Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr My trips to the grocery store became much different after I became abstinent more than ten years ago. Many aisles no longer held anything I could safely purchase. The remaining aisles got greater attention from me, and to this day, I read labels, check portion sizes, and compare prices. There is one aspect of the grocery store that gets my unfailing attention—the racks of women’s magazines that line the checkout register. How differently I feel now when I see the January magazines with their loud headlines: “Lose the Weight Fast,” “Two-week Diet Breakthrough.” I remember when I eyed those January issues eagerly, searching for the “miracle food” or diet plan that would cure all my troubles and make me look like the 20-something actress on the cover. OA has opened a new world of hope; a world of abstinence, friendship, and spiritual growth. I’ve been maintaining a weight loss of 50 pounds (23 kg) for over ten years! Whenever I’m tempted to “forget” my abstinence during the holidays, I remember those “Miracle Diet” headlines, and smile. Thanks, OA. — Ginny H., Springfield, Ohio USA