There is the type of man who is unwilling to admit that he cannot eat certain foods. He plans various ways of overeating. He changes when he eats or the restaurants he eats in. There is the type who always believes that after being entirely free from overeating for a period of time he can take an extra bite without danger. There is the manic-depressive type, who is, perhaps, the least understood by his friends, and about whom a whole chapter could be written.

Then there are types entirely normal in every respect except in the effect food has upon them. They are often able, intelligent, friendly people.

All these, and many others, have one symptom in common: they cannot start overeating without developing the phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a distinct entity.

It seems easy, for the most part, to understand what abstinence means in the context of the alcoholic. They either drink alcohol or they don't. Nobody is ever confused about whether they have abstained or not. This may not be so clearly understood in regard to food.

This concept of abstinence is often a point of controversy within OA and is often confused with a food plan, which is only a tool to help us find and maintain abstinence. Abstinence, in its purest form, means nothing more than to abstain from compulsive overeating.

When someone defines their abstinence as no sugar and no flour, they are really telling us what they do and don't allow on their food plan. The point to them though is that they know if they eat either of those substances, it will lead to the phenomenon of craving, which will lead them back to compulsive overeating.

I would recommend the book ,"Abstinence", by Overeaters Anonymous, which is a collection of short stories and essays by members of OA, each of which define and explain their abstinence in different ways, and also offer their experiences on how they obtained the abstinence.