Sober 29 years and Paleo for the last 1.75 years. Top weight 324 lbs. Todays weight 218. I started out eating Paleo one meal at a time. Guess where that came from...LOL. September 19th will be my 30th AA birthday.

Jeff H

Seven years sober, 2-3 years paleo, here.

I find the tools I've picked up in 12-step programs very much help me with being paleo. But the penalty for falling off the wagon is different in each case. Now, I understand that eating the wrong stuff will kill me faster, too. But it won't lead me to hurt and/or alienate everyone around me. And, frankly, it will kill me slower.

So, for example, today I binged on some desserts. This happens once a month or so. And it doesn't bother me that much.

So in the end, the 12 steps ARE very much applicable to my paleo project in a tactical way. But treating the paleo project the same way strategically runs a real risk of alienating loved ones and friends.

Another way to say this, for me, is to share one of the greatest insights I have received from working the steps: I am happiest and most fulfilled when directed outwardly by trying to be of use to my parents, wife, employer, God, etc, and putting my wants and desires last. But for me-- as I don't have severe diabetes or anything-- taking the same approach towards paleo would be directing myself exclusively inward. Ultimately I suspect that would be bad for my spiritual health.

As always in matters regarding the Steps (and I know you know this Jayme, but others might not) these remarks are intended to only reflect my experience.

I started OA. I need to go back. Been a rough summer on myself.

I was in OA and was most successful with a paleo approach. I still read the meditation materials and the twelve steps because my job is super stressful at times. No one ever wants a steak or a vegetable under stress. My longest periods of abstinence occured while studying the paleo diet/primal diet stuff.

I go to meetings, but where I'm from we don't talk much about steps, higher powers, big books, etc etc

Anyway, I think there is a massive intersection for me between alcoholism, hypoglycemia, broken metabolism, obesity etc.

And when I'm eating a good paleo diet, I find the so-called "madness" is none of an issue for me.

Sober from drugs and alcohol 4.5 years in AA. Had almost a year abstinent in OA but relapsed recently and can't get back on the wagon. Count me in for any paleo/sober groups.

Thinking of attending an OA/HOW meeting tonight...if some type of online group forms, I'd love to participate. (mhorner2@fuse.net)

I've been paleo for 1+ yr Sober15+yrs. I've always been interest in health and a good diet. Even though I drank a lot calories in alcohol I never drank sodas or ate a lot of crap food. AA meetings helped me a lot learning how to live without alcohol. The 12 Steps are a great tool for self discovery. Until now I was not successful using AA tools for any other moderation i.e. too much coffee, dieting etc. When I discovered from Kurt Harris blog that excess fruit was determental to my health a light went on and I connected excess fruit to my latent alcoholism. You are not alone.

Sober and medium carb Paleo / crossfit here too! There's only a few OA meetings in my area, but they really help!

I just started OA, though I've only been to every second meeting so far (so, two meetings in total). But I plan on going more regularly. It's funny though that ever since deciding to go paleo, I've been caving in less and less. So I guess paleo+OA may really be helpful to me!

I was sober for three years, then drank, and am now sober again for just over non months. The parallel that I see between paleo and sobriety is a desire to be in touch with yourself and not ignoring the things that are easy to, but are detrimental when they go neglected.

I am not in recovery myself, but have a close loved one who is about 3 years past a very difficult time period that included drugs. I just want to applaud all of you have perservered through such difficulties and continue to work your path.

FYI, Piracetam rules with alcohol.

Mostly I want to congratulate you on your two fantastic years. Really, that's grand news. Take a moment and acknowledge your success.

I do an OA twelve step program online and keep looking hopefully for a Paleo thread. No such luck yet. Let me know if one actually starts.

I've been in OA for 7 months (83 lbs lost) thanks to the program and Paleo.

I don't want to eat any food that my HP didn't make for me, and it's as easy as that.

27 years clean. Trying Paleo for the last 4-6 months. Did well for a time. Addicted to carbs. Would love to be in a group Ron s Evansville

I'm only 80 days sober here, and have beent transitioning to a Paleo diet. I gave up wheat but sugar and coffee addiction is the key part of my crippling depression. I have just begun a 21 Day Sugar detox and do not have feelings of depression. There is an author named Joan Mathews-Larson who posits that alcoholics are not only allergic to alcohol but to gluten, dairy, and sugar. She goes on to say that a 12-step program is not needed, only dietary measures to take away the craving. You heard, that right; character defects, resentments, and unresolved amendements are not what keeps an alcholic drinking, it is the imbalance of blood sugar. What do you all think about that? I know I do not think about my resentments, regrets, character defects at all when i am eating within paleo guidelines and I passed step 4 and was still a mess over the resentments until implementing the diet. I'd love to hear your takes on this.

This is her website explaining her theory http://www.joanmathewslarson.com/

15 years sober via AA. Never felt much trouble from gluten, dairy or sugar. My lifelong depression, which spiraled into psychosis, lifted when I quit drinking, and didn't come back during years of chowing down daily on every carb/sugar imaginable while sober. Didn't seem to be a sugar thing for me.

9 months into Paleo. I'm digging cooking and baking whole foods (with friends doing the same) raised as close to home as I can get 'em, supporting local farmers. Working out 90 minutes a week of HIIT/crossfittish now instead of 10-14 hours low cardio. Lost 12 pounds without trying. Not sure I feel the least bit better or different, but whatever health benefits I'm getting is gravy on the fun.