Frequently Asked Questions
What is Compulsive Eaters Anonymous H.O.W.?
CEA-H.O.W. is a fellowship of men and women who
are recovering from compulsive eating. Founded upon the principles of
Alcoholics Anonymous' Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, CEA-HOW is a 12-Step
program for people who cannot control their eating. We come together to share
our experience, strength, and hope with one another so that we can solve our
common problem and help each other to recover from compulsive eating.
Who are the members of CEA HOW?
Members of CEA HOW come from all walks of life
and from all over the world. We include compulsive overeaters, food addicts,
anorexics and bulimics, to name a few. Some of us had hundreds of pounds to lose,
and some just a few. Others needed to gain weight. Some of us had surgery, lost
the weight, and were in the process of gaining it again. Some of us were just
obsessed with food. No matter what our reason for coming in the door, we all
came to realize that we were powerless over food. It controlled us and made our
lives unmanageable.
What is compulsive eating?
Compulsive eating takes many forms. A compulsive
eater may overeat, undereat (anorexia), binge eat (binge eating disorder),
binge and purge (bulimia), eat all day long, or exercise compulsively to
maintain his/her weight.
What are signs of compulsive eating?
Losing weight over and over (Yo-yo
dieting), often gaining back "just a little more" every time.
Eating normally in public and bingeing in
private while under the delusion that people won't know that we overeat.
Hiding evidence of our compulsive eating
from those around us.
Eating a handful of chips or candy, and
then another and another until the entire bag is gone.
Sitting in front of the television with a
half gallon of ice cream.
Eating sweets even though we are diabetic
or pre-diabetic.
Eating foods high in fat despite having
high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or other serious medical
conditions we know are worsened by the way we eat.
Stopping at one or more fast food
restaurants on the way home to eat dinner.
Pretending to order for more than one
person at the drive through.
Driving across town in the middle of the
night to get a favorite binge food.
Eating leftovers from other people'
plates (our kids, spouse, guests).
Thinking "Why bother?" when
offered any of the following portions of food:
Pizza by the slice - a large pizza is
more like it.
A serving (1/2 cup) of ice cream - a
serving is at least a bowl full.
A cookie - we want the whole bag.
A piece of cake - we'll eat the leftovers
when everybody leaves.
A bite sized piece of candy - we'll start
with a handful of pieces and go from there.
Wanting to be thin while continuing to
eat foods high in calories and low in nutritional value.
Believing that life will be better once
the weight is gone.
Thinking about food immediately after
finishing a meal.
Saying “I’m not a compulsive eater. I
just can’t lose weight.”
As compulsive eaters we obsess about food, we go
to any length to get it, and once we start eating, we can't stop. Then we hate
ourselves for doing it and swear to never let it happen again, only to start
again, perhaps the very next day.
What is "recovery"?
In CEA-HOW members recover on three levels:
Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual. On a physical level we find relief from the
craving for sugar and carbohydrates and we achieve a healthy body weight. On an
emotional level we find relief from the mental obsession with food and the
feelings of deprivation that dieting usually brings up. On a spiritual level we
come to have faith in and dependence upon a Power greater than ourselves. As we
work through the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of CEA-HOW, we find peace and
serenity and a design for living that is no longer controlled by food.
What does H.O.W. stand for?
Honesty, Open-mindedness, Willingness.
Honest with ourselves and with others.
Open-minded to spiritual matters and to
the ideas and concepts of the program.
Willing to believe in a Power greater
than ourselves.
Willing to go to any length to recover
from compulsive eating.
Do we have a diet?
We have a food plan - a plan that allows us to
attain a health body weight, maintain it over time, and stop our mental
obsession with food.
How is a food plan different from a diet?
A diet is a temporary way of eating that we
endure in order to lose weight. Once we have achieved our goal, we go back to
our old habits and return to our original weight. A food plan, on the other
hand, is a permanent part of our way of life. Whether we are in the process of
losing, gaining, or maintaining our weight, we consider the food plan as only
one of several tools that we use in working the CEA HOW Twelve Step Program.
What is the CEA HOW food plan?
The CEA HOW food plan, "Forever
Abstinent", is designed for people who have what we think of as an allergy
to carbohydrates. Therefore, we abstain from all sugars, flour, and refined starches,
as well as alcoholic beverages, sweets of any kind, nuts, and fried foods. We
weigh and measure our food, and we eat three meals a day with nothing in
between except for sugar free gum and zero calorie beverages.
