Abstinence Day In and Day Out I was “struck abstinent” on April 20, 2016. I used to think being struck abstinent meant it was permanent, but it isn’t. I work very hard to maintain my abstinence. Abstinence for me means eating three meals plus two snacks daily, with no sugar, fast food, or anything from my “red light” list. This is my action plan: On Sundays, … Read More
Abstinence Why Would You Want To? “In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 101). The Big Book promised that working the Twelve Steps would allow me to feel neutral about my former binge foods. This was one of the things that attracted me to OA. I wouldn’t … Read More
Relationships Loner No Longer “I never have to be alone again . . .” It was June 1989: I was powerless over food and my life was unmanageable. I had just lost forty pounds (18 kg) again and quickly gained ten pounds (5 kg) back. I was on my way up the scale and full of anger and rage. I felt totally helpless, hopeless, … Read More
Abstinence No Guarantee but Grace I awakened abstinent today, clearheaded and present. Wow. Another day, G-d! It’s a far cry from the hangover of a binge. I call my caring sponsor each morning at 7 a.m. to commit to myself, to her, and to the G-d of my understanding my three planned, delicious, abundant meals. When I write down and prepare my meals, it sets the tone … Read More
Anorexia & Bulimia Don’t Do It Alone I am a lifer. My disease is such that I can never leave OA. I spent a lifetime struggling to control my food and body, and the result was a soul-wrenching desperation to find another way. My disease takes a form I call “classic bulimia.” I binged until it hurt, threw up, and then binged again. It wasn’t always end-on-end … Read More
Abstinence Six Courses of Abstinence The first thing I did as a member of Overeaters Anonymous on a path to abstinent eating was to divide all foods into two groups: foods I would eat and foods I would not eat. Thirty years later, I still have not eaten any of the foods in the second group, just as I would not eat a pencil or … Read More
Steps Mopping Up Mistakes Step Nine Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Almost no one looks forward to doing Step Nine, yet it plays such an important part in any recovery that goes beyond weight loss. Two experiences showed me the advantage of working this Step with a sponsor. Whenever I reviewed … Read More
Service Carried to My Clinic This year, I decided to donate a subscription of Lifeline to my health clinic. Last year, most of our groups each donated a subscription to various health care offices in our areas, and I thought I could do the same as an individual. So I contacted my health clinic, and the clinic staff were very welcoming and appreciative. They gave me a … Read More
Relapse If Only Before OA, I thought I was so unique with my secret of using compulsive eating to cope with fears, regrets, selfishness, and inadequacy. I also suffered from “if onlys:” “if only I would be more outgoing,” “if only I had a faster metabolism,” “if only I enjoyed exercising.” I felt so incompetent as a wife, mother, and employee. A friend … Read More
Writing Dog Talk My dogs’ unconditional love is so helpful when I can’t love myself. Dogs don’t judge my weight, my income, or my status in life. To dogs, I am okay just the way I am. When I was new to OA and first got a sponsor, I refused to talk to her about anything but dogs for three months because I … Read More