Even though the group Overeaters Anonymous created the Grey Sheet plan, don't necessarily expect a warm, cozy response if you bring it up at an OA meeting. The plan made quite a stir, and even resulted in new groups breaking away from OA. Don't expect to find a copy of the plan readily available, either, even from groups that follow it. One of the groups, GreySheeters Anonymous (GSA), only gives out a copy to people who are willing to follow it.
Explanation
The Grey Sheet is a suggested eating and living plan first introduced by the self-help group Overeaters Anonymous in the late 1960s. The name came from the plan's grey paper color, which happened to be the cheapest color paper on which to print. While the plan does suggest a number of eating habits, a change of eating habits is only one part of the overall program.
Controversy
The plan's strict rules caused controversy in Overeaters Anonymous, and when the Grey Sheet was replaced by the Blue Sheet plan in 1977, small groups that still supported the Grey Sheet broke away from OA. One of those groups, the GreySheeters Anonymous, went so far as to borrow the name, as well as reinforce the premise that the Grey Sheet is not an eating plan but instead a way of life.
Diet Guidelines
The most restrictive plan guideline is the total elimination of all man-made sugars and starches, with the note that such foods only make you crave more of the same. It also calls for abstinence from any food that contains more than 10 percent carbohydrates. Three meals per day are fine, so long as the portions are carefully measured. The only between-meal allowances are black coffee, tea or zero-calorie soda.
Food Types
Forget about donuts, cakes, candy, bread, crackers, spaghetti, alcohol or any food that's fried, creamed or scalloped if you are following the plan. Instead embrace food that's grilled, baked, roasted or broiled and only if it appears on the plan's list of allowed foods. A number of low-fat meats, fruits and vegetables are on the list, along with the allotted portion of each.
Other Plan Elements
The other aspect of the Grey Sheet plan is the 12 Steps, modeled after the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous but used in relation to food. A change of eating habits will eliminate the "outer manifestation" of fat, the pamphlet explains, while the 12 Steps of the program take care of the inner turmoil that often leads to compulsive overeating.
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