My name is Bryan and I'm a food addict. My friend and I have recently started a RFA meeting in Calgary, Alberta. Speaking only for myself, I helped start the meeting because I could not find the a solution to my addictive eating on my own devices. I've tried other fellowships, but could not find my place, nor long-term recovery. Thus far, since attending our weekly group, I have gratefully remained abstinent for approximately two months. It is just the two of us attending our meeting (just a Bill and Bob if you will). However, that is all one needs to begin. I have many questions pertaining to guiding our weekly meeting, as well as, questions for my own recovery (too many to list right now). I have been sober in another fellowship for coming on 26 years. For this I'm blessed. In my sobriety fellowship one of the first lessons I learned was "I no longer have to be alone". Leaning on this recovery lesson, I am now reaching out for help, trusting that my higher power will provide. Looking forward to sharing with more RFA members, both new and oldtimers. There are no strangers, just friends we haven't met yet! Praying for another abstinent 24 for you all and I'll take one for myself. If anyone would like to contact me my email is beflack@shaw.ca

Hey Bryan! So glad you found us:) Congratulations on abstinence and sobriety. Ask all the questions you have here on RFA Talk and you can also email me at gamater@windstream.net. There is a wealth of experience,strength, and hope in this fellowship! I'll pass along your email to those who may be able to better answer your guiding a meeting questions and look forward to hearing more from you:)

Blessings,
Cathy in Georgia

Hi Bryan, my name is Alison and I am a food addict too! Thanks so much for your post. How wonderful that you have started an RFA meeting. I will contact you directly by email, but want to make sure that everyone considering starting a meeting and everyone who has already started one may want to get together in person to call in to the Saturday 4:30 pm ET phone/Atlanta face to face meeting while they get add members. This might be a good transition opportunity for any meeting that is building up. I look forward to talking to you!! Alison

Hey Bryan!!!
Always great to hear of another guy in sugar/flour/whear/high fat/volume abstinence! (I know that's a mouthful, but I think this food addict needs to hear all those words when I define my abstinence). Also great to meet another Canadian! We've had a meeting in Hamilton for about fifteen years, and it pretty much saved my life. Send me an email - I'd love to chat with you!
Robin P. Hamilton.

Just wanted to say thank you to all who have replied to my initial posting either by posting or sending an email. Nice to know I am not alone. The one thing that is easy to discern through each person sharing a bit of their recovery history is that the RFA program works. This gives me the courage to say "that if it can work for them it can work for me!" I will continue to post, email and if I can get a chance; I would like to call to those who have offered. I look forward to attending the telephone meeting next weekend. Peace and serenity to all :) Bryan

Hi Robin from Hamilton, always good to hear from a fellow Canadian, eh? Would love to email you to enquire about specific issues pertinent to being at a distance from the epicenter of the RFA program. You mentioned to give you a shout via email but you did not provide it on your post. Can you either post it or contact me through my email beflack@shaw.ca ? Looking forward to it. Bryan

Read your post and I'm there to support in anyway I can. I started a meeting in Ohio about three months ago and we have any where from 3 -7 in in the group. It takes a long time for a meeting to get going. But as long as you have a clean abstinence then you aren't batteling the the food and that is half the battle.

HI Bryan,
Welcome and congratulations on your abstinence.
Have you contacted the RFA WSO to get a packet for starting new meetings? That has the format and the topics for each week. Joining on of the phone meetings is also a great way to hear some great recovery and be able to participate as well.
Please keep us posted through this link of communication.
Let me know if I can be helpful.
kkollatl@yahoo.com

Talk to you soon!
Kasey in ATL