Please read the documents below before registering.
Our Primary Purpose
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Introduction to the How to Live in Recovery Program This program was founded in 2013 to help members of a 12-Step Food Program who continually struggled with abstinence and recovery. We are a supplemental group, not a conference-approved group, but our classes are only open to members of a 12-step program for food issues who have their sponsor’s permission to participate. Need Help Finding a Sponsor? Read the How to Find a Sponsor Sheet under the tab above. Need Help Finding a Group? Go to the Registration tab above to see all of our groups. Our first group is the #1 How to Live in Recovery. Our program is free to attend. The only cost to participants is the printing and the binder supplies. |
Who Are We?
- We are volunteers who give our time and energy to help food addicts who continue to struggle.
- We offer a group phone conference call designed to help relapsers find a working solution to their food addiction: How to Live in Recovery Group-HLR (10-weeks).
- We offer continuing support to graduates of the HLR to help prevent relapse: Ongoing Relapse Prevention Group-ORPG.
- We offer a service opportunity to graduates of the HLR in which they can help a new participant: Buddy Program
- We offer step study groups that do not require abstinence but do require participants to complete every tool every day: Steps 1-2-3 Go (12 weeks) and AWOL (24 weeks)
- We offer support to the sponsors of our participants: Sponsor Packet and Sponsor Conference Calls.
- We offer a service opportunity to those participants who are living in recovery and want to help facilitate our groups.
The History of the How to Live in Recovery Program
by Sally J., Founder
I am a food addict and have been in FA since 7/4/03. I have not struggled with abstinence. Here is my story of working with food addicts who are struggling with abstinence and recovery and the evolution into nine free Programs for those food addicts, their sponsors, and our volunteer co-facilitators.
I used my experiences in FA, my sponsoring, my recovery, my co-leading and participating in AWOLS, my working as a special education teacher and my organizational and problem-solving skills to create the curriculum for all our programs. I am grateful to those who continue to help and support me on this journey.
As you can see, this work has become my passion and I am now strongly committed to this challenge because it is wonderful for my recovery to be able to provide this service. Tradition 5 states that our primary purpose is to carry the message to the food addict who still suffers. Our Program does this with loving-kindness and compassion which is Tradition 2. Support our purpose by sharing our website, www.howtogetabstinent.org with anyone in our food addiction program who is still struggling with abstinence and who wants our help.
Individual Program: In 2013, a friend in FA asked me to help her get abstinence. I thought this was a very bad idea since I had no experience or idea how to help her. I felt tremendous fear, doubt and insecurity. Very reluctantly I said yes because she was struggling and wanted abstinence and seemed desperate. We worked together trying many ideas. She was willing to try anything. She got abstinent and I documented what worked successfully for her. This was the beginning of our first How To Live In Recovery Program for struggling and suffering food addicts.
A second food addict heard about the first one's success and asked me for help getting abstinent. I tried the ideas that had worked before. Surprisingly, she got abstinent too. Word got out about what I was doing and more people came asking for help. Today I continue working with food addicts individually. We problem-solve their tools and use additional support materials to help them. Currently, all people completing the Individual Program are abstinent.
How to Get Abstinent Recovery Group: Our 2nd program evolved when I had become frustrated with my inability to help all the people who came asking for individual help. So, we began the first How to Get Abstinent Recovery Group in February 2014 with two groups. It was very exciting to be able to reach so many people throughout the USA and other countries using the conference call format. The group materials were duplicated from the successful Individual Program. When participants finish the group program they join our weekly Ongoing Relapse Prevention Group. This group has since been renamed the How to Live in Recovery Group.
Sponsor Information Conference Call Group: Our 3rd program started in 2014. The purpose of the Sponsor Conference Call was to share what we had learned with sponsors and help support their work with their sponsees.
Ongoing Relapse Prevention Group: Our fourth program began in 2014. This group was created because of a need for continued support after completing the How to Get Abstinent Recovery and Individual Programs.
Steps 1-2-3 Go and AWOL Groups: Our 5th and 6th programs started in 2015 & 2016 offering our graduates an introduction to Steps 1-2-3. Followed by a study of the 12 Steps with no abstinence required.
Buddy Program and Conference Call Group: Our seventh and eighth programs started in 2016 to help our graduates who supported How To Live In Recovery Program Group participant’s during their 10 week group.
Co-facilitator Conference Call: Our 9th program started in 2017. Its purpose is to support to our co-facilitators and to get their feedback as to how to make our programs better.
I used my experiences in FA, my sponsoring, my recovery, my co-leading and participating in AWOLS, my working as a special education teacher and my organizational and problem-solving skills to create the curriculum for all our programs. I am grateful to those who continue to help and support me on this journey.
As you can see, this work has become my passion and I am now strongly committed to this challenge because it is wonderful for my recovery to be able to provide this service. Tradition 5 states that our primary purpose is to carry the message to the food addict who still suffers. Our Program does this with loving-kindness and compassion which is Tradition 2. Support our purpose by sharing our website, www.howtogetabstinent.org with anyone in our food addiction program who is still struggling with abstinence and who wants our help.