“Oh, I can’t do that! I don’t have that kind of
willpower” you might say. We said the same thing. We don’t have the willpower
either. But by consistently using the Seven Tools of CEA HOW, we were able to
do it, and we continue to do it one day at a time.
What is abstinence?
Abstinence is:
Following the food plan as written
Eating only those foods that are on the
food plan
Not eating between meals
How is CEA HOW different from other food related
12-Step programs like Overeaters Anonymous (OA)?
Structure and discipline. The CEA HOW Concept
states: "The CEA-H.O.W. plan of eating, steps, traditions, and tools of
recovery are not suggested. Rather, we accept them as requirements for our
recovery." Accordingly, we are rigorous in our adherence to the food plan.
We use the tools of the program on a daily basis. We communicate daily with
with our sponsors, committing to a plan of eating and answering questions
designed to take us through the 12 steps of the CEA-HOW program and continue in
our recovery.
Why is the CEA HOW program so strict?
We find this structure is what works for us. By
using all of the tools of the CEA HOW program on a regular basis, we are able
to stay focused on recovery and out of the food.
What are the "Tools" of CEA HOW?
The Seven Tools of Compulsive Eaters
Anonymous-HOW are:
CEA-HOW Abstinence Food Plan
Literature and Writing
Anonymity
Telephone calls
Meetings
Service
Sponsorship
Is Compulsive Eaters Anonymous HOW a religious
group?
No! The CEA HOW program encourages personal
spiritual growth, but it is not limited to or defined by any sect or
denomination. There are people from all belief systems in CEA HOW, from the
religiously observant to the atheistic.
Does the program really work?
Absolutely! Many of us have had tremendous
success. Not only have we shed weight and been able to maintain a healthy
weight, but we have also gained serenity and clarity in our lives. The majority
of us came to CEA HOW to lose weight - that was our only goal. In the beginning
our weight was our primary focus, but we soon came to discover that the CEA HOW
Twelve Step program offers so much more!
What if I have only a little weight to lose?
The amount of weight a member needs to lose does
not matter - what does matter is that we are compulsive eaters and we need
help!
What happens after I've lost the weight?
We continue to follow the CEA-HOW plan of
eating, steps, traditions, and tools of recovery. Using a slightly modified
food plan, we slowly add food to the extent that allows us to maintain a
healthy weight.
What do I have to do to get started?
Come to a meeting, relax and listen. You will
not be asked to talk. There will be people (sponsors) available to help you get
started and answer any questions you may have. Don't forget - We all started
exactly the same way.
What happens at meetings?
You will hear positive sharing from recovering
food addicts and compulsive overeaters. They might tell how life used to be and
how it has improved through their work with the 12 Steps of CEA HOW. They might
share how they handled specific situations using the tools of the program. Or
you might learn how it is possible to cope with distressing situations rather
than eating over them.
The best way to find out what happens at
meetings is to attend a few. There are different types and sizes of meetings,
and every meeting covers different aspects of the 12 step program, so we
suggest that you attend more than one meeting before deciding whether or not
CEA HOW is right for you. After the meeting you will have the opportunity to
talk with other members and get more information about the CEA-HOW program.
What is the cost of membership?
There are no dues or fees. However, we are
self-supporting so we pass a basket at meetings. If members wish to contribute,
they give what they can, often just a dollar or two.
What do I have to buy?
You will need a copy of the "Forever
Abstinent". You will also need Alcoholic Anonymous' "The Big
Book" and "Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions". Your sponsor
will give you reading and writing assignments during your first thirty days of
the CEA HOW program that are designed to walk you through the first three
steps. You will need these two books to complete those assignments. This material
is available for purchase at most meetings. “The Big Book” and “Twelve Steps
and Twelve Traditions” are also available through on-line resources as well as
at A.A. offices and at many used book stores.
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Where can I purchase the "Forever Abstinent"
food plan?
You can purchase CEA-HOW's food plan through
your sponsor at most face-to-face CEA-HOW meetings. If you attend meetings
through the phone bridge, then your sponsor can obtain a food plan for you.
Why do I have to go through a sponsor to purchase
the "Forever Abstinent" food plan?
We have found through experience that it is
imperative that we work with a sponsor and use all of the tools of the program
if we are to succeed. If a new member purchases the food plan without the
benefit of a sponsor's guidance and use of all of the other tools of the
program, they will be simply "doing the diet" - and we all know that
diets don't work.
