meal plan or no meal plan?
 

HI.


The thing I have learned I do not like about OA is the many sub groups and conflicting philosophies. For example my sponsor is part of a group that does not follow any meal plan and everything is going to HP, like intuitive I guess.
It's what I have been doing for the most part, but now I have been hearing you should try and be abstinent with your food(figuring out binge/coe foods,ingredients and triggers) before even going through the steps!


I personally am thinking I need a more regimented meal plan(since I have been having binges lately) I never wanted to weigh or measure, but I'm starting to see the reasoning behind it, to tackle the volume issue that may lead to binges/overeating.
I don't know if I will ever weigh food, but I have been measuring things like grain & starch.

Do you guys follow strict meal plans or eat more intuitively?

Got to do what works for you. If you don't have a meal plan, need to have good choices available.

I can't eat intuitively. I agree that you need to do what works for you. Everyone that I know works with a food plan basically. I have foods in 3 categories: red light (foods I can't manage and have to completely abstain from), yellow light (foods I can have but must weigh/measure/portion) and green light (foods I never have issues with: non-starchy veggies basically for me).

If you want, feel free to PM me. Wishing you well.

p.s. I should add that I eat 3 meals and one snack at 4pm which is always the same thing....I realized that having snacks just made me think too much about food.

I have committed myself to only eating foods that are loving and kind and healthful. I have two categories of foods.
Red-- must not, can not will not ever eat b/c they make me SICK and fat and binge-y
Then I have green.. healthy, loving pure and good for me.
I stopped all booze. I stopped all sugar.
I have a new life. A better, saner more human less manipulated by the media life.

Thanks for the input.
^^ The thing I wondered about my bingeing is that I definitely have a preference for high calorie/fat/sodium foods.
But at the same time I can binge on things like cabbage soup, so from reading your points there I think it may be hunger or the habitual tendency that causes that.

I've been following food plan lately. realized that pizza, even 2 slices as a meal with salad gets me into trouble of craving more so I think I will have to abstain completely from certain things.
I am doing 3 meals a day and 1 snack in the evening if I am hungry or there is too much time before dinner and time I go to sleep.

I have a plan that allows for some flexibility in the face of my needs.

Some people love their strict plans. I don't find recovery in those.

Do you have any info on phone meetings or such from people who follow a more intuative plan. Everyone here in north/central Jersey is so strict diet driven. I'd love the company of others who find recovery in more step/HP orientated programing.

Hi. My first sponsor was from Primary purpose group and they basically go to HP/intuition for what to eat. They don't use or sponsor with any meal plan at all, it's step/recovery oriented.
http://www.oapp.info/oaprimarypurposegroups --here are some meetings listed, aside from this one there is a Sunday phone meeting at 7:30 pm EST 559-546-1301 PIN 770762

Big book solution group is similar, i don't think they follow food plan just step work https://sites.google.com/site/oabigb...ution-meetings

I used to be part of an OA group and my only real shot at normalcy was when I stopped thinking so much about food and found my "sweet spot" with meals. I eat at specific times, specific quantities, and specific foods. I don't have to think much about what I'm going to eat or when because I keep the same schedule.

Thanks!

The best thing that ever happened to me was my doctor referring me to a dietitian. She was able to help me make a reasonable food plan.

Newbie
 

I like the idea of red, green, yellow light foods. Think I am gonna put mine down on paper. Thanks.

awwww, that kinda sounds like serenity