Individual Program: In 2013, a friend in FA asked me to help her get abstinence. I thought this was a very bad idea since I had no experience or idea how to help her. I felt tremendous fear, doubt and insecurity. Very reluctantly I said yes because she was struggling and wanted abstinence and seemed desperate. We worked together trying many ideas. She was willing to try anything. She got abstinent and I documented what worked successfully for her. This was the beginning of our first How To Live In Recovery Program for struggling and suffering food addicts.
A second food addict heard about the first one's success and asked me for help getting abstinent. I tried the ideas that had worked before. Surprisingly, she got abstinent too. Word got out about what I was doing and more people came asking for help. Today I continue working with food addicts individually. We problem-solve their tools and use additional support materials to help them. Currently, all people completing the Individual Program are abstinent.
How to Get Abstinent Recovery Group: Our 2nd program evolved when I had become frustrated with my inability to help all the people who came asking for individual help. So, we began the first How to Get Abstinent Recovery Group in February 2014 with two groups. It was very exciting to be able to reach so many people throughout the USA and other countries using the conference call format. The group materials were duplicated from the successful Individual Program. When participants finish the group program they join our weekly Ongoing Relapse Prevention Group. This group has since been renamed the How to Live in Recovery Group.
Sponsor Information Conference Call Group: Our 3rd program started in 2014. The purpose of the Sponsor Conference Call was to share what we had learned with sponsors and help support their work with their sponsees.
Ongoing Relapse Prevention Group: Our fourth program began in 2014. This group was created because of a need for continued support after completing the How to Get Abstinent Recovery and Individual Programs.
Steps 1-2-3 Go and AWOL Groups: Our 5th and 6th programs started in 2015 & 2016 offering our graduates an introduction to Steps 1-2-3. Followed by a study of the 12 Steps with no abstinence required.
Buddy Program and Conference Call Group: Our seventh and eighth programs started in 2016 to help our graduates who supported How To Live In Recovery Program Group participant’s during their 10 week group.
Co-facilitator Conference Call: Our 9th program started in 2017. Its purpose is to support to our co-facilitators and to get their feedback as to how to make our programs better.
Is the HLR Right for You?
- We create a unique, safe environment that is accepting, non-judgmental, non-shaming and compassionate.
- We provide support, learning and encouragement on your abstinence journey, no matter which recovery group you belong to.
- During this 10-week group, you will learn about new ways to better utilize program tools in an effort to find a pathway to recovery.
- The addition of our specially designed support materials, documents, and checklists will help you remember to do your tools and to remember why we do this every day.
- We problem-solve issues with tools and will teach you to live your life between your meals and your tools.
- Everyone shares on our calls, no matter the number of days of abstinence and we limit our group size so that all participants can share.
- Our goal is to fully support you so that you can learn and grow. In that light you will get a buddy who will be with you for the entire 10 weeks to help you stay focused and be ready for your call.
Feedback From Our Graduates
What Was the Best Part of the How To Live In Recovery Program?
Did You Feel Safe While Doing the Program?
What Changes Have You Made Since Completing the Program?
What Feedback Do You Have For Us?
What Was the Best Part of the How To Live In Recovery Program?
- Doing the homework. It opened my eyes to my behaviors and how that contributed to my addiction and overall unhappiness and, most importantly, what I can do to change these thoughts and behaviors.
- The realization that recovery was a process and that I was still okay even if I broke. I was allowed to dust myself off and try again, instead of descending into self-loathing and trying to hide from people.
- Loved the recovery support sheets, very motivating, and encouraging. They felt like a warm hug.
Did You Feel Safe While Doing the Program?
- Yes, so very safe, particularly because you treated me with the greatest of honor, respect, and compassion. What a relief it is to know I can be 100% honest.
- Yes, very safe. The leaders created a safe environment right from the start. I could feel their integrity and absolute dedication to this group of individuals and the success of the program immediately. In my opinion, by setting the stage so well, the participants feel safe.
- Yes, so grateful there was no blame, shame or judgment, only encouragement.
What Changes Have You Made Since Completing the Program?
- My abstinence has been squeaky clean. I am doing all my tools morning and night every day. I’m feeling less fearful each day since doing this program. I feel I’m getting rid of guilt, shame, judgment and perfectionism. I have been 100% honest with my new sponsor. I am feeling secure and free to question things with her.
- I am in recovery and I guard my abstinence very carefully. I have a new reverence for my abstinence.
- I’ve recommitted to recovery and feel back on the beam, something I haven’t felt for a long time.
- I am now doing all my tools and support materials daily and am surrendering more to the program.
- I now pass on the message of kindness and compassion to those who still suffer.
What Feedback Do You Have For Us?
- I just want to thank you for your commitment to service. This was a remarkable experience and it would not have been possible if you had not stepped up to make it happen. I’m amazed and inspired by the power of it all.
- I cannot thank you enough for my new life. Although it’s still just one day at a time, I believe neither wind, nor storm, nor will dark of night ever pull me off this wonderful recovery journey I’m on. I’m not afraid of a break of course. I’m not ever going to view it as a tragic event if it ever were to happen. I’m sure footed now and intend to stay that way. I’m hoping to look back fondly on these memorable experiences that have so greatly contributed to my change.
- Thank you for recognizing the need for the relapser who may need that push to get up the hill.
- I will be forever grateful for your love of the relapser. I am so appreciative of the time that you have invested in this program. I will be forever blessed by it! Thank you!!
- I love you so very much for giving me just what I needed to get back on track.