Traditions Tradition 12: Fallen Star I was the self-appointed poster child for OA: I had physical recovery, I performed a lot of service, and I had several sponsees. My phone rang day and night. I was asked to speak at marathons and retreats. I wasn’t anonymous, and I didn’t want to be anonymous—I was a star. I was lacking in self-esteem, and OA offered a … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Recovery Dishing Up for Others Holidays have always been a difficult time in my family. My earliest holiday memories revolve around eating very large quantities of food. I still remember the treats my mother bought and hid in the dishwasher so my father wouldn’t find them and confront her. Sometimes it is hard to unlearn habits that date back to childhood, but I have discovered it’s … Read More
Relapse Family Practice In a dictionary, “family” can be defined in several ways: people occupying the same house, relatives, a tribe or clan, or a group sharing common features. Metaphorically speaking, we all belong to the “House of OA.” We all are related through the disease of compulsive eating. A thesaurus may compare “family” to a fellowship or group that is close, friendly, … 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
Newcomers Necessary Steps I came to the West Coast broken in spirit, ashamed, and depressed. Last year I lost another 132 pounds (60 kg) and regained more than 80 pounds (36 kg) of it. This was common practice for me, a yo-yo cycle that had lasted more than fifty years. My mother died of diabetes and heart failure caused by obesity. Watching her … Read More
Service Card-Carrying Member The number of members in Overeaters Anonymous is small compared with the number of members in Alcoholics Anonymous, but OA is as valuable a program for compulsive overeaters as AA is for alcoholics. I have been in Overeaters Anonymous since January 1987. I entered the program weighing 193 pounds (88 kg) and have maintained a weight loss of slightly more … Read More
Traditions Tradition 8: Labor of Love I remember when I was new to OA. I sat with my first sponsor, going over my journaling on Step One. It took quite a bit of time, and I couldn’t believe how patiently my sponsor sat there, listening. She wasn’t giving advice. Periodically she shared her experience, strength, and hope, but mostly, she just offered the gift of understanding. … Read More
Responsibility Pledge A Hand Up When I reflect on my life before I embraced recovery in Overeaters Anonymous, I can only describe it as a vast, dark, dry, soulless wasteland. My old life ended on June 9, 2009, the day of my second entry into Overeaters Anonymous. I was immediately abstinent and this time (one day at a time) it “took.” I’m not sure why . … Read More
Service Principle Consideration When I use anonymity as a Tool, it helps me apply all the other Tools in a way that places “principles before personalities” (Tradition Twelve). Use of this Tool helps me do my service, attend meetings, be a sponsor, respect others’ eating choices, listen on the telephone, keep my writing focused, and read the literature with an open mind. In this … Read More
Service Miracle of Meetings For me, meetings are the essential Tool, the base of the program. Without meetings, we would have nothing on which to hang the other Tools. Without meetings, we would have no ground from which to climb the Steps. Without meetings, we would have no hope of gaining serenity and no chance of attaining the abstinence necessary for recovery. A meeting … Read More