SUGGESTED MEETING FORMAT FOR S.L.A.A. MEETINGS 
WITH AN ANOREXIA FOCUS (1 of 3)
 (You may use any or all of these suggestions)
•	Read: “Welcome to the Anorexia Meeting of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. My name is _________________ and I am a sex and love addict and anorexic.”
•	Read: “Let’s begin with a moment of silence, followed by the Serenity Prayer: 
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, 
courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
•	Read: “Can I have a volunteer to read the Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous Preamble?”
•	Read: “Anorexia is a form of sex and love addiction, but it is often hard to detect. We define anorexia as the compulsive avoidance of giving or receiving sexual, social, or emotional nourishment.”
“Anorexia is not just fear of intimacy. In some way, every person alive is afraid of intimacy, for shyness, modesty, and a sense of privacy are natural human endowments. But we anorectics have made fear of intimacy into a fixed policy, automatically operating.“
“Having become aware of this lack of love in our lives, we tried to change our conduct. We found that we could not change it; we understood we were addicted to it. It was conduct we repeatedly engaged in and could not stop despite its consequences.”
“Anorexia is a part of sex and love addiction and the S.L.A.A. meeting is a place for anorectics to be heard, and to hear, in turn, about the addiction of anorexia and about recovery from it.
Here we discover what the recovery process is for each of us. You are not alone.”
“If you care to, please introduce yourself by your first name and read a few Steps or Traditions. Feel free to be silent.”
•	Read the S.L.A.A. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions by passing them around.

Discussion
•	Read: “The first part of this meeting consists of discussion of a topic. It is the group conscience that the first Monday of every month we have a Step meeting. (Step One in January, Step Two in February, etc.). We ask that the focus of sharing remain on sexual, social and/or emotional anorexia.”
Open the meeting for discussion by a show of hands
Getting Current
•	Read: “We have found this ‘getting current’ portion of the meeting is indispensable. As anorectics, our tendency to hide from ourselves, each other, and the world can be overwhelming. Any circumstance, which threatens exposure, is likely to trigger anorectic behavior. We need to share our thoughts and feelings and our anorectic “acting out” episodes with each other, allowing the light of our higher power to fall on these hidden areas of our lives.”
“Within the limits of our time together, each person is free to share as little or as much as he or she chooses, without fear of judgment from other S.L.A.A. members. Through this voluntary sharing of our true selves in a supportive environment, we gain courage to begin developing authentic, unhurried intimacy with ourselves and others.”
Closing
•	Read: “After getting current, a collection is taken in accordance with the Seventh Tradition, which states that each group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.”
•	Read: “Are there any announcements?”
•	Read: “Will someone volunteer to lead the meeting next week?”
•	Read: “We will end the meeting with the Serenity Prayer. For all those who care to, please join me. During the closing prayer, handholding is optional, not mandatory.”
This last statement about handholding may seem trivial. However, a number of us have discovered through our own histories as sex and love addicts and anorectics that this type of supposedly non- sexual or non-erotic contact can pose real problems for us.

