Stay ConnectedMembers of OA in San Francisco share what it was like, what happened, and what life is like now.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is a community of people who through shared experience, strength and hope are recovering from unhealthy relationships with food and body image. OA’s twelve-step program works like Alcoholics Anonymous except it helps us deal with food.
OA in San Francisco: https://www.oasf.org/
More about Overeaters Anonymous: https://oa.org/
Andrea, member since 1984, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Andrea's share from the 2018 12/12 Day event includes the following themes: 1st OA meeting • never leaving: only thing I’ve done perfectly • therapy at age 4 because I was fat & the problem • 12th Step Within (TSW) • never felt abstinent enough • Bozos on the bus • relapse: not just about weight gain • H.O.W. (honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness • compassion • abstinence leads to being open to Higher Power • not an expert • Tools of Recovery • redoing Steps • next right action • 11th Step Prayer • being kind to self leads to being kind to others • Members in Relapse pamphlet reading A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more. For more info on Twelfth Step Within, please check out: https://oa.org/groupsservice-bodies/resources/twelfth-step-within/
Mace, member since 1998/1999, identifies as a compulsive overeater. Mace's share from the Monday evening LGBT Meeting includes the following themes: weight gain • the “shoulds” • denial and being terminally vague • food experiments • leaving job • doom & gloom person • avoiding discomfort • inviting HP into discomfort • no guarantees (relying on "guaranteeing HP" only) • fixing the discomfort (no room for HP) • life: there’s never enough • tender & vulnerable
Irene, member since 1972, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Irene's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: overweight from age 5 • this was the biggest problem of my life • putting husband through the test • husband became policeman for my food • beginning OA with aunt • a Weight Watchers drop out • OA & god: take what you want and leave the rest (leaving god at first meeting) • peanut butter is not a meal • hearing "How It Works" • never going to any lengths • carbohydrate addiction • abstinent for 46 years • 5.5 years to lose 100 pounds • a decision to suffer: carbohydrate withdrawal • 1 day at a time (weighing daily) • Higher Power • don’t believe in god but use god • no longer have cravings • almost worse than poison • it’s work, it’s planning, it’s cutting vegetables, it’s relief • the real me A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Lisa, member since 2012, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Lisa's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: abstinent 6 years • down 130 pounds • food obsession as kid • sneaking food • shame & embarrassment • commercial diet program at 8 years old • writing food history • letting go of fat girl identity • weight loss and gain in early 20s • no close relationships • coming to OA (in the right place) • freaked out about the god thing • developing anxiety & depression • physical consequences of overeating • courage & gift of desperation (returning to meetings) • working with a sponsor • first food plans • using the Tools • working the Steps • shame over past spiritual experiences (Step 2) • shame cannot survive empathy • depression lifting • vastly improved anxiety & no panic attacks • recent weight gain • moving in with boyfriend • life is getting big • craving physical activity A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Kate, member since 2014, identifies as a compulsive overeater. Kate's share from the Monday evening LGBT Speaker & Literature Meeting includes the following themes: service gives the voices meaning • the perfect storm at age 15 • anorexic behavior • food: easy outlet, secretive, & reaffirming • food was the only tool • vegetarianism & validation from men • private hell • compulsively exercising during dad’s poor health • moving to Bay Area • people pleasing & co-dependency • awakening • finding OA • no throwing up or eating sugar in 4.5 years • grad school • relationship with Step 3 • 9th Step amends • people showing up for me no matter what • didn’t know what I wanted from OA, but I was desperate
Erin, member since 2017, identifies as a compulsive overeater. Erin's share from the 2018 Thanksgiving Marathon includes the following themes: pretty much born a compulsive overeater • food was never enough • Thanksgiving: amateur day • silence for those still suffering • need love, fellowship, & understanding about food • Bill W. (AA co-founder) on Thanksgiving • Traditions • unity & oneness can’t happen without the wholeness of OA • without this (OA) work, life is exhausting • last drunk (a drink leads to a drunk) • disease of amnesia • learn how to not interfere with other people’s progress • daily FOR TODAY reading & 10-minute meditation • hard to turn off the chatter • habit of complaining • OA love: humble & imperfect, not neurotic & conditional • I don’t run the show (responsible for footwork) • let gratitude in & out
Jerry identifies as a compulsive overeater. Jerry's share from the 2018 Thanksgiving Marathon includes the following themes: sent by Navy for alcohol treatment & chronic obesity • asking people how to lose weight • no concept of eating & weight gain • life is perfect but small weight problem • I didn’t know how to live life without compulsive overeating • plan: come to OA to lose weight & then leave • 1st sponsor requirements: 3 meetings a week, call food in daily, & do service • suicidal during 5 1/2 years of sobriety (pre-OA) • Step 1 • Step 2 (god was going to get me) • G.O.D. = good order & discipline • giving away 4th Step • married with 2 children but nobody loved me • The OA “Chocolate Book” • disease of mind, body, & spirit • Intergroup, Region 2, & World Service commitments • realizing sponsor was human • feelings between meals • plan food or plan to fail • relapse & weight gain • giving up meat lowered cholesterol • making amends to body • Rozanne S. & Tradition 3 • snacks • 1st Big Book • service is selfless • 2nd Tradition • healthy relationship with wife, son, & daughter • OA taught me I’m priceless
Amanda, member since 2015, identifies as a compulsive overeater & sugar addict. Amanda's share from the 2018 Thanksgiving Marathon includes the following themes: "National Americans Eat Day" • mom: diet & binge buddy • Slim Fast in lunchbox • lying & manipulating • 1st time overusing food (daycare) • it always gets worse • pattern: on diet, slip & slide, justify, back to drug • substituting program tools for the desire to pick up • restricted & binged my way up to almost 300 pounds • consequences of overeating & obesity • finding OA • nobody was fat at 1st meeting • dis-ease with life • wanting peace • having g.o.d. (gift of desperation) with physical side • surrendered food immediately • underneath the food: anxiety & fear • in a prison of my own making (Step 4 lesson) • character defects & my part • letting go of outcome as a control freak • dating & relationships • 10th Step relief (did you bring higher power in?) • HP: visualization & meditation • 1st meeting: people managing life with peace • life: an ongoing surrender process • experiencing grief without picking up • learning grief process in mid-30s • lows are low but highs are higher
Allison W. (Century Meeting, Nov 2018)
Alison, member since 1983, identifies as a compulsive overeater, a relapser, and an ABC. Alison's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: meditation • fed sugar as kid to quiet me • 190 lbs at age 12 • taken to diet doctor by mom • benzedrine and other drug use • learning bulimia and how to starve • my own diet • throwing away college education for modeling to prove myself • weight gain during pregnancy • coming to OA • entering eating disorder unit • allergic to sugar & flour (nearly 3 years off) • other 12 Step groups • OA to get abstinent & to stay abstinent • having real freedom • always a newcomer • 33 years in OA, 27 years relapsing • we're all on our own path • getting THE PROMISES after getting abstinent • gratitude • sharing my recovery • fast food & quick fixes A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more. Note: Speaker does not identify as a century person.
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