Recovery Pot of Gold If it weren’t for OA, I wouldn’t be able to see. I’m not blind, but the fog of compulsive overeating blinded me. By maintaining abstinence and working the Steps, the fog was lifted, and I began to see the world as it is. I began to see color. Recovery gave me the ability to pursue my childhood dream of learning … Read More
Recovery Glimmer of Hope It was December, and I had hit my bottom. My despair and anguish were monumental and unrelenting. I had tried every conceivable diet, weight-loss scheme, pill, and quick fix, and nothing had worked. I know now that I had not addressed the real, underlying issue: I was a compulsive eater. I felt there was no hope left. At that moment, … Read More
Service Travel Treat Traveling to the OA Region One Assembly was a perfect opportunity for me to practice navigating an airport without compulsively wanting to eat. I am really glad I had my plan of eating in place. Arriving at the airport two hours early sometimes leaves me with time on my hands. The smells of airport foods can arouse compulsiveness out of … Read More
Service Available Tools I was working outdoors the other day and noticed several branches in my trees needed pruning. I went to my garage, selected a handsaw and lopping shears, and headed into the yard. The work was going well, but I found a couple of large limbs that needed to come down. I stretched way up and started sawing with the handsaw. … Read More
Higher Power Self-less Recovery I’ve been in and around OA for twenty-four years. In my mid-twenties, I weighed about 250 pounds (113 kg). When I was 30, I weighed 173 pounds (78 kg). My denial weight in OA was 225 pounds (102 kg), and seven years ago, I weighed 185 pounds (84 kg). I’m 70 years old now, and in the last two years, … 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 I’m Not Doing It At times I suffer fear: Will I be successful at weight loss? Perhaps I have a diet mentality. During these times, I must remember the following: “I” am not losing the weight. Higher Power and Overeaters Anonymous are helping me lose the weight. A healthy way of living is helping me lose the weight. Cleaning up my side of the … Read More
Relapse Relapse & Recovery Greater Than Myself I began the most recent chapter of my OA journey by facing the futility of a sixteen-year relapse. I admired nothing about myself, least of all my body. I had weight-loss surgery in 2001, yet I’d managed to gain back all the weight I’d lost plus 25 extra pounds (11 kg). I weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg). I had … Read More
Higher Power Spiritual Action Plan Today I’ll walk the spiritual path by using an action plan. I will: Think of others. This relieves me of the “bondage of self” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 63). Tell my Higher Power I’m grateful. Gratitude brings my mind into a peaceful place. Know HP wants my happiness and well-being. I can “act as if” until I believe it. … Read More
Newcomers Principle Assets I received a short-notice invitation to go to Nashville for the SOAR8 (Region Eight) Recovery Convention so I packed my bag, my food, and my water and headed straight into a very full weekend of recovery. The theme of the assembly was “Tune into the Principles.” As a newcomer to OA, I was at first not familiar with the Principles … Read More