SAMPLE MEETING FORMAT FOR SEX AND LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 
ANOREXIA FOCUS MEETING (2 of 3)
(You may use any or all of these suggestions)
1.	Welcome to the S.L.A.A. Anorexia Meeting. My name is _____ and I am your leader for today. 
2.	Will you please join me in a moment of silence, followed by the Serenity Prayer. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
3.	Will someone please read the S.L.A.A. Preamble…
4.	Are there are any newcomers? If you feel comfortable doing so, please raise your hand 
and give us your first name so that we can welcome you.
5.	We will now have introductions around the room starting on my right.
6.	Will someone please read the Characteristics?
7.	Will someone please read the Twelve Steps? 
8.	Will someone please read the Twelve Traditions?
9.	This meeting is intended for sexual, social, and emotional anorectics that they may see themselves, know they are not alone, and perhaps join us in the rewarding challenge of recovery. In Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, we suffer from addiction to sex, love, relationship, fantasy, romance, and co-dependency. However, there is still another addiction from which we suffer: anorexia. Anorexia is the compulsive avoidance of giving or receiving social, sexual, and/or emotional nourishment.
10.	On the 1st week of the month we will read "the step of the month" from the basic text (Jan.-step 1, Feb. - step 2, etc.). The 2nd week of the month we will read the anorexia pamphlet. The 3rd week of the month we will read from the booklet Anorexia 1-2-3. The 4th week of the month we will read from the booklet "Articles from the Journal with an Anorexia Focus." 
11.	SHARING: It is now time for sharing. We ask that your share, whether it be about the reading or on your current issues, be focused on anorexia. Will someone please volunteer to be the timer? Each share will be for 4 minutes. The timer will go off at 3 minutes and again after one minute.
12.	In order to provide a safe environment for everyone, we ask that you please do not cross talk. Cross-talk is interrupting someone when they are sharing, commenting on what someone else	shares, talking to someone directly, or referencing what someone has said. We also avoid excessive detailing of our acting out behaviors. 

13.	Designated Time: End Sharing
14.	SEVENTH TRADITION: According to our seventh tradition, we are self-supporting through our own contributions. Our group expenses are rent and literature. We also support intergroup and Fellowship Wide Services. We suggest a two dollar donation if you are able.
15.	ANNOUNCEMENTS: Are there any S.L.A.A. related announcements?
16.	THE SIGNS OF RECOVERY: Will someone please read the signs of recovery for anorexics?
17.	CLOSING: It is now time to close the meeting. If you did not get a chance to share, please talk with someone after the meeting. Everyone is encouraged to make contact with other members after the meeting and/or during the week for support and encouragement. In closing, we would like to remind you that the opinions expressed here were strictly those of the person who gave them. Take what you like and leave the rest. Also, anonymity is the spiritual foundation of our program. If we are to recover, we must feel free to say what is in our minds and hearts. Therefore, who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here.
18.	After a moment of silence for the Sex and Love addict who still suffers, for all of those who wish to, please join me in the serenity prayer.

SAMPLE MEETING FORMAT FOR SEX AND LOVE ADDICTS ANONYMOUS 
ANOREXIA FOCUS MEETING (3 of 3)
 (You may use any or all of these suggestions)
(Getting through the first 10 items below should take about 15 minutes.)
1.	This is the Wednesday Evening S.L.A.A. Meeting. In this meeting we focus on Anorexia. However, all members of S.L.A.A. and interested newcomers are welcome. My name is __________, and I am your leader for tonight.
2.	Please join me in the Serenity Prayer. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen
3.	Are there are any newcomers? If you feel comfortable doing so, please raise your hand and give us your first name so that we can welcome you.
4.	We will now have introductions around the room starting on my left.
5.	Will someone please read the Characteristics?
6.	Will someone please read the Twelve Steps? Page 67 of S.L.A.A. book.
7.	Will someone please read the Twelve Traditions? Page 122 of S.L.A.A. book.
8.	Will someone please read the S.L.A.A. Preamble? 
9.	S.L.A.A. RELATED ANNOUNCEMENTS. Are there any S.L.A.A.-related announcements?
10.	This meeting is intended for sexual, social, and emotional anorectics that they may see themselves, know they are not alone, and perhaps join us in the rewarding challenge of recovery in Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. In Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous, we suffer from addiction to sex, love, relationship, fantasy, romance, and co-dependency. However, there is still another addiction from which some of us suffer: anorexia.
As an eating disorder, anorexia is defined as the compulsive avoidance of food. In the area of sex and love, anorexia has a similar definition. Anorexia is the compulsive avoidance of giving or receiving social, sexual, and/or emotional nourishment. 
IF THERE ARE NO NEWCOMERS, PLEASE CONTINUE TO THE NEXT PAGE.
IF THERE ARE NEWCOMERS, PLEASE SKIP TO THE LAST PAGE.

