Service Face Time I went to a meeting the other day and was walking in with a friend (we squeaked in barely on time) when I noticed, down the hall, someone sitting alone. I asked, “Are you looking for OA?” The answer was yes. The newcomer had never been to that particular meeting before. I had just gotten the meeting started when two … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Recovery Holiday Tools I am a grateful compulsive overeater, abstinent since I walked through the doors of OA fourteen years ago. Thank you, God! I am maintaining a 33–35 pound (15–16 kg) weight loss, one day at a time. I have greater emotional and spiritual fitness than when I came. I live a life that is happy, joyous, and free; it’s a miracle … Read More
Higher Power Spirituality Cold Comfort Enthusiasm, the quality of being filled with my Higher Power’s presence, reminds me that I always have a choice. A recent deep freeze in my part of the United States seemed to limit my choices; I couldn’t get my truck out of a snowbank to get to my weekly face-to-face OA meeting. Glumly, I stared out at the frozen landscape, … Read More
Diversity Newcomers Give Love A Chance When I attended my first OA meeting, I was beyond nervous, and I was overwhelmed with debilitating shame. Overweight since age 7, I had tried every diet and magical fix available. Each failure chipped away at what little self-esteem I had, and the “mean girl” in my head would remind me that I was worthless and ultimately unlovable. As I … Read More
Service Forget Me Not When reflecting on our precious Tools of recovery, I always forget one (probably the one I need to concentrate on most). So I use a mnemonic device to help me recall all of the Tools: And Action plan Please Plan of eating Spend Sponsorship More Meetings Time … Read More
Service Fitness Witness The Big Book says we get to keep what we have “so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 85). Doing my spiritual exercises stands between me and that first bite! I reached my maintenance weight, having released 125 pounds (57 kg), after years of struggling with food, weight, body size, and life in … Read More
Service Outreach Need This is not your typical story of inspiration, abstinence, and recovery. This is a story meant to foster awareness inside our OA rooms. I had been in OA for almost a year and was attending five meetings a week. I held a service position, had gotten a sponsor, and was working the Steps. I had finally found what abstinence meant … Read More
Traditions Tradition Four: Beneficial Differences Autonomy in OA is a really cool thing! I love how each meeting I go to is a bit different. My home group is a literature meeting where we study Conference-approved OA literature each week. I go to a Big Book meeting too. I also attend intergroup meetings whenever I can. Sometimes I listen to a recorded meeting. Each type … Read More
Diversity Newcomers One Meeting A light bulb went on in my head. I got it! After reading the Twelve Steps, I realized my stress and my worries were causing my overeating. Now I put all of that in God’s hands. I don’t worry anymore. It’s wonderful! It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I now get Lifeline, and I’m very aware … Read More
Recovery Worth Knowing I came into OA in the middle of 2008. At the time I weighed just over 80 kilograms (176 lbs) and was on the way up. It was the most I had ever weighed. I believed I was going to end up obese, and I didn’t care. From the age of 15, I had been experimenting with diet pills, never … Read More