Recovery Progress Report My favorite slogan is “Progress, not perfection,” from Chapter 5 of the Big Book. It says, “The principles we have set down are guides to progress. We claim spiritual progress rather than spiritual perfection” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 60). When I joined OA four years ago, my character defects of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and fear of rejection were in full … Read More
Higher Power All I Have to Do! Slogans—I love them! Since my return to OA, I seem to be using them more and more. To me they are triggers, good triggers—words and sentences that help me remember the teachings of the Twelve Steps. The one that seems to come to mind most often these days is “let go and let God.” When I returned to OA after a … Read More
Recovery Relationships Life’s Terms Taking life on life’s terms is one of the most important ideas that OA has given me—it’s such a meaningful concept. My sponsors remind me it’s my job to fit into my Higher Power’s plan, not the other way around. Looking back, it’s clear to me now that early years of abstinence gave me lots of practice in accepting life … Read More
Relapse Relapse & Recovery The Choices We Make I have experienced the 100-pounder (45-kg) status twice: first as a newcomer, and three years later after a six-month relapse. Recovering, I reached a 30- to 40-pound (14- to 18-kg) loss and then plateaued. I felt like nothing was working. Desperate people are willing to take desperate measures. I finally admitted I needed help from a food sponsor, who was willing … 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
Recovery Online Recovery I was working more than sixty hours a week when I returned to program after years of relapse. Most of the meetings I could attend were online, with just a sprinkling of telephone and face-to-face meetings. Online meetings saved my recovery many times, since I didn’t finish work until after the face-to-face meetings in my city were over for the night. … Read More
Slipping & Sliding Four Decades On January 19, 2016, I will enjoy forty years of recovery in Overeaters Anonymous. On that day, the fifty-sixth anniversary of the founding of OA, I will wish I could say I have forty years of abstinence. But I have had plenty of ups and downs, sometimes enjoying years of abstinence, sometimes struggling to maintain a few days. On that … Read More