FORMAT FOR BOOK STUDY MEETING (SEE NEXT PAGE FOR NEWCOMER FORMAT)
11.	Will someone volunteer to be the timer? 
12.	READING. Please set the timer for 10 MINUTES. We will each read a paragraph of the text and then pass it on to the next person.
13.	SHARING. It is now time for sharing. The focus of this meeting is anorexia. We ask that during the sharing portion of the meeting that your share, whether it be about the reading or on your current issues, be focused on sexual, social and emotional anorexia. 
We will share until five minutes before the end of the meeting. Each share will be for five minutes. The timer will be set to go off at 4 minutes and again after one minute. 
We ask that you please do not cross talk. This means that we do not talk while someone else is sharing, even to ask their name. Also, please do not refer to what another person has shared when you share. 
14.	Designated Time: End Sharing.
15.	SEVENTH TRADITION. We will now have the Seventh Tradition. As stated in Tradition Seven, our fellowship is supported by our own contributions. Because we are a small meeting, we ask for a two dollar donation, if you are able.
16.	THE BLESSINGS (excerpted from the S.L.A.A. Basic Text and found in the Pocket Toolkit).
Will someone please read The Blessings while the envelope for the Seventh Tradition is being passed around?
17.	TOOLS OF THE PROGRAM. As a reminder, the tools of the program are: meetings, phone calls, literature, sponsorship, service, sobriety and anonymity, among others. If you are new and wish to know about these tools, feel free to speak with someone after the meeting.
18.	CLOSING. It is now time to close our meeting. Everyone is encouraged to ask other members for their phone numbers and to make contact with others after the meeting and/or during the week for support and encouragement. 
After a moment of silent meditation for the anorectic who still suffers, would you please join me in closing the meeting with the Serenity Prayer?

FORMAT FOR WHEN NEWCOMERS ARE PRESENT.
11.	ANOREXIA PAMPHLET. Newcomers should feel free to keep their copy of the pamphlet. Will someone please read the first paragraph of “Some Varieties of Anorexia” and pass it on to the next person, continuing one paragraph each until we get to the fifty questions? We will then read the fifty questions, taking turns of five questions each. 
12.	If enough questions here seem to apply to you, you may feel relieved, or you may feel stunned, doomed, or angry. All of these would be natural responses. However, if something fundamental in your being has been touched by these questions, we do want to say this to you. You are not alone. There are many who are in the same situation as you. There are many who respond as you do and who feel as you do, or who once felt that way.
13.	Will someone volunteer to be the timer? 
14.	SHARING. It is now time for sharing. We ask that the focus of the sharing be on sexual, social, and emotional anorexia. To stimulate our thoughts, we can pick a question for the week from the fifty questions in the Anorexia Pamphlet. Of course, you are welcome to share on any of the questions or any anorexia topic. 
Sharing will be for five minutes with the timer set for four minutes and then, one more minute to wrap up. 
We ask that you please do not cross talk. This means that we do not talk while someone else is sharing, even to ask their name. Also, please do not refer to what another person has shared when you share. 
15.	Designated Time: End Sharing.
16.	SEVENTH TRADITION. We will now have the Seventh Tradition. As stated in Tradition Seven, our fellowship is supported by our own contributions. Because we are a small meeting, we ask for a two dollar donation, if you are able.
17.	THE BLESSINGS (excerpted from the S.L.A.A. Basic Text and found in the Pocket Toolkit).
Will someone please read The Blessings while the envelope for the seventh tradition is being passed around? 
18.	TOOLS OF THE PROGRAM. As a reminder, the tools of the program are: meetings, phone calls, literature, sponsorship, service, sobriety and anonymity, among others. If you are new and wish to know about these tools, feel free to speak with someone after the meeting.
19.	CLOSING. It is now time to close our meeting. Everyone is encouraged to ask other members for their phone numbers and to make contact with others after the meeting and/or during the week for support and encouragement. 
After a moment of silent meditation for the anorectic who still suffers, would you please join me in closing the meeting with the Serenity Prayer?