At my first FA meeting, I was greeted by a woman who told me that she had lost 40 pounds. My ears perked up. Then the room began to fill with thin women. But I was confused. I thought that this might be a meeting for thin women who considered “overweight” to be an extra 10 to 15 pounds. I stayed because I figured I could learn something from people who were thin.

The meeting began. Then I heard, in the format, the part about completely abstaining from flour and sugar. Right then I lost all hope. This, I thought, was impossible. What was there to eat besides flour and sugar products?

At the break, a woman approached me and showed me her picture. She was once over 300 pounds! I regained my sense of hope, but I just didn’t think I could go without flour and sugar. I left the meeting a little sad because I didn’t think I had what it took to get abstinent.

After a time of deliberation, I did realize that this program might offer a solution to my weight problem, so I decided to try another meeting, where I was introduced to a sponsor, and the journey began.

I learned that the key to surviving the first 90 days of abstinence was to get a sponsor and listen to this person—a person who was willing to devote a daily amount of time and energy, everyday, free of charge, with no strings attached.

Then came the period of detoxification. My body had to learn to compensate for the absence of my drugs—flour and sugar. This resulted in a period of discomfort. It was all about hanging in there until this phase passed.

While my body was detoxing, it was also being introduced to the proper nutrition for maintaining a healthy body. Like many people entering Program, I had avoided healthy food for a significant amount of time, so I actually lost my appetite when I first started FA. The enormous amounts of vegetables and dairy just didn’t give me the rush that flour and sugar did, so eating wasn’t enjoyable. But I just kept eating my abstinent food, and now I love it. I am more satisfied with my food now than I was with any drug-filled meal of the past. I still love to eat, but now I eat the right things at the right time and I truly enjoy my food. (I did not reach over 240 pounds because I didn’t like to eat!)

I had to get used to a whole new system of time management in the first 90 days. Juggling three meetings a week, multiple trips to the grocery store, and meal planning and preparation took time to get used to. Now it is second nature to me.

I also had to learn to form relationships with a whole new group of people. At first, I found the break to be the most intimidating part of the meetings. Although I get along with people, socializing is not always my favorite thing, especially with people I don’t know. But meetings are good for my unhealthy tendency to isolate.

At first I had to make some drastic changes in my life, but the results are also drastic. I have been in the program for about four-and-a-half years and have maintained a 100-pound weight loss.

When I first heard the format, I never believed that it would ever be possible that I could live a life without flour and sugar or snacking, but I am here to tell you that it is not only attainable, but also enjoyable!