacking on any food, separate a single serving’s worth and put it aside in a plate or bowl. Then immediately put food away, before you begin eating, to avoid temptation. Try not to make original packages easily accessible. Purchasing a bag re-sealer is more effective than using chip clips, because you are less likely to cut open a bag than to simply unclip it. Heavy-duty tape and hard-to-open containers can also do trick.

Fast Food - Ideally, fast food should be avoided. However, ever-expanding menus at many of top fast-food chains are now offering many options that can fit into a variety of diet plans. Look for grilled meals instead of fried. Opt for alternate sides instead of French fries if possible. Many chains offer salad and yogurt options as well.

Ask for substitutions if a menu item is not quite ideal. For example, you can request a hamburger without a bun, or you can request a bun without a hamburger. If you cannot get substitution, make modifications yourself before eating, i.e. throw hamburger bun in a nearby garbage bin or discard half your French fries.

Make Your Own - There’s no rule that says only store-bought, pre-packaged foods are convenient. Take time on weekend or on days off to do some conscientious grocery shopping and cook one or two large meals of something healthy that you enjoy. Separate into serving sizes and refrigerate (or freeze) as necessary. Buy fruits, vegetables, deli meats, and cheeses to snack on, and prepare them ahead of time by slicing into bite-sized pieces. Separate into serving sizes and store to use as snacks during week; since they now require no preparation, you’ll be more likely to reach for carrot sticks and less likely to reach for more processed convenience foods. Your own frozen vegetables make a delicious side dish in a snap. Voila! Now you have your own frozen dinners (or lunches, or snacks) with much healthier contents.