Newcomers The Best Thing I have always had an obsession with food. As a child, I was obese. Half an hour after I finished a meal, I would announce I was hungry again. My family didn’t think this was possible. As a teenager, I was never seen without a soda and a sweet. They were my icons. I tried every weight-loss program invented. I … Read More
How OA Changed My Life Recovery Holiday Tools I am a grateful compulsive overeater, abstinent since I walked through the doors of OA fourteen years ago. Thank you, God! I am maintaining a 33–35 pound (15–16 kg) weight loss, one day at a time. I have greater emotional and spiritual fitness than when I came. I live a life that is happy, joyous, and free; it’s a miracle … Read More
Service Call Out Last year, I made an outreach call during a difficult time. It was my first call to this particular member. Her tone was cold and distant. After a few minutes, I realized I wasn’t getting what I needed from the conversation, so I thanked her for her time and ended the call. I remembered what a wise member once told me: “You can’t … Read More
Service Service Call The telephone is the hardest Tool for me to use. I have stubbornly resisted this Tool during all my ten years in program. Even in my teenage years, I did not like answering calls from my girlfriends. Whoever heard of a teenage girl who doesn’t like to talk with friends on the phone? My disease causes me to feel inadequate, … 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
Service Forget Me Not When reflecting on our precious Tools of recovery, I always forget one (probably the one I need to concentrate on most). So I use a mnemonic device to help me recall all of the Tools: And Action plan Please Plan of eating Spend Sponsorship More Meetings Time … Read More
Service Fitness Witness The Big Book says we get to keep what we have “so long as we keep in fit spiritual condition” (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p. 85). Doing my spiritual exercises stands between me and that first bite! I reached my maintenance weight, having released 125 pounds (57 kg), after years of struggling with food, weight, body size, and life in … Read More
