Recovery Day by Day I was having an early-morning text chat with a girlfriend when the conversation turned to her feeling overwhelmed by her weight. She was stuck in her compulsion, and she knew I used to be stuck, too, but had found an answer. She knew I was in program and had seen the physical, emotional, and mental changes I was experiencing. She … Read More
Steps Step 12: Someone to Protect Having had a spiritual awakening in this program, I now view myself as a unique and precious child of God. It has transformed my approach to myself. But when I compare myself to others, I feel “less than.” Since I am unable to eat the foods they eat and perform the simple behaviors they do, I conclude there’s something wrong … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Recovery Peaceful Ways I joined OA in 1981 weighing more than 250 pounds (113 kg), and I’ve been abstinent for thirty-five years. Because of this Fellowship, sponsors, the Steps, the Tools, slogans, and a loving HP, I have been able to be peaceful with food. I have horrible examples of how I behaved before program. For example, at our oldest son’s wedding, I … Read More
Abstinence Good IDEA International Day Experiencing Abstinence takes place the third Saturday of every November, i.e., right before the amateur overeating season known as “the holidays.” Last year on IDEA Day, ten people braved their way through a snowstorm to hear about ideas valuable to abstinence. (Quoted material below is from Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed.) Compulsive eating is a disease, not a moral … Read More
Higher Power Writing Meditation Each Tool of Recovery has its own joys. There is the fellowship of meetings, the comforting security of a food plan, and the reassurance of a timely phone call. But the fifth Tool, writing, connects me to my Higher Power in ways nothing else can. Somebody told me that prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening to God. … Read More
Higher Power Practice Prayer When I came into OA, I desperately needed to lose weight and gain sanity. All my life, I had made lists and plans and schemes. I was the queen of to-do lists and loved checking them off. But no matter how much I accomplished in my career and in other areas of my life and no matter how expert I … Read More
Service Write, Camera – Action! I want to let you know how much the action plan Tool means to me. I tried OA fifteen years ago but just wasn’t ready. When I came back to the program, I read about the action plan in my Newcomer Packet. I started using it the very next day. Since then, I’ve been abstinent with only two breaks (early … Read More
Service Aspire More and Think As a returnee to OA after many years of “research,” I discovered the action plan Tool. I love it. Here’s an action plan I made for myself: To get and stay abstinent, I ASPIRE MORE and THINK. When I feel an oncoming urge to eat compulsively, I: A—Allow six minutes before eating. I set timers in the kitchen and other places … Read More